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April 15, 2022
Greetings,
The successful completion of a college credential is an amazing accomplishment - even in the best of times. The graduates who we will celebrate during the May 1 Commencement ceremony have overcome every pandemic obstacle placed in their way. I am so proud of their accomplishments!
I want you to know how much I appreciate all that you have done to assist those completing a credential. Our students frequently report how much they value their classroom instruction and the assistance they receive from various college employees. To watch some of their stories, visit the college's YouTube channel.
Our celebration of Community College Month continues; visit the home page of the college website or www.kvcc.edu/ccmonth for a list of events and activities. Be sure to wear your college-branded apparel during April. It's a great way to show your support for the college and for our students!
Thank you.
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
2022-2023 Tuition Rates Announced
During its scheduled meeting on April 12, the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees approved the following tuition and fees for the 2022-2023 academic year effective for the fall semester:
In-District - $120 per contact hour
Out-of-District - $207 per contact hour
Out-of-State - $276 per contact hour
International - $313 per contact hour
The following non-refundable student fee and non-refundable usage fee shall be charged:
- Student fee of $158 per semester (applicable to all students registering for courses)
- Usage fee (applicable only to those students using specific services/programs):
- $200 per contact hour fee for students enrolling in the same class more than three times
Board of Trustees Designate April as Community College Month
During its regularly scheduled meeting on April 12, the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Board of Trustees approved a resolution recognizing April as Community College Month.
Together with the nearly 1,000 other community colleges across the country, Kalamazoo Valley is celebrating Community College Month in April. This campaign was designed to improve awareness of the economic, academic and equity advantages of attending community colleges and to break the stigma associated with public two-year colleges. more
Author Tommy Orange to Visit Kalamazoo Valley on April 19
Kalamazoo Valley Community College's "About Writing" Visiting Writers Series welcomes Tommy Orange on April 19 or for two events: an on stage conversation at 10 a.m. and a reading and on stage conversation at 2:15 p.m. in the Student Commons Theater, Room 4240, at the Texas Township Campus. Both events will be followed by a book signing.
Orange is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel "There There", a multigenerational, relentlessly paced story about a side of America few have ever seen: the lives of urban Native Americans. "There There" was one of The New York Times Book Review's 10 Best Books of the Year, won the Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. more
Compensation and Classification Study - Livesteam Available
As previously announced, Kalamazoo Valley Community College has begun the process of conducting a Compensation and Classification Study for full-time staff and administrator positions. Our last review was conducted and implemented in 2017.
Our approach to this project includes the involvement of many voices and thoughtful conversations. We are working collaboratively with a wide cross-section of college stakeholders and the project involves several phases.
Participants will receive information about the next phases of the process soon, including instructions for accessing an orientation session and about how to complete a job questionnaire for use in the study.
For up-to-date information, visit the Classification and Compensation section within the Human Resources area of the employee portal.
Take Your Child to Work Day
Kalamazoo Valley Community College would like to invite employees to participate in the Take Your Child to Work Day Activities. Take Your Child to Work Day is officially on April 28 this year. The job shadowing day is intended to give children a glimpse into the working world through the guidance of their parents. Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day was developed by a foundation of the same name.
This year, Kalamazoo Valley has scheduled interactive activities for youth (K-12 age range). Employees will have the option of participating with their child either on April 27 or April 28. Employees should work with their supervisor if they would like to take part. Employees are expected to supervise their child during their visit to campus. To participate in Take Your Child to Work Day, the registration and waiver forms below must be submitted by Wednesday, April 20.
Register here. Complete the waiver here.
A number of fun and engaging activities are being planned. Details will be forthcoming to all registrants. The proposed schedule (subject to change) includes:
8:30 a.m. Check-in
9 a.m. Guided tours
10 a.m. Snack
10:30 a.m. Hands-on activity
Noon Lunch
1 p.m. Outdoor activity (weather permitting)
2:30 p.m. Movie and popcorn party!
Did You See the Bookstore's College Apparel Slide Show?
Watch the looping slide show of students, faculty and staff modeling Kalamazoo Valley-branded attire on TV monitors throughout the Texas Township Campus. Here are a few viewing locations: the tower entrance near the University Center, in the cafeteria or outside the Bookstore. Be sure to thank our volunteer models! We're excited that their outfits, as well as all college-branded apparel, will be discounted at the Bookstore through April 30 during Community College Month! See the flyer for details.
Mackenzie Lesterhouse and Dr. Washington at the 2022 All-Michigan Academic Team luncheon
Phi Theta Kappa: 2022 All-Michigan Academic Team
Three Kalamazoo Valley Phi Theta Kappa students were recently recognized on the 2022 All-Michigan Academic Team. They include:
- Mackenzie Lesterhouse - Psychology-Liberal Arts
- Shawnee Matthews - Accounting
- Brandi Keever - Nursing
The students were honored with academic medals at a luncheon hosted by the Michigan Community College Association and Phi Theta Kappa on March 7 at the Lansing Center.
more
Technology Upgrades
As previously announced, a number of technology upgrades have been completed on the Texas Township Campus. These upgrades will expand our capabilities for multi-modal instruction and enhance all forms of instructional delivery.
Classrooms with installed hardware include 1310, 1320, 2590, 4520, 4530, 4540, 6020, 7110, 7560, 7570 and 7590 at TTC.
In addition, the Commons Theater, Room 4240, also received upgrades. Please note that any conversations (including a whisper) can be detected when the microphone is on (indicated by the green light in the ceiling) and will be broadcast to everyone who is in the room and joining via Zoom. Please consider leaving the room if a private conversation needs to occur.
NOW OPEN: Wonder Media Exhibit
Boost your skills in identifying misleading and inaccurate news and information at the "Wonder Media: Ask the Questions!" exhibit that launched at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum on April 9. Enjoy 14 highly interactive activity stations suitable for pre-teens, teens and adults. The free exhibit runs until December 2023.
The Gilmore Film Series Begins April 30
The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is proud to host The Gilmore Film Series 2022 from April 30 through May 7! It explores pianos and the passion, music and people they inspire. Weekdays films will be shown at 12:30 p.m., with an animated family-friendly film on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., all for free.
Toys: The Inside Story Exhibit Closes
The last day to catch the "Toys: The Inside Story" traveling exhibit is May 1. Since it opened in January, visitors have had loads of fun not only playing with toys, but learning the history of them and the mechanisms that make them work through 20 play/learn stations and displays.
General admission to the museum is free. Face coverings are required for entry. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - noon and 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. For information about programming, visit kalamazoomuseum.org.
Days of Giving Gifts to Benefit Students with Financial Needs
People who work daily with our students know better than anyone else that a scholarship can make the difference between goal achievement and dropping out of college. That is why the KVCC Foundation is bringing back its Days of Giving fundraising campaign. The goal of the April 19 and 20 campaign is to raise $15,000. A Foundation board member has already pledged to match the first $5,000 in donations.
Please consider making a donation or payroll deduction pledge. All donors will receive a Kalamazoo Valley lapel pin as acknowledgment of their gift. more
 Kalamazoo Valley Libraries:
Education Collection Spotlight, April Displays and �Sharing the View' Program
Collection Spotlight: Education
Whether you are an aspiring teacher or interested in education topics, come take a look at our refreshed education book collection. Look for classic and contemporary education titles in the General Collection book stacks; browse books with L, LA, LB, LC and LD on the spine labels. We also have several new arrivals in our New Books display. Check them out on the upper level of the Texas Township Library or online. Many of our new education books center on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as teaching practice and mental health. Try The Thoughtful Teacher by James D. Kirylo or Cultivating Genius by Gholdy Muhammad.
April Book Displays
Celebrate Earth Day this month by checking out our new book displays. With book topics ranging from National Parks, ways to live green, climate change and gardening, there is something for everyone. To browse books in person, visit the lower level of the Texas Township Library or view our virtual display from anywhere.
Sharing the View at Texas Township
The Texas Township Campus Library is famous for its wall of windows overlooking the campus woods. Students consistently name the beautiful view as a reason they come to the library to study. In April, learn more about the trees and wildlife outside the windows and the benefits of our nearby nature. All month, browse our display of nature guides and complete some self-directed activities about trees (and earn a limited-edition "Share the View" button).
Visit us online
Call 269.488.4328
Email: libraries@kvcc.edu
Chat with a college librarian 24/7: https://www.kvcc.edu/library/asklib.html
Zoom by appointment: Please email libraries@kvcc.edu
Follow us on Instagram @kalamazoovalleylibraries
Cooking Competition to Pair Culinary Students with Kalsec Food Scientists
Culinary students from Kalamazoo Valley Community College will team up with food scientists and research chefs from Kalsec for an April 21 cooking contest called Food for Thought. Kalsec provided the funding for this competition.
To be considered for the contest, culinary students submitted appetizer recipes and an explanation of how their creations relate to food science. Applicants who qualify to participate in Food for Thought are being paired with a research chef or food scientist from Kalsec to create an appetizer to be sampled by guests at the event.
Event guests will be entitled to a variety of appetizers and drink tickets. The event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building, 418 E. Walnut St. in downtown Kalamazoo. Tickets are $75 for two or $50 each and will be available at the door. RSVP here.
Proceeds from the event will help fund culinary scholarships to provide the highest level of educational opportunities for students.
College Procedures Repository
Have you ever asked yourself, "how do I return a toner cartridge?" or "what is the last day of attendance procedure?" You can find the answers to many of your how-to questions in the new College Procedures and Cabinet Member Operating Policies repository. This feature provides a consistent way to document and access internal, cross-college procedures. The College Procedures and Cabinet Member Operating Policies link can be found in the Workplace Resources section on the employee portal (home.kvcc.edu). For additional information on this new function, please contact Allison Moore or x4241.
Last Taps on Tuesday is April 26
As Kalamazoo Valley continues its celebration of Community College Month, please accept this invitation to join us on Tuesday, April 26 for Taps on Tuesday! The event, hosted by the college's Alumni+ group, is designed to help you reconnect with friends and learn more about all the great things happening at the college. All college community members and alumni are welcome to join the fun. Use this link to register in advance.
Retirement Celebration Invitation!
You are invited to join Kalamazoo Valley retirees and the greater college community for a Community College Month celebration on Wednesday, April 27! The event will be held in the Main Gym at the Texas Township Campus from 3:30 - 5 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Register by April 20 to reserve your spot!
Arbor Day Ceremony
An Arbor Day tree-planting ceremony will be held on April 29 to honor the memory of faculty and staff members who have passed away in the last year.
The Arbor Day holiday is meant to encourage the planting of trees to benefit and beautify the environment. Kalamazoo Valley has participated by holding a memorial tree planting on Arbor Day since 2010. This year's ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Texas Township Campus in the memorial tree garden near the south storm ponds (behind the Advanced Technology Center). The ceremony will include music, a reading and special words of tribute.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College will hold Commencement on May 1
Kalamazoo Valley's 86th commencement ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 1 at Miller Auditorium on the campus of Western Michigan University. Tim Farrow is the faculty speaker for May's ceremony. He teaches political science. The commencement student speaker is Angela Solis-Sarat, a science major. more
If you're interested in volunteering at the event, please contact Jessica Potter.
College-Wide Luncheon Planned for May 6
RSVP now to attend a college-wide luncheon on the Texas Township Campus. Connect with college friends and new colleagues on the last Friday before the start of summer hours! Lunch service will be available from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. for staff and 11:45 - 1 p.m. for faculty. Work with your supervisor on when you will attend to ensure staffing within your department. Watch for additional details in the next issue of KV Focus Plus.
Forging New Pathways: Defining The Future of CTE
The Michigan Occupational Special Populations Association (MOSPA) is pleased to welcome K-12 educators, post-secondary faculty and staff, community partners, administrators, non-profit partners, government agencies and other professionals to attend the in-person 2022 State MOSPA Conference May 4-6 at Boyne Mountain Resort. Registration deadline is April 20.
Breakout Session Topics:
- Test Taking Strategies and CTE
- Don't Look Back!
- Did You Know That Many of the Graduation Requirements Can Be Met in CTE? Let's Talk About MCC Flexibility
- Disability Language & Etiquette
- Intro to Ableism: Everything You Know About Disability is (probably) Wrong!
- Char-EMS Street STEM
- DEI: Making Connections During Difficult Times
- Intentionality of your Leadership Identity
- Make Every Registered Apprenticeship Count!
- Enhancing Career Conversations with Special Populations Students
- Postsecondary Special Populations 101 and Beyond
To learn more and register, click here.
Center For New Media & Arcus Gallery
The 2022 Year-End Student Celebration Exhibit will open during the May Art Hop on Friday, May 6 at 5:30 p.m. and will showcase art and design works created by students from The Studio Arts, Animation and Game Art, Illustration, Graphic Design, Multimedia and Web Design and Development programs.
Thanks to the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, this year a new collaborative presentation of student animations, videos and motion graphics will be on display at the Haymarket Plaza beginning at 7:30 p.m. All other works will be on display during the month of May at Kalamazoo Valley's Arcus Gallery and The Center for New Media located on the Arcadia Commons Campus.
Youth invited to Become Garden Stewards
This hands-on course, "Becoming a Garden Steward," is offered for youth between 11-14 years old. It includes inquiry-based learning experiences that connect to state and national academic standards. Upon completion of this six-week course, participants will have a deeper understanding of the life cycle of plants, learn how to create and maintain a garden, understand the effects of soil health and other environmental factors on seed germination, and learn the benefits of seed saving and food preservation and experience other innovative methods of growing food.
The course fee is $180 and meets from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Food Innovation Center from May 21 to June 25. Register here.
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