Kalamazoo Valley values excellence and innovation.
KV Focus Plus - December 15, 2023
MISSION STATEMENT Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable
opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive.
Dec. 15, 2023
Greetings,
Kalamazoo Valley values excellence and innovation. You have demonstrated those values by all that we have achieved together in 2023. I�m impressed by how you have built and perfected programs and procedures to help our students and community thrive. We have created new academic pathways, set up welcoming support systems and devised effective procedures throughout the college. Thank you for all of the creativity and follow-through that you have put into your work this year.
As you step away from the college for a winter break, I hope you find ways to rest and recharge. As our thoughts turn to the new year, let the mission statement and strategic plan energize and inspire you in our shared work. May all of us, not just our students, find opportunities to learn, grow and thrive in 2024.
Sincerely,
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Appoints Two Board of Trustees' Members At its regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Board of Trustees appointed two new provisional board members: Kathy Purnell, Esq., Ph.D., and Sherry Thomas-Cloud, M.S.W. They will serve on the college�s board from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2024.
Susan Miller, who resigned her position on the board for personal reasons, was awarded emeritus status for her 20 years of service to the college. more
College Closed for Winter Break, Dec. 22 � Jan. 1 Kalamazoo Valley Community College will be closed for winter recess from Friday, Dec. 22 through Monday, Jan. 1. The college reopens and resumes regular hours of operation Tuesday, Jan. 2. Many services are available online at www.kvcc.edu. The Kalamazoo Valley Museum will be open for part of winter break, Dec. 27 � 30, and has special activities planned. Click here to view their holiday hours and to learn more.
Prior to leaving for the winter recess, be sure to clean out refrigerators, dispose of any food that could attract pests and unplug space heaters.
Register Now for the Winter 2024 Summit The Winter 2024 Summit takes place Thursday, Jan. 4. Register now! The day will begin with the Board Breakfast, an update from Dr. Washington and Years of Service Recognition, followed by collegewide breakout sessions. Faculty focused sessions will be held in the afternoon.
The Fitness Center, free weight room and pool will be open exclusively for full and part-time employees during the 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. break. Just bring your Valley ID and workout attire - no signup required. Dedicated staff will be available to answer any questions and assist you. As a bonus, Just Move Instructors will offer three 30-minute sessions at 11:30 a.m., noon, and 12:30 p.m. Shower facilities and complimentary towels are available in the full-service locker room and employee lockers can be provided upon request. Contact the Wellness & Fitness Center front desk x4184 or Renea Peruski x4177 with questions.
Commencement Slated for Dec. 17 Kalamazoo Valley holds its Commencement ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. at Western Michigan University�s Miller Auditorium located at 2200 Auditorium Drive in Kalamazoo.
More than 130 students, including those who graduated in August, are planning to participate. Board Chairperson Lucinda Stinson will speak, along with economics instructor Philipp Jonas and student Kayleigh Overhuel, who is graduating with an associate of applied science degree in nursing. more
No Evening Hours Week of Dec.18 All student services, including Student Development Services, Admissions, Registration and Records, Student Financial Services, Learning Center, Libraries, Testing Center and the Wellness and Fitness Center, will close at 5 p.m. the week of Dec. 18. Payroll Due Date Reminder Due to the upcoming holiday break, payroll dates have been adjusted.
12/29/23 Payroll:
Employee time sheets are due Friday, Dec. 15 at 5 p.m.
Manager approval of time sheets is due Monday, Dec. 18 at 5 p.m.
This pay covers the period 11/26/23 - 12/16/23 (this is a three-week period)
1/12/24 Payroll:
Employee time sheet submission due date is TUESDAY, Jan. 2, 2024 at 5 p.m.
Manager approval of time sheets is due WEDNESDAY, Jan. 3, 2024 at 5 p.m.
This pay covers the period 12/17/23 - 12/30/23; full-time hourly employees should enter TOP (time off paid) for the college holidays of Dec. 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29.
If you will not be on campus when time sheets are due, please ensure that your time sheet is completed and submitted prior to leaving campus. If you normally approve time sheets and will not be on campus on the due date, please ensure you have a proxy set up to approve your time sheets, or approve your time sheets before you leave campus. Alternatively, if you are off campus and have internet access, you can log in to your MyValley account by going to www.kvcc.edu to access the Banner Self-Service application to submit and/or approve time sheets.
Any questions may be directed to the Payroll Department. You may call Anita Gonzales at ext. 4872 or send an email to payroll@kvcc.edu. Announcing: Standing Ovations Standing Ovations is a new yearly internal publication that celebrates professional achievements completed within the scope of your profession. Not only will it give us an opportunity to celebrate our work, but it will enable us to learn more about our colleagues.
After you have uploaded your professional headshot you will be able to submit your achievements. You may submit up to three entries per publication. The description should be no more than 250 words. For our first publication, you may go back five years (years 2019 - 2023). Submissions will be reviewed by President Washington.
The current publication will be available for submissions from Dec. 13, 2023 through March 15, 2024. If you have any questions, please email Cathy Colella.
Submission Form Extended Absence Greetings Before you leave for break, remember to activate the extended absence greeting features available on your college email and voice mail. Use the suggested copy below:
Thank you for contacting Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Our offices will close for holiday break beginning Friday, Dec. 22 and remain closed through Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. College offices will reopen on Tuesday, Jan 2. Information and many services are available at www.kvcc.edu. Winter Semester 2024 classes begin on Monday, Jan. 8. Thank you.
Schedule a Meeting with TIAA Rep Virtual meetings with TIAA financial consultant Tonya Bobbitt are now available for those with TIAA accounts. Making decisions about money can feel difficult, especially when it comes to retirement. But you don't have to go it alone - especially since access to TIAA financial consultation is included as part of our retirement plan. more Volunteers Needed! Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time during the fall semester to support Valley Food Share. Valley Food Share distribution continues for the winter semester as a drive-thru service alternating between the Food Innovation Center and the Texas Township Campus on Thursdays between 2 - 4 p.m. Volunteers are needed to pack the shares on Thursday mornings, unload the truck and distribute shares to students. With supervisor approval, please sign up to help!
If you have any questions, please email foodshare@kvcc.edu. Welcome Table Volunteers Help welcome students back to campus by volunteering at one of the many welcome tables on the college's different campuses. There are a number of locations with varying days and times when support is needed.
Follow this link to check out the opportunities to help.
Log in and select your preferred volunteer opportunity, date and time(s).
Click SAVE under each section that you clicked a box in. You will receive a confirmation email for each time slot.
LAST CALL: Commencement Caps, Gowns, Honors Regalia
Please spread the word to December graduates that they can buy commencement regalia up until 5 p.m. today at the Bookstore on the Texas Township Campus. Also for sale are diploma frames, graduation yard signs and mortarboard graphics. The graduation ceremony is Sunday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. at Miller Auditorium at Western Michigan University.
Bookstore Accepts Winter Financial Aid on Dec. 18 Dec. 18 is the first day that students can use winter financial aid to make purchases at the Texas Township Campus Bookstore. Both in-store and online purchases are eligible. That date is also when Winter 2024 books will begin to be in stock. Web orders can be shipped anywhere in the U.S. for just $5, or picked up at the Bookstore or at the Anna Whitten Hall Library in downtown Kalamazoo. Shop online anytime at bookstore.kvcc.edu, or in person next week Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
New College Collateral Available As a reminder, new college collateral is available and should be used going forward. Use this form to request new letterhead.
Online templates of the new materials are available in the employee portal under "Marketing." A Microsoft Word version of the letterhead, in addition to the PDF, is now available.
Updates from Public Safety
Kalamazoo Valley�s Public Safety Department would like to inform all staff that Public Safety and Facilities Services will be testing all of the various alarms at all campuses on Wednesday, Dec. 28. Please be aware that alarms will be sounding and warning messages will be displayed if you plan on being in the building on this day.
Public Safety works in conjunction with its neighbors and partners. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety has opened up a substation at 248 N. Mall. This station is directly behind the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. It is not open 24 hours a day, but usually during daytime hours. If an emergency exists outside, dial 911, pick up a Kalamazoo Valley blue emergency phone or call x4911. We look forward to having the extra police presence to help us keep the campus safe.
'Tis the season for gift giving. Here are some package theft prevention tips:
Request delivery dates and times, if applicable, for when you are home or when someone can accept them. Porch thefts are always on the rise during the holiday season.
Request, if practical, the delivery company hold the package for you to pick up when available or require a signature. You may even be able to request a location for the shipper to place the package that is a better option than the open front porch.
Consider installing a video surveillance system like Ring, Google, Arlo or others.
Some companies, like Amazon, allow you to purchase a secure box that they can lock the package inside of at your home.
Food Service Schedule Cougar Caf� Dec.18 - 21
7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | No Subway, grill or salad bar, only grab-n-go items and beverages
Dec. 22 - Jan. 1
Closed
Jan. 2 - 4
7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | No Subway, grill or salad bar, only grab-n-go items and beverages
MI ECHO Scholarship Applications Accepted Through Dec. 31 Students who face barriers accessing federal financial aid due to immigration status are encouraged to learn more about the Michigan Equality, Courage, Hope and Opportunity (MI ECHO) scholarship. The program covers the cost of tuition, contact hours and other mandatory fees associated with obtaining a certificate or associate degree in the state of Michigan.
To qualify, students must live in Michigan, be a DACA recipient, have Temporary Protected Status (TPS), asylum pending, Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ) or an immigration status preventing them from qualifying for federal financial aid. Those receiving federal financial aid, the Futures for Frontliners scholarship or who receive awards from the Michigan Reconnect program are not eligible.
"This is a very unique scholarship opportunity for students who typically cannot access federal financial aid,� said Kristina Pudasaini, Kalamazoo Valley international student coordinator. �It allows them to have a tuition-free pathway. I would encourage any student who meets the criteria to apply." more
Kalamazoo Valley Libraries:
AWH Library Temporary Closure, Library Returns & Instruction Requests Arcadia Commons Campus Library Closure: Dec. 18 - Jan. 5
The Arcadia Commons Campus Library will be temporarily closed starting the week of Dec. 18 through the week of Jan. 1 for carpet replacement. AWH 308 will be available for students to return library material and the computer lab in the Center for New Media will be available for computing and printing. The library will reopen Jan. 8.
Library Returns
Don�t forget that it is time to return borrowed library materials. Please return any items that are due and contact the library if you would like to request a renewal. To return books and media, please drop off materials at any book drop or library service desk. A convenient 24/7 book drop is located outside the tower entrance at the Texas Township Campus. Laptops and hotspots should be returned to the circulation desk at either library location. Find a great winter break book to read while you�re here!
Instruction Requests
Why wait? Book a library visit for next semester. Bring your class to the Library Instruction Lab (LIL) to meet with a librarian. Empower your students with information literacy skills, including navigating databases, evaluating sources and proper citation. Request library instruction in the LIL through Astra. From the Events tab, click on �Request Event.� Then, choose �Library Instructional Lab� from the drop-down menu. Submit the details of your request and a librarian will get back to you with scheduling information. You can also arrange for a librarian to come to your classroom. For online classes, we offer Zoom. For synchronous classes we can make instruction videos and activities available. Please email Amy Brandt TTC abrandt@kvcc.edu or Jim Ratliff ACC/BHLC jratliff@kvcc.edu with your instruction request and we will work with you to meet your learning goals.
High School Art Contest Winners Announced Winners of the second Kalamazoo Valley Community College Greater Kalamazoo High School Art and Design Competition Exhibit have been announced. The exhibit includes nearly 70 pieces of art created by students from 13 different high schools.
The exhibit opened at the Center for New Media in downtown Kalamazoo on Dec. 1 and will remain on display throughout the months of December and January. Four awards were given for Best of Show, first, second and third places. more
Law Enforcement Academy Celebrates 96th Graduating Class Kalamazoo Valley Community College�s Law Enforcement Academy celebrated its 96th graduating class on Tuesday, Dec. 12 in Dale B. Lake Auditorium. Law Enforcement Academy Director Karen Rivard opened the ceremony and L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D., president of Kalamazoo Valley Community College, provided welcome remarks.
The academy�s newest graduates include:
Savannah Ashbrook (class speaker)
Logan Geisler
Kyle Hodgson
Cameron Hureskin
James Kusa
Ronald Washegesic
Slade Weekly
All of the cadets were sponsored by local law enforcement agencies and will begin work as police officers following graduation. Click here to view pictures from the ceremony. To learn more about the academy, contact Rivard atkrivard@kvcc.edu.
Culinary Graduates Have Special Celebration Kalamazoo Valley�s culinary arts and sustainable brewing graduates were honored during a special celebration on Dec. 13.
"It makes me really proud to see how far our students have come; their graduation truly represents the culmination of their hard work, dedication, and passion," said Director of Culinary and Brewing Education and Chef Instructor Stephanie Hughes-Winfrey. "Spending so much time with our students in lab classes really allows us as instructors to connect and get to know our students personally. Seeing them achieve this accomplishment is super special. It's hard to see them go, but there's such a sense of pride in knowing they will flourish in the industry." See photoshere.
The graduates include: Baking and Pastries - Jordan Higgins, Brenda Potter, Kassaundra Willis Culinary (Fall) - Kayla Adams, Ryan Egeler, Heather McLogan, Glenn Noffsinger, Zachary Ullrey,
Britany Williams Culinary (Summer) - Jennifer Burnett, Susan Hubbell, Christian Reisig Brewing - William Barrett, Bryan Denman, Tobin Hernandez
Wind Turbine Technician Academy Celebrates Graduation Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Wind Turbine Technician Academy (WTTA) will celebrate its 28th graduating class today at the Groves Campus. The ceremony is hosted by Thomas Sutton, director of wind energy and technical training services, and includes welcome remarks from Craig Jbara, vice president for strategic business and economic development. Each graduate received a surprise scholarship of $5,000 from the Avangrid Foundation.
The academy's newest graduates include:
Anna McClurkan � Kalamazoo, Michigan
Matthew Prentice-Sao � Plainwell, Michigan
Developed with input from industry leaders, Kalamazoo Valley's nationally accredited program is one of the country's leading academies for aspiring wind turbine technicians. Over the years, the WTTA has attracted students from across the U.S. and around the world. Graduates experience active careers and travel internationally to accommodate employer needs. more Pinning Ceremony Happens Tomorrow Kalamazoo Valley�s practical nursing (P.N.) and registered nursing (R.N.) classes are celebrating graduation on Saturday, Dec. 16. The P.N. pinning ceremony begins at 11 a.m. in Rm. 4240 at the Texas Township Campus and the R.N. pinning ceremony takes place at 1 p.m. at Dale B. Lake Auditorium, also at the Texas Township Campus. The R.N. graduates are:
�We are so proud of all of our graduates,� said Director of Nursing Lori Orr. �I�m confident that they�re ready to begin putting their training to work caring for patients.� Students Spread Holiday Cheer Kalamazoo Valley students put their compassion into action during a community service project that was designed to spread holiday cheer. Honors Program participants and other students, including those from the Kalamazoo Valley Accelerated Associate Program (KVAAP) and other student organizations, gathered to create holiday cards for Residential Opportunities Inc. clients who are transitioning to independent living.
Honors student Audrey Mattson came up with the idea for the project. �At first, this project simply started as an idea in my head to help spread holiday cheer. I�ve always carried a deep passion for the arts,� Mattson said, explaining that she graduated from high school with an Academic Excellence in the Fine Arts distinction. She started making holiday cards and then enlisted the help of her peers. more Valley Launches 2024 MLK Day Events Online Calendar Kalamazoo Valley Community College will coordinate the digital community calendar for MLK Day 2024 events. Every year, the community has enjoyed the convenience of going to a central webpage to learn about Martin Luther King Jr. Day programs and service opportunities in the Kalamazoo area. Visit MLK Day. Please share the URL - https://www.kvcc.edu/mlkday/ - with your contacts, and keep checking the landing page as it will be continually updated as items are received. If you or an organization you know has a MLK event open to the public, please submit it for consideration at marketing@kvcc.edu. Click herefor submission guidelines, such as what should be included in the calendar entry, length and photos. Also, save the date for the college�s MLK Day celebration on Feb. 1. more
Basketball Player Breaks Most Points-Per-Game Record Kudos to Valley freshman Joey Liedel for breaking the college's 44-year-old record for most points scored by a player in a basketball game! He scored 51 points in a non-Conference home game against Albion College, JV team, on Dec. 4. The previous record was 49 points, achieved by former student Mark Roberts at a Dec. 14, 1979 game. Valley won the game, 113-85! Read the full story here. See the men's basketball team in action at the next home game at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. in the main gym at the Texas Township Campus. Admission is free.
Kalamazoo Valley Museum Offers Free Winter Break Fun The Kalamazoo Valley Museum invites the whole family to enjoy FREE and low-cost activities daily during Winter Break Dec. 27 - Jan. 6. Crafts, dance, film and more will be offered around the theme of "Stories We Share,� designed to celebrate the art of storytelling and the various forms it can take. Admission is free to exhibits, activities and the museum. The lineup will be augmented by family-friendly shows at the museum�s planetarium throughout Winter Break for $3 per person. Buy tickets at kalamazoomuseum.org, or at the front desk. For the full list of activities and hours, visit kalamazoomuseum.org.
Museum Launches Adult Discovery Series and Retro Caf� Join the Kalamazoo Valley Museum for its new monthly adult series. The next session is Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. Cost is $3. Guests will �cook� a comet and discover what comets are comprised of. The event concludes with light refreshments. As space is limited, pre-registration is required at kalamazoomuseum.org or 269.373.7990. The series will be offered the second Tuesday of the month through March 2024.
Closing Dec. 30: �Wonder Media� Exhibit that Builds News Literacy The Kalamazoo Valley Museum�s �Wonder Media: Ask the Questions!� exhibit invites pre-teens, teens and adults to engage in critical thinking about news and media literacy topics by interacting with 14 highly interactive activity stations, providing a fun and hands-on way to build skills to better spot misleading news and information. The exhibit will be ending a 1�-plus year run on Dec. 30. Admission is free to the exhibit and the museum. Click herefor more details about the exhibit.
NOW OPEN � Furniture Exhibit Featuring Two Centuries of History For a limited time, the Kalamazoo Valley Museum provides a rare peek at its unique items in storage, some never seen publicly at any point since the museum's founding in 1881! The FREE, "Off the Shelves: Exploring the Kalamazoo Valley Museum's Furniture Collection� exhibit showcases the museum�s furniture collection spanning over 200 years of history, from mass-produced to one-of-a-kind pieces, like a replica of King Tut�s throne. Also see Dobbin the horse, which was used to train cavalry officers; the neon Hoekstra Hardware sign that graced the back entrance of the store for several decades; and other pieces that all tell stories. The exhibit runs through Jan. 21. Entry to the museum and exhibit are free.
