Time is a very precious resource and I thank you for the time you have dedicated to our students and guests throughout 2022
KV FocusPlus
MISSION STATEMENT Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable
opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive.
Dec. 16, 2022
Greetings,
Time is a very precious resource and I thank you for the time you have dedicated to our students and guests throughout 2022. You turned every challenge into an opportunity for service.
From diverse, local exhibits at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and the first high school student art show at the Center for New Media, to new and revised innovative in-person, online and blended instruction courses and programs and a revised college mission statement and five-year strategic plan, teamwork made this past year one for the record books.As you step away from the college for a long winter break, I encourage you to find ways to rest and recharge.
As our thoughts turn to the new year, and as we make plans for how to prioritize our time during 2023, let the mission statement and strategic plan help guide the way.May the impossible become possible for you next year as we continue to create opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive.
Sincerely,
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
We continue to make remarkable progress toward the goal of making Kalamazoo Valley a place where every student can learn, grow and thrive. In addition to the new mission statement, on Sept. 13, the Board of Trustees adopted a new five-year Strategic Plan. It includes three overarching goals:
Forecast and prepare for future learners, holistically supporting their educational goals.
Embed diversity, equity and inclusivity in all processes across the college.
Leverage broad expertise and intentional partnerships to best serve the college community.
Many employees lead or serve on college committees. As you meet together, remember to review your committee's goals to ensure alignment with our strategic plan.
Important Updates from the Provost Submission of Fall 2022 grades are due by noon on Wednesday, Dec. 21.
Academic Standing communications will be sent out to students on Dec. 22 following fall grade roll.
Changes to the Authorization for Registration Exception (ARE) form:
After the instructor completes the electronic ARE form, it will be routed to the student via Dynamic Forms. The student has the opportunity to approve the registration and provide details about other courses they would like dropped or withdrawn. The form will then be routed to ARR for processing. This change will allow for the student to provide consent to registration activity/changes.
Curriculum (approved by BOT this month):
Course and/or program changes in Biology, Education, Medical Assisting and Nursing
New Courses in Biology, Education and Energy System Technology
New Program in Energy Systems Technology (Certificate of Achievement)
Community College Student Survey of Engagement (CCSSE) will return in Winter 2023 and it will be in an online format
Faculty, in preparation for Winter 2023, please remember to:
Post your class schedules and office hours on office doors (this helps students and your colleagues)
Use the monthly cut/paste notes for students with your Canvas course site
Student Services Winter 2023 Snapshot Sheet will be available for distribution during the Summit in January.
Email Conversion to Outlook 365 The email conversion from Zimbra to Outlook 365 has begun and will continue over the next weeks. The Information Technologies team is facilitating the transition department by department. Following the student grade submission deadline of Dec. 21, faculty mailboxes will be moved. You will have to use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to access your Outlook email.
If you completed your Jan. 5 Winter Summit registration, your MFA is already configured. If you have not, there are videos and instructions below for installing the options for MFA:
Training and how-to videos: Video 1 - Set up MFA using Microsoft Authenticator app on a smartphone (written instructions) Video 2 - Set up MFA using Microsoft Authenticator app on a smartphone (video) Video 3 - Set up MFA using text or phone call
The help desk is staffed and available to provide assistance, should you have questions. Remote support will be available Dec. 26 - Dec. 30 and then beginning again on Jan. 2. During these days, callbacks will happen between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
To access that support during the holiday break:
Email IT@kvcc.edu
Call 269.488.4498 (leave a voicemail)
Onsite support will be available Jan. 3 when we return after the holiday break.
Register Now for the Winter 2023 Summit It's time to register for the Winter 2023 Summit! The Summit will take place on the Texas Township Campus Jan. 5 starting at 8 a.m., with check-in beginning at 7:30 a.m. outside of the Auxiliary Gym. The college will reopen at 1 p.m. The faculty Summit continues from 1 - 5 p.m.
As a security best practice, logging into certain college systems (such as email and MyValley) will soon require an extra step to verify your identity using a mobile app, phone call or text message. This extra step at login is called multi-factor authentication or MFA. Our new registration system is one that requires MFA.
To set up MFA and register for the Summit, click here.
For catering and printing purposes, registration is required by end of day, Dec. 21.
Job Posting Announcement The following full-time position has been posted for both internal and external applicants.
Financial Aid Assistant at TTC
If you or someone you know is interested, visit Kalamazoo Valley's job board and search available jobs. Please contact Human Resources if you have questions or need assistance creating an applicant account.
Renee Martin, SHRM-CP
Employment & Training Manager
Training Required to Serve on a Hiring Committee Diversity and Bias in the Search Committee Process - Jan. 6 | 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. | TTC Room 1350
As a college, we are committed to fostering the continued growth of underrepresented groups within faculty and staff, promoting faculty and staff awareness of diversity and inclusion and educating and promoting standards of inclusion for equitable treatment of all individuals. This training will help search committee members commit to executing fair and equitable hiring processes that not only reflect the standards of how we treat people but aid in the selection of individuals who will contribute to the achievement of our goals. Please contact Trice Batsonor Scott Hall to register. Welcome Table Volunteers Needed
Help welcome students back to campus in January by volunteering at one of the many welcome tables. 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.
If you have questions, please contact Levi Funk. Sign up Now to Volunteer for Valley Food Share Valley Food Share, an initiative designed to meet the immediate food needs of Kalamazoo Valley students, couldn't be possible without the help of volunteers. Thank you to the following people who helped out during the fall semester:
Lisa Peet
Nancy Young
Amy Bradt
Robyn Hughes
Dawn Kemp
Earlene McMichael
Lynn Grammel
Amy Mulhall
Sara Hubbell
Gabrielle Vernon
Stephanie Moats
Amy Gill
Nathan Rickey
Jean Mupupuni
Carol Fillenworth
Shawn Jackson
Ethan Kane
Sophia Wilson
Kelly Reed
Renea Peruski
Tim Welsh
Erin Dominianni
Nkenge Bergan
Bernice Mike
Levi Funk
Josh Bartz
Claire Michael
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 unload the truck and distribute shares to students.
Vestaron to Lease Space from the College Kalamazoo Valley Community College has entered into a two-year leasing partnership with Vestaron, a biologic crop protection company. The operation will be housed in the college's Business and Technology Park in Texas Township.
The partnership was established based on Vestaron's desire to find a short-term space while pursuing the purchase of land to build a new company headquarters facility. "This opportunity aligns with the college's commitment to extend opportunities for potential internships and employment for students," said Kalamazoo Valley President L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
According to Anna Rath, Vestaron president and CEO, "Vestaron is expanding and we are excited about leasing laboratory space at Kalamazoo Valley Community College as part of our growth plan. We look forward as well to accessing Kalamazoo Valley's student talent as we have Western Michigan University and other local universities."
Vestaron is leading a peptide-based revolution in crop protection. The company is committed to providing growers with novel, effective peptide-based biopesticides that address proven targets. Vestaron's peptides overcome existing resistance issues while offering a desired safety profile for workers, beneficials and the environment. Vestaron has earned global recognition for its work, including the inaugural 2015 Bernard Blum Award for novel biocontrol solutions, the prestigious Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute in 2020 and Best New Biologic Product in the 2021 Crop Science Awards.
Marine, Mom and College Graduate Heather Austin Demonstrates Persistence, Lifelong Passion for Learning Heather Austin, Kalamazoo Valley's student speaker for its 87th Commencement Ceremony on Dec. 18, is no stranger to hard work. Austin is one of the 278 students who plan to participate in the ceremony at Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium.
In addition to graduating from Valley, Austin is about to celebrate 20 years as a U.S. Marine and graduated from Advance Career Course on Dec. 17. The single parent has juggled full-time work as an operations manager for FedEx while completing her associate degree in business administration and caring for her five children, who range in age from 10 to 16.
The Clare, Michigan native graduated from high school in 2003 and immediately joined the Marine Corps. "I joined because I wanted to belong to something bigger. It doesn't matter where you go, there's always a Marine." She loves the camaraderie so much that she recently re-enlisted. more
LAST CALL! Buy Commencement Caps, Gowns by Dec. 16 Please spread the word to December graduates that they can buy commencement regalia up until 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16at 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. 18 at 2 p.m. at Miller Auditorium at Western Michigan University.
Bookstore Accepts Winter Financial Aid on Dec. 19 Dec. 19 is the first day you can use winter financial aid to make purchases at the Texas Township Bookstore. Book authorizations will end on Jan. 25. Both in-store and online purchases are eligible. The Bookstoreis open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday. Note that the college will be closed on Friday, Dec. 23 and reopens on Tuesday, Jan. 3. However, online orders can be placed anytime at bookstore.kvcc.edu. Online orders can be mailed to any address, or held for pickup at the Texas Township Campus Bookstore or at the Anna Whitten Hall Library at the Arcadia Commons Campus in downtown Kalamazoo. Shipping is $5.
Need a Holiday Gift? Try the Bookstore! The perfect gift for your Kalamazoo Valley student, alum, employee and their families is Cougar gear! Get everything from comfy college-branded sweatshirts, pants, socks, t-shirts and hoodies, plus mugs, backpacks, baseball caps, water bottles and more at the Texas Township Bookstore. For your convenience, you can shop online at bookstore.kvcc.edu. Shipping is $5. Buy in person from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday.
Police Academy Graduates 23 at this Week's Ceremony Kalamazoo Valley Community College Law Enforcement Training Center held its 94th Police Officer Training Academy graduation earlier this week at the college's Texas Township Campus.
Twenty-three cadets completed the 16-week program. All were sponsored by local law enforcement agencies and will begin working in the community in the coming weeks. The ceremony included a "pinning ceremony" where representatives from the sponsoring agencies pinned the academy graduates with his or her new badge. Among the graduates, six are employed by Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, five with Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office and two with Battle Creek. Ontwa Township, Kalamazoo Township, Covert Township, Van Buren County, Lincoln Township, Decatur, Dowagiac, Portage and Benton Harbor also all sponsored cadets in the class.
Wind Turbine Technician Academy to Celebrate Graduation Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Wind Turbine Technician Academy (WTTA) will be celebrating its 26th graduating class on Friday, Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. at the Groves Campus. The ceremony will include welcoming remarks from Craig Jbara, vice president for strategic business and economic development, and will be hosted by Tom Sutton, director of wind energy and technical training services.
Members of the graduating class include:
Kadin Bennett (class speaker) - Midland, Michigan
Ian Nibbelink - Zeeland, Michigan
Jeffrey Zsigrai - Oregon, Ohio
Kalamazoo Valley's Wind Turbine Technician Academy's nationally offered competency-based program continues to garner notable recognition for its accreditation and innovative training. Over the years, the WTTA has attracted graduates from across the country and the world. More
Nursing Graduates to Celebrate Program Completion with Pinning Ceremony Graduates of Kalamazoo Valley's nursing program will celebrate the completion of their studies with a pinning ceremony at 1 p.m. on Dec. 17 in Dale B. Lake Auditorium on the Texas Township Campus.
The future nurses will take the Nightingale Pledge which reads,
"I pledge, in the presence of those assembled: To practice my profession with conscience and dignity,
To provide the highest standard of nursing care to all people without prejudice,
To act always in a manner that reflects human dignity and respect,
To apply my knowledge and skills appropriately,
To hold in confidence matters committed to me in the practice of my profession,
To maintain and elevate the standards of my profession.
All these things I pledge, freely, willingly and upon my honor as a nurse."
The ceremony will be led by Dean of Health Careers and Sustainable Foods, Tanya McFadden, Ph.D. The graduates are: Carly Abelia, Erica Bosby,* Katelyn Box, Grace Briden, Carli Cook, Rachel Cubbage, Kristin Eldred,* Jill Etter,* Melissa Guzman, Ansley Haan,* Gracie Hatfield, Abby House,* Kaitlyn Hutson,* Morgan Jackson, Elmira Jones, Tania Jones, Marcie Kalembkiewicz,* Leah Keyzer,* Madison Lindsey, Cassidy Miller, Kaylee Nagel, Kathryn Nicholson,* Rose Owinga,* Allison Pape, Emily Post, Cameron Rasler, Makayla Robinson, Robbi Root, Rachel Russon, Tamia Sandifer-Thomas,* Marline Sarno, Kimberly Schanz, Tyler Tramel, David Watkins,* Sarah Weiss,* Daniel Yosief,* Siphiwe Wentzloff and Linda Zinglianmawi.
Watch for photos from the ceremony on the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Flickr page.
*indicates high honors
The Campus Band is Back On Dec. 9, the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Campus Band performed its first concert since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Practice sessions are held from noon to 1:10 p.m. in Dale B. Lake Auditorium on Mondays and Wednesdays. Students are welcome to participate by signing up for MUS 110 or simply bringing an instrument and dropping in.
James Roach, retired Loy Norrix High School band and orchestra director, is serving as the director. For more information, email him at jroach@kvcc.edu.
The band's next performance will be during Commencement at Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium at 2 p.m. on Dec. 18.
High School Art Contest Winners Announced at the CNM The winners of the first Kalamazoo Valley Community College Greater Kalamazoo High School Art and Design Competition Exhibit were announced during Art Hop on Dec. 2. The exhibit includes 70 pieces of art created by students from 16 different high schools including, Covert High School, Kalamazoo Innovative Learning Program, KRESA, Kalamazoo Central High School, Portage Central High School, Loy Norrix High School, Van Buren Tech Center, Lawton High School, Mattawan High School, Portage Northern High School, Decatur High School, Gull Lake High School, Comstock High School, Home School/Gull Lake Virtual High School, Schoolcraft High School and Bloomingdale High School.
The winners are:
Best of Show - Gabriel (Gabe) Huntley, Van Buren Tech Center
Animation - "Sonic vs. Scorpion"
Award - Two semesters of tuition (15 credit max per semester) and additional funds for books and materials for enrollment in the Studio Arts or Applied Media Technologies programs.
First Place - Alexa Garcia, Portage Central
Encaustic Art - "Pile of Metal"
Award - $500
Second Place - Olivia Clauda - KRESA CTE Art & Design
Digital Illustration - "Through the Stained Glass"
Third Place - Malia Kleis, Kalamazoo Central
Woodblock & Ink - "Forever In Thought"
Honorable Mention - Sydney Hughes, Kalamazoo Central
Mixed Media - "My Life On Paper"
Honorable Mention - Timothy Zhang, Portage Central
Oil On Canvas - "The Window"
The exhibit will remain on display at the Center for New Media in downtown Kalamazoo throughout the months of December and January. This contest will be an annual event at the CNM, according to Director Tom Hamann. The contest and related exhibit will be on display every year during the months of December and January in the Arcus and Center for New Media gallery spaces and open on the evening of Art Hop. Four awards will be given, for Best of Show and first, second and third places. "We're extremely pleased with the success of this inaugural show. The student submissions were excellent and we had more than 300 visitors come through the building during Art Hop," said Hamann. "The quality of the art and the level of participation exceeded our expectations."
See photos from the event opening by clicking here.
PTK Donates Hats, Scarves and Mittens Kalamazoo Valley Community College's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for two-year colleges, recently completed a donation drive to collect hats, mittens and scarves for Kalamazoo Public School students. The drive concluded on Dec. 1 and collected over 264 items for students in need.
On Dec. 6, Kalamazoo Valley's PTK Chapter President, Kayleigh Overhuel, as well as chapter member Monica Clemente, met with Kalamazoo Public Schools' Basic Needs Coordinator Sara Ware to donate the items collected through the drive. more
TTC Cafe & Coffee Shop Hours - Break & Holidays During the upcoming semester break, food and beverages will be available on Texas Township Campus as follows.
Enjoy a Home Basketball Game Over Break If you're looking for a free, fun activity with a variety of dates from which to choose, Kalamazoo Valley men's and women's basketball games are a great option! They take place in the main gym at the Texas Township Campus. Here's the remaining home game schedule for this month. Your friends and family are welcome, too!
WEDNESDAY | DEC. 28 | 5:30 p.m.
Women's Basketball, Valley vs. Detroit Christian Community College
WEDNESDAY | DEC. 28 | 7:30 p.m.
Men's Basketball, Valley vs. Detroit Christian Community College
For the full season schedule, click here. Check out our sizzle reel here. Payroll Due Date Reminder 1.13.23 Payroll:
Employee time sheet submission due date is TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2023 at 5 p.m.
Manager approval of time sheets is due WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4, 2023 at 5 p.m.
This pay covers the period 12.11.22 - 12.31.22 (this is a three-week period); full-time hourly employees should enter TOP (time off paid) for the college holidays of Dec. 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
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.eduto 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 488.4872 or Molly Riley at 488.4239 or send an email to payroll@kvcc.edu.
Free Winter Break Fun at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum Winter break is around the corner! Need some fun and free (or low-cost) things to do with kids? Our Kalamazoo Valley Museum has several activities you can check out! See below. Click here for the full schedule.
TUESDAY - THURSDAY, DEC. 27 - 29 | 10 a.m. - noon & 1:30 - 4 p.m.
Join us for Space Discover Days activities to learn how NASA makes discoveries about the universe! Ages 5 & up.
WEDNESDAY | DEC. 28 | 1, 1:35 & 2:10 p.m.
Meet live birds of prey in a show by Kalamazoo Nature Center staff.
FRIDAY | DEC. 30 | 1 - 3 p.m.
Enjoy New Year's party-hat decorating, drawing and writing activities.
TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY, JAN. 3 - 4 | 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. | $3
"Let It Snow" holiday music and light show comes to the planetarium.
WEDNESDAY | JAN. 4 | 1:30 p.m.
Watch sand painting artists create winter-themed pieces live to music.
THURSDAY | JAN. 5 | 2 p.m. | $3
Experience the "Let It Snow" holiday music and light show at the planetarium.
FRIDAY | JAN. 6 | 1 - 3 p.m.
Make cute winter owl magnets and color!
Admission is free to the museum, as well as to the birds of prey and sand painting shows. Planetarium shows are $3. For more info and tickets, click here. Tickets can be purchased at the front door or online.
'Wonder Media' Exhibit: Great Choice for Older Kids Looking for something to do with older kids in December, especially during winter break? Visit the Wonder Media exhibit at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum! This new exhibit provides a fun way to explore the skills necessary to navigate an increasingly important issue: spotting misinformation in whatever form it may appear, from printed and online articles to social media posts, ads and everything in between. It features 14 news and media literacy-building activity stations, which will be of interest to students in sixth grade and higher, as well as adults. Watch a virtual tour here! Admission is free to exhibits and to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. The museum is open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, click here.
Expose Your Li'l Tots to Space! Our Kalamazoo Valley Museum has a new "Astronaut Training" theme in its free Children's Landscape play area that serves ages five and under! Children can use their imagination, train and become an astronaut, then launch into space and test the experiments aboard their spaceship.
Holiday Music Planetarium Show Runs Now - Jan. 5 What do Frank Sinatra, Chuck Berry, Brenda Lee and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra have in common? They and other popular artists are featured in the "Let It Snow" holiday music and light planetarium show running now through Jan. 5 at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum! See below for a full list of showtimes. Buy tickets at the front desk, or in advance by choosing from the list of dates at kalamazoomuseum.org/planetarium. Tickets: $3 (museum entry is free). Run time: 30 minutes. Check out the trailer here!
Ride the FREE Holly Jolly Trolley in Downtown Kalamazoo
Did you know the Holly Jolly Trolley in downtown Kalamazoo is co-sponsored by Kalamazoo Valley Community College's own Kalamazoo Valley Museum, and it's FREE? You can ride it Thursdays through Sundays, Nov. 27 - Dec. 19; Saturday, Dec. 24; and Saturday, Dec. 31, for limited hours. See below for the schedule. Catch the trolley on the hour, and 30 minutes after the hour, at Kalamazoo City Hall, the first stop. The trolley makes eight stops each trip!
For questions about the Holly Jolly Trolley, call 269.388.2830.
Visiting Writers Series Kalamazoo Valley's "About Writing" Visiting Writers series is coordinated by English instructor Julie Stotz-Ghosh, Ph.D., and offers students the opportunity to talk with professional writers and listen to their work.
The visits take place in the Student Commons Theater, Room 4240, at the Texas Township Campus. All events are free, open to the public and include a 10 a.m. craft talk and a 2:15 p.m. reading by the author.
Tuesday | Jan. 24
Ada Limón | Virtual event at 3 p.m.
Poetry - "The Hurting Kind"
Ada Limón is the author of six books of poetry, including "The Carrying," which won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry. Her book "Bright Dead Things" was nominated for the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. Her work has been supported most recently by a Guggenheim Fellowship.
She was the host of the critically-acclaimed poetry podcast, "The Slowdown." She grew up in Sonoma, California and now lives in Lexington, Kentucky where she writes and teaches remotely. Her new book of poetry, "The Hurting Kind," is out now from Milkweed Editions. She is the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States.
Limón joins a long line of distinguished poets who have served in the position, including Joy Harjo who served three terms in the position (2019-2022), Juan Felipe Herrera, Charles Wright, Natasha Trethewey, Philip Levine, W.S. Merwin, Kay Ryan, Charles Simic, Donald Hall, Ted Kooser, Louise Glück, Billy Collins, Stanley Kunitz, Robert Pinsky, Robert Hass and Rita Dove.
"What an incredible honor to be named the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States. Again and again, I have been witness to poetry's immense power to reconnect us to the world, to allow us to heal, to love, to grieve, to remind us of the full spectrum of human emotion," Limón said. "This recognition belongs to the teachers, poets, librarians and ancestors from all over the world who have been lifting up poetry for years. I am humbled by this opportunity to work in the service of poetry and to amplify poetry's ability to restore our humanity and our relationship to the world around us."
