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MISSION STATEMENT
Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable
opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive.

Dec. 16, 2024

Greetings,

Kalamazoo Valley values excellence and quality. You have demonstrated those values by all that we have achieved together in 2024. I am impressed by how you have pursued innovation, embraced change as an opportunity and expanded the boundaries of knowledge in your various areas of expertise. Thank you for all of the passion and hard work you have dedicated to our students and guests throughout the year. Your creativity and perseverance have truly sustained our mission to create innovative opportunities.

As you step away from the college for a winter break, I hope you find ways to rest and recharge. When we return refreshed in 2025, let our shared mission to create innovative and equitable opportunities inspire us to continue on our successful path. May all of us, not just our students, find opportunities to learn, grow and thrive in the new year.

Sincerely,

L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
In Memoriam: Harland Fish | June 30, 1940 - Dec. 7, 2024
The college community is mourning the loss of Harland Fish, physics faculty member who passed away Saturday, Dec. 7. Fish taught thousands of students at Kalamazoo Valley beginning in the fall of 1974, first as a lab technician and then as an instructor starting in 1976. He was dedicated to his field of science and how to bring it to life for his students. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in physics from Western Michigan University. He will be missed by all.
College Graduates Celebrated
Congratulations to the Kalamazoo Valley Community College graduates who walked in our December commencement ceremony on Sunday Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. at Western Michigan University�s Miller Auditorium.

More than 180 students, including those who graduated in August, celebrated their accomplishments and received their degrees. Board Chairperson Lucinda Stinson spoke along with psychology instructor Meredith Holland, Ph.D., and student speaker, Romello Phillips. See photos here.

Register Now for the Winter 2025 Summit
The Winter 2025 Summit will be held Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Texas Township Campus and will include the Board of Trustees' annual breakfast and employee years of service recognition. Registration is now open. Click here to register.

Advising and Counseling Appointments
On Tuesday, Dec. 17, advising and counseling staff will offer same day appointments, closing at 5 p.m. From Thursday, Jan. 2 - Friday, Jan. 17, staff will see students on a walk-in basis. No appointment is necessary.

Volunteer Now for Welcome Tables
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.
  1. Follow this link to check out the opportunities to help.
  2. Log in and select your preferred volunteer opportunity, date and time(s).
  3. 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 Miranda McDowell.

Adjusted Building Hours
From Sunday, Dec. 15 through Monday, Dec. 23, the college will have adjusted building hours. Click here to see specific campus hours.
You Are Not Alone � Community Resources Available
The holiday season can be a time of both joy and challenge. Some of our students, co-workers, friends, relatives or even ourselves may need assistance, especially around this time of year. We want to make sure that you are aware that the college has a list of community resources on our website. Click here. We encourage you to share the list with others.
 
Employee Assistance Program
Did you know that all employees at Kalamazoo Valley have access to our Employee Assistance Program? This is a confidential work-based program that offers resources to employees. For more information, click here.

Retirement: Office of Retirement Services and Voya
For those who have a MPSERS and/or Voya account, Voya offers one-on-one virtual appointments and webinars. To sign up for a session or to view dates and times, click here.
 
NEW! Starting Jan. 1, 2025
Employees who are enrolled in the BCBS medical plan will have access to Personify Health. For more information on how to kickstart your well-being journey, go to the Employee Portal. Under Human Resources, go to �Documents� under Benefits, Wellness & Engagement and select the Blue Cross Well-Being Quick Start Guide to get started, or click here. A few key features are below:
  • Ability to synchronize with more fitness apps and devices, including Apple Health and Fitbit
  • A health care checklist to help you keep track of recommended preventive care
  • Guidance to programs and resources based on your specific needs
After Dec. 31, 2024, WebMD will no longer be available to employees.
 
New Employee Orientation Dates for January to June 2025
Every new hire attends a New Employee Orientation. Below are the dates for the first six months of 2025. Sessions run from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for full-time employees, and until 1:30 p.m. for part-time employees.

Monday, Jan. 6                              Tuesday, Jan. 21
Monday, Feb. 3                              Monday, Feb. 17
Monday, March 3                           Monday, March 17
Tuesday, April 1                             Thursday, April 17
Thursday, May 1                             Monday, May 19
Monday, June 2                              Monday, June 16

 

Fire Prevention Tips
Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Public Safety department offers the following fire prevention tips:

  • Test fire detectors every month and install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home in bedrooms and hallways.
  • Have a plan with your loved ones on what to do if there was a fire.
  • Have accessible fire extinguishers, especially in the kitchen.

If there is a fire emergency in college buildings, follow these tips:

  • Activate the nearest red fire alarm pull box.
  • Immediately evacuate through the nearest exit.
  • DO NOT use elevators.
  • Make sure you evacuate 100 feet away from the building.
  • Faculty, report any missing person(s) once evacuated.

Faculty, please review fire safety with your students at the beginning of each semester to ensure everyone�s safety. Learn more about safety procedures here.


Thank You Volunteers!
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:
  
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 assemble the shares, 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.

This Week at the Cougar Cafe
The Cougar Cafe will have a tasty selection of food choices this week! Monday through Thursday, stop by for some chili. Monday, Dec. 16, the cafe will be serving a mac and cheese bar. Tuesday, Dec. 17, stop by for some enchiladas. Wednesday, Dec. 18, get a winter Cobb salad with your chili. And on Thursday, Dec. 19, finish the week strong with some wings at our wing bar. We look forward to serving you!

New Tuition Waiver Form
The tuition wavier form has been updated to a new online form in Etrieve. The new form can be accessed in the Employee Portal in the Human Resources section under Education and Training Resources. All new tuition waiver requests should be submitted using this form. If you have any questions or issues while completing the form, please contact either HR at hr@kvcc.edu or Business Services at acounts_receivable@kvcc.edu.

Payroll Due Dates
Due to the upcoming holiday break, we wanted to send a friendly reminder of the due dates for payroll so you have time to make any necessary adjustments to ensure your reports are properly completed and approved on time.
12/31/24 Payroll:
  • Employee time sheets are due Friday, Dec. 13
  • Manager approval of time sheets is due Monday, Dec. 16
1/15/25 Payroll:
  • Employee time sheet submission due date is Friday, Jan. 3, 2025
  • Manager approval of time sheets is due Monday, Jan. 6, 2025
  • This pay period is a three-week pay and covers the period Dec. 15, 2024 - Jan. 4, 2025; full-time hourly employees should enter TOP (time off paid) for the college holidays of Dec. 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31 and Jan. 1.
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. Please contact the Payroll Department with questions. You may call Anita Gonzales at x4872 or Megan Collins at x4898 or send an email to payroll@kvcc.edu.
 
Accounts Payable Year-End Processing Schedule
The last accounts payable check run of calendar year 2024 will be this week. To ensure your invoices are paid timely prior to the holiday break, invoices should be approved, coded and submitted to Business Services no later than 5 p.m. today, Dec. 16. Invoices received after this time will be processed when the college reopens in January.
Save the Date for Valley's MLK Jr. Celebration on Jan. 30
Mark your calendar! Join Kalamazoo Valley Community College at our Martin Luther King Jr. discussion luncheon honoring three community members on Thursday, Jan. 30 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Texas Township Campus. Watch for more details soon. �The 2025 Kalamazoo Valley Community College Annual MLK Beyond the Dream Celebration � Protecting Freedom, Justice and Democracy� event is free, and open to the general public and the campus community. The college is aligning itself with the official theme for 2025 set by The King Center (The Center for Nonviolent Social Change), which is �Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence365.�

Submit 2025 MLK Events for Valley�s Community Calendar
Kalamazoo Valley Community College is once again the host to a comprehensive webpage of MLK Day events. If you or an organization you know has a 2025 MLK event open to the public, please submit them for consideration at marketing@kvcc.edu. They should be brief, and include date of event, start and end time, location, event title, event description, event sponsor and a �for more information� contact (website, phone number, etc.). Indicate event type, such as lecture, workshop, play, etc. Spread the word! It is OK if the submitted event falls before, on or after the actual MLK Day federal holiday, which is Jan. 20.

Join our Distribution List for Upcoming Events
Thank you everyone for the incredible engagement and attendance at the Office of Diversity and Inclusion�s numerous programs this fall! Ranging from exploring neurodiversity and psychological safety to celebrating multiple cultures and much more, attendees tell us these events are spurring dialogue and learning. Periodically, we share information about upcoming events with individuals on our distribution list. If you would like to be added to the list, click here to complete a short Google form.
High School Art Contest Winners Announced
During the December Art Hop, the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Greater Kalamazoo High School Art and Design Competition Exhibit awarded eight awards to local high school artists in the Kalamazoo area. The winners include:
  • Best of Show: Grace Totten - "Remnant"
  • Director's Choice: Jada Shaw - "Don't Lick That"
  • First place: Pinmanee Eiamtamai - "One Track Mind, One Track Heart"
  • Second place: Zach Gruszczyk - "Beyond the Void"
  • Third place: Elizabeth Bierlein - "Grandma"
Three students were awarded Honorable Mention:
  • Sophia Solberg - "Observation of Fleeting Moment"
  • Jaida Hertlein - "The Body Remembers, Even When the Mind Doesn't"
  • Erika Bengelink - "Graffiti"
Didn't get a chance to see the art? All of the artwork will be on display in the Arcus and Center for New Media gallery spaces through January. See pictures here.
 


WFC Closed for Reflooring
The Wellness and Fitness Center will be closed Monday, Dec. 16 - Wednesday, Dec. 18 to update flooring. It will reopen Thursday, Dec. 19 at 6 a.m.

Holiday Hours
Thursday, Dec. 19, Friday, Dec. 20, and Monday, Dec. 23, the Wellness and Fitness Center will be open with adjusted hours of 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be closed, along with the college, Tuesday, Dec. 24 through Wednesday, Jan. 1. From Thursday, Jan. 2 through Friday, Jan. 10, the Wellness and Fitness Center will be open, again, with adjusted hours of 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. The pool will be open Monday, Jan. 6 through Thursday, Jan. 9  from 3 to 5 p.m.

Honors Program Students Give Back by Creating Holiday Cards
Kalamazoo Valley Community College�s Honors Program students recently gathered to create holiday cards for the second year in a row to give back to the community. They will be donating these cards to a local nursing home, Medilodge of Kalamazoo.

Honors Program Vice President Audrey Mattson, who created the idea, said this has been a rewarding experience.
 
�When I first started this, I thought five to 10 people would show up. Amazingly, 25 people showed up. I was blown away. That just shows you how amazing the Honors Program people are because they genuinely care about people and our community,� Mattson said. more

Updates from KVAAP

We recently welcomed a new recruitment coordinator to the KVAAP team, Colin Johnson. If students are interested in learning more about KVAAP, or the KVAAP application process, please have them reach out to him at cjohnson5298@kvcc.edu or x7948.



KVAAP Talent Show

There was a great turnout for the KVAAP Talent Show on Dec. 6! The show included 11 performances from KVAAP students and Kalamazoo Valley Community College staff. The acts included music performances, poetry and videos made by KVAAP students. Student artwork was showcased as well. This event will be held annually so be on the lookout for the next talent show.

Upcoming KVAAP Info Sessions
Wednesday, Dec. 18 | 10 a.m.


Attending a KVAAP Info Session is a required part of the application process. Interested students can register here.
Library Returns
Don�t forget that it is time to return borrowed library materials.
  • Return all borrowed materials by the last day of the semester, Saturday, Dec. 14.
  • Contact the library if you would like to request a renewal.
  • Drop off books and media at any book drop or library service desk.
  • Return laptops and hot spots to the circulation desk at either library.
  • Use the convenient 24/7 book drop outside the Tower entrance at the Texas Township Campus to return books and media.
Study Spaces
Both the Texas Township Campus (TTC) and Anna Whitten Hall (AWH) libraries have quiet and scenic study spaces with computer and printer access. Students can stretch out and enjoy a drink or snack. The TTC Library has study rooms available on a walk-in basis. The lower level study room has a computer workstation with a webcam, so students can attend a Zoom class in the library.

Hours and Contact Information

 
Surprise! A Pop-Up 30% Off Holiday Sale on Dec. 17!
The Texas Township Campus Bookstore is offering a special 30% off Tuesday to help you wrap up your holiday shopping! Stop by between 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17 to take advantage of the sale.

Gift Giving Got You Stumped? Try the Bookstore
Looking for a Christmas gift for Cousin Sue, a Hanukkah gift for your buddy Lou or a Festivus gift for your boo? Remember the friendly folks at the Texas Township Campus Bookstore. They have art supplies, comfy hoodies, Hydro Flask drinkware, PopSockets, tons of souvenirs, winter hats, Pinch Me Therapy Dough and much more, like books by such authors as Robin Wall Kimmerer and Toni Morrison. Still not sure what to get? Why not a Cougar gift card? Shop in person, or online at bookstore.kvcc.edu. Remember, the store has gifts for whatever holiday you celebrate!
 
Fall Book Buyback Scheduled for Dec. 16 - 20
Let students know that they can get cash for their used Fall 2024 books at Book Buyback. It takes place Dec. 16 - 20, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Texas Township Campus Bookstore. They can find out which books will be accepted and for what amount at the Bookstore website at bookstore.kvcc.edu.
 
Bookstore Accepts Winter Financial Aid on Jan. 2
Thursday, Jan. 2 is the first day that students can use winter financial aid to make purchases at the Texas Township Bookstore. Both in-store and online purchases are eligible. The Bookstore is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday. However, online orders can be placed anytime at bookstore.kvcc.edu. Online orders can be mailed to one�s home or other 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.
 
Bookstore Selling Uniforms for Winter Semester Classes
Remind brewing, barbering, cosmetology and nursing students that the Texas Township Campus Bookstore sells uniforms. The Bookstore works with faculty and vendors to get the best value, and students can use financial aid. Stop in person or order online at bookstore.kvcc.edu. The store also has class kits and relevant supplies such as stethoscopes, penlights, train cases, study aids and more.
 

Softball Team Helps Salvation Army Raise Funds
Kudos to the Lady Cougars softball team for collecting donations as Salvation Army bell ringers! They served outside the Harding's Market in the Woodbridge Shopping Village in Portage on Saturday, Dec. 7.

FREE Home Basketball Games at Valley!
Conference play doesn�t officially begin until January, but you can check out the winning moves of Kalamazoo Valley�s women�s and men�s basketball teams now! They�ve been doing extremely well in pre-season games. Home games are always free in the main gym on our Texas Township Campus. One of these dates below is sure to fit your schedule!
WOMEN�S BASKETBALL
  • Wednesday, Dec. 18 | 5:30 p.m. (vs. Jackson College)
  • Saturday, Dec. 21 | 1 p.m. (vs. North Central Michigan College)
 MEN�S BASKETBALL
  • Wednesday, Dec. 18 | 7:30 p.m. (vs. Jackson College)
  • Saturday, Dec. 21 | 3 p.m. (vs. North Central Michigan College)
For the full schedule and scores, click here.
 


Free Winter Break Fun for Children Planned at the Museum
The Kalamazoo Valley Museum invites the whole family to enjoy FREE activities during winter break, Dec. 27 through Jan. 4 � all centered around STEM mysteries! Expect magic presentations and workshops, hands-on fun, cool demonstrations and planetarium shows. Admission to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and all �Mysteries at the Museum� winter break activities is free, except the planetarium shows, which are $3 per person. Seating is first come, first served for the planetarium shows and certain programming. For the schedule and activity descriptions, visit kalamazoomuseum.org.


Two Mini-Exhibits Explore Local Black History
Learn interesting local Black history facts from two mini-exhibits at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, on display now through March 2. The �One Family's Legacy: The Williams-Johnson Family� mini-exhibit features photos and mementos representing over 100 years of Black history in Kalamazoo, curated with the assistance of community leader Jacob Mabry Pinney-Johnson. Pinney-Johnson is a fourth-generation Kalamazoo resident whose family members were important to the history of Southwest Michigan. The second mini-exhibit, "Collecting Black History: Murphy Darden's Legacy,� showcases items collected by late Kalamazoo historian and artist Murphy Darden, including artifacts, images and historic documents chronicling the achievements of African Americans, as well as his artwork. Admission is free.
 
�Mystery and Benevolence� and �State Hospital� Exhibits End in January
Jan. 5 is the last chance to see �Mystery and Benevolence: Masonic and Odd Fellows Folk Art,� a traveling exhibit about secret societies featuring 80 carvings, sculptures, textiles and regalia. The �Kalamazoo State Hospital: 165 Years of Psychiatric Care� exhibit concludes Jan. 19. It chronicles the fascinating story of the Kalamazoo Regional Psychiatric Hospital, examining the history of its patients, employees and buildings on its Oakland Drive campus. Admission is free.
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Kalamazoo Valley Community College
6767 West O Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49003-4070






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Kalamazoo Valley Community College · 6767 W O Ave · Kalamazoo, MI 49009 · USA