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

February 2, 2023

Greetings,

February is always a busy month for our students and the entire college community. This year is no exception. 

I know that many of you are juggling the care of family members along with the demands of your work at the college. Our students also juggle multiple demands on their schedules. However, many students can accelerate the completion of their degree or certificate if they are able to squeeze in just one more class this semester. Additional second part-of-term classes start soon. Please encourage your students to consider this option.

Part of our busyness is associated with keeping up with the information that bombards us daily. For the most up-to-date information about what is happening at the college, I encourage you to check the college calendar and news postings on the homepage of the college website daily.

In addition, we have added a new weekly "Friday Focus" e-publication that provides headlines about important college events and activities. We are doing our part to keep you informed. Please do your part to access the information we provide.

Let's keep pressing forward, together!

Sincerely,

Signature: L. Marshall Washington
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President

Business and Finance Office
New Mileage Rate for 2023
Beginning Jan. 1, the standard mileage reimbursement rate increased to $0.655. Mileage that occurred prior to Jan. 1 will be reimbursed at $.0.625. Please contact the Muriel Hice with any questions.


Kalamazoo Valley Dished Up Activities at Two Locations at the Chili Cook-Off
Culinary and sustainable food club members served up their own chili creation at Brewery Outre at 567 E. Ransom St. at Kalamazoo's annual Chili Cook-Off over the weekend. The dish was a hearty, sweet and spicy chili composed of two kinds of beef, multiple peppers and chilies and includes Brewery Outre's newest release, the Cerberus Porter as part of the ingredients. More
Renee Martin, Kelly Reed, Tom Hamann, Cindy Cole, Erin Dominianni, Aaron Snead, and Louis Thomas
Employees Enjoy Speakers, Networking at Catalyst University
Nearly 1,000 business professionals and community leaders gathered Wednesday, Jan. 25 and Thursday, Jan. 26 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel to be inspired, energized and focused at Southwest Michigan First's Catalyst University. Kalamazoo Valley was an event sponsor. Renee Martin, Kelly Reed, Tom Hamann, Cindy Cole, Erin Dominianni, Aaron Snead, and Louis Thomas attended on Wednesday (pictured above). Nkenge Bergan and Tracy Labadie attended on Thursday.
Academic programs
Kalamazoo Valley, WMU Sign Agreement Leading to Smoother Degree Path for Students
Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Western Michigan University recently signed a new agreement, paving the way for students to transfer more efficiently from Kalamazoo Valley to WMU. The signing ceremony with the presidents and provosts from each institution was held at Kalamazoo Valley's Texas Township Campus. more
Valley Food Share
 
Volunteers Needed!
The success of the Valley Food Share program is dependent on volunteers. Volunteers are needed to unload the truck and distribute shares to students on Thursdays between 1:30 - 4 p.m. Time commitment is 30 minutes or one hour. With supervisor approval, please sign up to help!
 
If you have any questions, please email foodshare@kvcc.edu.
Valley Hub: Food innovation locally delivered

Kalamazoo Valley Community College Hosts the First ValleyHUB Summit
More than 70 farmers, food producers, food service directors and buyers, community and state partners and stakeholders gathered at Kalamazoo Valley's Texas Township campus to connect, learn and share.

The first annual ValleyHUB Summit, held on Jan. 12, created an opportunity for ValleyHUB staff to share about the state of the food hub and engage in meaningful discussions around food safety, crop planning, institutional food procurement and more. Farms, producers and buyers from across Southwest Michigan were represented - including some of the farms instrumental in the development of ValleyHUB. more

employee engagement and wellness committee
Committee Announces Fun February Plans
The Employee Engagement and Wellness Committee invites you to have some fun during the month of February! We have scheduled some healthy, interesting and/or FUN activities over the month of February. The intention is to bring some sunny times this winter. If you follow this link you will see what we have in mind. We also look forward to your feedback and ideas. Thank you. 
phi theta kappa honor society

PTK Induction Ceremony
Faculty and staff are invited to attend tonight's PTK Induction Ceremony at 6:30 p.m. in the Texas Township Campus Theater, Room 4240. PTK is the international honor society for two-year colleges. Please attend and help welcome our students and their families to campus. Contact Alison Nord with any questions.

center for new media

Black Artists Exhibit Opens Tomorrow at the CNM
In collaboration with community partners, the Center for New Media will host an exhibition of works by local Black artists. The exhibit opens tomorrow, Feb. 3 at 5:30 p.m.

"We are confident that this event will continue to build on the success of the past Black Artists Exhibits," said Center for New Media Director Tom Hamann. "The community's great response this event has proven that there is a large and enthusiastic regional audience for this type of programming and exhibition."

The exhibition is part of the college's celebration of Black History Month. Artwork will be exhibited in the Center for New Media and its Arcus Gallery throughout the months of February and March. The artwork can also be viewed on the Center for New Media's Facebook and Instagram accounts. A total of 13 artists have submitted 35 works of art for display in the show.

The Center for New Media is located on Kalamazoo Valley's Arcadia Commons Campus in downtown Kalamazoo.
human resources
The following full-time position has been posted for both internal and external applicants.
  •     Director of Public Safety
  •     Director for Recruitment & Outreach
  •     Lab Manager Sciences
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.
Taps on tuesdays
Taps on Tuesdays Continue
Taps on Tuesday social events have resumed at the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building. These happy hours are hosted by culinary and brewing students and staff from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Beer and food pairings, appetizers and wine will be available for purchase. Walk-ins only; no reservations required. Taps on Tuesday will continue Tuesdays through April 18. Plan to attend a special alumni Taps on Tuesday on April 11.
office of diversity and inclusion
Kalamazoo Valley Community College's MLK - Beyond the dream: beloved community
MLK - Beyond the Dream
The Kalamazoo Valley Community College "MLK - Beyond the Dream" committee is honored to cordially invite you to the college's 2023 "MLK - Beyond the Dream" convening. The 2023 theme is Beloved Community, modeled after Dr. King's vision of a community absent of poverty, hunger and hate. Join us as we collectively reflect upon what a beloved community truly means, our roles in building beloved community and the work that must be done in order to achieve beloved community.
 
We will be hosting two consecutive events. The second builds upon the prior, so we sincerely hope that you are able to join us for both - but please feel free to attend even if you are only available for one event. On Feb. 9, we will be defining a "beloved community" and identifying how our organizations work to serve our communities. On Feb. 23, we will reflect upon and organize around the work that needs to be done to further create a beloved community here in Kalamazoo.
 
We appreciate everything that you have been doing to create beloved community and would love for you to share your wisdom with us. Please see below for event details:

Defining Beloved Community
Thursday | Feb. 9 | Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Texas Township Campus | Room 4240
 
Building Beloved Community
Thursday | Feb. 23
5:30 - 7 p.m.
Texas Township Campus
Room 4240

Please RSVP by Feb. 6 to cmarch@kvcc.edu or tbatson@kvcc.edu. Let us know if you require any accommodations or have any special dietary needs.
Lunch & Learn: Understanding Bias and Oppression
Build the DEI skills employers and supervisors are looking for through participation in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion Lunch & Learn Series, Feb. 27 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Theater, Room 4240 (TTC).

This month's topic is "Understanding Bias and Oppression" - learn how bias and oppression impact our lived experiences:
  • An introduction on how to interrupt bias in oneself and in others.
  • An introduction to understanding how oppression works and how to support others through oppression.
Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by email to cmarch@kvcc.edu or tbatson@kvcc.edu.

libraries



 

Kalamazoo Valley Libraries:
ValleyREADS, Most Important Book, Survey, ValleyCat
Visit the Kalamazoo Valley Libraries at both the Texas Township Campus and Anna Whitten Hall this winter. We look forward to sharing our spaces, support and resources with you!
 
Introducing ValleyREADS
Do you want to encourage your students to read for fun? Interested in helping them develop a reading habit? Research shows that recreational reading can lead to personal and academic growth. And, sharing books and new ideas is a great way to connect with others. Share our new ValleyREADS LibGuide to help students learn more about the power of reading.
 
Most Important Book Read in College
We asked faculty and staff around the college to tell us about the most important book they read in college. You and your students can learn how these influential books made an impact by: 1) checking out our ValleyREADS displays at TTC and AWH libraries, 2) visiting our Most Important Book LibGuide and 3) watching the video.
 
Take our Survey
What is the most important book YOU read in college? We want to know about the books that are important to you and your students, and invite you to fill out this survey. We will be adding many of these books to our library displays. 
 
ValleyCat Online Catalog
Look for library books (print and electronic) by using the ValleyCat online catalog, which is the search box right in the middle of the library homepage. Learn how to search or create an account by watching our ValleyCat tutorials or by asking a librarian for help. 

We look forward to connecting with you!

Visit us online
Call 269.488.4328 
Email: libraries@kvcc.edu
Chat with a college librarian 24/7
Zoom: by appointment. Please email libraries@kvcc.edu
Follow us on Instagram
athletics
Youth Day at Feb. 11 Basketball Games!
Calling all youngsters in grades K-12 everywhere and the adults who love them! You're invited to Big Brothers Big Sisters Day at Kalamazoo Valley Community College's FREE home basketball games on Saturday, Feb. 11! The women play at 1 p.m. and the men at 3 p.m., against Lansing Community College, in the main gym at the Texas Township Campus.

Note that the event is open to ALL youth, both in and outside the BBBS program. We also hope that Kalamazoo Valley students and other adults consider attending. A representative will be on hand to share information about how to be a mentor.
 
For more information, contact Athletic Director Russ Panico at rpanico@kvcc.edu or 269.488.4393. Find the full season here.

Big Brothers, Big sisters day at kalamazoo valley community college. Saturday, february 11. 1 and 3 PM games at texas township campus 6767 west O avenue, kalamazoo. Free admission! Youth in grades K-12 amd the adults who love them are invited to attend women's and men's basketball games. For more inforation, please call valley athletics at 269-488-4395 or visit athletics.kvcc.edu
Time Together. Teach. Talk. Tech.

Register Now for February's Time Together: Teach | Talk | Tech
More than 40 faculty and staff attended the first Time Together: Teach, Talk, Tech last month. This is a new opportunity to engage monthly in focused and relevant professional development with fellow faculty members. Short 10-minute presentations highlight different topics each month, with plenty of time for conversation and discussion. See photos here.

The next Time Together session is Feb. 17 in Room 4240 (TTC) at 9 a.m. The February teach topic is: Culturally Responsive Student Interaction facilitated by Diane Roushangar and the tech topic is: Using the Canvas Inbox facilitated by Halea Kasishke: Register now to attend this month's gathering. Breakfast will be served.
What's happening at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its board of trustees


Photographers from Nearly 40-Year Photo Project Honored
News Channel 3 was there to cover the historic moment when the original organizers of a nearly 40-year-long photo documentary project joined with some of its volunteer photographers from over the years for a celebration, on Saturday, Jan. 21, in the Mary Jane Stryker Theater at the college's Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Check out the story here, and enjoy more event photos online here.
 
Some of the photographers in attendance were Arya Jayatilaka, Dodie McGuire Raycraft, Ray Novess, Becky Klose, John Lacko, John Seward, Leslie Lance, Jack Sizer, Deb Killarney and Sam Zomer. Speakers included John Lacko, one of the lead organizers of the project; L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D., president of Kalamazoo Valley; Bill McElhone, Kalamazoo Valley Museum director; and Regina Gorham, collections manager.
 
The project began as a way to capture life in the city of Kalamazoo in 1984, during the city's 100th anniversary year, but soon expanded to chronicle everyday life throughout Kalamazoo County. The result of this collaboration between community photographers and the Kalamazoo Valley Museum is a new exhibit at the museum of about 100 images, selected from the thousands taken since the project began.

The "Moments in Time: The Kalamazoo County Photo Documentary Project" exhibit will be on display until June 2023. It features the work of 41 of the 152 photographers who participated in the project. Admission is free to exhibits and to the museum. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit kalamazoomuseum.org. 

mental health mind matters

Bring Your Kids to Mental Health Exhibit Storytime
Save the date for Saturday, Feb. 18 from 1-3 p.m. for a special storytime suitable for children that'll touch on mental health. It takes place at the college's Kalamazoo Valley Museum in downtown Kalamazoo. Kids and caregivers will listen to the story book "How Full is Your Bucket?" by Tom Rath. At the conclusion, a hands-on activity for the kids and caregivers will be available for them to reflect on what their own bucket of positive and negative interactions might look like. Then visit the newly opened special museum exhibit "Mental Health: Mind Matters" on the third floor. Learn more about mental health and how to be kind to your mind.
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Kalamazoo Valley Community College
6767 West O Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49003-4070