Jan. 5, 2024

Happy New Year!

I enjoyed the time we spent together at the Winter Summit 2024 yesterday. Thank you for your participation and for your commitment to your professional development.

Although our campuses will be closed on Monday, Jan. 15 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I hope that you will consider it a "day on" and contemplate his messages and legacy. Kalamazoo Valley is collaborating with a number of community organizations to honor his memory. As your schedule allows, consider attending the 38th Annual Community Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 14 at 4 p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Kalamazoo or the Wreath Laying Ceremony at 4 p.m. at MLK Jr. Memorial Park in downtown Kalamazoo on Monday, Jan. 15.

You won�t want to miss seeing the daughter of Malcolm X, Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz, who will be presenting at Miller Auditorium on Jan. 15. I also invite you to join us at TTC on Feb. 1 for a lunch discussion �Beyond the Dream: Beloved Community,� where we will reflect with local organizations about how we can create a beloved community. Visit the college website to learn more information about these events and other opportunities to celebrate and honor the contributions of African Americans throughout January and February.

Please continue to look for ways to welcome all students to the winter semester. Belonging is an important part of each student's success. Remember that by simply acknowledging a student with a greeting or by sharing a kind word, you can have a significant impact on their success.

Stay safe and stay warm!

Summit Evaluation
Thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday�s Winter Summit 2024. In the spirit of continuous improvement, please be sure to fill out the evaluation form for the planning committee.


See additional pictures here.

---

Kalamazoo Valley Receives $19.5 Million to Renovate Skilled Trades Facilities
Kalamazoo Valley Community College has received a state appropriation of $19.5 million to renovate its Skilled Trades Wing at the Texas Township Campus.

These funds, along with an additional $19.5 million match that the college plans to raise from multiple sources, will enable Kalamazoo Valley to meet changing technology needs and the ever-growing demand for trained workers in the skilled trades. more

College Receives Funds to Enhance Renewable Energy Programs
Kalamazoo Valley Community College received $530,000 in funding from the State of Michigan Omnibus Appropriations Bill to enhance educational and workforce development in three key renewable energy market segments: Electric vehicles, EV battery charging systems and solar panel installation systems, in both residential and commercial applications. more

---

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.

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.

Scholarships Available for Students to be Mascot
Do you know someone who would want to be Kal, the Kalamazoo Valley mascot? Encourage them to apply now for the Kalamazoo Valley Mascot Scholarship. Up to two students will be awarded a scholarship in the amount of $1,200 per semester when agreeing to represent Kalamazoo Valley Community College at on-and-off campus events. Students will share the responsibility during the fall and winter semesters with the possibility for additional scholarship funds for the summer semester. Appearances include: community festivals, local K-12 school events, campus athletic games and student engagement activities on any of the college�s campuses.
Requirements

• Be actively enrolled in at least six credit hours
• Submit an application at www.kvcc.edu/finaid and tryout in front of a small committee
• Attend mascot training
• Do not disclose their identity until indicated by college administration

Valley Launches 2024 MLK Day Events Online Calendar
Are you looking for events to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year? Or perhaps a volunteer opportunity to serve others in Dr. King's honor? Check out Kalamazoo Valley Community College�s online communitywide calendar! Visit https://www.kvcc.edu/mlkday/ and share it with your contacts. If you or an organization you know has a MLK event open to the public, please submit it to marketing@kvcc.edu. Click here for submission guidelines. Also, save the date for the college�s MLK Day celebration on Feb. 1. more
 
Save the Date for Financial Literacy Presentations in February
Get the new year off to a strong start by increasing your knowledge about financial literacy. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosts local businessman and Valley alum Tevyn Grayson for two free presentations, on Thursday, Feb. 8, from noon to 1:15 p.m., at the Texas Township Campus, Rm 4240, and on Thursday, Feb. 29, from 2 to 3:15 p.m., at Anna Whitten Hall in downtown Kalamazoo, Rm 129. Both sessions include lunch. To register, contact Trice Batson at tbatson@kvcc.edu. The Kalamazoo native received his associate degree in accounting in 2015 at Kalamazoo Valley, and now owns several businesses, with his most successful being Grayson Accounting Service, which he started in 2020. He is especially passionate about helping Black youth succeed.

---

Upcoming Payroll Due Dates & Approval Dates
Due to the campus closure on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024 for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday observance, we wanted to make you aware of the modifications to the normal time sheet completion and approval deadlines to assist you in ensuring accurate and timely completion of the time sheet submission.

2/1/24 Payroll:

• Employee time sheets are due Friday, Jan. 12 at 5 p.m.
• Manager approval of time sheets is due Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 5 p.m.
• This pay covers the period 12/31/23 - 1/13/24; full-time hourly employees should enter TOP (time off paid) for the college holiday of Jan. 1.

2/15/2024 Payroll:

• Employee time sheets are due Friday, Jan. 26 at 5 p.m.
• Manager approval of time sheets is due Monday, Jan. 29 at 5 p.m.
• This pay covers the period 1/14/24 - 1/27/24; full-time hourly employees should enter time off paid (TOP) for the college holiday of Jan. 15.

Please make the necessary arrangements to ensure that your time sheet approvals are completed prior to the deadline. As a reminder, the Banner Self Service application can also be accessed off campus by logging in to your MyValley account at www.kvcc.edu. Please contact the Payroll Department with questions. You may call Anita Gonzales at x4872 or send an email to payroll@kvcc.edu.

---

Student-Run Restaurants Opening Soon
Students enrolled in Kalamazoo Valley�s Culinary Arts and Sustainable Food Systems programs put their training to work in the Havirmill Cafe and 418 restaurant. The cafe offers grab-and-go options as well as a hot bar with freshly made entrees. The 418 provides table service and a weekly specialty menu. Both are located in the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building, 418 E. Walnut St., in downtown Kalamazoo.

Havirmill Cafe hours | Monday - Friday | 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. |  Jan. 16 opening date

418 restaurant | Jan. 26 - Feb. 15 and March 21 to April 11
Tuesdays and Thursdays | 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | reservation only

Please follow the Havirmill Cafe Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KVculinaryeats and the 418 Restaurant at www.facebook.com/KVculinarydining for up-to-date information. 

Donate Blood on Jan. 18 and 29
Kalamazoo Valley Community College and its chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for two-year colleges, will be collaborating with the American Red Cross to host blood drives on Jan. 18 and 29. Incremental appointments will be available from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the following campus locations:

• Texas Township Campus Student Commons on Jan. 18
• Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building on Jan. 29

All community members are welcome to schedule a time to donate blood. Interested donors are asked to register by going to redcrossblood.org and entering the sponsor code "KVCC" in the appointment search box. Appointments are required for blood donations during these events. The American Red Cross is partnering with the NFL to offer blood donors in the month of January an opportunity to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIll. All participants will be automatically entered for a chance to win. Click here to learn more.

---

Center for New Media to Host Black Artists Exhibit in February
In collaboration with community partners, Kalamazoo Valley Community College�s Center for New Media will host an exhibition of works by local black artists in February 2024.
 
Tom Hamann, director of ambient learning environments and coordinator of campuses said, �The community�s great response to this annual event has proven that there is a large and enthusiastic regional audience for this type of programming and exhibition.� more

  

 

Thousands Flock to Kalamazoo Valley Museum for Winter Break
Congratulations to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum for attracting 3,367 visitors and participants during winter break! That�s as of Jan. 2. Museum Director Bill McElhone anticipates the final tally to exceed 5,000 visitors by this Sunday, Jan. 7. Be sure to stop by the museum between now and then to enjoy a variety of free activities centered around various forms of storytelling. Visit kalamazoomuseum.org for the list of program dates and times.
 

Museum�s Next Adult Discovery Series and Retro Cafe is Jan. 9
Join the Kalamazoo Valley Museum for its new monthly adult series. This month's two-hour program will explore the museum�s Cooking a Comet demonstration, where guests will experience the "birth" of a comet. The event includes the planetarium show "The Sky Above Us" and concludes with light refreshments. Pre-registration is required at kalamazoomuseum.org or 269.373.7990. 
 

 

�Splat� and �Off the Shelves� Exhibits Closing in January
Two awesome exhibits at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum wrap up in January. The whimsical display of over 1,000 flyswatters, �Splat! The Buzz About Flyswatters,� ends Jan. 7. Then the museum�s highly popular furniture exhibit, "Off the Shelves: Exploring the Kalamazoo Valley Museum's Furniture Collection,� ends Jan. 21. The collection spans over 200 years of history, from mass-produced to one-of-a-kind pieces, like a replica of King Tut�s throne once on display at the former downtown Kalamazoo Gilmore�s department store. Admission is free to the museum and exhibits. Learn more about the exhibits at kalamazoomuseum.org.

Planetarium Offers Children and Adult Shows in January, for $3
January planetarium shows include great offerings for all ages. For small kids, there are "Polaris" and Sesame Street's "One World, One Sky." "The Sky Above Us" is best for grades 4 and up. For adults and grades 7 and up, check out "Hot & Energetic Universe." For tickets and more details, check out the museum website here.

Kalamazoo Valley gets $19.5M from State for Skilled Trades Wing Renovations, Expansion

Nearly $20 Million to Renovate Skilled Trade Facilities, Add Automotive Program at Kalamazoo Valley

Kalamazoo Valley Museum provides family-friendly sensory bottle fun during winter break

Spend Winter Break at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum

Spend Winter Break at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum (Facebook interview) 

Murphy Darden's legacy may live on at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum

Adults Invited to Enjoy Activities at Kalamazoo Valley Museum

Hoperatives: Believers in Better Beer (and Beverages)
 
25 Best Michigan Day Trips