Our work requires a great investment of skill, talent, time and
KV Focus Plus
MISSION STATEMENT Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable
opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive.
July 1, 2024
Greetings!
Our work requires a great investment of skill, talent, time and energy. We have come through an amazing year together and now as we look toward summer, we can pause and reflect on this past year. As a part of this reflection, I hope that you will be able to take some time away from your work to truly rest and recharge.
I have found that time away from the office, classroom and day-to-day activities allows me to reflect on accomplishments and plan for the future. However you plan to rest and recharge this summer, please know that your efforts are deeply appreciated and that together we are making the college a better place for all to learn, grow and thrive. Have a safe and enjoyable July 4!
Sincerely,
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
Interest in School of Cosmetology and Barbering Exceeds Expectations Kalamazoo Valley's new School of Cosmetology and Barbering will officially open its doors to students during the Fall 2024 semester. Classes will be taught by employees of the college in renovated spaces on the college's Texas Township Campus. The nearly 10,000 square-foot lab space includes the cosmetology school's salon and spa and the barbering school's barbershop.
Interest in the new program has exceeded expectations, according to Mark Dunneback, dean of instruction at Kalamazoo Valley.
"To date, more than 600 people have expressed interest in the new cosmetology and barbering programs," Dunneback said. "We are thrilled that so many people want to enroll in classes to become the next generation of cosmetologists and barbers. We are excited to welcome them to campus."
According to Dunneback, preliminary plans are to start with full and part-time cohorts of 40 cosmetology and 20 barbering students twice a year, beginning in October and February, with the eventual goal of having three cohorts per year. Students accepted into the first two cohorts will be notified in July.
Additionally, 30 cosmetology and up to 15 barbering students from the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) will be taking classes at the new school in the fall.
Discounted services to the community will be offered beginning in late summer. Watch for updates and details at www.kvcc.edu/haircare.
WFC Hours this Week Monday, July 1 | 6 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tuesday, July 2 | 6 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Wednesday, July 3 | 6 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The pool is closed for the week. It will reopen Tuesday, July 9 from 4 - 6 p.m.
Welcome to Our Newest Employees The Kalamazoo Valley ranks continue to expand. The first list below includes employees who were promoted to new positions between April and June 2024 and the second list includes all new full-time employees who were hired during that time period. Welcome!
Employees Promoted to New Full-Time Positions
Jennifer Higby | Associate Director of Law Enforcement Training Academy
Sarah Cyr | Academic Records Manager
Michael Sanford | Security Officer
Tiffany Kuriata | Youth Pipeline and Dual Enrollment Coordinator
New Full-Time Employees
Rachel Colingsworth | Associate Director of Financial Aid
Mary Cox| Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator
Bailey Glass-Cooper | Community Culinary and Nutrition Program Support Specialist
Fernando Gonzalez | Health Careers Retention and Completion Coach
Hannah Higgins | Wind Academy Instructional Manager
Stefanie Kingseed | Events Coordinator
Amie McPharlin | Immigrant Student Retention and Completion Coach
David Zokvic | Faculty Success Center Instructional Designer
Diversity and Bias in the Search Committee Trainings Diversity and Bias in the Search Committee is a required training for anyone wishing to serve on a search committee. All staff and faculty are welcome, even if they have taken it before. This is a session that has evolved over time, so some material and content may be new. This is also a worthwhile experience for anyone wishing to help in the continuous effort of moving our institution toward achieving one of the critical goals in the college's strategic plan.
Upcoming Mi-ACE Networking Event The Kalamazoo Valley Mi-ACE Team will be hosting a networking event called "Sip and Connect" on Wednesday, July 17 at 8 a.m. in Room 4370 (TTC). This is an opportunity for the women of the college to learn more about the Mi-ACE work and to connect with each other. Please RSVP to Gabby Vernon by July 11.
Mi-ACE is a professional network for Michigan women in higher education. The network's mission is to provide avenues for professional growth, networking, collaboration and engagement. Our participation with the network demonstrates our commitment to lifting up the women of Kalamazoo Valley. Volunteers Needed! Volunteers are needed to represent the college at the July 13 Black Arts Festival in Bronson Park in downtown Kalamazoo. The festival runs from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sign up now for a two-hour shift.
Call for Proposals The Fall Summit will be held Aug. 28 and 29 and presenters are needed. Has your department embraced new practices or procedures that others could benefit from knowing? Do you have a skill, talent or activity that others might enjoy? Do you have something to share with the college community? Everyone at the college is invited to submit a proposal for the Fall 2024 Summit. Submit your proposalshere.
Time to Breathe: An Eight-Week Offering (Hybrid Format) Join Director of Operations & Instructional Support Services Cathy Colella at Anna Whitten Hall or via Zoom from wherever you may be. We will briefly introduce a topic to contemplate (15 minutes) and then meditate together (10 minutes guided, five minutes silent). Please bring a notebook. Sessions take place from 4 - 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays.
July 25: Looking Deeply | RegisterNow Aug. 1: Strong Emotions | Register Now Aug. 8: Cooling Anger | Register Now Aug. 15: Going Slow | Register Now Updates from KVAAP New Eligibility Requirements KVAAP recently expanded its eligibility requirements so more students can qualify. Students can now enter the program with up to 30 credit hours earned instead of 15 credit hours. Students are required to take nine or more credit hours per semester, instead of 12 credit hours.
KVAAP's Fall 2024 goal is to accept 75 new students into the program. Prospective students can learn more about all of the eligibility requirements atkvcc.edu/kvaap, or they can email KVAAP staff atkvaap@kvcc.edu.
Upcoming KVAAP Events
Wednesday, July 3 | 10 a.m. | KVAAP Info Session
Tuesday, July 9 | 5 p.m. | KVAAP Info Session
Attending a KVAAP Info Session is a required part of the application process. Interested students can registerhere.
KVAAP Summer Social We had a great time connecting with students, faculty and staff at the Summer Social on June 6. Stay tuned for more upcoming KVAAP events.
What is Psychological Safe Space? Find out July 23 You're invited to a one-hour workshop on fostering psychological safety and self-awareness to be held Tuesday, July 23, from 10 - 11 a.m., in Room 4380 on the Texas Township Campus. Gain practical tools to express your authentic self and thrive both professionally and personally. Explore social identities and learn respectful interaction guidelines. Tea, coffee and pastries are served. It is the second in a new series from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion called "DiversiTea!," featuring discussions over tea. Preregistrationrequired. Photographer on Campus Are you in need of a professional headshot? A professional photographer will be available to take employee photos Aug. 5 in the lower level area of the Student Commons on the Texas Township Campus. Appointments are available in 10-minute increments from 9 - 10:50 a.m. Sign up now. Cool Off With a Cougar T-Shirt from the Bookstore Warm weather is T-shirt weather! And the Texas Township Campus Bookstore has a great selection of T-shirts, especially college-branded ones. Come on in and find the style right for you, or buy online at bookstore.kvcc.edu.
Frisbee, Anyone? Get a Cougar-branded One this Summer! Today we salute Walter Fredrick Morrison, inventor of the Frisbee! You can honor Walter this summer with your very own Cougar flying disc! Get yours at the Texas Township Campus Bookstore! Shop in person or online. Now a little trivia: The Frisbee was originally called Pluto Platter when the Wham-O toy company began production of the disc in 1957. Who knew?
Tickets for September Opportunities for Education Event Available Now The 2024 Opportunities for Education Scholarship Fundraising event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Food Innovation Center at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, 224 E. Crosstown Parkway in downtown Kalamazoo. The event will feature some of the region's most popular restaurants, along with student and faculty chefs from the college's culinary and brewing programs. Guests will enjoy a walk-around tasting under a large tent where they can sample signature dishes. Students in the Sustainable Agriculture program will offer tours among the vegetables, flowers and herbs growing in the Food Innovation Center's greenhouse and grounds. more Picture Yourself Here is a new monthly feature that highlights Kalamazoo Valley students who are excelling in their field of study. Know of a student we should highlight? Email marketing@kvcc.edu.
Picture Yourself Here: Lavender Stewart Homeschooled Portage resident Lavender Stewart wasn't certain that she would go to college, but taking a few classes proved to be the key to forging her way forward. She works part time as a package handler at Fed Ex in Portage and has been a part-time college student since 2018.
"I always said I didn't want to go to college because I thought it would be too big and overwhelming," she said. That was before she started exploring the options at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. "It wasn't a hard transition because I did a lot of independent study for high school. There's just a lot more information to cover now," Stewart said.more
Alumni Spotlight: Tom Vaughn of Mattawan Mechanical Services Tom Vaughn II, the owner of Mattawan Mechanical Services, has navigated a remarkable path from the humble beginnings of his garage-based shop. A graduate of Mattawan High School in 1983, Vaughn delved into the world of HVAC, studying at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Since 2000, he has been providing top-notch services at 28895 Red Arrow Highway in Paw Paw, Michigan.more
Free, Interactive Rain Garden Tours Offered Through Aug. 31 Explore the museum's Rain Garden with free interactive tours available at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays through Aug. 31. The 20-minute tours are designed for all ages. Preregistration is encouraged. Tours will be canceled or moved inside in cases of inclement weather. Visitkalamazoomuseum.orgfor more information.
Exhibit Exposes Youth to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math The newest exhibit at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum brings to life New York Times best-selling children's book series "The Questioneers," which centers on five fearless, problem-solving second-graders who dream big, persevere and aspire to science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) careers. The free traveling exhibit "The Questioneers: Read. Question. Think. PLAY!" is open now through Sept. 1. The exhibit poses questions, identifies challenges and sparks creative problem-solving. Admission is free to the exhibit and the museum. Visit kalamazoomuseum.orgfor more details.
Take the Kids to the Museum's for Free Summer Activities Need free activities to keep your children's minds active this summer? Bring your young ones to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum's drop-in Discovery Quest program from June 20 through July 25. Every week, expect different science, technology, engineering, art and math activities for grades kindergarten through seventh. Youth will read, question, think and play. Activities include enjoying story times and scavenger hunts, learning about the science of light, designing a building, and more. No registration needed. Just show up! Admission is free to the program and to the museum. Special science-related planetarium will be available for $3 per person. Find the full schedule of activities with dates and times visitkalamazoomuseum.org.
