Next week, in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Development's (LEO) Michigan Reconnect program
KV FocusPlus
MISSION STATEMENT Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable
opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive.
July 13, 2023
Greetings!
Next week, in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Development's (LEO)Michigan Reconnectprogram,the college, along with community colleges from across the state, will host a week of events to connect working-age adults with post-secondary educational opportunities while also celebrating our current Reconnect students.
Michigan Reconnect is the largest effort in state history to ensure that Michiganders who are25 or older and do not have a college degree - more than 4.1 million in all - will have an opportunity to earn an associate degree or skills certificate with free or discounted tuition.
Since the program's launch inFebruary 2021, more than 100,000 state residents have been accepted into the program. The campaign
seeks to encourage all those who were accepted to enroll in the community college of their choice. The college has welcomed more than 1,600 Michigan Reconnect students since February 2021.
Please encourage any adult learners you know to make Kalamazoo Valley their community college of choice. Learn more about what the college has planned at www.kvcc.edu/reconnect.
Thank you.
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
Safeguarding the Computing
Environment
Kalamazoo Valley Community College takes seriously its responsibility to secure your personal information as well as the college's technical systems and resources. Within the past several months, the college has implemented additional security features and practices, such as using multi-factor authentication and system log alerting, and engaging security partners to establish constant threat monitoring and response. We are planning more security enhancements to further strengthen our cybersecurity defenses.
These additions to our security resources have improved the college's cybersecurity posture, but user activity remains the most commonly exploited method of attack. Kalamazoo Valley will be starting a new KnowBe4 security campaign near the beginning of the fall semester, and all employees are strongly encouraged to participate. We will also be offering cybersecurity sessions at the fall Summit event and implementing email phishing tests to assess employees' security awareness.
Please take the time to look at some of the cybersecurity resources linked below to help you stay cybersafe:
Unfortunately cybersecurity threats are constant, and attacks directed against Kalamazoo Valley's IT resources are an everyday reality. We will continue to use the resources at our disposal to safeguard the integrity of the college's computing environment.
Banner Upgrade Scheduled A Banner upgrade is scheduled between 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Friday, July 14. During the upgrade, Banner will be unavailable. Services such as student registration, transcript viewing, grade viewing and tuition payments made through MyValley will be unavailable.You should still be able to access Canvas courses directly via https://canvas.kvcc.edu/.
Fall Tuition Due July 17 Payment for early registration is due Monday, July 17 by 7 p.m. Students who have not paid their tuition or made payment arrangements will have their classes dropped.
Registration will be closed from 7 p.m. July 17 through July 20 at 7 a.m. Students who register July 20 or later must make payment arrangements within due five business days.
Free Food, Free Growlers Tickets, Free COLLEGE Kalamazoo Valley Community College is hosting a week of events starting July 17 as part of a statewide campaign to connect working-age adults with post-secondary educational opportunities.
Michigan Reconnect is the largest effort in state history to ensure that Michiganders who are 25 or older and do not have a college degree have an opportunity to earn an associate degree or skills certificate with free or discounted tuition. more
Styrofoam Recycling Event: Saturday, July 22 | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m | Texas Township Campus Save the date! In collaboration with the City of Kalamazoo and DART Container Corporation, the college will once again be hosting a Styrofoam recycling event at the Texas Township Campus on Saturday, July 22 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. All members of the college (students and employees) as well as the general public are encouraged to donate any collected Styrofoam they may have. If you have any questions please contact the Facilities and Event Services office at x4540.
Enrollment Events Planned Students interested in attending Kalamazoo Valley in the fall will have two opportunities to Get it Done:
Tuesday, July 25 from 2 - 6 p.m. at the Texas Township Campus
Wednesday, Aug. 9 from 2 - 6 p.m. at the Arcadia Commons Campus
Order your College-Branded Office Apparel Now The college's online pop-up shop for ordering college-branded office apparel is now available. Men's and women's dress shirts, cardigans and sweaters and hats are available. You chose the item and the color. Orders can be placed from July 13 - 31 with an estimated delivery by the end of August. All sales are final. There are no returns, exchanges or refunds. If stock becomes unavailable, you will be contacted. The college does not have samples available. Employees must use their own personal credit card for purchases and have the items shipped to their home. The site can be accessed through the employee portal, under "Marketing." For more casual attire such as T-shirts and sweatshirts, visit the college Bookstore or shop online at bookstore.kvcc.edu.
If you have questions, please contact Robyn Hughes at x4687.
College Branding Need a copy of the college logo or wondering about approved college colors? Visit branding.kvcc.edu. For questions about placement, sizing and outside vendor requests, please email marketing@kvcc.edu.
Diversity and Bias Training in the Search Committee Process If you would like to be considered for serving on a search committee, please notify your department head, supervisor or one of the employment managers in the human resources department. A requirement for serving is completing the Diversity and Bias Training in the Search Committee Process. See below for instructions on how to register for an upcoming session.
On the Employee Portal under "Education and Training Resources," click on "Staff and Faculty Development."
From the top menu, chose "Courses."
Under "Find Courses by Tags," click on "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion"
Pick one of the upcoming dates and click the link to register.
Academic Impressions Training Available
Kalamazoo Valley Community College has recently partnered with Academic Impressions, a training resource specializing in professional development opportunities for higher education faculty, staff and administrators.
Academic Impressions provides all faculty and staff at Kalamazoo Valley with membership access to a host of learning resources designed specifically for professionals working in our industry:
Access to a continuously expanding library of live online trainings, designed to be practical, discussion-based and highly experiential
Unlimited anytime, anywhere access to on-demand trainings and resources that you can engage with on your own time from the convenience of your workspace
New trainings every week, designed to respond to the latest needs of the higher ed community
$250 discount on multi week cohort-based bootcamps and roundtables as well as in-person conferences
To access member resources, click here. This link is also available on the Employee Portal - Human Resources - Education and Training Resources.
Here is a short video on how to log in to your account on Academic Impressions. Passcode: &.L7eZs9
Get Your Cup of Joe from Water Street Coffee The KVCC Foundation has been selected by Water Street Coffee as the featured non-profit organization and will be eligible to receive donations from customers who download the Water Street loyalty rewards app. For every dollar spent, customers gain points. Once enough points are earned, customers can then in turn use them for discounts on their orders or donate the equivalent to the local featured non-profit organization. See more details here.
July Art Hop Features 'Echo Location' Exhibit by Colleen Woolpert The July Art Hop exhibit at the Center for New Media's Arcus Gallery is "Echo Location" by Colleen Woolpert. The opening reception will be held on July 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. and the exhibit will remain on display from July 14 - 28, 2023.
"Echo Location," a solo exhibition by Colleen Woolpert, considers the same sites in different ways through multiple lenses. Woolpert's photographs, stereoscopic (3D) photographs, interactive objects and installations convey how she experienced the former Lee Paper Company mill in Vicksburg, Michigan with her twin sister Rani Young at the Prairie Ronde Artist Residency in the Summer of 2022. Further extending her visual motifs, Woolpert includes images from her subsequent site-specific installation at the Hill's Building in downtown Vicksburg. more
Join the Fun at the Kalamazoo Farmers Market this Summer You are invited to join the college at the Kalamazoo Farmers Market this summer. Stop by for hands-on activities and fun for the family on the third Saturday of each month. Multiple Kalamazoo Valley departments have teamed up to offer themed activities that highlight the college's programs. Community members can meet faculty and staff, learn more about the college and enjoy summer fun. Look for the Kalamazoo Valley tent in the central courtyard of the market.
Join us on any of the following dates:
July 15 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Healthy, Local Plates with ValleyHUB and Community Culinary
Aug. 19 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Diversity Makes a Vibrant Food System
Sept. 16 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Food Literacy with the Kalamazoo Valley Libraries
If you are interested in volunteering to represent the college during any of the above visits, then click here to sign up. Volunteer opportunities are available in one-hour increments. For questions, email Rachel Bair.
Summit Call for Proposals The Fall Summit will be held Aug. 30 and 31 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 2023 Summit. Submit your proposals by Aug. 3. Registration for the event will be available beginning Aug. 15.
Girls Basketball Camp Photos Available Online Enjoy photos from the girls basketball camps by clicking here for the younger players and here for the older players. Stay tuned for photos from our other sports camps, all held on the Texas Township Campus. If you or someone you know is interested in registering a child for camp, visit www.athletics.kvcc.edu, email athletics@kvcc.edu or call x4393.
Higher Promise Intern Thrives at Kalamazoo Valley A dream of excelling in a career in education is one of the aspirations that inspires 20-year-old Higher Promise intern Kambell (Kam) Fosness-Bartee. Through her internship with Kalamazoo Valley this summer, she has gained a deeper understanding of working in an educational environment.
Founded last year by the Kalamazoo Promise, a scholarship for graduates from the Kalamazoo Public Schools district, the Higher Promise program supports Kalamazoo Promise students with paid summer internships closely related to their areas of study. Local organizations and businesses take part in providing employment opportunities and mentorships for interns.
Fosness-Bartee is a junior at Michigan State University and is pursuing a degree in secondary education with a pre-concentration in leadership administration. Her internship at the college has been a hands-on learning opportunity in her educational journey. more
Center for New Media and El Concilio Collaborate for August Latino Art Exhibit A Latino Artist Exhibit to showcase the fine artwork of local Latino artists is being coordinated by Kalamazoo Valley's Center for New Media and El Concilio, which is the Hispanic American Council of Kalamazoo.
The event will premiere from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 18 and again from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19.
The event will be held in conjunction with El Concilo's Latino Summer festival on Saturday, Aug. 19.
Physical submissions will be accepted Monday - Thursday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the center doors of the Center for New Media until Aug. 10. Contact Cindy Parks at x7881 to schedule a time for delivery.
All artwork must be picked up after the show by Aug. 28. A completed Call for Entries form and the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Loan Agreement form must be submitted with artwork. Click here for more details and forms.
The 2023 Opportunities for Education Scholarship Fundraising Event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 28 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 as well student and faculty chefs from the college's culinary and brewing programs. Guests will enjoy a walk-around tasting under a big tent where they can sample signature dishes. Tours among the vegetables, flowers and herbs growing in the Food Innovation Center's greenhouse will be available along with beer, wine and other beverages.
This student scholarship fundraising event helps the KVCC Foundation provide scholarships for students with financial needs at Kalamazoo Valley. Support of the event helps to make a difference in the lives of students.
Bookstore Offers Low-Cost Shipping for Online Orders Did you know the Texas Township Bookstore can ship your web order to you anywhere in the U.S.A., from Allegan to Albuquerque, for only $5? Order any time of day or night on its website at bookstore.kvcc.edu. UPS will deliver your online order to your door instead of you picking it up at the Bookstore.
'Adventure Awaits' Series Provides Free Summer Fun for Kids
Looking for free fun for your kids during summer recess? The Kalamazoo Valley Museum provides FREE programs about land, sea and space on Wednesdays and select Saturdays! Activities are offered now through July 29 for ages seven and up. Enjoy interactive exhibits, hands-on programs, performances and much more. Visit kalamazoomuseum.org to see the full schedule for the "Adventure Awaits" summer series. All activities and admission to the museum are free, except planetarium shows, which are $3.
Embark on Imaginary Voyages with New 'Explore Your World' Exhibit
Undertake a quest across land, sea and space to discover the role of mapping and navigation in everyday life in the exciting, free exhibit "Explore Your World!" opening July 15. It runs through Oct. 15. Visitors will use different methods of navigation to find their way through shipwrecks, escape a virtual building and pilot a simulated underwater exploration vehicle. They can take on the challenge of a giant game of Battleship using coordinates, or operate a sonar scanner to map themselves and their friends. "Explore Your World" uses cutting-edge technologies and experiences that are relevant, inspiring and effective in sharing STEM skills and knowledge across the globe.
Pink Floyd Music Showcased in Planetarium Show
Pink Floyd's progressive eighth album, "Wish You Were Here," is set to stunning visuals that will send you to the moon in a new light show at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum's planetarium in July on Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. The music you know is taken to a new level when combined with crisp computer graphics and shown on the planetarium's dome. The cost is $3, with free general admission to the museum. Click here to buy tickets and to learn more about the show.
Check Out the Buzz About Flyswatters at Special Exhibit
A unique exhibit featuring more than 1,000 flyswatters from overseas collector Iza van Riemsdijk is now open at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. "Splat! The Buzz About Flyswatters" tells the history of this household object and how it became an important tool against communicable diseases spread by flies. Entry is free to the exhibit and to the museum. The exhibit continues through Jan. 7.
See 'The Fly' this Weekend On Saturday, July 15 at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. the museum will show the 1958 version of The Fly with Vincent Price. The free film will be shown in the Mary Jane Stryker Theater. Pre-registration is not required. Showtimes repeat on Saturday, Aug. 5.
