You may have heard the proverb, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
KV FocusPlus - November 1, 2023
MISSION STATEMENT Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable
opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive.
Nov. 1, 2023
Greetings,
You may have heard the proverb, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." Teamwork is one of our core values here at Kalamazoo Valley and it is a crucial part of our strategic goal to "leverage broad expertise and intentional partnerships to best serve the college community."
As we are all working together across our campuses and departments to achieve our vision and mission, I invite you to think beyond silos. Teamwork has many benefits: greater creativity, better problem-solving, increased productivity and engagement with diverse perspectives. Best of all, teamwork leads to increased collegiality. Enjoy working together - build relationships based on mutual trust and commit to finding solutions together. Our students, guests and supporters will reap the benefits from your teamwork. When we work together, we can go far in our mission to empower all to learn, grow and thrive.
Sincerely,
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
Reminder: Events and Meetings with the President and Provost
If you'd like President Washington to attend or speak at an event, please submit this form as far in advance as possible. Please note that every effort will be made to meet requests but last-minute requests may not be accommodated.
If you'd routinely like to request a meeting with President Washington and/or Provost Eagan, please send the meeting request to Erin Bishop.
Campus Closing Protocols Winter weather is fast approaching. Please note that one of the following six announcements will be used when notifying employees, students and media outlets if the college closes for a portion or full day.
College Closed The college is closed for business. All classes (regardless of teaching and learning modality: face-to-face, virtual or hybrid/blended) and college activities are canceled for the morning, afternoon and evening. Employees need not report unless instructed by their supervisor.
Morning Classes Canceled: Classes starting before noon are canceled Regardless of teaching and learning modality: face-to-face, virtual or hybrid/blended, morning classes are canceled. However, the college is open for business; employees should work from their assigned location.
Afternoon Classes Canceled: Classes starting between noon and 3:59 p.m. are canceled Regardless of teaching and learning modality: face-to-face, virtual or hybrid/blended, afternoon classes are canceled. However, the college is open for business; employees should work from their assigned location.
Evening Classes are Canceled: Classes starting between 4 p.m. through the remainder of the evening are canceled Regardless of teaching and learning modality: face-to-face, virtual or hybrid/blended, evening classes are canceled. However, the college is open for regular business; employees should work from their assigned location.
"Specific" Campus/Locations are Closed, i.e. Arcadia Commons Campus, Bronson Healthy Living Campus, Groves Campus, Texas Township Campus, Kalamazoo Valley Museum The college or one or more campuses or facilities will be closed for business. Classes, regardless of teaching and learning modality: face-to-face, virtual or hybrid/blended, and activities are canceled for the day and/or evening. Employees assigned to the campus/facility in question are not to report to work. All other campuses/facilities will be open and employees should work from their assigned location.
Delayed Start: College Closed until 10 a.m. The college will open for business at 10 a.m. Morning classes (regardless of teaching and learning modality: face-to-face, virtual or hybrid/blended) are delayed. Classes will begin at 10 a.m. or their regularly scheduled time.
Adjusted Operating Hours
In the event hours of operation are adjusted (NOT closed or delayed start), facilities will remain open for all employees to report to work. Employees are encouraged to use discretionary judgment in their decision to report to work. Additionally, public meetings/events/activities scheduled during affected hours may be rescheduled.
Advertising on TV Monitors The college has installed and/or upgraded 17 new television monitors across all four campuses. The monitors display important information about events and services available to students on all of our campuses. If you have something that you would like to advertise on the monitors, please submit a request to the marketing department through Workzone by selecting "Xibo screen" in your project request. The marketing team is responsible for all of the content that appears on the screens and will create and post the slides for you. We are looking forward to this universal content as it will help our students be aware of the great things happening across all of our campuses.
Enroll Now for 2024 Health Insurance Coverage Open enrollment for health insurance for all full-time employees takes place from Nov. 1 to 15. It is important for all full-time employees to review their current coverage and make any changes during this time. After Nov. 15, no changes will be allowed unless you experience a qualifying life event.
If you need assistance during this time, please stop by one of our in-person sessions listed below:
Nov. 2 | Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building, Rm. 207 | 1 - 4 p.m.
During open enrollment, you'll be able to select your healthcare coverage and other benefits that will work for you.
Enrollment will happen digitally, through Plan Source, our benefit portal. If you do not wish to make any plan changes, you will still need to log in to your benefit portal and complete enrollment. Your password has been changed to your birth date in YYYY/MM/DD format.
New for 2024
Employees will have the option to choose between 3 medical plans
This is replacing our current accident plan through Guardian
New plan is through AFLAC (employer paid) if you are enrolled in one of the medical plans
AFLAC
Voluntary Critical Illness � Helps with the cost of treatment for life-changing illness and health events
Voluntary Hospital Indemnity - Helps those with unexpected sickness or injury
Employees Walk More than 11,000 Miles The Wellness and Fitness Center's first Employee Step Challenge wrapped up last month � with 109 participants logging more than 25.5 million steps! The competition, supported by the Employee Engagement and Wellness Committee, challenged employees to track their steps for four weeks, from Sept. 17 � Oct. 14. The total number of steps taken by participants on the college's four campuses was 25,625,597 or 11,419 miles, equivalent to walking to Kpalime, Togo in West Africa and back.
Individual winners include:
Domingo Gomez Jr. | Groundskeeper | 369,499 steps
Nancy Young | Serials and Reference Supervisor | 362,799 steps
Lizzie Luchsinger | Program Coordinator | 360,688 steps
Team winners were:
The Pacemakers | 1,185,865 steps
Denise Lindsley | Director of the Learning Center
Christine Ballinger | Learning Center Coordinator
Jennie Vlietstra | Tutor
Super Troopers | 1,182,811 steps
Sean Gordon | Director of Public Safety
Bruce Labrie | Public Safety Officer
Gary Latham | Public Safety Officer
Nicole Cheadle | Public Safety Officer
Will Walk for Cupcakes | 1,177,842 steps
Lisa Blewett | Network Applications and Support Manager
The top three individual steppers and the top team were awarded prizes yesterday in the Wellness and Fitness Center. Everyone who participated in the Step Challenge can pick up a T-shirt from the Wellness and Fitness Center between 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Fridays.
"Congratulations and thank you to everyone who participated," said Renea Peruski, manager of the Wellness and Fitness Center. "Watch for another employee fitness challenge next semester."
Upcoming Payroll Due Dates & Approval Dates We wanted to make you aware of modifications to the normal time sheet completion and approval deadlines surrounding the Thanksgiving break so that you can complete time sheet submission accurately and on time.
12/15/23 Payroll:
Employee time sheets are due MONDAY, Nov. 27 at 5 p.m.
Manager approval of time sheets is due TUESDAY, Nov. 28 at 5 p.m.
Full-time hourly employees should enter time off as paid (TOP) for the college holiday of Nov. 23 & 24.
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.
Any questions may be directed to the Payroll Department. Please call Molly Riley at x4239 or send an email to payroll@kvcc.edu.
Required Cybersecurity Training This is just a friendly reminder from the Information Technology department to take part in the KnowBe4 Cybersecurity training campaign that was kicked off earlier this month. User behavior remains the most common method of cyberattack. This training is an important part of improving our security posture and providing you with the tools to identify and avoid cybersecurity threats.
November Art Hop Opens this Friday The November exhibit at the Center for New Media, The Colors of (Un)Common Childhood, features the work of local artists Heather Briggs, Heather Boersma and Jacqueline Baerwald. The show opens at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 3. more
PTK Members Receive Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Three of Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter members were recently awarded $1,000 each from Coca-Cola's Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program. PTK is the international honor society for two-year colleges. Among the college's awarded PTK members are:
Dusti Morton, administrative assistant
Janice Swager, nursing
Heather Weinert, general studies
"Receiving the Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship is not just a recognition of my achievements; it's a testament to the power of dreams, hard work and unwavering determination," Weinert explained. "It's not just financial support. I's a vote of confidence that has ignited the fire in me to lead, serve and make a difference." more
College's PTK Chapter Inducts New Members Kalamazoo Valley Community College's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for two-year colleges, held an induction ceremony for new members on Oct. 25 in the Theater at the college's Texas Township Campus. The student organization also swore in five new chapter officers to serve as the presidents and vice presidents for the 2023 - 2024 academic year. Those officers include:
Jean Mupupuni, co-president
Christie White, co-president
Nicholas Burrill, vice president of service
Kasey Hudon, vice president of scholarship
Connor Reeves, vice president of communications
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D., president of Kalamazoo Valley Community College, was the keynote speaker. Click here to view photos from the ceremony. more
Kalamazoo Valley Libraries: Your Source for Information Visit us at the Texas Township Campus (TTC) or at the Arcadia Commons Campus (ACC) on the third floor of Anna Whitten Hall!
Access to Information Since 1966
We are in the business of providing students with access to information of all kinds.That's been true since our founding in 1966. We can point students toward books and research articles that support their academic pursuits. Did you know that we also offer:
Books that have been challenged, or even banned, in other schools and libraries
Consumer health MedlinePlus and financial information Consumer Reports through our Articles & Research Databases
Award-winning books for children and young adults
English language and foreign language dictionaries
The latest books and journals in your field of study, including skilled trades and public services
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.
Request a Book through MeLCat
The Kalamazoo Valley Libraries participate in MeLCat, a service that allows students, staff and faculty to borrow items from other participating libraries throughout the state of Michigan. Click here to search for materials available to borrow. Make sure to have your Valley ID ready. Books can be sent directly to the Kalamazoo Valley library location of your choice and the library will contact you when your item is available for pickup.
What Are Inclusive Access Course Materials? Inclusive Access course materials are electronic versions of a book or courseware. The e-books tend to be at least 50 percent, if not more, cheaper than hardcover and paperback textbooks, according to Gena Mead, manager of the Texas Township Bookstore. Instructors decide if their classes will offer the course materials as Inclusive Access. Within 24 hours of registering for a class with this option, students receive an email from the Bookstore alerting them they are enrolled in an Inclusive Access course. That email lets them know the course materials will be available in their Canvas account on the first day of class, how they can access the materials and that the cost has been added to their bill.
For the Winter 2023 semester, 2,471 students are in classes with Inclusive Access books. That represents 57 courses overall, with a total of 211 sections. The intent of this option for course materials is to ensure every student has access to affordable textbooks by the first day of class, Mead said. Students wishing to decline their Inclusive Access materials have up two weeks from the first day of class to remove the charge from their bill by opting out, which can be done in their Canvas accounts or by emailing the Bookstore at bookstore.kvcc.edu or calling 488-4030.
Volleyball Team Wraps Up Another Season Congratulations to the Cougar volleyball team players for their hard work this season under new Head Coach Rhonda Sturgeon in the Western Conference of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association. They wrapped up their 2023 season on Thursday, Oct. 26 with a home match versus Glen Oaks Community College. The score was 3-0 for the Cougar victory. With that win, the Lady Cougars finished with a 5-7 Conference record and a 10-20 overall record.
Athletic Director Russ Panico said he is proud of the team. "It's been a building year for the Lady Cougars with a new head coach and a team consisting of four sophomores and eight freshmen, but we hope for greater success in 2024," he said. "I would also like to take a moment to celebrate the three sophomores who will be transferring after the Winter 2024 semester. Best wishes on their academic, and hopefully athletic, futures at a four-year college or university."
NOW OPEN � Furniture Exhibit Featuring Two Centuries of History The Kalamazoo Valley Museum's new "Off the Shelves: Exploring the Kalamazoo Valley Museum's Furniture Collection" exhibit treats the public to a rare peek at its furniture collection that spans over 200 years of history, from one-of-a-kind items to mass-produced pieces made by local and international craftspeople and manufacturers. On display, for instance, will be Dobbin the horse, which was used to train cavalry officers; a reproduction of King Tut's throne that was on display at Gilmore's department store for years; and the neon Hoekstra Hardware sign that graced the back entrance of the store for several decades. The exhibit runs through Jan. 21. See a range of objects, including trunks, chairs and other pieces that all tell stories. Admission is free to the exhibit and to the museum.
Closing Soon: �Wonder Media' Exhibit that Builds News Literacy The "Wonder Media: Ask the Questions!" exhibit closes on Dec. 30 at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum! The exhibit invites pre-teens, teens and adults to engage in critical thinking about news and media literacy topics with 14 interactive activity stations, providing a fun and hands-on way to build skills to better spot misleading news and information. Admission is free to the exhibit and the museum. Click herefor more details, including museum hours.
Hundreds attended Chemistry Day Amazing! A total of 736 people visited the Kalamazoo Valley Museum for Chemistry Day on Oct. 14! It was the 37th year for the event that uses hands-on experiments and demonstrations to increase awareness of the role of chemistry in everyday life. Kudos to Carol Kercher, the museum's STEM program coordinator, for a very successful first year as program lead. The museum partnered with the Kalamazoo Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, Perrigo, Pfizer, Stryker, Dipharma and Kalsec to present activities about "Health and Medicine: The Healing Power of Chemistry." Click herefor more photos.
