• 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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. "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.

6. 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.

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.
• Nov. 3 | Anna Whitten Hall, Rm. 204 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Nov. 8 | Texas Township, Rm. 8430 (library lab) | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Nov. 13 | Texas Township, Rm. 8430 (library lab) | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• Traditional PPO
• Simply Blue PPO
• High Deductible Health Plan with HSA

• 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

• 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:

1. Domingo Gomez Jr. | Groundskeeper | 369,499 steps
2. Nancy Young | Serials and Reference Supervisor | 362,799 steps
3. Lizzie Luchsinger | Program Coordinator | 360,688 steps

1. The Pacemakers | 1,185,865 steps

• Denise Lindsley | Director of the Learning Center
• Christine Ballinger | Learning Center Coordinator
• Jennie Vlietstra | Tutor

2. 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

3. Will Walk for Cupcakes | 1,177,842 steps

• Lisa Blewett | Network Applications and Support Manager
• Ailsa Gray | Network Analyst
• Lauren Puttkammer | Network Analyst
• Mamatha Pachika | Administrative Computing 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."

• 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.

Any questions may be directed to the Payroll Department. Please call Molly Riley at x4239 or send an email to payroll@kvcc.edu.

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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.

Begin your KnowBe4 training.

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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

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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

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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.

Hours and Contact Information

• Hours
• Email libraries@kvcc.edu
• Call 269.488.4328
• Visit our website www.kvcc.edu/library
• Chat Ask a Librarian 24/7

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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

  

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 here for 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 here for more photos.