Canned Food Drive, Apprenticeship Week, United Way campaign and more
MISSION STATEMENT Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable
opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive.
Nov. 15, 2023
Greetings,
Maintaining calm in our busy world can be a challenge. Research has proven that gratitude can be a great antidote to feeling frazzled and unfocused. If we make an effort to cultivate gratitude, we are likely to improve our sleep, our mood and our immunity. Gratitude can decrease depression and anxiety, increase our well-being, and overall help us to become more satisfied with our lives. If gratitude were a pill, everyone would be taking it!
During this season of thankfulness, I wish to share my gratitude and thankfulness with our Kalamazoo Valley community, including you. As our students press forward toward the successful completion of this semester, I see and appreciate your efforts toward helping them achieve their goals. Thank you for your continued commitment to them, to our mission and to our shared values.
However you choose to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, I wish you peace and happiness.
Sincerely,
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
Thanksgiving Recess: Nov. 22 - 26 Thanksgiving recess is Nov. 22 - 26. Campuses will be open Wednesday, Nov. 22 but there are no classes. The Wellness and Fitness Center will be closed. The college will be closed Thursday, Nov. 23 - Sunday, Nov. 26. Campuses reopen and classes resume Monday, Nov. 27.
Remembering our Colleague
We extend our sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of retired math instructor Mark Sigfrids, who died on Nov. 4 at the age of 70.
Mark grew up in Stonington, Michigan and graduated from Rapid River High School in 1971. He attended Bay de Noc Community College and Northern Michigan University, where he excelled academically. Upon graduation, he joined the Peace Corps as a math instructor at Masiphula Secondary School in Swaziland, where he taught from 1975 to 1978. He then continued teaching at Mabane Central High School in Swaziland for eight more years.
In 1986, Mark returned to the United States and completed his Master's degree at Western Michigan University in 1988. He then embarked on a fulfilling career as a mathematics professor at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, where he taught for 35 years, until his retirement in 2023.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, Nov. 12 at Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. In addition, Kalamazoo Area Runners will hold a local service and run to honor Mark on Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Run Around Gull Lake, an event that he founded.
Open Enrollment for Health Insurance Ends Today The Open Enrollment period for 2024 benefits closes today. It is important for all full-time employees to review their current coverage and make any necessary changes. Log into Plan Source to review and select your coverage. Your username will be your Kalamazoo Valley email or personal email. Your password will be your birthdate YYYYMMDD. If you need help with your Password, click on NEED HELP? under the Login button on the portal or email rcraft@kvcc.edufor a password reset. View the Employee Benefit Guide 2024 here.Cold, Flu and COVID Season As the winter weather approaches, please keep the following in mind:
The college continues to follow current CDC guidance regarding COVID-19 precautions and isolation. You do not need to report close contacts or positive cases to the college.
In general, CDC recommends a five-day isolation period for those who test positive for COVID-19, starting from the onset of symptoms being day one. Isolation may end on day six as long as the patient has been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms have improved. Mask-wearing around others is recommended for 10 days following the onset of symptoms.
Talk with your healthcare provider if you have specific questions about symptoms or isolation.
Tips for staying healthy during the winter season:
Wash your hands often.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.
Eat nutritious foods and get plenty of sleep.
Consider which vaccinations are right for you.
If you feel sick, stay home.
Updates from Public Safety Kalamazoo Valley's Department of Public Safety would like to remind all students, faculty and staff that it is the keeper of lost and found property for the college. If you have lost an item on campus, please contact the office. There is a log of items people are missing and have not been turned in. We keep a log of items that have been turned in and has not been claimed. Public Safety can be reached by calling 488.4575 or by stopping in the office, Room 5120 (TTC) or Room 113 (AWH).
Public Safety is available 24/7 for vehicle lockouts and jumpstarts. They can assist you in getting into your vehicle if you have locked your keys accidentally in your vehicle, or have a dead battery.
Lastly, ongoing Active Violence Training is available. Department heads should contact Director Sean Gordon to set up a time and date for a department training. The training takes roughly an hour to complete. Open dates at locations at all campuses will also be forthcoming after the new year.
Proposals Still Needed Submit your proposals now for the Winter 2024 Summit. It takes place on the morning of Jan. 4, 2024 and includes the Board of Trustees breakfast and employee years of service recognition. Time for a Quiet Mind
Join us for a 30-minute Zoom gathering - 10-minute guided and a 10-minute silent meditation and an opportunity to share. Everyone is welcome and invited to join. Please email Cathy Colella with any questions. Join at 11:30 a.m. for 30 minutes via Zoom.
Wednesday, Nov. 29 - Week 1: Slow down
Wednesday Dec. 6 - Week 2: Let go of perfection
Wednesday Dec. 13 - Week 3: Release worry
Wednesday, Dec. 20 - Week 4: Joyful mind
SDS Hosting Canned Food Drive Student Development Services is hosting a canned food drive through Dec. 18. Donation stations are located at:
Texas Township Campus: Room 9300, President's Office and the Library
Groves Campus: Main Office
Anna Whitten Hall: Main Entrance
Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building: Main Entrance
Items needed include canned vegetables, canned fruit, beans, soups, rice and pasta. For a complete list, click here. Contact Allison Lay if you have any questions.
Campus Closing Protocols Winter weather is fast approaching. Please note that one of the following six announcements will be used when notifying you 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.
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.
Women's Basketball Team Looks to Defense this Season Head Women's Basketball Coach Felicia Thomas plans to make defense the biggest part of the team's identity and create a crisp team-oriented style of offense that will be fun to watch during the 2023-24 season. Conference play officially begins on Jan. 13, but there are opportunities to see the players in action now, including home games from now through December. Those games are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29; 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8; and 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, in the main gym at the Texas Township Campus. Admission is free. Find the full season schedule at .Read the full story. athletics.kvcc.edu.
Men's Basketball Team Project Another Strong Season With the men's basketball team coming off a Michigan Community College Athletic Association West Conference Championship and losing in the Region 12 Championship, Head Coach Jim Horn is optimistic his players can battle as contenders again this 2023-24 season. Fans won't have to wait until official Conference play on Jan. 13 to watch them. Home games are underway now through December, including at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29; 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8; and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, in the main gym at the Texas Township Campus. Admission is free. Find the full season schedule at athletics.kvcc.edu. Read the full story.
Advisors Needed Dance Club and Soccer Club are looking for new advisors. Advisors must be a full-time faculty or staff member and act as mediators when differences surface between organization members. They serve as organization/club historian, budget control officer and expert resource person. An advisor also accepts a dual responsibility: to the student organization/club and to the college. The advisor's responsibility to the student organization/club is to facilitate an active, impactful program and provide direction. They are also responsible for assuring that organizations comply with procedures and policies established by the college. Click here to learn more or contact Miranda McDowell, coordinator of student onboarding and organizations, if you are interested.
Wellness and Fitness Center Updates EXPANDED POOL HOURS through Dec. 15:
The Wellness and Fitness Center will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 22 for staff training and from Nov. 23 � 26 for the Thanksgiving recess. It will reopen Monday, Nov. 27 at 6 a.m.
Kalamazoo Valley Libraries: Financial Wellness Resources Kalamazoo Valley Libraries has you and your students covered for any academic information needs. We also offer resources to enhance your personal life, including money advice. Take a look at some of the personal finance tools we offer.
Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Kiplinger's is a premier magazine for news and advice on saving, investments, building wealth and making sound financial choices. The TTC library has this title in print from five years ago to the present day. Students and staff can also access it digitally by going to the Libraries' website and clicking List of Full-Text Magazines, Journals and Newspapers. Type "kiplinger's" in the search window and then select Kiplinger's Personal Finance in Academic Search Complete to view articles dating from the present back to 1984. If you are off campus, you will be asked for your college login credentials before accessing the database.
Consumer Reports
Make every purchase count. If you are looking for unbiased reviews of cars, appliances, home and garden items, and baby products before you buy, Consumer Reports is the place. Kalamazoo Valley students and staff can read the digital version of this popular magazine by going to the Libraries' website and clicking List of Full-Text Magazines, Journals and Newspapers. Type "consumer reports" in the search window and then select Consumer Reports in MasterFILE Complete to read articles dating back from over 30 years ago to present day. If you are off campus, you will be asked for your Kalamazoo Valley login credentials before accessing the database.
Money Management Books in Print
The college has collected choice titles to answer personal finance needs. InPersonal Finance Quickstart Guide, a certified financial advisor gives advice on how to establish good money habits, conquer debt and attain financial freedom. Finance for the People illustrates how to apply mindfulness to your financial life and break self-defeating patterns of thinking about money and debt. Financial Adulting provides simple step-by-step guidance for budgeting, establishing a monetary safety net, investing for retirement, planning for college and much more. These are just a few of the print books on personal finance available in our collection. Browse them by visiting our home page and typing "finance, personal" into the ValleyCat Online Catalog search window.
High School Art Contest Winners to Be Announced at the CNM on Dec. 1 The second Kalamazoo Valley Community College Greater Kalamazoo High School Art and Design Competition Exhibit includes nearly 90 pieces of art created by students from 20 different high schools.
The exhibit will open at the Center for New Media in downtown Kalamazoo on Dec. 1 during Art Hop. This contest will be an annual event at the CNM, according to Director Tom Hamann. The contest and related exhibit will be on display every year during the months of December and January in the Arcus and Center for New Media gallery spaces and open on the evening of Art Hop. Four awards will be given for Best of Show, first, second and third places.
The awards include:
Best of Show � Prize to be determined
Runner-up � $500
Second Place � $200
Third Place � $100
The exhibit opens on Friday, Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. presentation of awards.
"We can't wait to reward the artistic talents of the area's high school students," said Hamann. "We're very impressed with the quality of the submissions and pleased with the level of participation. We expect the show to keep expanding from year to year."
Scholarship Recipient Paula Fritchman Kalamazoo Valley history major Paula Fritchman credits her grandfather with instilling in her a deep craving for knowledge. "I've been obsessed with World War II since I was seven years old," the 41-year-old mother of three said. "My grandfather was in World War II and he told me a lot of stories and read to us every night."
Life can be chaotic for Fritchman. In addition to running her busy household and taking college courses, she works full-time as the general manager of a Portage ice-cream shop. "I'm usually up until 1 a.m. studying and I get up at 6," she said. "But this is what I chose to do. My schoolwork is my �me' time."
This is Fritchman's second time enrolling in college and her final semester at Kalamazoo Valley. When she enrolled after high school graduation, she was studying dance and then changed to political science. "I realized that it wasn't for me so I took a step back," she said. "I wish someone would have told me that it's OK to take a break. I was the very first person in my family to step into a college classroom."
Today, she has a clear vision of her goals. She will transfer to Western Michigan University in Spring 2024 after graduating from Valley. She plans to pursue her master's degree and hopes to one day become a college professor or work in a museum. Women's history in the 15th century is of particular interest to her.
Fritchman is a member of the college's honor society, Phi Theta Kappa. She received the Raymond E. Battilana Scholarship for the Fall 2023 semester. The scholarship was funded by and named for Raymond E. Battilana, a trustee of the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Foundation from 1990 to 1999.
"I'm very appreciative," she said. "It can be really hard and no one really sees when people are struggling. I'm really touched that they would seek out someone who's treading water and throw them a life raft."
Now that she's on the path to achieving her academic goals, she's encouraging her dad and her children to do the same. "Education is of the utmost importance to me and I find it important to show my children that, regardless of age, you can and must fulfill your dreams, even when obstacles may seem never-ending. I am truly grateful to be a recipient of this scholarship."
Giving Tuesday On Nov. 28, the KVCC Foundation is recognizing Giving Tuesday. Annually, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving marks the day of the global generosity movement that unleashes the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. Please consider a gift or payroll deduction to the KVCC Foundation Annual Fund which provides unrestricted grant and scholarship funding to support students and programs of the college. Your donation can change the world for a student and our community.
Our campus United Way campaign begins Dec. 4. Watch for a personalized, confidential email that will be sent to you on that day that will take you to a secure United Way website to donate. You can give a one-time gift, or set up payroll deduction for 2024.
The benefit of giving to United Way is that the whole community can pool together their gifts to support our amazing local nonprofits. United Way gives sizable grants to many of the partners who support our students - and our staff - including Ministry with Community, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Kalamazoo Drop-In Child Care Center, St. Luke's Diaper Bank, Douglass Community Association, El Concilio, Young Kings and Queens and South Michigan Food Bank. Click here to see the complete list of Funded Partners. Your donations make it possible for these nonprofits to focus on their work rather than fundraising.
The power of uniting is that several smaller gifts can add up to a big impact. Please consider giving this year to help us reach a Kalamazoo Valley collective donation of $10,000.
Do you have questions about United Way? Contact Alisha Siebers at 488.4821.
Ninth Annual National Apprenticeship Week Kalamazoo Valley Community College had a great turnout at the Texas Township Campus for Monday's Proclamation Ceremony to celebrate the Ninth Annual National Apprenticeship Week.
At the lunchtime event, the Kalamazoo County's Board of Commissioners proclaimed the college as an expert and leader in the field of Registered Apprenticeships. Guests also learned about our apprenticeship programs and toured our facilities.
The proclamation is an acknowledgment of the work that Kalamazoo Valley does to raise awareness surrounding Registered Apprenticeships by supporting business sponsors and collaborating with community partners to holistically address the needs of underrepresented populations, such as women, individuals with disabilities and veterans and youth, and set them on a path to career success.
National Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide celebration established by the U.S. Department of Labor, where employers, industry associations, labor organizations, community-based organizations, workforce partners, education providers and government leaders host events to showcase and promote high-quality, inclusive, in-demand career pathway opportunities through Registered Apprenticeship.
Enjoy Winter-Themed Activities After Nov. 18 Holiday Parade The Kalamazoo Valley Museum will offer FREE crafts and activities after the Nov. 18 Maple Hill Holiday Parade in downtown Kalamazoo, from noon to 3 p.m. The family-friendly event is suitable for all ages. Mr. & Mrs. Claus will make a short visit immediately after the parade. Guests will also have a chance to create their own "hot chocolate" ornaments, then show off their coloring talents while learning about the museum's upcoming winter break programming. In the Innovation Lab, attendees will learn about density and how to make a marshmallow sink. Visit the planetarium to experience "Let It Snow," a full-dome video with images choreographed to classic holiday music. The showtimes are noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Planetarium tickets are $3 per person. Museum general admission is free.
Kalamazoo Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra Performs Free Holiday Concerts Indulge in the sounds of the season when the Kalamazoo Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra performs holiday music at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum during the Friday, Dec. 1, Art Hop, all for free. Performances are 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., featuring festive tunes old and new, along with other traditional audience favorites. Seating is first come, first served in the museum's Mary Jane Stryker Theater. The orchestra is a plucked string ensemble consisting of mandolins, mandolas, mandocellos, guitars and bass. Admission is free to the concerts and to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.
Museum Launches Adult Discovery Series and Retro Caf� Join the Kalamazoo Valley Museum for an enriching journey through time and space at its NEW immersive adult program. The series will be offered from 2 - 4 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month through March 2024. Cost is $3. Themes change monthly, discovering the past and exploring what cultivates our local heritage together. Visit different galleries and the planetarium, and enjoy a pop-up cafe. Light refreshments will be provided. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required at kalamazoomuseum.org or 269.373.7990.
NOW OPEN � Furniture Exhibit Featuring Two Centuries of History
For a limited time, the Kalamazoo Valley Museum provides a rare peek at its unique items in storage, some never seen publicly at any point since the museum's founding in 1881! The FREE, "Off the Shelves: Exploring the Kalamazoo Valley Museum's Furniture Collection" exhibit showcases the museum's furniture collection spanning over 200 years of history, from mass-produced to one-of-a-kind pieces, like a replica of King Tut's throne! Also see Dobbin the horse, which was used to train cavalry officers; the neon Hoekstra Hardware sign that graced the back entrance of the store for several decades; and other pieces that all tell stories. The exhibit runs through Jan. 21. Entry to the museum and exhibit are free.
