Thank you for all you are doing to make the Fall 2024 semester
MISSION STATEMENT Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable
opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive.
Oct. 1, 2024
Greetings,
Thank you for all you are doing to make the Fall 2024 semester great for our students! As I travel to our four campus locations, I see your dedication to helping our students achieve their educational goals. Your work is appreciated.
The college is offering a multitude of enjoyable fall activities. Our Kalamazoo Valley Museum has just opened a new exhibition titled "Mystery and Benevolence: Masonic and Odd Fellows Folk Art." Volleyball season is in full swing at Valley. You might also see some student Pumpkin Picassos around as we enjoy our second collegewide pumpkin decorating contest. Also, for learners of all ages, community and life enrichment classes continue at the Food Innovation Center and on our Groves Campus. On Monday, Oct. 7 from 6 - 7:30 p.m., we will host the Greater Kalamazoo Area College Night at the Texas Township Campus. Please encourage anyone you know who is thinking about going to college to stop by.
In preparation for a visit from Robin Wall Kimmerer, the author of "Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants," the ValleyHub is presenting an Honorable Harvest lecture series based on Indigenous practices of giving back to nature. Each Tuesday, right after Taps on Tuesday at the Marilyn Schlack building, you can attend programs about how to give back to nature, including subsistence farming, seed collecting, modern agriculture's impact on insectivores and much more. Remember, Taps on Tuesday is now half-price for faculty and staff!
I encourage you to check the college calendar for more information about these events and others happening this semester.
I know that your schedules are busy! Thank you to those who are able to attend these and other important and varied college-related events. Please remain resilient and positive. Our work is important to our students, their families and all the communities we serve.
Have a great semester!
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
OFE Raises Nearly $100,000 for Student Scholarships Thank you to everyone who attended last week's Opportunities for Education fundraising event. The night featured some of the region's most popular restaurants, along with student and faculty chefs from the college's culinary and brewing programs. Guests enjoyed a walk-around tasting under a big tent where they sampled signature dishes along with beer, wine and other beverages. Tours among the vegetables, flowers and herbs growing in the Food Innovation Center's greenhouse were also available. See photos here.
Employee Winter Semester Registration Opens this Week
Employee registration for the Winter 2025 semester will be Oct. 4 - 6. Full and part-time employees may request access to online registration for themselves and/or their dependents through 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4.
To request access:
1. Send a message from your Kalamazoo Valley employee account to arr@kvcc.edu. Enter "Employee Registration" as the subject so we can easily find your request for early access to registration among all of the emails we receive from students. It must be from a "@kvcc.edu" address.
2. List the name and Valley number or birth date for each admitted person who will be registering.
3. We will add authorization to each person's record and reply to confirm.
4. Beginning Oct. 4, each authorized individual may log into MyValley, select "Register or Drop Classes" from "My Links" and register.
If you miss this opportunity, you may still register following the standard registration schedule for all students beginning Monday, Oct. 7. Please e-mail the Admissions, Registration and Records office at arr@kvcc.edu or call 269.488.4281, if you have questions.
Haircare Services Now Available for Employees Need a haircut? Students from the School of Cosmetology and Barbering are now offering services to employees and students in the new school building, on a walk-in basis, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 9 am. - 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.
Services will be offered to the general public beginning on Oct. 17, by appointment only. Please direct all hair care calls to the dedicated Cosmetology and Barbering line at 269.488.4090. Details on services provided, cost and a link to schedule will be found onwww.kvcc.edu/haircare.
Upcoming Police Academy Training Scheduled The Law Enforcement Training Academy will be completing Emergency Vehicle Operations driving training on the following dates in the Texas Township Campus parking lot:
Oct. 4 - 6
Oct. 18 - 20
Oct. 26 - 27
Please watch for signage.
Guide to Emergency Preparedness Please take note and familiarize yourself with the yellow Guide to Emergency Preparedness booklets hanging in all classrooms and office spaces. The guide provides important phone numbers as well as steps to take in case of an emergency, including medical, accidents, fire, severe weather, active shooter and bomb threats. If you do not have a booklet in your office space or classroom, please contact Public Safety at ext. 4911.
College Volunteers Needed for Clifton Strengths Relaunch
Student Development Services and Human Resources are reviving the Clifton StrengthsAssessment (formerly Clifton StrengthsFinder) for students and employees. For those not familiar with Clifton Strengths, completing the online talent assessment and identifying your "Top 5" is a way to:
Discover what you naturally do best
Learn how to develop your greatest talents into strengths
Use your personalized results and reports to maximize your potential
Four certified Strengths Coaches, two from Student Development Services and two from Human Resources, will lead the relaunch to ensure that the value of being a strengths-based institution is at the forefront of what we do at the college. A new component with the relaunch is the training of 30 in-house "Strengths Champions" from throughout the college. Strengths Champions will be able to administer and interpret the assessments without the responsibility of facilitating workshops or professional development training sessions. The time commitment varies but shouldn't be more than two to three hours per week, in addition to six hours of required training (two three-hour sessions or one six-hour session). This professional development opportunity is open to all full-time faculty and staff.
The deadline to apply to be a Strengths Champion has been extended to Oct. 15. Click here to access the application. You will be notified if selected. Please contactNkenge Berganor Aaron Hilliardwith any questions.
Flu Shot Clinics Scheduled for Employees To help employees prepare for the flu season, Kalamazoo Valley is hosting three more flu clinics for all employees. Below are the dates, site and times.
Oct. 4 | Downtown at Anna Whitten Hall | Room 207
Time: 1 - 3 p.m.
Reserve your time slot, by clicking HERE and click on KVCC Sign Up
Oct. 22 | Texas Township Campus | Room 3310
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Reserve your time slot by clicking HERE and complete the information needed
Nov. 7 | Texas Township Campus | Room 3330
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Reserve your time slot by clicking HERE and complete the information needed
Employees should bring a copy of their insurance card. Contact Becky Craft in Human Resources at rcraft@kvcc.edu with questions.
Employee Assistance Program Did you know that all employees at Kalamazoo Valley have access to our Employee Assistance Program? This is a confidential work-based program that offers resources to employees. For more information clickhere.
Open Enrollment Is Coming Open enrollment for all full-time employees is Nov. 1 to Nov. 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. 6 - Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building, Rm. 246, 1 - 4 p.m. (laptops will be available for employees)
During open enrollment, you'll be able to shop and select your healthcare coverage that will work for you along with other benefits.
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 into your benefit portal and complete enrollment. As open enrollment nears, Human Resources staff will be in touch with more details
New Employee Orientation Training Dates Kalamazoo Valley has implemented a New Employee Orientation program for staff and faculty. This enhanced orientation is designed to provide new team members with a comprehensive and welcoming introduction to the college. Under the new plan, all new employees begin working on a designated orientation day. This ensures that each new hire receives the necessary support and information to smoothly transition into their new role as a member of our team. We appreciate your support in making this transition seamless.
Designated Orientation Days through December 2024.
Wednesday, Oct. 2
Wednesday, Oct. 16
Monday, Nov. 4
Monday, Nov. 18
Wednesday, Dec. 4
Time to Breathe: A Seven-Week Meditation Offering Bring your breath back home to your body and have some moments of grounding and quiet with guided and silent meditation. A brief topic and inspiration (15 minutes) and then five minutes of guided meditation and 10 minutes of silence. Give your nervous system some TLC and join us. Sessions are 30 minutes and are held via Zoom. Cathy Colella, director of institutional support services, will facilitate the meditation sessions. Be sure to coordinate with your supervisor for attendance. Find a quiet and comfortable space and join. Everyone is welcome.
The themes for this seven-week series are: Oct. 3: Letting Go | Register Oct. 10: Noticing | Register Oct. 17: Falling Leaves Meditation | Register Oct. 24: Looking for My Smile | Register Oct. 31: I Belong Meditation | Register Nov. 7: I am Grateful Meditation | Register Nov. 14: Present in this Moment | Register Volunteers Needed The college will welcome hundreds of high schoolers to campus for the Kalamazoo Area College Nigh on Monday, Oct. 7. Volunteers are needed to assist with setup and check-in. Click here to volunteer.
From left to right: A home-scale two-bin system will be used for demonstration in the Composting Workshop on Oct. 19. The probe on this thermometer is about 16 inches long, measuring the temperature at the center of the compost pile. Thermophilic (heat-loving) bacteria are hard at work heating the pile and breaking down the food scraps. This is the composting system after almost three months of use and the addition of over 15,000 lbs of organic material on Sept. 12.
FIC Update - What's Happening on the Farm?
In July, the farm team at the Food Innovation Center (FIC) built a mid-size composting system in one of the hoophouses. This system will be used for labs in the horticulture program and in community classes. Composting is a controlled process that uses microorganisms to break down organic matter - food and yard waste in our case - into a nutrient-rich soil amendment.
Since late June, the compost pile at the FIC has consumed over 5,000 pounds of pre-consumer food waste from the food hub: apple cores, carrot peels, potato skins, celery leaves and pepper seeds. It has reached temperatures over 140 degrees, due to the activity of the microbes. The compost will be ready to use soon, and will go back into the gardens at the FIC to grow next year's crops.
The FIC will host a community composting workshop on Oct. 19. Sign up or join the waitlist to express your interest in future classesHERE.
Step Challenge Update We're off to an amazing start! Weeks one and two of the Kalamazoo Valley Employee Step Challenge have come to a close. We are beginning week three.
Week one's raffle winner is:
Beth Brandon!!
As a reminder, the remaining weeks are:
Week 3: Monday, Sept. 30 - Sunday, Oct. 6
Week 4: Monday, Oct. 7 - Sunday, Oct.13
We're proud to announce we have over 140 registered participants this year! Our collective goal as a college is 26 million steps. So far, we walked a total of 12,404,628 steps and we're excited to see how much progress we can make together. To see the overall progress, as well as the team and individual leader boards for the step challenge, stop by the Wellness and Fitness Center.It's not too late to register. Join us and start tracking your steps today. To get registered, click here.
Individual Leader Board*
First place
Domingo Gomez
Second place
Kristi Tullis
Third place
Terri McDonald
Fourth place
Susan Teague
Fifth place
Donna Goette
Team Leader Board*
First place
Will Walk for Cupcakes
Second place
Stride or Die
Third place
Biology Brigade
Fourth place
Team Cubicale
Fifth place
Sole Mates
*as of Monday 9/30 at 5 p.m. International Student Support Available Kalamazoo Valley welcomed 24 new international students for the Fall 2024 semester, bringing the total international student population to 102 for the 2024 - 2025 academic year. Kalamazoo Valley is fortunate to have international students. The diversity of culture and perspectives that they add to our student body is welcomed.
The designation of "international" refers specifically to F-1 non-immigrant students in the United States on a temporary basis for the purpose of completing a degree or training program. F-1 visa students must adhere to regulations that afford them much less flexibility in course modality and credit hours relative to their peers.
As you work with and support these students throughout the year, please keep the following in mind:
They must enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester; at least nine credits must be traditional in-person or blended courses. One online class per semester is standard.
The 12-credit hour requirement applies every semester, regardless of the standard progression of classes for a major.
Example: the nursing program's standard semester is 10 credit hours; an additional two-credit elective is needed to maintain visa status.
They are limited to 20 hours per week of on-campus employment.
Not all foreign-born students attending Kalamazoo Valley are F-1 visa holders. Students with a different visa designation or immigration status (including students with asylum, refugee or DACA status) are not bound by these regulations.
If you have any questions about regulations, supports or resources specific to F-1 international students, please contact our International Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator Mary Cox at mcox@kvcc.edu.
Employees Get Half Off at Taps on Tuesdays Taps on Tuesday is a happy hour-style event hosted by Kalamazoo Valley's brewing department runs Tuesdays through Dec. 10 from 5 - 7 p.m., except Oct. 29. Beer and food pairings, appetizers and wine are available for purchase. Students, alumni, faculty and staff receive 50 percent off their purchases. The Honorable Harvest Lecture Series Continues
In her book "Braiding Sweetgrass," Kalamazoo Valley's Visiting Writers series author Robin Wall Kimmerer describes the Indigenous principles and practices of the Honorable Harvest, which asks us to give back in reciprocity for what we have been given. This lecture series explores ways we can come together to nurture and restore the Honorable Harvest in our communities and in our everyday lives. All programming is FREE and takes place on Tuesdays through Nov. 19 in Room 223 at the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building.
Subsistence Farming: A Story from the Past with Teachings for the Future Tuesday, Oct. 1 | 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Many Black farmers leveraged what could be grown and raised on their farms to meet immediate nutritional needs. Many found ways to cooperatively pool and exchange resources to improve their lives. In this snapshot of 1958 - 1968, Ben Brown presents an overview of his experience, observations and perspectives about how subsistence farming could strengthen conservation and reweave an agrarian ethic that supports net productivity and minimizes consumerism imbalance and isolation.
Becoming the "Fourth Sister": A Conversation with the Kalamazoo Seed Collaborative Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Join members of the Kalamazoo Seed Collaborative to draw inspiration from Kimmerer's writing to discuss how seed stewardship can be a way of deepening our kinship with plants and with each other.
Database Spotlight:Science Magazine Online You and your students can ramp up research or catch up on recent discoveries by consulting one of the world's top peer-reviewed journals of general science. Publishing news, commentary and cutting-edge research from across the scientific disciplines since 1880, "Science"continues to regularly feature articles which rank among the most cited on the planet. Browse the latest issue, or use the search engine or archive index to access weekly issues reaching back more than 25 years. You will be prompted for your Kalamazoo Valley username and password if accessing "Science Magazine" onlineoff-campus.
Ask a Librarian Your students have questions about research and citation. Send them to the Libraries for answers!
Students enrolled in Kalamazoo Valley's culinary arts and sustainable food systems programs put their training to work in the Havirmill Cafe. The cafe offers grab-and-go options as well as a hot bar with freshly made entrees. It is located in the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building, 418 E. Walnut St., in downtown Kalamazoo. Havirmill Cafe hours are Monday - Thursday from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. through Oct. 15 and will reopen from Oct. 29 - Dec. 5. Follow the Havirmill Cafe Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KVculinaryeats.
The 418 Restaurant is open for college employees only on Wednesdays and Thursdays through Oct. 10. Reservations are available from 11 a.m. to noon. Employees should email Jadon Hawkins,jhawkins8864@kvcc.edu, for reservations. The restaurant will be open to the community, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from Nov. 6 to Dec. 5. Reservations will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.. Reservations can be made by calling 269.548.3239.
Time to Get Swagged Out at the Bookstore! Classes are now in full swing! What a great time to pick up some new Cougar Swag! From T-shirts to hoodies, decals to water bottles, the Texas Township Campus Bookstore has tons of cool Cougar items! Come on in and show off your Cougar spirit, or shop our online store atbookstore.kvcc.edu.
Men's Basketball Team Volunteered at Milwood Elementary School The Cougars Men's Basketball Team had a great time teaching the fundamentals of basketball to Milwood Elementary School students at Family Fitness Night on Sept. 19. Players helped the students develop their dribbling, passing and shooting skills. The Cougars also helped set up and tear down equipment for different organizations that participated in family Fitness Night. It was an awesome opportunity for the players to give back to the Kalamazoo community.
Hope to See You at Tonight's Home Volleyball Game! Come show your school spirit and cheer on the Lady Cougars Volleyball Team tonight at 6:30 p.m. They play Glen Oaks Community College in the main gym on the Texas Township Campus of Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Bring your friends and family! Remember, home games are always free! Below are the rest of the home games:
6:30 p.m. | Thursday | OCT. 3 vs. Marian University's Ancilla College
6:30 p.m. | Thursday | OCT. 10 vs. Kellogg Community College
2 p.m. | Saturday | OCT. 12 vs. College of Dupage
4:30 p.m. | Saturday | OCT. 12 vs. Highland Community College - Illinois
10 a.m. & noon | Sunday | OCT. 20 vs. Muskegon Community College
1:30 p.m. | Saturday | OCT. 26 vs. St. Clair County Community College
Find the full schedulehere.Read an article about the volleyball seasonhere. KVAAP Expands 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. Prospective students can learn more about all of the eligibility requirements atkvcc.edu/kvaap or they can email KVAAP staff atkvaap@kvcc.edu.
Classroom Visits Classroom visits are a great way for students to hear about our program. If you are interested in having someone from KVAAP come speak to your students for 15 minutes about the program, please contact Elizabeth Schab ateschab@kvcc.edu.
Upcoming KVAAP Info Sessions:
Tuesday, Oct. 1 | 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 10 a.m.
Attending a KVAAP Info Session is a required part of the application process. Interested students can registerhere. Secret Societies Illuminated in New 'Mystery and Benevolence' Exhibit Step into the mysterious world of secret societies with the Kalamazoo Valley Museum's newest exhibit, "Mystery and Benevolence: Masonic and Odd Fellows Folk Art"! The captivating, free traveling exhibition is on display now through Jan. 5. Eighty carvings, sculptures, textiles and regalia bring to light the histories, symbolism and values of the Masons and Independent Order of the Odd Fellows, taking visitors behind the veil of these intriguing fraternal orders that have had an influence on contemporary American popular culture.
Enjoy Live Music Paired with Silent Films on Oct. 5 The six-piece ensemble collectively known as "Silent But Deadly" will perform original soundtracks to silent films shown at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum on Saturday, Oct. 5, as part of the 2024 Connecting Chords Music Festival. There will be two performances - 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Admission is free to the public, and tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the concert. Donations to the museum and Connecting Chords Music Festival will be accepted on-site.
Museum's First-Ever Refugee Film Festival Held Oct. 11 - 13 The Kalamazoo Valley Museum and the Kalamazoo Refugee Resource Collaborative invite the public to the inaugural Refugee Film Festival, taking place Oct. 11 - 13, from noon to 4 p.m., at the museum. Three films will be shown, one each day, showcasing the stories through film of people forced to flee. A panel discussion led by refugee and stateless individuals will follow each film. For descriptions of the films, clickhere. Admission is free to the event and to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.
All Ages Invited for Chemistry Day Hands-on Experiments Oct. 19 It's time again for CHEMISTRY DAY! If you like science experiments and hands-on learning, don't miss this fun, free program at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum on Saturday, Oct. 19, from noon to 4 p.m.! This year's theme is "Photography and Imaging: Picture Perfect Chemistry." You'll get a peek at the techniques and practices for preserving artifacts, and learn how to safely exhibit fragile objects. We're teaming up with the Kalamazoo Section of the American Chemical Society for an exciting day of hands-on activities and demonstrations for learners of ALL ages and abilities. Among the demonstrations will be how UV light affects pigmentation, and the different materials and techniques used to make and care for photographs from different time periods. No preregistration is needed. Learn more atkalamazoomuseum.org.
