The beginning of the new academic year is always a busy time at Kalamazoo Valley and this fall is no exception!
MISSION STATEMENT Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable
opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive.
Sept.16, 2024
Greetings,
The beginning of the new academic year is always a busy time at Kalamazoo Valley and this fall is no exception! In addition to settling into a new fast-paced schedule, the college is offering a number of exciting and meaningful events for learners of all ages.
Please join us as we celebrate Constitution Day on Sept. 18 when faculty member Rebecca Durkee will discuss the Equal Rights Amendment and the Constitution from 1 - 2:30 p.m., Room 7570 (TTC).
On Sept. 26, the KVCC Foundation hosts its annual Opportunities for Education scholarship fundraising event at the Food Innovation Center. Area chefs and many of our own faculty chefs and students will be serving up signature dishes for your enjoyment. The fruits of our sustainable brewing students will be available for sample, too. Spread the word - there is still time to purchase tickets. One hundred percent of ticket costs go to support our students. Visit www.kvcc.edu/foundation for more information.
The Kalamazoo Valley Museum just wrapped up a series of events to celebrate the museum's acquisition of over 200 historical artifacts collected by Murphy Darden. To view Darden's artwork and the artifacts, visit the museum's website. See the end of the newsletter for more details about current museum exhibits and events.
Valley Food Share, an initiative designed to meet the immediate food needs of Kalamazoo Valley students, continues. The program provides currently enrolled students with a weekly box or a "share," that includes food grown locally and sourced through our own Food Innovation Center as well as non-perishable items from Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes. Volunteers are needed. Please contact foodshare@kvcc.edu if you are able to help.
These and other initiatives complement the college's more traditional learning opportunities for our students and help build their success and create a feeling of belonging at the college. They are an important part of achieving our mission: Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive.
Have a great semester!
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
Board Members Receive Recognition for Service Several college board members received service awards from the Michigan Community College Association for their time on the Board of Trustees. Mary Gustas received a 35-year recognition and Dawn DeLuca received a five-year recognition. Julia Buck also received a five-year pin.
Julia Buck Resigns from Board of Trustees Kalamazoo Valley Community College extends its appreciation to Julia C. Buck who resigned from the college's board for personal reasons. She submitted her resignation Sept. 10, 2024. Buck joined the board January 2019 and helped Kalamazoo Valley Community College through significant milestones and initiatives, including the creation of the Valley Food Share program for students and the debt forgiveness program to bring students back to college. During Buck's tenure, she served as the Secretary of the Board and served on the Board Budget Committee.
College Announces New Campus Shuttle Service Students and staff who need a ride between campuses can now catch the FREE Kalamazoo Valley Shuttle! The shuttle runs from 6:50 a.m. - 7 p.m. and travels to the Arcadia Commons Campus (ACC), the Bronson Healthy Living Campus (BHLC) and the Texas Township Campus (TTC).
Pick-Up/Drop-Off Locations:
ACC - Southeast corner of Rose Street and Water Street
BHLC - Walnut Street parking lot in front of the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building
TTC - Flagpole Entrance
Downtown Road Closure Consumers Energy will be conducting underground electrical infrastructure work in the downtown Kalamazoo area.
Eleanor Street between North Rose and North Burdick streets will be closed beginning Sept. 9 through Sept. 28 for infrastructure upgrades. There will be impacts to the motoring public so please follow the posted detour. Employees, students and visitors will be still be able to park in the Arcadia Parking Ramp but will need to enter off Kalamazoo Avenue.
Entering the ramp from Eleanor Street will be restricted but users will be allowed to exit the ramp onto Eleanor Street and turn left towards North Burdick Street. Street parking within the project location will not be permitted, but access to sidewalks will be maintained.
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.
To be considered for training as a Strengths Champion, please fill out this application by Sept. 30. You will be notified if selected. Please contactNkenge Berganor Aaron Hilliardwith any questions.
Flu Shot Clinic Scheduled for Employees To prepare for flu season, Kalamazoo Valley is hosting a flu shot clinic for all employees. The clinic will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Texas Township Campus in Room 3310. To reserve your spot click here.
A second flu shot clinic has been scheduled for Oct. 4, from 1 to 3 p.m., at Anna Whitten Hall in Room 207. To reserve a time slot, click here. Then click on KVCC Sign Up and scroll down to Oct. 4.
Space is limited, so sign up as soon as possible. Employees should bring their insurance cards and make a note of their appointment times. Contact Becky Craft in Human Resources atrcraft@kvcc.edufor more information.
Email from Outside Vendor
You may have received an email from outside the college with the title of: KVCC Annual Pension Review. This company is looking to manage your retirement account, they are not affiliated with the college, Michigan Public Schools Employers Retirement Services (MPSERS) or TIAA retirement programs. Located at the bottom of the email there is a Unsubscribe link to click on if you wish to no longer receive an email from them.
Employee Assistance Program
All employees at Kalamazoo Valley have access to our Employee Assistance Program. This is a confidential work-based program that offers resources to employees. See more information here.
Additional Resources for Employees on the College's Health Insurance Plan Virta - Telehealth treatment program for Type 2 diabetes, prediabetes. Their program uses a combination of remote coaching, nutritional guidance and technology. Hinge Health - Struggle with back, joint, or muscle pain? This therapy program can help you and your covered family members reduce pain in just 15 minutes a day from the comfort of your own home. Omada - If you are at risk for Type 2 diabetes or heart disease, Omada's digital program can help you lose weight, gain energy and create healthy habits. Work with a dedicated health coach. Livongo - Focused on helping people with diabetes. Receive diabetes supplies along with a free smart glucose meter. 2nd MD - Do you have an upcoming surgery, chronic conditions or pain and would like a second opinion? This service connects people with board-certified specialist for virtual second opinions.
For more information on the additional resources above, go to documents under Benefits, Wellness & Engagement on your Employee Portal.
Retirement Office of Retirement Services and Voya
For those who have a MPSERS and/or Voya account, Voya offers one-on-one virtual appointments and webinars. To sign up for a session, click here for a listing of dates and times.
TIAA
To meet for a one-on-one appointment with the assigned TIAA financial consultant, use the One-on-One Meetings scheduling link. A listing of webinars for September can be found hereor go to documents under Benefits, Wellness & Engagement on your Employee Portal.
Open Enrollment Is Coming
Open enrollment for all full-time employees is right around the corner. It will run from Nov. 1 to 15, 2024. 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.
During open enrollment, you'll be able to:
Make changes to your healthcare coverage
Review your Flexible Spending and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending and increase, decrease or stop coverage
Review your HSA contributions (if enrolled in the High Deductible Health Plan)
AFLAC - Enroll, stop or continue coverage
Dates for in-person sessions will be available soon. 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, we'll be in touch with more details. Changes Coming to Email Filtering In the coming weeks, the college will be transitioning its email filtering from Barracuda to Microsoft. We have been testing this change with a pilot group and the feedback has been positive.
What does this mean for me?
Currently, you receive an email from Barracuda when it has quarantined an email message for you. Instead, you will receive a similar email from Microsoft letting you know about quarantined emails.
What will the Microsoft quarantine email look like?
Here is a sample: What do I when I receive a quarantine notification from Microsoft?
Follow these steps:
Verify that the email is from: emailquarantine@kvcc.edu
Verify that the subject is "Microsoft 365 security: You have messages in quarantine"
Review the message(s) listed.
If you would like more details about a particular message, click its Review Message button. This will launch the Microsoft Defender portal with details displayed about the message.
If you recognize the message as legitimate, click the Release email link to have it delivered to your Inbox.
If this message does not seem legitimate, you do not need to do anything. The system will purge messages from your quarantine automatically after 30 days.
If you are unsure about a message's legitimacy, please emailit@kvcc.edu with details about the message in question (do not forward the email itself) and we will review it for you.
Have additional questions?
Please emailit@kvcc.eduor ask your favorite, friendly IT tech when you see them in the hallway.
Taps on Tuesdays Returns this Week Taps on Tuesday is a happy hour-style event hosted by Kalamazoo Valley's brewing department, Sept. 17 - 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. Walk-ins only; no reservations required. The Honorable Harvest Lecture Series Kicks Off Sept. 17
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.
Cultivating Community Resiliency Through Natural Building, Organic Farming And Education | Tuesday, Sept. 17 | 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. About six years ago, Larissa Touloupas-Pekarovicova and Ondrej Pekarovic embarked on a journey to build an offgrid, straw-bale house with the help of their community. They will share how their solar-powered farm, Solfed, was created and how anyone can get involved in building a more resilient community. more
Constitution Day Celebrated Sept. 18 In celebration of Constitution Day, Sociology and Gender and Women's Studies faculty member Rebecca Durkee will discuss the Equal Rights Amendment and the Constitution on Wednesday, Sept. 18, from 1 - 2:30 p.m., in Room 7570 (TTC). Tickets on Sale Now for Opportunities for Education Fundraiser Get tickets now for Opportunities for Education Scholarship Fundraising event on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Food Innovation Center! Signature dishes from area restaurants including 600 Kitchen & Bar and Cove Lakeside Bistro, will be provided, along with sweet treats from Huey D's Goodies and Dessert First. The event will also feature tasty creations from Kalamazoo Valley's own Chef Stephanie Hughes-Winfrey and Chef Jadon Hawkins. The complete list of participating restaurants is posted atkvcc.edu/foundation.Buy your tickets today! 100% of the ticket costs go directly to student scholarships. more
New Laptop Checkout Terms Beginning with the Fall 2024 semester, laptops are checked out for two weeks at a time. Renewals are automatic for another two weeks, for a total of a four week loan period. There are no additional renewals. After four weeks, the student must return the laptop to the library.
If a student returns the laptop on time, they may check out another one under the same guidelines, if the library has laptops available. All laptops are first come, first serve.
Students can check out library items including laptops, starting the first day of their first class. This gives students the maximum amount of time with the laptop while they are in class. Students should check their email for their laptop due date.
Laptops are now considered overdue one day after the due date. Once the laptop is overdue, IT has the ability to lock the computer and make it unusable. IT will send a message to the laptop screen letting the user know before this happens. After the computer is locked, students have three days to return the laptop or their college account may be charged for a replacement cost, and they will not be eligible to borrow anything from the library for two weeks.
Welcome to the Kalamazoo Valley Libraries Encourage your students to visit our two campus libraries. Consider copying the section below and pasting it in your Canvas course:
Kalamazoo Valley hastwo campus libraries - at Texas Township (TTC) and on the third floor of Anna Whitten Hall (AWH). We look forward to welcoming you!
Use our computers and printers or check outtechnology.
Library staffcan help you discover, evaluate and cite information you'll need for your classes and beyond.
Request Library Instruction We want to collaborate with you this fall to introduce your students to library services, spaces and resources. You can schedule a session with us, either in your classroom or in the library, where students can have the opportunity to:
Navigate library resources for a particular assignment or class topic
Choose or narrow a research topic
Use library tools to search for and cite sources for a paper or project
Evaluate information
We are open to your ideas! We can also provide tutorials and resources for your online students.
Please reach out to Jim Ratliff (ACC/BHLC) or Amy Brandt (TTC) to schedule library instruction. Information about scheduling instruction in the TTC Library Lab can be found on theInformation for Instructorswebpage.
Open House: Wednesday, Sept. 25 Encourage your students to attend the Library and Learning Center Open House at TTC, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Students can enjoy food, fun activities and giveaways while exploring the library.
Librarians Can Help Ask a Librarian Librarians can answer students' questions about research and citation. They can visit us, schedule aheador use our 24/7 chat service.
Getting started with research
Finding "scholarly" or "peer reviewed" articles or books
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 will be open for college employees only on Wednesdays and Thursdays from Sept. 18 to Oct. 10. Reservations will be 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 a.m. to noon. Reservations can be made by calling 269.548.3239.
Time for 20 Percent Off Tuesday on Sept. 24 at the Bookstore Get 20 percent off in the Texas Township Campus Bookstore on Sept. 24! The promotion is held on the LAST Tuesday of EVERY month! Come in and get yourself some Cougar clothing, art supplies, a new water bottle (even Hydro Flask) or an awesome backpack! Promotion excludes electronics, food and course materials. Discount applies to in-store purchases only. Feel free to take a spin through the Bookstore now to see what you'd like to buy. Or, take a peek online at bookstore.kvcc.edu.
Electronic Textbooks and Courseware Available for Classes Please share this information with students: They automatically get electronic versions of textbooks and other course materials for their classes. It's called Ready Day One. The cost is charged to their tuition bill. E-books tend to be at least 50 percent cheaper than hardcover and paperback textbooks. Please note that electronic materials are ONLY available in classes where the instructor selected the option for the course and many do!
What students need to know:
Within 24 hours of registering for a class with the electronic materials option, Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Texas Township Campus Bookstore sends an email indicating that they are enrolled in Ready Day One and that e-course materials will be available in their Canvas account on the first day of class. It's important to watch for the email.
If they wish to opt out and remove the Ready Day One charge from their tuition bill (it will be itemized there), they must act within two weeks from the first day of class. They have three options for doing so: complete the transaction via their Canvas account, email the Bookstore at bookstore.kvcc.eduor call the Bookstore at 269.488.4030.
Study Tips Session Offered for Valley Athletes Valley athletes from all five sports attended the Student-Athlete Study Table Kickoff on Friday, Sept. 6, where they heard from President L. Marshall Washington and other top administrators at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, plus representatives from departments with resources to assist academic success, including the Learning Center, Office of Student Access, the Libraries, University Center and Valley Food Share. The event is held every semester, and is coordinated by Aaron Williams and Jeff Stone, academic and career pathway advisors in Student Development Services. New was a Q & A session with faculty and staff members who themselves once played sports in college, featuring Kevin Dockerty, David Lancaster, Natalie Lovely, Monteze Morales, Renea Peruski, Ashleigh Quinones and Carl Ross. The keynote presentation focused on "Born to be Resilient," delivered by psychology instructor Meredith Holland. Click here for more photos.
Volleyball Season is Underway! The Lady Cougars Volleyball Team had the honor of opening their conference season with a home match, complete with a DJ! They played Lansing Community College on Thursday, Sept. 12. Click here for more photos! Congrats to LCC, winning 3-to-0. Our next home match is Thursday, Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m., this one against Lake Michigan College, in the main gym on the Texas Township Campus of Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Remember home games are always free, and feel free to bring your friends and family! Below are the rest of the home games:
6:30 p.m. | Tuesday | Sept. 24 vs. Southwestern Michigan College
6:30 p.m. | Thursday | Sept. 26 vs. Macomb Community College
6:30 p.m. | Tuesday | Oct. 1 vs. Glen Oaks Community College
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 schedule here. Read an article about the volleyball season here.
Volleyball Player Spotlight Player Spotlight is an occasional feature highlighting outstanding student-athletes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. The honorees have been nominated by Head Volleyball Coach Rhonda Sturgeon. HOLLAND DEVRIES
Position: Outside hitter Hometown: Kalamazoo, Michigan Major: Cosmetology Why outstanding: As a freshman, DeVries has earned a starting spot on our 2024 roster as an outside hitter from Kalamazoo Christian High School. She has become an integral part of the Cougar offense with 145 kills in preseason play. Devries is a natural athlete who is an outstanding, powerful hitter and serves as a team captain. LAUREL BARNO Position: Defensive specialist Hometown: Macomb, Michigan Major: Dental hygiene Why outstanding: Barno is a sophomore from Lutheran High North High School. She shows tremendous hustle and aggressiveness on defense, as well as serving. She is a great teammate and has a tremendous love for the game. The energy she brings is contagious! LILLIAN FERRIS Position: Middle hitter Hometown: Delton, Michigan Major: Elementary education Why outstanding: Ferris is a sophomore from Delton Kellogg High School. She is a hardworking, versatile player who is willing to take on any role. Ferris has become an important piece to both our offensive and defensive sides of the game. 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, Sept. 17 | 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 25 | 10 a.m.
Attending a KVAAP Info Session is a required part of the application process. Interested students can registerhere.
WTTA Graduate Excelling in the Field Did you know that Kalamazoo Valley's Wind Turbine Technician Academy (WTTA) is one of the nation's leading industry program providers? The unique training model focuses on specific hands-on competencies to guide students from the classroom to learning labs. Upon graduation, many students receive job offers and are equipped to enter the in-demand workforce.
"While attending the Wind Turbine Technician Academy at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, I gained a multitude of essential skills required to be a successful and professional technician in the wind industry," said WTTA graduate Zachary Haynes. more
Murphy Darden Mini Exhibit Opening Events Were Huge Success The community support was wonderful for the Sept. 5 panel discussion and reception celebrating the life of the late Kalamazoo historian Murphy Darden, whose body of work the Kalamazoo Valley Museum honors with its newest mini exhibit, "Collecting Black History: Murphy Darden's Legacy." Click herefor more photos, including many of Darden's relatives. At Art Hop the following day, the museum showed a Murphy Darden documentary and the Center for New Media hosted its own Darden exhibit. See the photos here and more here. Darden died in 2023. The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is keeping his dedication to preserving African American history alive, thanks to this year acquiring just over 200 items from his collections. About two dozen of those pieces form the mini exhibit, which will be on view until March 2. Admission is free to the exhibit and museum. Learn more about the 95-year-old trailblazerhere.
Enjoy Poetry Celebrating Asylum Lake on Sept. 21 Friends of Poetry will present selections from the book of poems, "Asylum Lake: A Tribute," on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m., at our Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 N. Rose St. in downtown Kalamazoo. Area writers wrote the pieces in response to Asylum Lake Preserve in Kalamazoo, paying homage to the rich history of this natural space that our community shares. While at the museum, learn more about the preserve site by visiting the "Kalamazoo State Hospital: 165 Years of Psychiatric Care" exhibit currently on display. Admission is FREE to both the poetry reading and exhibit. Find more details at kalamazoomuseum.org.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
6767 West O Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49003-4070
Volleyball Season is Underway! 
Enjoy Poetry Celebrating Asylum Lake on Sept. 21
