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Oct. 20, 2025
Greetings, students!
Congratulations! You've made it to the midpoint of the fall semester! For many, it seems that classes just began and, for others, time seems to drag along. We understand! At this halfway mark, it is important to take a breath and assess where you are with your studies. Are you on track to successfully complete your classes? Do you need to recommit to your work? My advice to you is to do your homework, participate in class and, if you need help, reach out for assistance right away. We have dozens of professionals available to assist you. You can do this!
Believe it or not, it's time to register for winter semester. To make it easy for you, we've planned a Winter Registration Blitz on Oct. 29, 30 and 31 to help you get it all done. For those of you who plan to graduate this semester, the deadline to petition to graduate for fall semester completion is Oct 31. See details below for how to apply to graduate. We hope we will see all of you graduates at our commencement celebration on Sunday, Dec.14 - you deserve to be celebrated!
Sincerely,
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
Important Upcoming Dates
Deadline to Petition to Graduate is Oct. 31
Are you planning to graduate in December? The deadline to petition to graduate for fall semester completion is Oct. 31. Students who petition after the deadline may not have their names printed in the December 2025 Commencement program book. Click here to submit your application.
Students are encouraged to take part in celebrating their achievements by attending commencement on Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. at Miller Auditorium. Information will be emailed to eligible participants on Nov. 1. Click here to see highlights and here to view photos from the April 2025 Commencement celebration earlier this year.
For questions, call the Admissions, Registration and Records office at 269.488.4281.
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) FAQs
The HLC Formula for a Great College Experience: How Kalamazoo Valley Measures Up
Think of the HLC accreditation process as a proven formula for educational excellence - that's what the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) uses to evaluate colleges. Discover how Kalamazoo Valley follows this framework to ensure you receive a high-quality, student-centered experience.
Q: What is this "formula" you're talking about?
A: HLC has four core "Criteria for Accreditation" like essential measurements for an outstanding college experience. They cover Kalamazoo Valley's mission, fair policies, quality classes, student support and continuous improvement.
Q: How does Kalamazoo Valley Community College measure up?
A: Kalamazoo Valley excels in every area - the college's clear mission guides the initiatives Valley takes part in, how the college operates with complete transparency, provides top-quality education and never stops improving based on your feedback.
Q: What are "Assumed Practices"?
A: These are like the basic, essential variables a great college should have including clear information, fair treatment and qualified faculty. They are the foundation that supports everything else Kalamazoo Valley offers.
Q: What does this mean for my daily experience?
A: It means that your entire Kalamazoo Valley experience from your classes to support services meets rigorous national standards designed to help you succeed.
Research Basics Online Guides
Your instructor has assigned a paper requiring original research and you are not sure what that is or how to find it. Kalamazoo Valley Libraries' Research Basics study guides can answer your questions quickly and thoroughly.
- Finding Scholarly Journal Articles details how to find and sort out sources suitable for academic assignments from those which are not, and helps you approach reading them.
- Identifying Research Studies teaches the crucial skill of discerning between primary research and meta-analysis, and helps you interpret the sources you have found.
- Understanding Peer-Review is your go-to guide when your instructor calls for peer-reviewed studies, which are approved by a panel of experts in the field before publication.
- Using Library Databases enables you to search the libraries' curated electronic article collections with confidence.
The Research Basics guides are conveniently interlinked to make navigation seamless.
Ask a Librarian
Did you know that librarians can help with research and citation? Evaluating information? Or finding a book on a topic of interest? Ask a Librarian! Librarians can answer your questions about research and citation.
Food Service on the Texas Township Campus
Looking for a quick snack or something for lunch while on the Texas Township Campus? The Cougar Cafe offers a wide variety of grab-and-go items, including sandwiches, salads and soup. Subway is also located inside the Cougar Cafe. The Cougar Cafe on the Texas Township Campus is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., serving breakfast items from 7:30 - 10 a.m.
This week's menu includes:
Monday | Oct. 20 | Chicken noodle soup; grill station selections
Tuesday | Oct. 21 | Chicken noodle soup; grill station selections
Wednesday | Oct. 22 | Chicken noodle soup; chili mac, mashed potatoes and vegetables
Thursday | Oct. 23 | Chicken noodle soup; fried chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy
Time for 20 Percent Off Tuesday on Oct. 28 at the Bookstore!
Get 20 percent off in the Texas Township Campus Bookstore on Oct. 28! 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 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.
Last Chance to Watch a Home Volleyball Game!
The Lady Cougars wore pink T-shirts in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month at their Oct. 9 home match, triumphing over Lansing Community College after losing to them earlier in the season. Click here to see all the photos. Come out and support the volleyball team at their final home game! Below are the details. The match takes place in the main gym at the college's Texas Township Campus and is free! Bring friends and family!
- Tuesday, Oct. 28 | 6:30 p.m. | vs. Lake Michigan College
Click here for the full schedule of both home and away games, and read a story about the season here. For regular team updates, be sure to follow them on Instagram and Facebook @kvccvb.
Baseball and Softball Players Volunteered in September
Kalamazoo Valley's baseball team supported the American Foundation's "Out of the Darkness Community Walk" for suicide prevention on Sept. 28 at Milham Park in Kalamazoo. On Sept. 30, the Lady Cougars softball team attended the Challenger Little League for Special Needs Kids at Milwood Elementary School in Kalamazoo. Kudos to both teams for taking the time to show love to the community! All five of the college's sports teams participate in two community service projects every semester.
'Dancing With Life: Mexican Masks' Exhibit Now Open
Explore the rich festival culture of Mexico through historic and contemporary masks at the "Dancing With Life: Mexican Masks" traveling exhibit coming to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, from Sept. 27, 2025 through Jan. 4. The museum is the first in the nation to host the exhibition. The exhibit centers around the work of the mask makers and dancers themselves through written and recorded interviews, including bilingual Spanish and English texts.
'Am I An American or Am I Not?' Exhibit Debuted Oct. 12
The thought-provoking "Am I An American or Am I Not?" traveling historical exhibit is now on view at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, through Jan. 4. It asks visitors to think about examples of unfair treatment from our country's past and present in order to protect the American promises of life, liberty and justice for all. It is named after a quote from Fred Korematsu, who famously challenged the mass imprisonment of 125,000 Japanese Americans during WWII.
Fall Honorable Lecture Series Continues Through Nov. 18
Enjoy weekly talks this fall examining ways we restore the tenets of reciprocity with the natural world as a community and as individuals. Organized by Kalamazoo Valley Community College's ValleyHub in partnership with the museum, the sessions are held every Tuesday, from Sept. 23 to Nov. 18, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This drop-in lecture series takes place at the college's Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health building, located at 418 E. Walnut St. in downtown Kalamazoo. View the list of topics at valleyhub.kvcc.edu/events.
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