We are hosting our inaugural Student Success Breakfast this summer semester
MISSION STATEMENT Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable
opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive.
June 2, 2025
Greetings,
We are hosting our inaugural Student Success Breakfast this summer semester to provide yet another avenue for students to share their experiences with us. This is where you come in � can you please encourage every Valley student that you know to attend? See the flyer below for details about the student-centered event coming to the Texas Township Campus on June 19.
Speaking of summer, many of us are planning time away from the college for well-deserved vacations and/or "staycations." I encourage you to schedule time away from your work responsibilities for rest and relaxation. Please discuss your work schedule with your supervisor to make a plan for time away from the college.
While you are away, really be on vacation. This means, except in a case of unusual circumstance, resist the urge to check your email and voicemail messages. Stop yourself from checking in with others at work. If something comes up, we know how to contact you. Relax, release and recharge on vacation. Enjoy the summer semester!
Sincerely,
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
IT Update There will be a major Banner maintenance project taking place from June 9 - 15. From June 9-12, users may notice slow response times in Banner and Document Imaging. The Banner system will be unavailable June 13 - 15. Banner will be fully functional by Monday, June 16. Pool Closed June 2 - 3 The pool will be closed Monday, June 2 and Tuesday, June 3 for locker room repairs. The pool will reopen at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4. Volunteer Opportunities Available for All The college will have a presence at a number of festivals and events this summer in an effort to recruit students for the fall semester. Upcoming events include:
Kalamazoo Pride Festival | June 7 | Noon - 6 p.m. | Arcadia Creek Festival Site
Kalamazoo Farmers Market | June 21 | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Bank Street
OutFront Youth Pride | June 28 | Noon - 6 p.m. | Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan
Black Arts Festival | July 12 | 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. | Bronson Park
Kalamazoo Farmers Market | July 19 | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Bank Street
Beyond the Backpack | Aug. 9 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Bronson Park
Kalamazoo Farmers Market | Aug. 16 | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Bank Street
Kalamazoo Farmers Market | Sept. 20 | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Bank Street
Encourage Students to Apply for Scholarships Kalamazoo Valley Foundation-sponsored scholarships for 2025 - 26 school year are now available. Students who apply by July 1 will be prioritized for the Fall 2025 semester. The scholarship application is available here.
Volunteers Needed Valley Food Share distribution continues for the summer semester as a drive-thru service alternating between the Food Innovation Center and the Texas Township Campus on Thursdays between 2 - 4 p.m. Volunteers are needed to assemble the shares, unload the truck and distribute shares to students. With supervisor approval, please sign up to help! If you have any questions, please email foodshare@kvcc.edu. If you'd like to pack shares as part of a department team-building activity, please email Hristina Petrovska, program coordinator.
Campus Tours Available for Employees We have developed the structure for again offering campus tours to new employees or anyone else who would like a guided tour of buildings other than the Texas Township Campus. Those interested should register for the specific tour they would like in Power School. Employees must provide their own transportation.
Arcadia Commons Campus | 60 min. | 2 p.m. July 8, Sept. 9, Nov. 11
Bronson Healthy Living Campus | 90 min. | 8:15 a.m. June 24, Aug. 26, Oct. 28
Kalamazoo Valley Groves Campus | 30 min. | 11 a.m. June 10, Aug. 12, Oct. 14
Tour participants should work with their supervisors in scheduling tours, so that the work of the department is minimally impacted. To sign up for any of our campus tours, please go to this link: Campus Tours.
Employee Benefits 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, click here.
You Are Not Alone � Community Resources Available Some of our students, co-workers, friends, relatives or even ourselves may need assistance from time to time. The college has a list of community resources on our website. Click here. We encourage you to share the list with others.
Retirement Services and Voya For those who have a MPSERS and/or a Voya account, Voya offers one-on-one virtual appointments and webinars. To sign up for a session or to view dates and times, click here.
TIAA
Do you have an account with TIAA? A listing of webinars in June can be found by clicking here. Would you like to save more for retirement? The supplemental retirement plan gives you the opportunity to continue to save toward retirement. Kalamazoo Valley Community College offers three plans through TIAA. The deduction can either be a percentage of your check or a fixed dollar amount. To learn more on the different plans, clickhere.These options are for employee-only contributions.
The Pool App
Is your healthcare coverage through Kalamazoo Valley Community College? Have you downloaded the app for The Pool? On the app, you will have access to pain management, diabetes management, health management, diabetes and heart health and virtual second opinions. To learn more, clickhere.
Mental Health
Balancing work and family are important. Your mental health is as important as your physical health. That support is just a click or call away. As a member of The Pool, you have access to a variety of resources for support:
Behavioral health � On the back of your BCBSM ID, you�ll find the number for a mental health line. This is 24/7 help that will connect you with a professional that will assist you in finding the right support.
Virtual care � From the comfort of your home through Virtual Care, access mental health services like therapy sessions and consultations with board-certified psychiatrists.
Blue Cross well-being� Browse through your various online tools that offer personalized health assessments, trackers, and content to support your overall well-being, all for free. Learn more here.
Maven � Maternity and Postpartum Support
Employees who are covered under the Kalamazoo Valley Community College medical plan now have additional support. Whether you�re an expectant parent or excited partner, Maven can support you in answering questions, connect you with qualified professionals and more.
AFLAC Accident Plan
If your medical plan is through Kalamazoo Valley Community College, you also have AFLAC Accident for no additional cost. The AFLAC Accident covers all dependents who are enrolled on your medical plan. For more information on AFLAC Accident, click here.
Recruiting Great Talent Like You � Can You Help? Please help us recruit more great talent like yourself by sharing the Kalamazoo Valley Community College jobs website with your networks. Currently, we have openings in IT; technical training services; public safety; building maintenance; continuing education and life enrichment; and diversity and inclusion, to name just a few areas. Direct your networks to https://jobs.kvcc.edu/ for details and more job listings.
Student Planner Content and Promotional (Swag) Item Orders Due June 5 June 5 is the deadline to submit events and important dates for inclusion in the college's 2025 - 2026 Student Planner. This printed piece will serve as a compass for campus engagement as students navigate through the academic year.
Prior to submitting information for inclusion in the planner, event requests must be submitted to Event Services via Astra Schedule for review. Once your events have been approved, please click here to submit your information for inclusion in the planner. If you need promotional items for your event(s), please click here to request the items that are needed for fiscal year 2025 - 2026 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026).
Note that non-event information, such as important academic calendar or application dates, do not require an Astra Schedule review.
For questions about the call for entries form for the Student Planner, contact Khadijah Kabbani, marketing coordinator.
For questions about Astra Schedule, contact Jessica Potter, facility and events manager.
For questions about promotional item ordering, contact Allison Lay, office manager.
News from the Libraries Summer Reading Challenge
Stop by the libraries for a Summer Reading Challenge bookmark to track your progress, plus check out ourbook display online or in person at the libraries for recommendations on what to read. Read five books from five categories by the end of the summer for a chance to win a prize! Turn in a completed bookmark to enter the prize drawing and earn a summer reading pin.
Need Help Now? Ask a Librarian
Librarians can help Kalamazoo Valley students with questions about research and citation. Encourage your students to visit the Libraries or request an individual appointment. Or, consider scheduling a Library Instruction session for your class. For more information about instruction, visit our Information for Instructors webpage. Schedule a Research Appointment with a Librarian
Students can meet one-on-one with a librarian in person, by phone or over Zoom.
Sign into Etrieve Forms with your Valley username and password
Complete the form to tell us about your assignment and availability
Get Help In Person
Students can ask a friendly librarian for help at the Reference Desk during our open hours. Chat Online with a Librarian
Students can receive live 24/7 chat assistance from an academic librarian
Visit our Ask a Librarian webpage to start a chat session today!
Bookstore Closed June 18 and 19 to Conduct Inventory The Texas Township Bookstore will be closed Wednesday, June 18 and Thursday, June 19 to conduct inventory. It will reopen for normal business on Monday, June 23. Remember, you can shop online anytime at bookstore.kvcc.edu. Online orders may be picked up at TTC or the Anna Whitten Hall Library at the Arcadia Commons Campus in downtown Kalamazoo, or, if you prefer, shipped to you for $5.
Think of the Bookstore for Father�s Day Gifts Father�s Day is coming up on June 15. The Texas Township Campus Bookstore has great gifts for Dad! There�s hoodies, Hydro Flask water bottles, beer mugs, hats and more. Come on in and look around, or check out the Bookstore website at bookstore.kvcc.edu. KVAAP Student Highlight: Alex Taylor Meet Alex Taylor, a law enforcement major in his last semester at Kalamazoo Valley. Taylor is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for two-year colleges. He has held multiple leadership roles in the honor society, including chapter vice president of scholarship and a Michigan regional officer for the 2024 - 2025 academic year.
Taylor started school during a turbulent time in his personal life and says that joining the Kalamazoo Valley Accelerated Associate Program was a life-changing experience. He encourages his fellow students to join the program.
�Will you change the trajectory of your life? Are you ready to say that you can?" Taylor said. "Take the leap. Join hundreds before you who broke free, who said instead: �I will.� Sign up today. KVAAP welcomes you!�
Upcoming KVAAP Info Sessions Students can attend these information sessions via a Zoom meeting link that will be sent to them upon signing up. These sessions will explain how KVAAP can assist students with achieving their educational goals.
KVAAP is currently considering applications for the Fall 2025 semester. Interested students can registerfor an information session here.
Wednesday, June 4 | 10 a.m.
Thursday, June 19 | 3:30 p.m.
What's for Lunch on the Texas Township Campus? The Cougar Cafe has adjusted its menu for the summer semester. They will be serving Subway, salad and pizza as well as hot coffee and snacks. Breakfast sandwiches are available until 11 a.m. Monday - Thursday. The Cougar Cafe's summer hours are Monday - Thursday, 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. The Coffee Den is closed for the summer.
The Numbers Are In � Our Athletes are Scholars! Congratulations! Did you know that 60% of Valley�s 78 student-athletes earned a 3.0 or higher GPA during the 2024 - 2025 academic year? That�s worth bragging about! Kudos to our students. Here�s how the numbers break down by sport. The first number listed is the total student-athletes on the team achieving this academic milestone, followed by the percentage that represents:
Baseball: 18 of 28 players, or 64%
Men�s basketball: Nine of 14 players, or 64%
Women�s basketball: Four of 12 players, or 33%
Softball: Eight of 12 players, or 66 percent
Volleyball: Eight of 12 players, or 66 percent
Summer Youth Sports Camps Registration Now Open Attention parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and caregivers! Kalamazoo Valley Community College offers half-day summer youth sports camps at its Texas Township Campus. The boys and girls basketball, softball and baseball camps serve students entering grades 6 - 12, while the volleyball camp is open to grades 4 - 12. The four-day camps are in July (except the special baseball showcase, which is one full day on Aug. 4). To register, visit athletics.kvcc.edu/camps, where you can find camp dates and descriptions, deadlines, fees and equipment requirements. A limited number of scholarships are available; contact Athletic Director Russ Panico at rpanico@kvcc.edu or 269.488.4393.
Free Wallace & Gromit-Themed Summer Program Begins June 19 Looking for free activities for a young child this summer? The Kalamazoo Valley Museum will be hosting hands-on fun centered around the beloved claymation characters of Wallace, Gromit and Shaun the Sheep from the TV, film and book series! Expect creativity, laughter and interactive exhibits, as kids embark on whimsical journeys with the animated characters. Activities will be offered every Thursday � June 19 through July 24 � from 1 to 3 p.m., except July 10, when the start time will be 11:30 a.m. Registration is not required. The museum�s �Inventive Adventures� summer break program is inspired by the museum�s new traveling exhibit, �Wallace & Gromit� and Shaun the Sheep�: Sheer Genius!� Visit kalamazoomuseum.org for the different weekly themes.
Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep Exhibit Now Open Step into the environments of Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep to explore their contraptions, antics and escapades through dramatic play and interactive opportunities, as part of a new traveling exhibit at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Designed for children ages three through nine, the exhibit encourages playfully solving STEM-based and social-emotional problems in fun and engaging ways. �Wallace & Gromit� and Shaun the Sheep�: Shear Genius!� was created by Minnesota Children�s Museum and Aardman Animations� Limited � 2025. It runs now through Aug. 31. Find more details at kalamazoomuseum.org.
Enjoy Free RainGardenTours Wednesdays & Saturdays Take a free guided tour of the Kalamazoo Valley Museum�s rain garden to learn how such gardens play a vital role in improving water quality and supporting local wildlife. Beginning May 31, tours will take place every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and every Wednesday starting June 11 at the same times (no tours on Wednesday, June 4). These family-friendly tours will be available through Aug. 30. Each lasts about 20 to 25 minutes. Register now online at kalamazoomuseum.org, or sign up on the day of at the front desk.
Two Fun Exhibits Highlight Items from the Museum�s Archives Have you seen the new �Colorful Collections� and �The Art of Advertising� exhibits at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum? �Colorful Collections� features items from the Kalamazoo Valley Museum�s permanent collection displayed in a rainbow of hues. Delve into the color spectrum like never before as you enjoy some of the brightest and boldest examples from the KVM's collection. �The Art of Advertising� showcases nostalgic signs and advertisements from area businesses from the museum�s archives, offering up an eclectic mix of advertising paraphernalia from bygone eras. The exhibits will be on display until Aug. 31.
