MISSION STATEMENT Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable
opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive.
March 16, 2026
Greetings, College Community,
We're seeing many signs of spring ' birds returning, weather changing, buds on the trees ' and, for us here at the college, the semester mid-point. All of you have been working hard, supporting our students and working with our community. My hope is that you will feel refreshed by the spring season and that it will give you the energy you need to help our students finish off the semester strong!
Kalamazoo Valley values caring and respect. We work together to foster a safe, dynamic learning environment and to honor civility, service and collegiality. Many of our recent projects and programs show your care: the upcoming grand opening of the KV Circle Center, our commitment to student success and the many service projects done by our students and employees are just a few examples. Our mission to create innovative and equitable opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive remains steadfast. Thank you for all of the energy you put into making sure that these values are reflected in all that we do here at the college and in the communities we serve.
Sincerely,
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
In Memoriam: Lynn Grammel The college community is mourning the loss of a member of our Kalamazoo Valley family, Lynn Grammel. From 2014, Grammel was a valued member of first the Enrollment and later the Recruitment teams. Her passion for putting students first was matched only by her warmth and her willingness to make time for everyone around her at the college. Grammel loved life, her students and the colleagues she worked alongside. She was a friend, colleague and mentor ' and an advocate for all of us. She will be deeply missed. Click thislinkfor information about her visitation and memorial service which will be held on Friday, April 10.
Deadline is March 25 to Register for Women's History Month Luncheon
Join us for Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Women's History Month Luncheon on Thursday, April 2, from noon to 1:30 p.m., in the auxiliary gym at the Texas Township Campus. The luncheon is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are required by March 25. Clickhere to register. Four noteworthy women will be honored at the 'Leading the Change: Women Shaping an Enduring Future' event.
KV Circle Center Grand Opening RSVPs Due March 23 You're invited to the KV Circle Center Grand Opening on Monday, March 30, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., in Room 4240 on the Texas Township Campus. Please RSVP here by Monday, March 23 to attend.In partnership with MI-ACE Women's Network, the celebration will include a presentation exploring the historical and sociological significance of collective care and community support. The program will conclude with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Save the Date: Foodways Symposium April 10 - 11!
Get ready for a culinary journey to Southeast Asia! The college will explore those flavor profiles when our annual Kalamazoo Valley Foodways Symposium returns April 10 - 11 to downtown Kalamazoo. It kicks off Friday, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum with a keynote panel and free seed share, followed by a day of culinary exploration on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building. The event is free and
registration is not required. Visit kalamazoofoodways.org for the schedule and more details.
March 19 is Last Day to Sign up for Employee Appreciation Day An outing to Zap Zone in Portage is the final event for employees under the college's generous wellness grant from the Stryker Johnston Foundation! Advance registration is required by March 19here. Scroll down for the graphic with more details. The event takes place on Sunday, March 22, from noon to 3 p.m. It is open to employees and their families.
Get Your Employee Headshot! Are you in need of a free professional headshot? A photographer will be available between 8 and 11 a.m. in the lower level of the Student Commons at the Texas Township Campus on Friday, April 10 to take photos. Appointments are in 10-minute increments. If interested, please sign up here. Questions? Contact marketing@kvcc.edu.
Safety precautions to take during an active shooter event The Kalamazoo Valley's Department of Public Safety is prepared for emergencies, but individuals can take additional steps to minimize danger by using the "Avoid, Deny, Defend" model.
Avoid: If an exit is near, run to safety. Assist others in exiting the building if possible.
Deny: If you cannot escape, barricade the room. Fortify the workspace by locking doors and placing heavy objects in front of them to delay entry. Turn off lights and find cover behind dense objects rather than hiding under desks. Identify items that can function as improvised weapons.
Defend: If a barricade is breached, be prepared to fight.
First responders will systematically clear the campus during and after an incident. Contact Kalamazoo Valley Public Safety for active violence training or a security assessment of your workspace. More information is available in the yellow safety books located in classrooms and offices.
Employee Benefits Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employees and their family members have access to our Employee Assistance Program, offering expanded support and resources. Employees will need to create an account before logging in. Click hereto see what resources are available.
EyeMed Vision ' Now What You See Is What You Hear
Introducing Nuance Audio for someone with mild to moderate hearing loss. Click here for more information on this benefit.
You Are Not Alone 'Community Resources Available Some of our students, coworkers, friends, relatives or even ourselves may need assistance from time to time. The college has a list of community resources on our website. We encourage you to share the list with others.
The Pool App Employees who have our medical coverage will want to make sure to download The Pool App by clickinghere. You will find resources for eligible employees.
Retirement Services Would you like more financial information? Click here to register for upcoming webcast sessions offered for TIAA members.
Counting Down to Retirement
Thinking about retirement and you are a member of the Michigan Public Schools Employee Retirement Services? There may be some things you need to cross off your to-do list. MPSERS provides a Countdown to Retirement. Here's another resource: Voya Financial provides virtual appointments and webinars for employees who have an account with them. Click here for a complete listing of dates and times.
Save More for Retirement in 2026
Interested in saving more towards retirement? Kalamazoo Valley offers a Supplemental Retirement Plan for employees that would let them save more towards their retirement. After-tax Roth contributions are available for employees. To find out more information on after-tax contribution, click here. If interested, complete the Supplemental Retirement Plan Salary Reduction Agreement and turn into Human Resources.
The Search Committee Process Training We offer "The Search Committee Process," a two-hour training exploring the basics of how a search is conducted to fill full-time vacancies. It also explores how implicit or unconscious bias impacts the decision-making process, assessment of candidates' application materials and the interview process. The training is required for those who wish to serve on a search committee, but it is open to anyone wishing to learn more. To sign up for a training, click on the registration link below for your desired session.
Tuesday, March 24| 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. | Room 4520, TTC | Register here Wednesday, May 13| 9 - 11 a.m. | Room 4520, TTC | Register here
Campus Tours Available for Employees Campus tours are in full swing and available to any employee wishing a guided tour of our buildings outside of the Texas Township Campus. Please remember to check with your supervisor prior to registration. Tours occur at specific times and a guide will be there to show you around and discuss the programs that occur in that facility. This is a great chance to learn about some of the great things going on at the college. Register for tours by clicking on the dates below:
Arcadia Commons Campus | 60 min. | 2 p.m.
Consists of Anna Whitten Hall, Center for New Media and the Kalamazoo Valley Museum
2026 Fourth Annual Staff and Administrator Excellence Awards Kalamazoo Valley Excellence Awards will be presented to highlight the outstanding work of Kalamazoo Valley staff and administrators. The awards recognize those who have a demonstrated record of exceptional work in support of the college mission. Regular full-time, part-time employees and paraprofessionals are eligible. Kalamazoo Valley welcomes all faculty and staff to participate in the nomination process. You may nominate up to three individuals per year by filling out the form on this webpage. Some restrictions apply; please visit the nomination website for more details. Nominations must be submitted by May 15.
If you have any questions, please contact Kimberly Dupree (kdupree@kvcc.edu) training and development coordinator.
Arbor Day Ceremony Honorees Deadline is April 16 This year's Arbor Day Ceremony to honor loved ones who have passed away is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, April 24 at the Texas Township Campus. It will be held in the memorial tree garden near the south storm ponds (behind the Advanced Technology Center). April 16 is the deadline to submit names of current and former staff and faculty members and their loved ones for consideration to be honored at the Arbor Day tree-planting ceremony. The submission form is located in the employee portal. (Click here.) We will hold this event outdoors, unless we encounter high winds or thunderstorms. In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held indoors in the TTC Atrium. Or use this link: https://forms.gle/v4XBu3t1VvSEtkwN8 Fall 2026 Employee Registration
Employee registration for the Fall 2026 semester will be April 3 - 6. Full and part-time employees may request access to online registration for themselves and/or their dependents through 4 p.m. on Friday, April 3.
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 April 3, 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, April 6. Please email the Admissions, Registration and Records office at arr@kvcc.edu or call 269.488.4281 with questions. Transitioning from Staples to Amazon Business As part of our continued efforts to streamline purchasing processes and leverage cost savings, the college will be transitioning away from Staples and moving to Amazon Business for office supply purchases. Effective April 1, employees will no longer be able to place Staples orders. Amazon Business will serve as the primary platform for ordering office supplies and other approved items moving forward. If you need to request an Amazon Business account or have questions about access, please contact Accounts Payable at accountspayable@kvcc.edu. Be sure to reference the document linked here for additional details, ordering guidelines and important transition information.
Amazon purchases made on behalf of the college should be placed using an Amazon account that is tied to your Kalamazoo Valley email address. Please avoid using personal Amazon accounts for college-related purchases. Keeping purchases under a Kalamazoo Valley-linked account helps with documentation, order history and audit tracking. Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Accreditation Spotlight The Kalamazoo Valley reaccreditation websitenow features several important updates. The HLC planning team has posted brief biographical statements for each of the site reviewers. You will also find links to concise summaries of all four HLC Criterion, highlighting key points from Kalamazoo Valley's Assurance Argument. These resources are especially valuable for anyone planning to participate in the site visit meetings on today and tomorrow.
HLC Site Visit Schedule Our HLC reaccreditation site visitors are here on Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17.
Below is a schedule of the time and location of the various focus sessions. From time to time, the peer review team may adjust the schedule while they are on campus. The most current information, including any updates, will be available on the Kalamazoo Valley HLC Re-accreditation webpage, https://www.kvcc.edu/about/hlc-reaccreditation.html, which will serve as the central location for schedule changes and announcements.
Kalamazoo Valley Site Visit Schedule ' March 15 - 17
Sunday, March 15
Team arrives (varied arrivals), Team dinner
Day 1: Monday, March 16, morning
Time
Activity
7:30 - 8:15 a.m.
Team coordinates travel to campus / visiting team establishes working location on campus
8:15 - 8:30 a.m.
Meeting with President and Leadership Team (Sarah Robb, Ph.D.)
8:30 - 9:15 a.m.
Meeting with Assurance Process Committee (all team members)
9:30 - 11 a.m.
Tour of campus and programs (2 - 3 review team members)
10 - 10:50 a.m.
Staff Forum (Open to all Staff) ' TTC 4240
11 - 11:50 a.m.
Area of Focus: Academic Policy ' TTC 4370/80
12:15 - 1:15 p.m.
Lunch with Students TTC 4240 (Lunch served in 4230)
Day 1: Monday, March 16, afternoon
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Area of Focus: Criterion 4 TTC 4370/80
Area of Focus: Dual Credit/EMC TTC 2410
2:45 - 3:45 p.m.
Open Forum, Criteria 1&2 TTC 4370/80
Open Forum: Criterion 3 TTC 4240
4 - 5 p.m.
Faculty Forum (Open to all Faculty) TTC 4240
Area of Focus: Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness TTC 4370/80
5 - 5:30 p.m.
Drop-in Session for additional information or to finish answers TTC 2410
Work Session for the rest of the Peer Review Team
5:30 p.m.
HLC Visiting Team leaves campus
Day 2 ' Tuesday, March 17, morning
7:45 a.m.
HLC Visiting Team arrives on campus ' to the working location
8 - 9 a.m.
Breakfast with Board Members
9:15 - 10:45 a.m.
Area of Focus: Assessment & Program Review -TTC 4240
11 a.m. - Noon
Area of Focus: Student Services - TTC 4240
Noon ' 1 p.m.
HLC Visiting Team ' working lunch, prepare for exit meeting
1 - 1:30 p.m.
Exit Meeting with Leadership Team, team departs campus
Day 2 ' Tuesday, March 17, afternoon
2 p.m. - TBD
Team work time at hotel
Reminder: The Kalamazoo Valley Assurance Argument is now available to all employees. To access the document, log into the Employee Portal (home.kvcc.edu), General Resources > Strategic & Unit Master Plans > HLC Assurance Argument 2026.
March 2026 Events
Project Management Series #2 Project Planning: Friday, March 20 | 12:30 - 2 p.m. | Register| TTC 1330 |Zoom #3 Project Execution: Friday, March 27 | Noon - 1:30 p.m. | Register | TTC 1330 |Zoom #4 Project Completion: Friday, April 3 | Noon - 1 p.m. | Register | TTC 1330 |Zoom
Come and learn about the entire project management process in small doses. From starting your project to the project delivery phase, these trainings lay out the essentials you need.
Kalamazoo Valley Museum's Planetarium: A New Era of Discovery Friday, March 27 | 4 - 5 p.m. | Register | 230 N. Rose St., Kalamazoo, MI
Experience a unique development opportunity designed exclusively for Valley employees to celebrate the transformation of the Kalamazoo Valley Museum's planetarium theater. This event offers a first look at the updated space and its expanded possibilities through an immersive presentation, a guided exploration of Science on a Sphere and a hands-on STEM activity. Attendees are also invited to take a self-guided tour of the first-floor gallery spaces to reconnect with the museum's diverse educational resources.
The Rapid-Start Project Tool Tuesday, March 24 | 10 - 11:30 a.m. | Register| TTC 4550 |Zoom
If you need a shorter, one-session training on project management tools, plan to attend for an overview of how to build project objectives, determine supports and roles and achieve the outcomes you need using an essential project management tool.
Smart Money Habits: Budgeting & Reducing Debt Friday, April 17 | 11 a.m. - Noon | Register | TTC 4230 | Zoom
Plan, save and succeed! Grab your lunch and join us for a practical session on getting budget-ready. Participants will learn how to complete a budget form, discover smart money-saving strategies and explore ways to pay off debt faster. Whether you are a complete novice or have been managing a ledger for years, this session provides new insights to help you master your personal finances. Note: Make sure your supervisor encourages you to attend and please bring your own lunch. Questions? Contact Kimberly Dupree, training and development coordinator (kdupree@kvcc.edu)
Explore Your Strengths What are your strengths and how can they help you thrive at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and beyond? In this introductory session, employees will explore their natural talents through the CliftonStrengths framework and learn how to apply them for personal and professional growth. Before attending, you'll complete the assessment and bring your results. This is a great first step toward a strengths-based approach to success at Kalamazoo Valley! To sign up, click on the session below. Friday, April 17 | 3 p.m. | Room 1350 (TTC) Winter 100: Mission Accomplished! Congratulations to the 76 employees who participated in this year's Winter 100 Cardio Challenge. Your dedication made 2026 our most active year yet, with 36 participants surpassing the 100-mile mark and one reaching an impressive 350 miles. Whether you joined just for fun, to become more active or to carry the momentum from the previous Step Challenge, your energy helped build a culture of wellness across our community.
While walking and running remained the top activities with 186 entries, the challenge showcased a diverse range of movement:
Classic cardio: High participation in cycling, elliptical training and rowing
Strength and balance: Dozens of entries for strength training, yoga and Pilates
Winter and water: Enthusiastic turnouts for snow activities and swimming
Court and field: Growing interest in pickleball, HIIT and various team sports
Participation spanned every campus, led by 54 participants from Texas Township, followed by the Arcadia Commons Campus, Groves Campus, the Center for New Media, the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building, the Food Innovation Center and the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.
Claim Your Prize and Share Feedback If you submitted at least one milestone, your prize is ready for pickup at the Wellness and Fitness Center through March 20 at 6 p.m.
The Wellness and Fitness team also invites participants to share their thoughts to help shape future challenges. Please complete the Winter 100 Follow-Up Form at your earliest convenience. Thank you for making this year such a success!
Annual Respecting Differences Event Takes Place April 8 It's time once again for the annual Respecting Differences event! This year, the speaker is Jennifer Bott, Ph.D., who will present on "From Friction to Fuel: Leveraging Strengths in Intergenerational Work Teams" on Wednesday, April 8. Choose one of two sessions, 9 to 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 to 3 p.m., to attend at Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium. Kalamazoo Valley Community College sponsors this free event, along with Western, Kalamazoo College, the city of Kalamazoo, city of Portage, Kalamazoo County and Integrated Services of Kalamazoo. Registration is not required.
Kalamazoo Valley Libraries ' Student Research Hub
TTC Library Open House: March 17
Invite your students to the Library and Learning Center Open House on Tuesday, March 17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can explore our spaces, meet our staff and enjoy some snacks.
Database Spotlight: JSTOR
Students can start their research with JSTOR, a comprehensive collection of over 12 million journal articles, books, primary sources and images in 75 disciplines, including the sciences and the humanities. Visit the How to Use JSTOR research guide or ask a librarian for an introduction.
Research Resources
The Kalamazoo Valley Libraries puts powerful research tools at students' fingertips:
Online Citation Guide' Concise instructions for citing sources in MLA and APA formats, and helpful links to comprehensive citation guidelines and tools.
Articles and Research Databases ' Full-text access to millions of scholarly articles, magazines, newspapers, trade journals and more.
What's for Lunch at the Texas Township Campus? Cougar Cafe is open Mondays through Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Coffee Den is open Mondays through Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This week's menu includes: Monday | March 16 | Chicken noodle soup; grill station selections Tuesday | March 17 | Chicken noodle soup; grill station selections Wednesday | March 18 | Chicken noodle soup; Nashville hot chicken sandwich Thursday | March 19 | Chicken noodle soup; lasagna, breadsticks, caesar salad
Spring into Baseball and Softball Season! Softball and baseball season is underway at Kalamazoo Valley Community College! You're invited to drop in at any time at the home games, which are always free at the college's Texas Township Campus. Below are home games in March. Visit athletics.kvcc.edu for the full schedule of home and away games, plus scores.
BASEBALL
2 p.m. | Tuesday | MARCH 17 vs. Lansing Community College
2 p.m. | Thursday | MARCH 19 vs. Marian University's Ancilla College
SOFTBALL
3 p.m. | Friday | MARCH 20 vs. Glen Oaks Community College
3 p.m. | Friday | MARCH 27 vs. Jackson Community College
1 p.m. | Saturday | APRIL 5 vs. Lansing Community College
KVAAP GRADUATE SPOTLIGHT: MERCY WILLIAMS Hear about the success of Fall 2025 KVAAP Graduate Mercy Williams and how KVAAP helped her:
'I recently passed my NCLEX and officially received my RN license. I'm truly grateful for the support I received through the Kalamazoo Valley Accelerated Associate Program (KVAAP) during nursing school. The check-ins, seminars and financial assistance ' especially for the license application fees, books, materials and advisor appointments ' really helped ease some of the pressure while balancing classes and clinicals. Having someone to talk to who listens and continues to believe in your success made a difference. I sincerely appreciate the encouragement and support along the way. I'm thankful to have been part of the program. It made a difference. A special thank-you to Ana for being such a professional and supportive advisor since 2022 and throughout KVAAP since 2023; your consistency, encouragement and belief in my journey truly meant more than you know. To current and future KVAAP nursing students, stay encouraged and keep going ' the journey may not always be easy, but it is worth it. Please know that we, as KVAAP nursing alumni, are always willing to support, answer questions and help however we can."
Upcoming KVAAP Info Sessions
We are beginning to search for students for the Summer 2026 semester! Students can attend 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. Students can sign up here. The upcoming sessions are:
Thursday, March 19 |3 - 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 2 | 3 - 3:30 p.m.
Enjoy Live Music at the Fretboard Festival March 20 - 21 Celebrate Kalamazoo's stringed-instrument legacy at the 21st Annual Fretboard Festival, a free music event taking place Friday, March 20, from 6 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, March 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Join in person or virtually at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and Anna Whitten Hall in downtown Kalamazoo for workshops, makers and live local music, celebrating heritage, craft and community. See the full lineup and more here.
Free Concert Features Women Performing Music by Women Enjoy a free string quartet performance showcasing works by women composers on Sunday, March 22, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum as part of a collaboration with the Connecting Chords Music Festival for Women's History Month. Admission is free to the museum and to the concert. Tickets will be available on the day of the performance at the museum's front desk. For more information, visitkalamazoomuseum.org. Museum Offers Kids Spring Break Fun Unleash your creativity this spring break at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum! Imagine and Create is a week of free build-it, craft-it, try-it museum fun designed to spark curiosity and inspire makers of all ages. Hands-on, drop-in activities will be offered each day Tuesday, March 31 through Friday, April 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. In addition, special planetarium shows will be shown twice daily, with 'Expedition Solar System' at 1 p.m. and 'The Sky Above Us' at 2 p.m. Cost is $3 per show. Visitkalamazoomuseum.org for more.
Major Black Cowboy Exhibit Now Open at the Museum Did you know that one of four cowboys who went on the Western trail was Black? Learn more fascinating facts about the Wild West from the Kalamazoo Valley Museum's newest traveling exhibit, 'Black Cowboys: An American Story,' open now through July 26. Admission is free to the exhibit and to the museum. Read more here.
'SHAPE SHIFTING' Exhibit is a Treat for Music Lovers Explore 40 instruments that embody the art of the guitar, displaying it as both an instrument and as a physical canvas for artists and builders, in the "SHAPE SHIFTING: The GUITAR As Modern ARTifact"traveling exhibit. The museum hosts the free exhibit now through April 26.
Spring Honorable Harvest Lecture Series 2026 Runs Until April 21 Enjoy weekly talks 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 March 10 to April 21, 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.
