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MISSION STATEMENT
Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable
opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive.

May 1, 2026

Greetings, College Community,

On Sunday, we will celebrate our May 2026 Commencement. I know that it will be a great day for our students, college faculty and staff and for the broader community who will continue to benefit from the skills and abilities of our graduates!

The successful completion of a college credential is an amazing accomplishment. The graduates who we will celebrate have overcome every obstacle placed in their way. I am so proud of them.

I want you to know how much I appreciate all that you have done to assist those completing a credential. Our students frequently report how much they value their classroom instruction and the assistance they receive from various college employees. The care you put into your work truly impacts their lives and is what makes Kalamazoo Valley a place where everyone can thrive.

Sincerely,

signature: L. Marshall Washington
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
Did you know that the first site for the college was purchased in 1967 from Florence and Charles Sprau, who previously raised 80 acres of popcorn on the property? The 185-acre Texas Township parcel cost $296,000. 
KV Circle Center Closure
The KV Circle Center will be closed April 28 through May 10 between the winter and summer semesters. The center will reopen at 10 a.m. on May 11. Encourage students in need of support during this time to utilize local community resources. Please direct students to this article detailing local services and Michigan 211.

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 this form. 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.

Bring Your Child to Work Day
Kalamazoo Valley Community College hosted Bring Your Child to Work Day activities last week on our various campuses. The job-shadowing day is intended to give children a glimpse into the working world through the guidance of their parents. Click here for more photos!
Photo of Edwinson Jorge Jimenez
May Commencement Student Speaker Celebrates Success
Kalamazoo Valley Community College will celebrate its 94th commencement ceremony Sunday, May 3 at 2 p.m. at Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium, located at 2200 Auditorium Drive in Kalamazoo.

Board Chairperson Lucinda Stinson will speak, along with wellness and physical education instructor Robert Vezeau and student speaker Edwinson Jorge Jimenez, who is graduating with an Associate of Arts in general studies.

Jorge Jimenez was inducted into the college's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, and is also graduating from the Kalamazoo Valley Accelerated Associate program, also known as KVAAP.

"I'm graduating with a general studies degree, but I focused my electives on business because of my experience working in hospitality and my interest in leadership and operations," he said. "I'm also completing a certificate in international studies, which reflects my interest in global perspectives." Click here to read more.

Tornado Safety Precautions
In the event of a severe weather emergency, all campus members should remain calm and secure their immediate areas before moving to safety. Please assist students, colleagues or visitors who may need help before you head to a designated shelter.

Shelters are marked with yellow placards throughout campus buildings. Everyone is encouraged to identify the shelter locations nearest to their primary workspaces and classrooms. Kalamazoo Valley utilizes the RAVE system for emergency alerting, weather alerts and cancellations. For more information or to register for campus wide alerts, visit Kalamazoo Valley's emergency notification webpage.

Use Caution: Spotting Misleading Email Messages
Please continue to use caution when reviewing your email. We are seeing phishing attempts that include misleading language, such as messages claiming the sender has been verified through a “safe senders list.” Kalamazoo Valley does not maintain a safe senders list and this type of wording is often used to create a false sense of security.

You may also notice a banner on some messages indicating the email originated from outside the college. This simply means the message was sent from an external source. It does not automatically indicate phishing or spam. Many legitimate messages, including those from trusted partners and systems used by Kalamazoo Valley, may include this banner.

As always, take a moment to review emails carefully before clicking links or opening attachments. When something feels off, trust your instincts and verify before taking action.

Employee Benefits
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employees and their family members have access to our Employee Assistance Program, offering expanded support and resources. Please see what we have to offer below:  
NOTE: Employees will need to create an account before logging in.
 
Phone:  855.775.4357
Website: https://portal.allonehealth.com/
Company Code: RSLl859
 
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.
Call for Entries for Student Planner Information and Promotional Item Ordering Begins May 4
Beginning May 4, your department will be able to submit events and important dates for inclusion in the college's 2026 - 2027 student planner. This printed piece will serve as a compass for campus engagement as students navigate through the academic year. The call for entries period closes Thursday, June 11 by 5 p.m.
 
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 2026 - 2027.
 
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 Marketing Coordinator Khadijah Kabbani.
  • For questions about Astra Schedule, contact Assistant Director of Events Hospitality and Operations Jessica Potter.
  • For questions about the promotional item ordering, contact Administrative Assistants Ally DeNooyer and Gaoshan Raymond.

Ned Foskey Poetry Prize Reading Set for May 1
Join us for the annual Ned Foskey Poetry Prize Reading tonight, during the Kalamazoo Art Hop. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Center for New Media in downtown Kalamazoo and will feature readings from this year’s award winners and honorable mentions. This year’s contest was judged by Robert Post, Kalamazoo Valley English instructor and poet, and the work was truly exceptional. Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend and support our student writers at what promises to be a great night for the arts.

Kalamazoo Valley Creates Expo Celebrates Creativity and Community
The Kalamazoo Valley Creates Expo made a splash Saturday at the Arcadia Commons Campus in downtown Kalamazoo. This year’s theme, “Elements: A Creative Expression of Water,” came to life through digital animation, fine arts and live music. Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate the creativity and innovation of our students and faculty. Missed it or want to relive the highlights? Check out the full photo gallery here.

Planning Ahead!
It’s not too early to start planning for the Fall Summit! Do you have an idea for a presentation or workshop? The Summit planning committee is welcoming proposals now. At this point, all you need to provide is a title and a basic description. Then, you have all summer to perfect the content of your workshop! Please submit your presentation proposal here. 
 
May 2026 Events
Check out the new employee training webpage where you can easily view a brief calendar of upcoming training events with registration links.
 
Let’s Get Growing: Gardening Basics
Wednesday, May 6 | Noon - 1 p.m. | Register | FIC 113
In this brief overview, learn the essentials about how plants grow, the process of choosing the right plants, helpful tips on placement and common gardening mistakes. Please bring outdoor shoes in the event the weather allows us to go for a short garden tour at the food Innovation Center.

Mom-to-Mom Roundtable: Building A Network at Kalamazoo Valley
Monday, May 18 | Noon - 1 p.m. | | Register | TTC 4230 | Zoom
Come together to find community, share resources and build support with other moms at Kalamazoo Valley. This session is a continuation from the January 2026 Summit conversation, but in person. No matter where you are in your parent journey, all are welcome!
 
Ready, Set, Apply: Positioning Yourself for Growth at Kalamazoo Valley
Thursday, May 21 | Noon - 1 p.m.  | Register | TTC 1330 | Zoom
An engaging session that equips you to be ready when the next internal position opens. Learn how to sharpen your skills, showcase your experience and create a clear plan for moving into the next stage of your career.
 
RESCHEDULED  — Smart Money Habits: Budgeting & Reducing Debt
Thursday, May 28 | 11 a.m. - Noon | Register | TTC 1330 | Zoom
Plan, save and succeed! Grab your lunch and join us for a practical session on getting budget-ready. Learn how to fill out a budget form, discover money-saving strategies and explore ways to pay off debt faster. It’s ok if you’re a complete novice or have been budgeting for years — this session will help provide you with new insights into your 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).
 
Need Training on Your Own Time?
Try out one of these short videos:
 
Let Your Garden Grow Wild – Discover the beautiful, creative and innovative ways a landscape artist creates more wild, natural places for communities (and small creatures) to enjoy. Explore why letting gardens become “wild” again is being widely recommended. (12 minutes)
 
How to Introduce Yourself – and Get Hired – While there is no guarantee on getting hired into a new position, this tidbit of training will take your “elevator speech” or “tell me about yourself” reply to a whole new level. (10 minutes)
Last Call to Buy Commencement Caps, Gowns, Honors Regalia
Remind May graduates that they can still buy commencement regalia up until 5 p.m. today, Friday, May 1 at the Bookstore on the Texas Township Campus. Also for sale are graduation yard signs, mortarboard graphics and more. The graduation ceremony is Sunday, May 3 at 2 p.m. at Miller Auditorium at Western Michigan University.

Winter Book Buyback Ends Today
Let students know that today, Friday, May 1 is the last day to get cash for their used Winter 2026 books at Book Buyback. It takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Texas Township Campus Bookstore. To find out which books will be accepted and for what amount, call the Bookstore at 269.488.4030, visit bookstore.kvcc.edu or email bookstore@kvcc.edu.
Confirm Your Library Reserves
Kalamazoo Valley wants to make sure we have the most current materials for your classes in our library reserve collection. Stop by a library location to check in or reach out to Ashley Bergkamp to confirm.  
 
Thinking About Library Instruction?
Take that next step and schedule library instruction for your summer classes today! For instruction in the TTC Library Instructional Lab, make your reservation through Ad Astra (in the Employee Portal). Select Events ? Request Event ? Library Instructional Lab and fill out the form. For all other summer instruction questions, contact Mark Walters. 
 
Summer Reading
Consider reading a good book this summer! We have books that support both discipline-related and personal interests. 
  • Find reading suggestions by browsing our in-library displays and New Books. 
  • Search for a book by genre or theme in the NoveList Plus database. 
  • If we don’t have a title you’re looking for, you can request books through MeLCat and have it delivered to either campus library.
  • Looking for books on a summer Friday? Check out your local public library. 
 
Ask a Librarian
Feel free to copy and paste the following information into a Canvas course:
 
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! 
Cougar Cafe Summer Hours
The Cougar Cafe’s summer hours begin the week of May 4. The cafe is open this summer from Mondays through Thursdays, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Grill and entree stations will be closed. Grab-and-go items, including sandwiches, salads and soup will be available. Subway will also be open.

Note that the Coffee Den (Starbucks) will be closed for the summer, though Water Street coffee will be available for purchase inside the cafe.


Catch Final Home Softball and Baseball Games this Week!
Baseball and softball season is almost over! Your last chance to catch a home game is this week and it just happens to be the final conference games for both sports. See the dates and times below; all games are double-headers. Remember, all home games are always FREE at the college’s Texas Township Campus. Visit athletics.kvcc.edu to keep up with the scores.

 

BASEBALL

  • 1 & 3 p.m. | Saturday | MAY 2 vs. Glen Oaks Community College
 

SOFTBALL
  • 3 & 5 p.m. | Friday | MAY 1 vs. Jackson Community College
  • 1 & 3 p.m. | Saturday | MAY 2  vs. Lansing Community College


Wellness and Fitness Center Announces Intersession and Summer Hours
The Fitness Center will remain open between semesters with adjusted hours. Summer hours officially begin May 11 and run through July 30.

Intersession Hours
Fitness Center | Monday - Friday | 6 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Pool | Monday - Thursday | 3 - 5 p.m.

Summer Hours (Beginning May 11)
Fitness Center | Monday - Thursday | 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Yoga | Thursdays | 12:05 - 12:35 p.m.
Pool | Mondays and Wednesdays | 3 - 6 p.m. | Tuesdays and Thursdays | 4 - 6 p.m.

Action Required: Employee Locker Renewals
Do you currently have a locker in the locker room? To keep your space for the upcoming term, you must take action by May 1.
  • To Renew: Complete the Employee Locker Renewal form online.
  • To Cancel: If you no longer want your locker, please remove all personal items by May 1.

Note: Any items remaining in unrenewed lockers after May 1 will be cleaned out and donated. Thank you for helping us keep our facilities organized.

For questions regarding lockers, email dlozano@kvcc.edu.


Explore the World of Dinosaurs in New Exhibit Opening May 17
“Dinosaur Explorer” journeys through the wildest, wackiest and most wondrous dinosaurs to examine how the human body really works through the lens of these creatures. Enjoy this amazing traveling exhibit for free from May 17 through Sept. 6 at our Kalamazoo Valley Museum! Join us as we explore and understand the most fascinating organisms in history. Learn about the exhibit here. 


Have You Seen the 'Black Cowboys' Exhibit 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.

WMUK: The Kalamazoo Promise will now cover 100% of tuition for eligible community college students
WWMT: Kalamazoo Promise scholarship expanding to cover 100% of all community college tuition
WOOD-TV: Kalamazoo Promise upgrades scholarships for community college students across Michigan
GRCC: Christine Dobberstein: Award-Winning Professor
WWMT: Kalamazoo Valley Museum to host free Gilmore Film Series as part of 2026 Piano Festival
FOX 17: Kalamazoo Valley hosting annual creative expo
O the Place We Go: How to spend 24 ours in Kalamazoo County with the family
WMU News: WMU, Kalamazoo Valley launch guaranteed admissions partnership
MLive: New program guarantees WMU admission, scholarship consideration for KVCC transfers
WKZO AM/FM: Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College launch guaranteed admissions partnership
Arcadia Commons Campus
202 N. Rose St.
269.373.7800

Groves Campus
7107 Elm Valley Drive
269.353.1253

Texas Township Campus
6767 West O Ave.
269.488.4400
Bronson Healthy Living Campus
418 E. Walnut St.
269.548.3205

Kalamazoo Valley Museum
230 N. Rose St.
269.373.7990






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Kalamazoo Valley Community College · 6767 W O Ave · Kalamazoo, MI 49009 · USA