May 15, 2023

Greetings,

Summer weather appears to have finally arrived! Seeing the sunshine daily boosts my spirits and helps to set the tone for our summer season of community collaborations.

The "Mind Matters" exhibit continues through June 18 at the college's Kalamazoo Valley Museum. This important exhibit was strategically scheduled to present information about the complex issue of mental wellness during Mental Health Awareness Month. As a part of related programming, a mental health fair, free and open to the public, is scheduled on Saturday, May 20 from 1 - 3 p.m.  This event will include regional partners such as Gryphon Place, Disability Network of Southwest Michigan and others who will be providing free information about available services.

Friday, June 2 marks the opening of the 12th Alumni+ Art Show featuring submissions from dozens of talented Kalamazoo Valley alumni. This year's show is sponsored by Bell's Brewery and begins at 5:30 p.m. in the college's Center for New Media. Winners will be announced during a short program at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

From June 16 -19, the college is collaborating with others on Kalamazoo Juneteenth 2023 activities. Be watching for additional details at www.kalamazoomuseum.org and @juneteenthkzoo.

Programs and learning for students of all ages continue throughout the summer. In addition to traditional college classes in person, online and blended, there are opportunities for middle school-aged students and lifelong learners available through the college's athletic camps, free cooking classes for kids and early middle college career exploration weeklong camps. For a full schedule click here.

I continue to wish you a pleasant summer and hope that your plans will involve accessing all that the college has to offer!

Sincerely,

L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President

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EMC Completion Ceremony Held Last Week
A completion ceremony for more than 135 Early/Middle College students was held last week in Dale B. Lake Auditorium to recognize their academic achievements. The group, representing 18 area high schools, has a program GPA of 3.28 and a semester average of 3.40.

Ninety-one students earned degrees, including 11 certificates of achievement, four certificates and 74 associate degrees! This translates to the completion of more than 7,500 credit hours - saving students and their families more than 1.1 million dollars!

Congratulations! See pictures here.

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Police Academy Graduates 20
Cadets from the 95th Police Officer Training Academy graduated last week in a ceremony in Dale B. Lake Auditorium. All 20 of the cadets were sponsored by area police agencies and will begin working following graduation. See photos from the ceremony here.

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Center for New Media's Year-End Student Celebration Exhibit Winners Announced
A huge congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Year-End Student Celebration Exhibit. The entries were judged by Kelly VanderKley, a practicing Southwest Michigan artist who has dedicated herself to the arts and education through her career as a design instructor and her own participation in community art projects. more

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Added Services Available through College Health Plan
Do you have back or joint pain? Give Hinge Health a try. It is a free service available to Kalamazoo Valley's employees who are currently enrolled in the college's BCBS medical plan.

Hinge Health provides all the tools you need to get moving again from the comfort of your home. You'll get exercise therapy tailored to your needs, technology for instant feedback in the app and a personal coach and physical therapist. Best of all, it's free - 100% covered by The Pool for you and eligible family members. Sign up today for help with any of the following:

• Conquer pain or limited movement
• Recover from a past injury
• Reduce stiffness in achy joints

Join for help with back, knee, hip, neck or shoulder pain. On average, participants cut their pain as much as 68%. Learn more or apply at hinge.health/thepool or call 855.902.2777.

COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and Pool Coverage Changes
The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency has ended. This will result in a few changes to your coverage with your Pool benefit plan.

What's changing:

• COVID-19 diagnostic testing administered by a health care provider, a testing facility or a lab will be subject to the member-normal copay and/or deductible. This includes appropriate charges if a member goes to an out-of-network provider. Previously, these tests were covered at 100% both in and out-of-network.
• Coverage for over-the counter tests will no longer be required or available under the plan.
• Out-of-network coverage for COVID-19 vaccination will not be covered.

What's not changing:

• In-network coverage for COVID-19 vaccination will continue to be covered for adults and children at 100%, under the ACA preventative benefits.
• Treatment for COVID-19 will be covered and subject to normal cost share (copays, deductibles and/or coinsurance) as they are today. Some treatment drugs will transition to coverage by the health plan instead of being government paid once the government purchased supplies are depleted.

Questions?
Please reach out to HR or your carrier's customer service unit.
HR: 269.488.4448
BCBS: 877.752.1233
See additional flyers about upcoming training sessions and available benefit services under Documents.

Compensation and Classification Study Update
During March, employees in full-time staff and administrator positions (including paraprofessionals) who were not members of a bargaining unit received personalized correspondence about how the results of the study impacted their position classification and compensation. 

You will remember that Evergreen Solutions, LLC collected information from employees through orientations sessions, focus groups and a Job Assessment Tool (JAT) process.  Evergreen used the JAT information to conduct a market analysis that influenced its recommendations to the college.

Throughout the process, employee participation supported the success of the study. We heard you and are still using your input for the next phase of the project.

We are continuing to work with Evergreen Solutions on a number of initiatives, including:

• Creating a standard format and updating job descriptions
• Developing a non-probationary performance appraisal system

We appreciate your patience as we continue to move forward. I expect that we will have more to communicate during fall 2023. 

If you have questions, please contact your Cabinet-level administrator. If you have specific questions about the impact of the study on your position, contact Aaron Hilliard at ahilliard@kvcc.edu.

Diversity and Bias in the Search Committee Process Workshop
The next Diversity and Bias in the Search Committee Process workshop is scheduled for June 1 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. in Room 2120 at the Texas Township Campus.  

Participants will explore the basics of what it takes to serve on a search committee and how implicit or unconscious bias impacts our decision-making process.

Please contact Trice Batson or Scott Hall to register.

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Bookstore Offers More than Textbooks
With new students joining us all the time, be sure to let them know that the Texas Township Campus Bookstore sells everything they need to be successful. It has textbooks, computers, backpacks, binders, pens, markers, glue sticks, art supplies, a variety of calculators and more, even candy and snacks starting at 10 cents! Note that summer hours are now in effect. The Bookstore will be open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from May 8 - Aug. 4. Shop in person or online. Online orders may be picked up at TTC or the Anna Whitten Hall Library at the Arcadia Commons Campus in downtown Kalamazoo, or mailed to any address you want. Shipping is $5.

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Call for Proposals
The Fall Summit will be held Aug. 30 and 31 and presenters are needed! Has your department embraced new practices or procedures that others could benefit from knowing? Do you have a skill, talent or activity that others might enjoy? Do you have something to share with the college community? Everyone at the college is invited to submit a proposal for the Fall 2023 Summit. Submit your proposals now.

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Softball, Baseball Teams Close Seasons with Third-Place Finishes
The Cougars softball and baseball teams wrapped up their 2023 regular season on May 6. The softball team finished third in the Western Conference of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association with a league record of 16-14 and an overall record of 21-25 under the leadership of Head Coach Emily VanFleet. The team had the honor of qualifying to compete in the NJCAA Region 12 District B Tournament in Stevensville, Michigan held from May 11-13. Ultimately, the Lady Cougars fell to Oakland Community College 3-1 in a consolation round, which ended their district tourney run. Head Coach Steve Bennecke's baseball team also finished third in the MCCA's Western Conference. It ended with a league record of 13-12 and an overall record of 21-21. It did not qualify for post-season play this time around.

Two Basketball Players Reaching 1,000-Point Feat Earn Dale B. Lake Award
Kalamazoo Valley Community College has selected the two basketball players who recently achieved 1,000-point career milestones as the recipients of its coveted annual Dale B. Lake Award, the college's highest honor for student-athletes. Abigail Long, a point guard on the women's team, and Myles Johnson, a guard and forward on the men's team, accomplished their scoring feats on Feb. 18 and Feb. 11, respectively. Read the full story here.


PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Player Spotlight is an occasional feature highlighting outstanding student-athletes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. The honorees have been nominated by their coaches.
 
SOFTBALL
Savanna Disbrow
Position: First Base/Right Field
Hometown: Gull Lake, Michigan
Major: Sports Psychology
Why outstanding: Savanna is a leader on and off the field. She has an incredible work ethic and inspires her teammates to be the best they can be. She not only upheld a 4.0 GPA this semester, but she also has a job and is a pen pal to a young athlete in the area. She uses her experiences now to help this athlete through her own struggles with the game and inspires her to keep going and to do her best. She is planning on continuing her career at a four-year university, while studying sports psychology, to become a mental performance coach for college athletes.
 
Hannah Mellinger
Position: Pitcher/Second Base/Third Base
Hometown: Paw Paw, Michigan
Major: Dental Hygiene 
Why outstanding: Hannah is one of the hardest workers on our team. When she is not playing softball, she is either keeping up with her studies or working. She upheld a 4.0 GPA through this semester while doing so. She plays with the passion, heart and grit that all teams need and makes sure to have fun while she's doing it. After her two years at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, she is planning on entering the dental hygiene program, and help mentor young athletes in the area to develop their skills and share her love and passion for the game.

Marissa Jo Taylor
Position: Outfield
Hometown: Greenville, Michigan
Major: General Studies
Why outstanding: Marissa Jo, better known as Jo, is another one of our athletes who has maintained a high GPA of 3.84 through the year. She has become a strong, confident young woman who always puts others before herself. She is always cheering on her teammates and makes sure no one ever feels alone. She has come in the clutch many times and remains a humble leader, even as her confidence has grown.

BASEBALL 
Korbin Griffin                                          
Position: Outfield/First Base
Hometown: Richland, Michigan
Major: General Studies
Why outstanding: Korbin is the epitome of a professional. Just looking at Korbin, he stands out from everyone else. His frame and how he goes about his business is that of a next-level player. Anything we asked Korbin to do on the field, he did it. Whether it was changing his position when we had a few injuries or getting the big hit, he came through multiple times for us throughout the year. Korbin hit .346 on the year with 11 home runs, but it was his leadership that really stood out throughout the year.
 
Kris Stojanovski 
Position: Outfield
Hometown: Northville, Michigan
Major: Finance
Why outstanding: It hasn't been the easiest journey for Kris here at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Coming in as a freshman was a very eye-opening experience. This year was a big year for the third-year outfielder. Kris has matured not only as a player, but as a person. He became a vital part of this team as he hit .410 on the year and led our team in multiple offensive categories. He also grew as a leader for our team and will be graduating with a GPA above 3.0.

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Call for Entries: 2023 - 2024 Student Planner Event and Important Date Information
It's time to submit your department's events and important dates for inclusion in the college's 2023-2024 Student Planner. This printed piece will serve as a compass for campus engagement as students navigate through the academic year. If your department has any events for the planner, please submit all information by June 5. Click here to access the submission form. For questions, contact Khadijah Kabbani.

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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. Full-time, part-time employees and paraprofessionals are eligible. Awardees will receive a plaque and award gift and will be honored at the college faculty and staff award ceremony at the 2023 Fall Summit and at a special luncheon. Learn more.

Nominations must be submitted by June 29, 2023.

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Unique Mental Health Fair Coming Up May 20
A one-of-a-kind Mental Health Fair approaching mind wellness from multiple angles comes to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum on Saturday, May 20 from 1 - 3 p.m. The drop-in event includes information tables from nine vendors, including services offered by a therapy dog clinic, the area's leading suicide prevention agency, Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Counseling Office, the disability, racial healing and LGBTQ+ communities and three other organizations. The museum's "Mental Health: Mind Matters" interactive exhibit will be open on the third floor throughout the event. Admission is free to the fair, the museum and to the exhibit.
 
There also will be guest speakers. From 1 to 1:30 p.m., the SWMI Journalism Collaborative will share the research the group has done on mental health in the Mary Jane Stryker Theater. In the next session, from 1:45 - 2:15 p.m., representatives from the WMU Therapy Dog Clinic will be bringing a dog, and will talk about how its program helps children and adults. Hear about the suicide prevention programs of Gryphon Place in the final session planned from 2:30 - 3 p.m. Find more details about the Mental Health Fair at kalamazoomuseum.org.


Mark Your Calendars for Juneteenth Black Film Fest
Enjoy a free showing of the "Summer of Soul" documentary and a community discussion with Kalamazoo-based musicians when the Juneteenth Black Film Fest comes to the Kalamazoo Valley Museum on Friday, June 16, from 5 to 8 p.m. The film highlights the legendary, but little-known Harlem Cultural Festival of summer 1969, which celebrated African-American music and culture. The screening is organized by Soul Artistry LLC. Find out about the other local Juneteenth events happening that weekend by visiting @Juneteenthkzoo on Facebook.

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Kalamazoo Valley Museum Hosting Mental Health Fair
Maranda's Weekend Fun Guide
Harris chooses Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Girls on the Run Kalamazoo Looking for Volunteers for Event on May 20
Kalamazoo Valley Names Sturgeon New Head Volleyball Coach