KV Focus Plus

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

Nov. 21, 2024

 
Greetings,

Maintaining calm in our busy world can be a challenge. Research has proven that gratitude can be a great antidote to feeling frazzled and unfocused. If we make an effort to cultivate gratitude, we are likely to improve our sleep, our mood and our immunity. Gratitude can decrease depression and anxiety, increase our well-being and overall help us to become more satisfied with our lives. If gratitude were a pill, everyone would be taking it!

During this season of thankfulness, I wish to share my gratitude and thankfulness with our Kalamazoo Valley community, including you. As our students press forward toward the successful completion of this semester, I see and appreciate your efforts toward helping them achieve their goals. Thank you for your continued commitment to them, to our mission and to our shared values.

However you choose to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, I wish you peace and happiness.

Sincerely,

signature: L. Marshall Washington

L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Foundation
College and Community Partners Providing Thanksgiving Meals
We are proud to announce that our college, along with New World Flood, SpartanNash and the YMCA, are partnering with Communities in Schools to help provide 750 Kalamazoo Families with Thanksgiving meals. Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo Executive Director James Devers said, �I am grateful for the role that CIS played in reimaging this effort so that it could truly be a Community Feast � a community of likeminded agencies sharing the expense and workload to provide holiday meals to so many families. It is also extremely satisfying to know that after the holiday rush, we will continue to be a resource all year long for the children and families that we mutually support.� Thank you to the Kalamazoo Valley employees who are part of the 100 volunteers who will help unload trucks, pack for deliveries and deliver food.
human resources
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.
information technology
New Microsoft Email Filtering in Place
What does this mean for me?
You will receive a quarantine notification email letting you know when Microsoft has quarantined an email message for you. Quarantine notification emails are sent approximately every 4 hours.
 
What does the Microsoft quarantine notification email look like?
Here is a sample. Please note, this email is not junk/phishing. It is telling you about other emails that were identified as such. Do not mark this email as junk/phishing.

Screenshot of a Microsoft 365 quarantine notification email from "emailquarantine@kvcc.edu" addressed to a user. The email is branded with the Kalamazoo Valley Community College logo and titled "Review These Messages." It states that 1 message is held for review as of November 18, 2024, 9:20:35 PM UTC and must be reviewed within 30 days via a link to the quarantine page. Below, under "Prevented spam messages," the sender is listed as "ctoi@finances.bj" with the subject line "AWARD" and the timestamp "11/18/2024 8:31:44 PM." Two buttons are shown: "Review Message" and "Release." A footer includes Microsoft’s copyright notice and links to the Privacy Statement and Acceptable Use Policy.
What do I do when I receive a quarantine notification email?
Follow these steps:
  1. Verify that the quarantine notification email is from: emailquarantine@kvcc.edu.
  2. Verify that the subject is �Microsoft 365 security: You have messages in quarantine�
  3. Review the message(s) listed. If you recognize the message as legitimate, click its Release button to have it delivered to your Inbox.
Note: Certain messages require an admin to release. In these cases, instead of a Release button, you will see a Request Release button.
  1. If you would like more details about a particular message, click its Review Message button. This will launch the Microsoft Defender portal with details displayed about the message.
    • If you recognize the message as legitimate, click the Release email link to have it delivered to your Inbox.
    • If this message does not seem legitimate, you do not need to do anything. Messages in quarantine will be automatically purged after 30 days.
    • If you are unsure about a message�s legitimacy, please email it@kvcc.edu with details about the message in question (do not forward the email itself) and we will review it for you.
I did not receive an email that I was expecting. Do I need to wait for a quarantine notification email to arrive before acting?
No, you do not need to wait for notification. You may login to Microsoft Defender portal at any time and see messages that have been quarantined, even before your quarantine notification arrives in your Inbox.
 
Have additional questions?
Please email it@kvcc.edu.
finance and business
Upcoming Payroll Due Dates & Approval Dates
Due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, we wanted to make you aware of the modifications to the normal time sheet completion and approval deadlines surrounding the Thanksgiving break to assist you in ensuring accurate and timely completion of the time sheet submission.

Dec. 13, 2024 Payroll:
  • Employee time sheets are due MONDAY, Dec. 2
  • Manager approval of time sheets is due TUESDAY, Dec. 3
  • Full-time hourly employees should enter time off paid (TOP) for the college holidays of Nov. 28 and 29
If you will not be on campus when time sheets are due, please ensure that your time sheet is completed and submitted prior to leaving campus. If you normally approve time sheets and will not be on campus on the due date, please ensure you have a proxy set up to approve your time sheets, or approve your time sheets before you leave campus. Alternatively, if you are off campus and have internet access, you can log in to your MyValley account by going to www.kvcc.edu to access the Banner Self Service application to submit and/or approve time sheets. Please contact the Payroll Department with questions. You may call Anita Gonzales at x4872 or Megan Collins at x4898 or send an email to payroll@kvcc.edu.

New Tuition Waiver Form
The tuition wavier form has been updated to a new online form in Etrieve. The new form can be accessed in Employee Portal in the Human Resources section under Education and Training Resources.  All new tuition waiver requests should be submitted using this form. If you have any questions or issues while complete the form, please contact either HR at hr@kvcc.edu or Business Services at businessoffice@kvcc.edu.
Promotional graphic for the "Global Gratitude Dinner: An International Thanksgiving Celebration" hosted by Kalamazoo Valley Community College. The event invites students, faculty, and staff to celebrate international culture through food and performance. The text explains that international students will showcase traditional vocal and instrumental music, and that dinner will be provided by Cairo's Kitchen with vegetarian and halal options. The event is free and open to the public and takes place on Thursday, November 21, from 6 to 8 P.M. at the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building (CAH). The right side of the image shows a white dinner plate with an image of Earth made from vegetables, flanked by a fork and knife, and strung with small international flags above.
wellness and fitness center
Promotional flyer for Drop-In Fitness Classes at the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Wellness & Fitness Center. Schedule: Monday–Thursday, now through December 12, at 5:15 p.m. in Room 6040. Slogan in bold yellow text reads: “Don’t let the cold get you down.” The design includes illustrations of workout equipment: a water bottle, silver dumbbell, blue hand weights, and a pink jump rope, with a black and yellow background. Kalamazoo Valley Community College logo appears in the bottom right.

Fitness Center Closed Wednesday, Nov. 27
On Wednesday, Nov. 27, campuses will be open but there will be no classes that day. The Wellness and Fitness Center will be closed. The college will be closed for Thanksgiving recess Thursday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Dec. 1. Campuses reopen and classes resume Monday, Dec. 2.
phi theta kappa honor society
Group photo of diverse students and faculty standing together in a well-lit room for a Phi Theta Kappa honor society event. The group is arranged in rows in front of a podium with a Phi Theta Kappa banner displaying the society's key-shaped logo. Many individuals are holding white roses and smiling at the camera. Empty chairs are visible in the foreground, and banners with the Phi Theta Kappa insignia are on display behind the group.
PTK Celebrates Fall 2024 Induction
Kalamazoo Valley's Alpha Rho Nu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society for two-year colleges, held its Fall 2024 Induction Ceremony for new members on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Texas Township Campus Theater. L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D., president of Kalamazoo Valley Community College, was the event's keynote speaker and provided words of encouragement and celebration. Click here to see photos from the ceremony or here to read more.
kalamazoo valley accelerated associate program (KVAAP)
Classroom Visits
Classroom visits are a great way for students to hear about our program. If you are interested in having someone from KVAAP come speak to your fall students for 15-minutes about the program, please contact Elizabeth Schab at eschab@kvcc.edu. 
Upcoming KVAAP Info Sessions
  • Wednesday, Nov. 20 | 10 a.m.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 26 | 5 p.m.
Attending a KVAAP Info Session is a required part of the application process. Interested students can register here.
Promotional flyer for Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s “Taps on Tuesdays” event. Large black text at the top reads “Taps on Tuesdays.” Below, in blue and black text: “Now through Dec. 10 | 5 – 7 P.M.” Event location: “418 Restaurant, Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary & Allied Health Building.” Description reads: “Taps on Tuesday is a happy hour–style event hosted by Kalamazoo Valley’s culinary and brewing departments now through Dec. 10 from 5 – 7 p.m. Beer and food pairings, appetizers and wine are available for purchase. Walk-ins only; no reservations required. Faculty, staff, students and alumni receive 50 percent off their purchases.” On the right, there is a large circular logo with a beer tap handle in the center and the words “Taps on Tuesdays – KVCC” encircling it. The bottom right features the Kalamazoo Valley Community College logo.
libraries
Student Research Starts Here: History Databases
If your students are doing a project that requires background knowledge about U.S. or world history, the Libraries have a number of databases to fit their needs.  Librarians are happy to help students navigate these resources individually or during a library instruction session

Library How-To Video Tutorials
Include links to these helpful library and technology video tutorials in your Canvas course. A small sampling of topics include:
  • Putting Holds on Library Books
  • Database Searching
  • Creating a Hanging Indent
  • Understanding Citation
Hours and Contact Information
Colorful, artistic representation of a musical staff with a large treble clef in the center. Vibrant music notes flow along the staff, which curves playfully across the image. Paint splatters in a rainbow of colors surround the notes and clef, giving the image an energetic and creative feel. The background is white, making the colors stand out vividly.
Campus Band to Hold Winter Concert
The Kalamazoo Valley Community College Campus Band invites the public to attend the college's free winter concert "Anniversaries and Alleluias" on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. in Dale B. Lake Auditorium.

Jim Roach, Kalamazoo Valley Community College Band Director and the dozens of musicians he conducts guarantee the community is in for an unforgettable night filled with harmony, joy and the warmth of the season. Roach, who became conductor of the ensemble in 2022, says this is a great opportunity for musicians to continue to embark on their passion.

"I always encourage students to continue their participation in music," said Roach. "You probably will not be able to, for instance, play football when you are 60 or older, but you can continue to enjoy making music. Involvement in the fine arts keeps you young at heart."

The Kalamazoo Valley Community College Campus Band is a multi-generational ensemble consisting of Kalamazoo Valley Community College students and community musicians.
food innovation center

Several teal-colored berry cartons filled with small red tomatoes are neatly arranged in a white produce crate. Each carton is covered with red plastic netting, keeping the tomatoes in place. The setting appears to be a refrigerated storage unit or a commercial kitchen with a metal surface in the background.

Updates from the FIC
Cherry tomatoes are in season at Kalamazoo Valley Community College! Students and staff at the Food Innovation Center grow cherry tomatoes through the winter in the heated greenhouse. This year's plants just started producing ripe fruits. They will be sold to local schools and included in the Valley Food Share. You can find some to purchase in the Grab-and Go cooler at the Havirmill Cafe at the CAH when the cafe is open - along with fresh hydroponic lettuce, herbs and other items from ValleyHUB's local farm partners. 
Logo featuring two elements: on the left, a bold stylized "418" with the words "FOUR • ONE • EIGHT" underneath in all caps; on the right, a colorful watercolor illustration of a red and yellow bell pepper behind a rectangular logo that reads "HAVIRMILL CAFE" in uppercase brown text. The overall design blends clean typography with vibrant, artistic produce imagery.

 

Havirmill Cafe, 418 Open through Dec. 5
Students enrolled in Kalamazoo Valley�s culinary arts and sustainable food systems programs put their training to work in the Havirmill Cafe. The cafe offers grab-and-go options as well as a hot bar with freshly made entrees. It is located in the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building, 418 E. Walnut St., in downtown Kalamazoo. Havirmill Cafe hours are Monday - Thursday from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. through Dec. 5. Follow the Havirmill Cafe's Facebook page for the most up-to-date information.

The 418 Restaurant will be open to the community, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from Nov. 6 - Dec. 5. Reservations will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling x3239.

cougar cafe
Thirsty Thursday Deals Every Week
Join us every Thursday at the Cougar Caf� for $1.05 fountain drinks. It's the perfect pick-me-up to get you through the week. Cheers to great deals and cool drinks!

office of diversity and inclusion
Join our Distribution List for Upcoming Events! 
Thank you everyone for the incredible engagement and attendance at the Office of Diversity and Inclusion�s numerous programs this fall! Ranging from exploring neurodiversity and psychological safety and celebrating multiple cultures and much more, attendees tell us these events are spurring dialogue and learning. Periodically, we share information about upcoming events with individuals on our distribution list. If you would like to be added to the list, click here to complete a short Google Form. 
The official kalamazoo valley community college cougar bookstore
A close-up image of a beige baseball cap with the Kalamazoo Valley Cougars logo embroidered on the front, displayed prominently at the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Bookstore. The logo features a teal cougar head over a black swoosh. Other hats in various colors, including denim blue and coral, are stacked in the background. A decorative holly sprig with green leaves and red berries is placed on the hat in the foreground, suggesting a holiday promotion or theme. The text "Kalamazoo VALLEY BOOKSTORE" is written in the upper left corner in bold white and blue letters.
Holiday Rummage Sale Promises Bookstore Deals Nov. 21 - 22
Start your holiday shopping with great deals at the Kalamazoo Valley Texas Township Campus Bookstore! Two days ONLY! Wednesday, Nov. 21 and Thursday, Nov. 22! Come on in and get the bargains while they last for in-store purchases at the Holiday Rummage Sale! The Bookstore has Burt�s Bees, candles, selected jewelry and much more marked down for quick sale. They make nice stocking stuffers! Why spend a mint on gifts when the Bookstore has you covered?

Time for 20% Off Tuesday on Nov. 26!
Get 20 percent off in the Texas Township Campus Bookstore on Nov. 26! 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.

Gift Giving Got You Stumped? Try the Bookstore
We�ve got you covered! Looking for a Christmas gift for Cousin Sue, a Hanukkah gift for your buddy Lou or a Festivus gift for your boo? Remember the friendly folks at the Texas Township Bookstore! They have art supplies, comfy hoodies, Hydro Flask drinkware, PopSockets, tons of souvenirs, winter Hats, Pinch Me Therapy Dough and much more, like books by such authors as Robin Wall Kimmerer and Toni Morrison! Still not sure what to get? Why not a Cougar gift card? Come visit the Bookstore in person, or shop online at bookstore.kvcc.edu. Remember, the store has gifts for whatever holiday you celebrate!
athletics

Two side-by-side photos from a Kalamazoo Valley Community College Halloween community event. Left photo: The women's basketball team poses smiling in front of an open car trunk decorated for Halloween. They are wearing pink jerseys that say “COUGARS” and holding festive props including a lion mask and stuffed dog. Right photo: The men's basketball team stands behind a table covered in a black cloth with a blue “COUGARS Kalamazoo Valley Men’s Basketball” logo. They’re handing out candy to children dressed in costumes, with decorated pumpkins and Halloween items on the table. Trees with fall leaves are in the background.
Women�s & Men�s Basketball Teams Aided Halloween Events 
Kalamazoo Valley basketball players volunteered recently at two popular Halloween children�s events in Kalamazoo�s Northside neighborhood. The women�s basketball team helped out at the Douglass Community Association�s annual Trunk or Treat held in its parking lot on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Next, the men�s basketball team passed out candy at Charlie�s P.L.A.C.E�s Trunk or Treat Halloween Block Party on Thursday, Oct. 31.

Check Out Pre-Season Home Basketball Games for FREE!
Kalamazoo Valley Community College�s women�s and men�s basketball teams are gearing up for a great season! Conference play officially begins in January, but you can see the players in action for FREE now through December during home games in the main gym at the Texas Township Campus. Here are the remaining home games:
 
WOMEN�S BASKETBALL
  • Saturday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. (vs. Kankakee Community College)
  • Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 5:30 p.m. (vs. Rock Valley College)
  • Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 5:30 p.m. (vs. Jackson College)
  •  Saturday, Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. (vs. North Central Michigan College)
 MEN�S BASKETBALL
  • Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. (vs. Rock Valley College)
  • Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. (vs. Washtenaw Community College)
  • Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m. (vs. Jackson College)
  • Saturday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. (vs. North Central Michigan College)
 For the full schedule, click here.

  Banner reads "What’s Happening at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum" in bold blue and black text. Includes small images of smiling visitors, the museum building, and children looking at an exhibit. The museum’s logo features the words "Kalamazoo Valley Museum" and a circular blue emblem with "KV" inside. Below, text reads: "The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its board of trustees."

 A three-panel photo collage showing a cultural event at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Left panel: A woman stands at a podium with the Kalamazoo Valley seal, speaking into a microphone in a large auditorium. Center panel: Three women in traditional Native American regalia hold hand drums and stand in front of microphones on a stage. One of them wears a black beret and red shawl. Right panel: A man stands at a table where the woman from the left panel is seated, signing a book. The setting appears to be a classroom or meeting room with chairs and a monitor on the wall.
Author Robin Wall Kimmerer Lectures Drew Hundreds
Thank you to the more than 800 people who attended New York Times bestselling author Robin Wall Kimmerer�s two lectures in Dale B. Lake Auditorium at the Texas Township Campus of Kalamazoo Valley Community College on Nov. 6! In between the two lectures, Kimmerer and invited guests enjoyed a special lunch of Native American dishes prepared by Chef Sam Anglin, of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. We thank the Visiting Writers series, Artists� Forum, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Kalamazoo Valley Libraries, Food Innovation Center and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, as well as the Marketing, Event Services and Media Services departments, for their contributions to this successful program. Kimmerer, a botanist and professor of environmental biology who is an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, urged us to give to our land, not just take. The concept is central to her book, "Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants.� Click here for more photos from Kimmerer�s campus visit. Click here for photos of Chef Anglin and Valley�s culinary arts students making the lunch.
 
Enjoy Free Post-Holiday Activities at the Museum Nov. 23
After the Maple Hill Holiday Parade on Saturday, Nov. 23, stop by our Kalamazoo Valley Museum for FREE hands-on activities and planetarium shows, plus visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus! Create festive handmade treasures and compete in the Reindeer Games from 1 - 3 p.m. Also enjoy "Let It Snow," a full-dome video show choreographed to holiday music in the planetarium. Showtimes are noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Admission to the museum and all activities are free! Learn more at kalamazoomuseum.org.
 
Promotional image for the Kalamazoo Valley Museum exhibit titled "Mystery and Benevolence: Masonic and Odd Fellows Folk Art." The exhibit runs now through January 5, 2024, and is free to attend. It features eighty carvings, sculptures, textiles, and regalia that explore the symbolism and history of the Masons and the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows. The image includes two ornate artifacts: a gold-rimmed pendant with symbolic artwork and a decorative medallion with a golden sunburst face and engraved metal arc. The museum is located at 230 N. Rose Street, Kalamazoo. Website: kalamazoomuseum.org. Phone: 269.373.7990.
�Mystery and Benevolence� Exhibit Illuminates Secret Societies
Step into the mysterious world of secret societies with the Kalamazoo Valley Museum�s newest exhibit, �Mystery and Benevolence: Masonic and Odd Fellows Folk Art�! The captivating, free traveling exhibition is on display now through Jan. 5. Eighty carvings, sculptures, textiles and regalia bring to light the histories, symbolism and values of the Freemasons and Independent Order of the Odd Fellows, taking visitors behind the veil of these intriguing fraternal orders that have had an influence on contemporary American popular culture.
campus connections
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
6767 West O Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49003-4070