You may have hear the proverb, "If you want to go fast, go alone."
KV Focus Plus
MISSION STATEMENT Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable
opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive.
Nov. 4, 2024
Greetings,
You may have heard the proverb, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." Teamwork is one of our core values here at Kalamazoo Valley and it is a crucial part of our strategic goal to "leverage broad expertise and intentional partnerships to best serve the college community."
As we are all working together across our campuses and departments to achieve our vision and mission, I invite you to think beyond silos. Teamwork has many benefits: greater creativity, better problem-solving, increased productivity and engagement with diverse perspectives. Best of all, teamwork leads to increased collegiality. Enjoy working together. Build relationships based on mutual trust and commit to finding solutions together. Our students, guests and supporters will reap the benefits from your teamwork. When we work together, we can go far in our mission to empower all to learn, grow and thrive.
We are entering a busy time of the academic year, working toward the completion of the current semester, commencement and the end of the calendar year. Political rhetoric, family responsibilities and the change of seasons can be draining. I encourage you to do everything possible to stay focused on our shared work. Let�s keep communicating, collaborating and working together toward our mission, which is so important for our communities.
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
p.s. If you haven't signed up to present at the Winter 2025 Summit, I encourage you to do so now below. Everyone has something to share!
Summit Presenters Needed Planning is underway for the Winter 2025 Summit and presenters are needed! Please fill out this form if you have something you'd like to share with the college community. All employees are encouraged to participate. The Summit takes place Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.
Open Enrollment Started Nov. 1 It's that time of year again! Open enrollment for all full-time employees starts today and runs through Nov. 15. It is important for all full-time employees to review their current coverage and make any changes during this time. After Nov. 15, no changes will be allowed unless you experience a qualifying life event.
If you need assistance during this time, please stop by one of our in-person sessions listed below:
Nov. 6 � Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building, Rm. 246, 1 - 4 p.m. (laptops will be available for employees)
During open enrollment, you�ll be able to shop and select healthcare coverage that will work for you along with other benefits. Enrollment will happen digitally, through Plan Source, our benefit portal. If you do not wish to make any plan changes, you will still need to log into your benefit portal and complete enrollment.
Note: Effective Nov. 1, your password will be your date of birth � YYYYMMDD. There are no spaces between the numbers.
Flu Shot Clinic Scheduled for Employees To help employees prepare for the flu season, Kalamazoo Valley is hosting one more flu clinic for all employees:
Nov. 7 | Texas Township Campus | Room 3330
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Reserve your time slot by clicking here and complete the information needed. Employees should bring a copy of their insurance card. Contact Becky Craft in Human Resources at rcraft@kvcc.edu with questions.
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, clickhere.
Welcome New Employees Join us in welcoming the new employees and current employees in new roles who were hired between July and September 2024:
New Employees Willo Cain | student financial services representative Kristen Dame | administrative assistant - Human Resources Shannon May | administrative assistant Amber McCarty | faculty - Dental Hygiene Patrick Nelson | director of facilities & construction management services John Nieboer | faculty - Welding Julianne Pankow | student financial services representative Emily Powell | interpreter Zoie Vanderbush | senior office specialist Corey Verdon | lead designer
Employees in a New Role Mark Dunneback | associate vice president for workforce & community innovation/dean Charles Heidelberg | director of recruitment & outreach Benjamin Herbert | assistant director of student retention & completion Sabrina Hirsch | early learning programs coordinator Ryan Kennedy | senior office specialist Chrissia Linders | financial aid analyst Jessica Morin | athletic trainer Jordan Overmyer | financial aid advisor Ian Salo | director of energy & technical career training programs Louis Thomas | assistant dean of student development services & special programs Jacquelyn Zito | acquisitions supervisor
College Closing Protocols In the event of inclement weather, one of the following six announcements will be used when notifying employees, students and media outlets, should the college close for a portion or full day.
College Closed
The college is closed for business. All classes, (regardless of teaching and learning modality: face-to-face, virtual or hybrid/blended) and college activities are canceled for the morning, afternoon and evening. Employees need not report unless instructed by their supervisor.
Morning Classes Canceled: Classes starting before 12 p.m. are canceled
Regardless of teaching and learning modality: face-to-face, virtual or hybrid/blended, morning classes are canceled. However, the college is open for business; employees should work from their assigned location.
Afternoon Classes Canceled: Classes starting between 12 p.m. and 3:59 p.m. are canceled
Regardless of teaching and learning modality: face-to-face, virtual or hybrid/blended, afternoon classes are canceled. However, the college is open for business; employees should work from their assigned location.
Evening Classes are Canceled: Classes starting between 4 p.m. through the remainder of the evening are canceled
Regardless of teaching and learning modality: face-to-face, virtual or hybrid/blended, evening classes are canceled. However, the college is open for regular business; employees should work from their assigned location.
�Specific� Campus/Locations are Closed, i.e. Arcadia Commons Campus, Bronson Healthy Living Campus, Groves Campus, Texas Township Campus, Kalamazoo Valley Museum
The college or one or more campuses or facilities will be closed for business. Classes, regardless of teaching and learning modality: face-to-face, virtual or hybrid/blended, are canceled for the day and/or evening activities. Employees assigned to the campus/facility in question are not to report to work. All other campuses/facilities will be open and employees should work from their assigned location.
Delayed Start: College Closed until 10 a.m.
The college will open for business at 10 a.m. Morning classes (regardless of teaching and learning modality: face-to-face, virtual or hybrid/blended), are delayed. Classes will begin at 10 a.m. or their regularly scheduled time.
Adjusted Operating Hours
In the event hours of operation are adjusted (NOT closed or delayed start) facilities will remain open for all employees to report to work. Employees are encouraged to use discretionary judgment in their decision to report to work. Additionally, public meetings/events/activities scheduled during affected hours may be rescheduled.
Updates from Public Safety The Department of Public Safety would like to remind you that our campus roads are public roads. Slow down! Be extra mindful of pedestrians crossing the road to attend class and of the public, who might be on campus walking, running or enjoying the nature trails connected to campus. Follow all stop signs on campus and yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Remember that Public Safety can enforce traffic laws on any of our campus roads. Drive safely.
Time to Breathe: A Seven-Week Meditation Offering Bring your breath back home to your body and have some moments of grounding and quiet with guided and silent meditation. A brief topic and inspiration (15 minutes) and then five minutes of guided meditation and 10 minutes of silence. Give your nervous system some TLC and join us. Sessions are 30 minutes and are held via Zoom. Cathy Colella, director of institutional support services, will facilitate the meditation sessions. Be sure to coordinate with your supervisor for attendance. Find a quiet and comfortable space and join. Everyone is welcome.
Nov. 7: I am Grateful Meditation | Register Nov. 14: Present in this Moment | Register
Upcoming KVAAP Event: The Program Showcase Join KVAAP at the Program Showcase on Thursday, Nov. 7 from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. at Anna Whitten Hall in Room 128. At the event, students will have an opportunity to speak with representatives from different Kalamazoo Valley programs. The event is perfect for undecided students, or students who are considering changing their program of study, but it is open to everyone! You don�t have to be a KVAAP student in order to participate. Free pizza will be provided. Please registerhereif you plan to attend.
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.
Upcoming KVAAP Info Sessions:
Wednesday, Nov. 6 | 10 a.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 12 | 5 p.m.
Attending a KVAAP Info Session is a required part of the application process. Interested students can registerhere.
Shirt Pickup Reminder If you haven�t picked up your Step Challenge shirt yet, you can collect it
from the Wellness & Fitness Center during the following hours: Monday � Thursday 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday � 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
We Want Your Feedback! Help us improve next year�s challenge by completing our quick follow-upsurvey.
The Honorable Harvest Lecture Series Continues
In her book �Braiding Sweetgrass,� Kalamazoo Valley�s Visiting Writers series author Robin Wall Kimmerer describes the Indigenous principles and practices of the Honorable Harvest, which asks us to give back in reciprocity for what we have been given. This lecture series explores ways we can come together to nurture and restore the Honorable Harvest in our communities and in our everyday lives. All programming is free and takes place on Tuesdays through Nov. 19 in Room 223 at the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building in downtown Kalamazoo.
Feeding Our Future: Nourishing Kids and Community with Locally Sourced Food
Tuesday, Nov. 5 | 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. The increasing number of kids who eat multiple meals a day at early childhood education centers and schools presents challenges and opportunities for food service providers who want to provide the best nutrition possible for the kids in their care. Join a conversation about the legislation and logistics that influence school meals.
Farm Bill 101
Tuesday, Nov. 12 | 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. This federal farm bill connects the food on our plates, the farmers and ranchers who produce that food and the natural resources- our soil, air and water -that make growing food possible. Alex Canepa, director of policy at Fair Food Network, will talk about the legislation that impacts humans and more-than-human relatives of this land.
Writing Workshop: What is Your Land Story?
Tuesday, Nov. 19 | 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. What is your land story? Through a series of guided writing exercises, you will have the opportunity to explore, discover and reconnect to land and places that have significance for you.
Citation Guide For questions about paper formatting and citation � MLA and APA � students can check out our online Citation Guide. There they will find no-nonsense instructions for citing sources and avoiding plagiarism, as well as helpful links to more resources.
Schedule an Appointment with a Librarian Do your students need help finding and identifying authoritative sources for their research assignment? Are they having trouble getting what they need from databases or the web? Do they need a thorough rundown on how to do citation? Students can request an appointment with a librarian by filling out the online form to tell us about their assignment and availability. We�ll set a time with them to team up and conquer any research obstacle they are facing.
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 269.548.3239.
Food Options at the Texas Township Campus Need a fresh lunch or snack? The Texas Township Cougar Cafe offers a wide variety of tasty options! Here you can find soups, fresh fruits and vegetables, yogurt parfaits, a wide variety of beverages including Water Street Coffee and more! Want to eat fresh? The Caf� also offers Subway and a salad bar. The Cafe�s hours are from 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m, Monday - Thursday.
Looking for the perfect spot to kickstart your day with a dose of caffeine? Kalamazoo Valley Community College offers a variety of coffee beverages in the Coffee Den at our Texas Township Campus! Whether you are looking for a classic roast coffee, a latte or some tea you can stop by to treat yourself. The Coffee Den also offers scones, coffee cake and muffins! The Coffee Den�s hours are from 8 a.m.� - 1 p.m, Monday - Thursday.
Registration Underway for Nov. 19 Disability as Diversity Discussion Disability is often missing from diversity discussions and DEI initiatives. Join us for an informal discussion as we explore why that is and what each of us can do to change that. The free event will be held Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 10 - 11 a.m., in Room 4370/4380 on the Texas Township Campus for faculty, staff and students. Preregistration is required by Nov. 12. Click here to register. Facilitated by Michele McGowen, the accessibility and accommodations liaison at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, the program is part of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion�s ongoing �DiversiTea!� series, featuring discussions over tea and snacks.
Hispanic/Latinx Celebration Drew Great Turnout A steady stream of students, staff and faculty members came out during lunchtime on Tuesday, Oct. 22 for live music, food and games that uplifted the vibrant cultures, rich histories and contributions of Hispanic/Latinx communities, as part of the college�s �Celebrating Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month� event held on the Texas Township Campus. Music was provided by a well-known local musical treasure, guitarist/singer/songwriter Rene Meave. Featured at the 2024 Fretboard Festival sponsored by our Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Meave has been recognized by both the American Song Festival and the BMI Song Festival. Thank you to everyone for your support of this Office of Diversity and Inclusion celebration. Clickherefor more photos. Holiday Rummage Sale Promises Bookstore Deals Nov. 18 - 22 Start your holiday shopping with great deals at the Kalamazoo Valley Texas Township Campus Bookstore! One week ONLY! From Monday, Nov. 18 to Friday, 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. Why spend a mint on gifts when the Bookstore has you covered? Women�s Basketball Team Joins Walk to End Alzheimer�s The Lady Cougars basketball team on Saturday, Oct. 19 walked in downtown Kalamazoo�s Bronson Park in solidarity with those affected by Alzheimer's disease. Held in 600 communities each year, the Walk to End Alzheimer's is the world's largest event to raise awareness and funds for care, support and research. In Kalamazoo, $53,000 was raised this year. Players said they learned that seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer�s, and that 11 million people are currently providing unpaid care for loved ones. �I lost my grandfather to this disease in 2019, so it felt good to show up and support the movement and engage with the community as a group," said Head Coach Felicia Thomas.
Are You Ready for Some Basketball? 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 during home games in the main gym at the Texas Township Campus through December. Here are the home games in November:
WOMEN�S BASKETBALL
Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. (vs. Albion College JV Scrimmage)
Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 5:30 p.m. (vs. Mott Community College)
Saturday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. (vs. Kankakee Community College)
Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 5:30 p.m. (vs. Rock Valley College)
MEN�S BASKETBALL
Monday, Nov. 11 at 5 p.m. (vs. Owens Community College)
Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. (vs. Mott Community College)
Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. (vs. Rock Valley College)
Author Talks, Community Discussion Explore �Braiding Sweetgrass� Book SOLD OUT! Tickets are no longer available for author Robin Wall Kimmerer�s two free lectures on Nov. 6 in Dale B. Lake Auditorium at Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Texas Township Campus. There will be a waiting list. Individuals are welcome to arrive 30 minutes before the 10 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. lectures to get on the list. Reserved ticket holders are encouraged to arrive early as unclaimed tickets will be released 15 minutes prior to each program and given to those on the waiting list. For more about the event, visit kvcc.edu. BONUS: A community discussion about the �Braiding Sweetgrass� book is planned at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m., several days before Kimmerer�s campus visit. This free, drop-in book discussion is co-sponsored by the museum and the Kalamazoo Public Library.
Museum Hosts Conversation about Farming and the Environment Nov. 13 Join author Liz Carlisle and area regenerative agriculture leaders on Wednesday, Nov. 13, from 7 - 8 p.m., at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum for a conversation about how people in our community are changing their relationships with food and the environment. Admission is free. This program is offered in partnership with Kalamazoo Valley Community College�s Food Innovation Center and Western Michigan University. Carlisle is the author of the consciousness-raising book �Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming.� For more information, visitkalamazoomuseum.org.
Enjoy Free Post-Holiday Parade 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 atkalamazoomuseum.org.
New �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.
