Ü Project Update (Pages 1-3) Ü SSC Open House (Pages 11/12)

Jan. 18, 2010 The Digest What’s Happening at KVCC What’s below in this edition    Project update (Pages 1-3)  SSC open house (Pages 11/12)  Car repairs (Page 3)  Plotting a career (Page 12)  Robots are coming (Pages 3-5)  Heyday hotels (Pages 12/13)  IRS return aid (Page 5)  Corrections V (Page 14)  Say thanks to troops (Pages 5/6)  EFE open house (Pages 14/15)  College documents (Page 6)  119 faces (Pages 15/16)  Trip to ‘Green’ Land (Pages 6/7)  Masks tell tales (Page 16)  Assessment strategies (Page 7)  Sing a Valentine (Page 17)  Ethics topic (Page 7)  1,010 (Page 17)  King’s life (Page 8)  College reps here (Pages 17/18)  Hot time, cold town (Page 8)  Job-search tips (Page 18)  Exercise ‘opps’ (Pages 8/9)  ACC book store (Page 18)  Sports flicks (Pages 9-11)  PeaceJam news (Pages 18/19)

 CC teaching (Page 11)  Novels for youths (Page 19)

 And Finally (Pages 19/20) ☻☻☻☻☻☻ Are you ready for some construction? Be prepared for 12 months or more of transition, Vice President Mike Collins advised his listeners at a Faculty Seminar Days session about KVCC’s first major construction project on the Texas Township Campus since 2001 with the Student Commons. Collins detailed the domino-effect phases of the $12-million renovation and expansion that is now under way with completion ticketed for 15 months once the first shovel of dirt was tossed in late September. “We have two guiding principles,” he said. “The first is to operate as best we can to impact our instructional programs as little as possible for our students, faculty and staff.

1 “Then, next summer,” he said, “the goal is to be as least disruptive as possible when it comes to the final phase involving faculty offices. People may have to be moved around a bit, but the best advice is to stay tuned for details because a lot still has to be worked out. “When it all shakes out this time next year,” he said, “this will be a better place for students, faculty and staff.” Foundation work has already started on the expansion project on the west end of the campus adjacent to the A gymnasium -- building a 30,000-square-foot addition to house the Student Success Center (on the second floor) and the Office of Admissions, Registration and Records, the Office of Financial Aid, the Office of Institutional Research, and Central Receiving on the first level. That should be done by next September or October. Financial Services and the pay station should be ready for their new digs by this March. Once their previous space is vacated, work will begin on a new, multi-purpose science lab. That is slated to be completed by mid-May. About ready to be equipped with lighting is a new parking lot for 220 vehicles at the northwest corner of the campus and O Avenue on the other side of the ring road. With only a final coat of asphalt still to be applied, it is currently being utilized. The lighting under consideration would feature a wind-solar-powered system. Additional spaces have already been added by extending the lot that serves the technical wing. As part of the layered process, Collins said, some of the Student Success Center functions – career services, counseling, the Focus Program – will temporarily move their operations into the Student Commons. The construction schedule calls for their current offices to be converted into five new classrooms that will be ready for the 2010 fall semester. Also part of the blueprint during the summer months is remodeling, upgrading and restoring the existing geology and physics labs as well as one nearby classroom. That’s also when the major reconfiguration of the faculty-office area will begin, and things might become “disruptive.” Collins called it “a tough cat to skin,” which is why the timetable is a little sketchy right now. The faculty-office area will be expanded into four existing classrooms. In addition, the entire area will be “opened up with natural lighting to help it be more student-friendly.” It will also include student-waiting space and additional conference rooms. In all, KVCC will lose eight classrooms and gain 10, plus the 150-seat mini- auditorium/lecture hall in the new expansion. The Student Success Center will revert to serving as The Gallery. Overseeing the project has been a steering committee whose members include Marilyn Schlack, Collins, Laura Cosby, Terry Hutchins, Deborah Dawson, Ron Young, Steve Walman and Rick Margelis. Under that group were subcommittees that focused their attention on components of the project. They helped outline the implications of construction on daily operations and incorporated any last-minute suggestions. Dollars for such projects are banked in capital funds by the state and by the college, and are not part of each’s general fund. Michigan’s formula for higher-education

2 projects has not changed from past years. Each community college and the state provide 50 percent of the costs. The Kalamazoo architectural firm of Eckert Wordell is designing the expansion and remodeling, while the Miller-Davis Co. is serving as construction manager. “By Faculty Seminar Days for the fall semester,” Collins said, “we’ll be walking through here with hard hats on. Also, remember that for the last major project, we moved an entire library. In comparison, this will be a piece of cake.” The Digest plans to work in conjunction with KVCC’s construction manager, Dan Maley to present weekly project updates. Contact him at extension 4298 with any questions or concerns. Automotive Academy source for car repairs The KVCC Automotive Academy is available to perform repairs in the automobiles operated by administrators, faculty and staff as part of its instructional curriculum. While there is no charge for labor and potential customers must pay for parts needed for repairs, the following should be understood before submitting a request to the academy. The KVCC Automotive Academy is not a business for profit. The academy seeks customers willing to allow their cars (no heavy trucks) to be worked on by students -- with no expectation of timeliness or correctness of the repair. The academy instructors strive to inspect all repairs and supervise diagnosis of concerns but cannot guarantee that the repairs are correct or the diagnosis is accurate. The academy, now based in the M-TEC of KVCC, seeks certain types of repairs at different times throughout the semester, and cannot guarantee that the repair being sought fits into the training schedule. This means that it could be a long period of time before the car would be considered for repair. This is not a good option for those who are dependent upon the use of their car. If they can do without the use of their vehicle for a long period of time, and the repair fits into the academy curriculum, this may be a good option. Automatic-transmission or engine overhauls are not among the training components. To be considered for a repair, please visit http://www.mteckvcc.com/autoacademy.htm and click on the "request a repair" link. The PDF can then be faxed or e-mailed to the address given. Robots R Us and vice versa Robots designed, created and programmed to be as human as possible and how humanity can use them to extend its capabilities – that’s the thrust of the next nationally touring exhibit at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. “Robots + Us,” fashioned by the Science Museum of Minnesota, opens on the third floor of the downtown-Kalamazoo museum on Feb. 13 and will be on display through May 9. Blending robotics, computer science and biomedical engineering, the exhibition for visitors of all ages probes whether machines will ever be “alive,” whether they can be crafted to extend the competence and potential of humans, and whether today’s homo sapiens are – in fact – already some kind of a machine.

3 To complement the new exhibit, the museum will tailor some of its programming to fit the theme. For example, the Feb. 27 offering of free, hands-on activities, experiments and arts and crafts for youngsters is titled “Robots on the Move.” They run from 1 to 4 p.m. on that Saturday. The sci-fi blockbuster movie, “Transformers,” will fill the Mary Jane Stryker Theater screen on Friday, Feb. 26, at 7:30 p.m., while “Terminator” is the billing on Friday, April 2. Tickets are $3 Through hands-on activities and games, “Robots + Us” examines the boundaries of humanity and the increasingly life-like machines that populate the world, and that have been fantasized about in science fiction, movies and television for about a century. Some believe that the first attempt to create artificial life can be traced to the initial puppet makers. The exhibit’s topics are both machine-oriented and human in nature, based on the premise that this high level of technology can shed light on the potential of people and can change their daily existence. In that regard, “Robots + Us” focuses on both the technical challenges of building life-like “things” -- and on the attributes of living things to which the artificial systems are inevitably compared. In addition to a welcoming area that sets up the exhibit’s themes, there are four sections – “Moving,” “Sensing,” “Thinking” and “Being” that contain components and activities aimed at understanding human capabilities and the machines that would emulate them. Here are some of the subjects: • Why humans can recognize faces, but machines find that challenging. • Thanks to a colony of live ants, it is shown how simple rules govern the behavior of these insects and how ant-like computer systems are utilized to solve difficult problems. “From the Minds of Ants” charts the movements of the colony as it searches for food, and how this is then related to the workings of the human brain and how robotics come into play. • Cockroaches are shooed out of a house or smashed by a shoe, but this insect inspired the design of robots designed to explore Mars and search for earthquake victims. • Designing, assembling and modifying a “walking machine” using biomechanics dynamics. • At the “Android Café,” visitors will gain a grasp of the concept of artificial intelligence, which might enter the realm of reality when a person can no longer tell the difference between a conversation with another person and one with a machine. • Comparing your limb’s speed, precision, versatility, and judgment with that of an industrial robot arm in the assembly of a simple puzzle. • Gaining insights into the latest robotic technology that is being derived from some of the basics of biology. • Screen-based simulations demonstrate the principles of locomotion. Participants can design their own robots and leave them behind as part of a digital zoo. • “How much is that robotic dog in the window?” deals with synthetic companionship and how easily a person can sense an emotional response to relatively simply mechanical “life forms.”

4 • “Jeremiah” is the face of an oversized digital character that responds through sounds and facial expressions to the motions of visitors. • “Artificial Eyes and Ears,” explores how digital electronics might lead to the restoration and repair of a person’s missing or damaged sensory apparatus. In some cases, designers of artificial-vision systems know that too much information can be as much of a problem as too little, and that concept is illustrated in “Change-Blindness.” • An interactive device demonstrates the difficulties of producing life-like artificial speech, especially when played against the ambiguities inherent in the English language. • “RoboTuna” examines how researchers are developing robots that can explore the oceans of the world.

According to the Science Museum of Minnesota, “Robots + Us,” the exhibit’s experiences are based on the application of technology, on human physiology, and on the questions posed by the prospect of living with ever-more-lifelike machines. Flashing back to science fiction’s accounts of “creating life,” such as “Frankenstein’s monster,” components use these legendary artifacts to flash forward to what might be in the future. There is just as much unfinished science and technology as there is what has been done and what is already known. Students, staff, can get income-tax-filing aid With the deadline looming for Americans to make good their income-tax IOUs to Uncle Sam, free return-preparation assistance is being made available at KVCC for students and staff whose individual or family incomes were $49,000 or less for 2009. Working in conjunction with the Kalamazoo County Tax Counseling Initiative, the college's Student Success Center is hosting the assistance that is supported by the Internal Revenue Service, which provides the software, training, and certifications needed to operate these sites. "This is the second year that KVCC is hosting a site on the Texas Township Campus," said Pamela Siegfried, who is the life resources coordinator in the Student Success Center. As of Jan. 15, people could dial 211 on their telephones to get more information on items and information to bring, the locations throughout Kalamazoo County including KVCC, assistance in setting up an appointment, and tax-preparation times. Another way to schedule an appointment is to go online at www.gryphon.org and click on “tax calendar.” That will take the user a list of locations, dates, times, and items to bring. The service is provided by IRS-certified community volunteers from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. E-filing will be available at all locations. In addition to KVCC, partnering with the Kalamazoo County Tax Counseling Initiative are the American Association of Retired Persons, Bowers Manufacturing, Goodwill Industries, the Greater Kalamazoo United Way, Guardian Finance and Advocacy Services, Gryphon Place, the Kalamazoo County Community Action Agency, the Kalamazoo County Department of Human Services, the Kalamazoo Public Library, the Volunteer Center of Greater Kalamazoo, and the W. E. Upjohn for Employment Research.

5 Post-holidays Care packages planned for U. S. troops The KVCC Veterans Club is orchestrating the sending of gifts for U. S. military personnel serving away from their homes. Instead of the normal push to collect the goodies in time for Christmas, the new wrinkle is to arrange for the collections to be shipped after the first of the year, once the yuletide is over, as a way to extend the holiday spirit. "The Veterans Club endorses the idea of boxes to troops serving overseas," said Kate Ferraro, a sociology instructor and one of the organization’s faculty advisers, "but has opted to start the winter semester with boxes so the troops get some after all the holiday boxes run out. “We'll be deciding on appropriate inclusions for the boxes at the first club meeting of the year and will spread the word,” she said. Archives offers fingertip- access to documents The KVCC Archives now offer access to many college documents in electronic form, reports Director of Libraries Janet Alm. “From the comfort of your own computer,” she said, “you can view the agendas and minutes of many college meetings, including the KVCC Board of Trustees and the cabinet, as well as past issues of The Digest.” To view the archives’ online documents, go to the libraries’ home page at http://www.kvcc.edu/library and click on “KVCC Archives.” For further information about the KVCC Archives, see the Archives Guidelines at http://home.kvcc.edu/hrmain/StffDev/Job_Aids/Manuals_Policies_Handbooks/Archives Guidelines.pdf or contact Alm at extension 4326 of [email protected] Ireland adventure planned for May 7-29 The 2010 edition of the KVCCbased Midwest Institute for International/Intercultural Education’s trip to Ireland is set for May 7-29, and slots are available for students, faculty and staff. This year’s lead faculty member will be Linda Rzoska, who will be accompanied by fellow instructors Isaac Turner and Tom Hughes. Rzoska, whose artistic pursuits have taken her to 16 nations in Europe, will be making her 10th pilgrimage to Ireland. As part of a three-credit sociology course on “Irish Life and Culture,” the estimated fee will range from $2,500 to $2,800 depending on the number of participants. That includes tuition, use of facilities at the Burren College of Art, housing, and eight field trips over the three-week period. Meals are not included, but the housing will feature food-preparation options. Grocery stores and pubs are in the vicinity. Also not included is the round-trip air fare. Past KVCC trekkers have learned that through the eyes of an artist, there is more to Ireland than green. They have been based at Burren on central Ireland’s west coast overlooking Galway Bay, an area that for centuries has been a source of inspiration for all genre of artists — poets, novelists, painters, sculptors, musicians and playwrights. The Burren College of Art, which is on the grounds of a 16th-century castle, serves as the headquarters for the course as students explored the geography, history, flora, fauna and culture of this part of Ireland. Known as “The Stony Place,” Burren is home to a wealth of archeological and monuments that includes megalithic tombs, medieval castles and abandoned abbeys.

6 KVCC students have delved into past and present Irish life, ancient and medieval times, legends, poetry, mythology, religion, dance and music. They learned to understand the landscape, history and mythology of this historic and mystical area that has been an important part of Ireland’s legend for artistic creativity. The students received a certificate from both the Midwest Institute and Burren College designating they have completed the three-credit course. Field trips took students to ancient monuments that chronicle the history of an Irish culture dating back more than 7,000 years. They experienced an abbey built in 1194, a 9th-century ring fort built of stone, a 6,000-year-old tomb, cliffs that plunge 700 feet to the Atlantic, and the coastal limestone region known as Black Head. Those interested can contact Rzoska at extension 7923 or [email protected]. ‘Assessment techniques’ topic of Faculty Success Center “Classroom Assessment Techniques” is this month’s topic slated to be covered in the ongoing series of presentations organized by the Faculty Success Center. The new initiative is operating under the auspices of Grant Chandler, dean of the Arcadia Commons Campus, to assist the college community in focusing time, energy, and conversations on high-quality teaching and learning. This month’s presentations are slated for Tuesday (Jan. 19) from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., on Wednesday (Jan. 20) from 2 to 3:30 p.m., and Saturday (Jan. 23) from 10 to 11:30 a.m. All sessions are held in the lower level of the Center for New Media. Those who wish to attend can e-mail [email protected]. Refreshments will be provided. Chandler can be contacted by extension 7849 or [email protected]. Here’s the rest of the “Talking About Teaching” line-up through the end of the 2009-10 academic year:  February: “Dealing with and Preventing Classroom Incivility”  March: “The Appropriate and Inappropriate Use of Instructional Technology”  April: “Designing Appropriate Learning Activities and Lesson Planning.” Serving on the new center’s advisory team are Chandler, fellow co-chair Cynthia Schauer, Lynne Morrison, Bill deDie, Philipp Jonas, Fran Kubicek, Jan White, Kevin Dockerty, Al Moss, Ron Cipcic, Theo Sypris, and Joe Brady. Ethics of online instruction is topic “The Ethics of Online Instruction and Its Implications for Higher Education” is a topic next month when the Western Michigan University Center for the Study of Ethics in Society continue its lecture series during the winter semester. Free and open to the public, the presentation will be at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 23, in Room 211 in the Bernard Student Center. Leading the discussion will be Paul Farber and Dennis “Dini” Metro-Roland, who are both professors in the WMU Department of Teaching, Learning and Education Studies.

7 Slated for 4 p.m. Thursday on March 18 is Room 2028 of Brown Hall is a presentation of “Plagiarism and College Culture” by Susan Blum of Notre Dame University. Documentary salutes King’s life Martin Luther King’s career and leadership in the Civil Rights Movement will be showcased with a showing of “In Remembrance of Martin” on Monday (Jan. 18) in the Kalamazoo Valley Museum’s Mary Jane Stryker Theater. The 2 p.m. presentation is free. Among those providing words and memories are his wife Coretta, the Rev. Ralph Abernathy, Julian Bond, President Jimmy Carter, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, U. S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, Congressman John Lewis, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Andrew Young. On the Texas Township Campus last Thursday, dramatic readings, poetry and other creative expressions about King were offered by faculty, staff and students. Chili contest part of ‘Winter Adventure’ Downtown Kalamazoo’s “Great Winter Adventure” on Saturday (Jan. 23) will feature fun, games and activities for people of all ages at more than 30 locations including the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Organized by Downtown Kalamazoo Incorporated, the annual attraction will run from noon to 4 p.m. with year’s special attraction being a chili cook-off. “Retailers and restaurants will be competing for bragging rights to the best chili from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.,” says Vicky Kettner, community relations director for DKI. “Those who come downtown can vote and help declare the best chili for 2010. The recipes will also be available.” In addition to the annual collection of ice sculptures, families will be able to engage in story readings, arts and crafts, and hands-on activities. And it’s all free. More information is available at this web site: www.downtownkalamazoo.org. Are you ready for some zumba? Enlivened by the addition of a little South-of-the-border style of workout, the Wellness and Fitness Center’s line-up of free, drop-in activities to promote vitality and good health among KVCC employees will be operational through April 30. It’s your proactive chance to pare off a few pounds before the need arrives to slim down for spring apparel. And to help you do it, welcome to zumba, a workout routine that has been added to the Tuesday schedule. For the exercise-knowledge challenged, zumba is an aerobic fitness program created by Miami-based dancer and choreographer Beto Perez and two entrepreneurs. It originated in Colombia in the 1990s and as of 2009 is taught by some 20,000 instructors in 35 countries. Classes use music based on salsa, meringue, cumbia, and reggae. “Zumba incorporates fast-paced music with cardio exercise,” says Blake Glass, manager of the KVCC Wellness and Fitness Center. “”The Latin-style music gets you in the mood and the instructor leads you through various multi-muscle movements that will have you sweating and burning calories while having a lot of fun.” Here is the lineup for faculty, staff and enrolled students:

8 Monday – swimming from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; total body conditioning, 1 to 1:55 p.m.; and dancing from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday – swimming from 7 to 8 a.m. and zumba from noon to 12:55. Wednesday – swimming from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; and total body conditioning from 1 to 1:55 p.m. Thursday – swimming from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Friday – swimming from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and fitness cycling from 1 to 1;55 p.m. Saturday -- swimming from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Except for the obvious site for swimming, these exercise opportunities will be based in Room 6040 in the Student Commons. Zumba replaced yoga in the exercise activities. 3 winter-oriented movies are next ‘Friday’ highlights The next three “Friday Night Highlights” billings in the Kalamazoo Valley Museum’s Mary Jane Stryker Theater are movies about winter and the sports that take place on ice and snow. The 1992 skating-centered movie, “Cutting Edge,” is booked for Jan. 15, followed by “Miracle” (Jan. 22) when upstart American hockey players won the gold medal in the Olympics and “Cool Runnings” (Jan. 29), a comedy about Jamaica fielding a bobsled team for the winter games. The curtain will go up at 6:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $3. Each of the "Friday Night Highlights" attractions is actually a doubleheader because also planned is an 8:30 p.m. showing of the planetarium show featuring the music of U2. That has a $3 admission fee. With a laser-light show in full color streaming across the planetarium's 50-foot dome, the 35-minute production will feature the classic hits of the Dublin, Ireland, combo that has earned 22 Grammys, sold 146 million albums, and warranted induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in its first year of eligibility. “Cutting Edge” is directed by Paul Michael Glaser, one of the co-stars of the TV police drama “Starsky and Hutch” that ran from 1975 to 1979. The plot involves an American college hockey player whose career as a professional is fractured after being battered during a game against the Olympic team representing West Germany. The other story line involves a figure skater who falls while doing a lift in her program. Both believe their Olympic dreams of gold are shattered forever. In preparing for the next Olympics, the temperamental skater is unsatisfied with skating partners who are given a tryout – until her coach recruits the injured hockey player who has no figure-skating experience. Through the difficult training of 15 hours of skating a day, they prepare for a national championship that could lead to a berth in the Olympics. A romance is budding and their final show could bend or break them as they try to achieve their dreams. The two are from totally different worlds and argue constantly, but his strong work ethic brings both her father and her coach around. The two enter competition trying out a new routine that is dangerous for each of them as their respect for each other finally begins to grow. Her antagonism ebbs away while his appreciation of figure skating grows.

9 “Miracle” is the inspiring story of the team that transcended its sport and united a nation with a new feeling of hope. Based on the true story of one of the greatest moments in sports history, the tale captures a time and place where differences could be settled by games and a cold war could be put on ice. In 1980, the U.S. hockey team's coach, Herb Brooks (played by Kurt Russell) took a ragtag squad of college players up against the legendary juggernaut from the Soviet Union at the Olympic Games in Lake Placid, N. Y. Despite the long odds, Team USA carried the pride of a nation yearning from a distraction from world events. With the world watching, the team rose to the occasion, prompting broadcaster Al Michaels' now famous question to the millions viewing at home: “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” Brooks had dreamed of coaching the U.S. Olympic team ever since he was cut from the 1960 team. His dream comes true when gets the coaching job in 1979. He assembles college players and begins to get them into shape. Since the Soviet Union is the greatest hockey team in the world, Brooks begins to retrain his team in the European style of playing the game. The Soviet Union team has won four consecutive gold medals and recently defeated a team of National Hockey League all-stars. Brooks stressed that the all-stars were individual players and not a team. With all his hard training, he molds an Olympic-caliber team, and a family. The Americans defeats the Soviet Union in the semifinal round by not allowing a single goal for the last 10 minutes of the game. The U.S. team still had to beat Finland in the final round to win the gold and assure their niche in athletic history. “Cool Runnings,” starring John Candy focuses on Irving Blitzer, who disgraced himself and the American team when putting extra weights into his team's bobsled in the 1968 Winter Olympics, resulting in his gold medal being taken away. Years later, Derice Bannock, son to a former friend of Blitzer, fails to qualify for the 100-yard sprint in the Olympics because of a stupid accident. But when he hears that Blitzer is living also in Jamaica, Bannock decides to go to the Games anyway – if not as a sprinter, then as a bobsledder. He convinces Blitzer to coach the team that needs sprinter’s speed to succeed, and to leave his life as a destitute bookie. After some starting problems, the first Jamaican bobsledding team is formed and heads for Calgary. In the freezing weather, the four-man Jamaican team is ridiculed because nobody can take a Caribbean bobsledding team led by a disgraced trainer as serious. Even after finishing last in its first heat, team spirit and a healthy self-confidence lead to a few surprises in the 1988 Winter Games. The Jamaican team feels accomplished enough to return in four years to the next Winter Olympics. The team returned to Jamaica as heroes, and upon their return to the Olympics four years later, they are treated as equals. Here is the “Friday Night Highlights” schedule of movies, concerts by local combos, and special events through the first third of 2010:  Feb. 5: Classical guitarist Jeff Dwarshuis.  Feb. 12: “An Evening of Chocolate” featuring a chocolate demonstration and the film, “Chocolat.”  Feb. 19: One of the most popular groups ever, To Be Announced.  Feb. 26: The 2007 blockbuster, “Transformers.”

10  March 5: Fretboard Festival play-in competition.  March 12: “Snow Falling on Cedars,” the film version of the book chosen to be the 2010 Reading Together selection.  March 19: Fretboard Festival kick-off concert.  March 26: “Star Trek Generations.”  April 2: “Terminator.”  April 9: EMBARR in concert.  April 16: The pop/rock music of We Know Jackson.  April 23: Performer Rob Vischer.  April 30: Concert by Waverland (topic/acoustic/alternative). Teaching seminar begins this week Some 20 full- and part-time instructors will be taking part in the Faculty Success Center’s new “Community College Teaching Seminar” that begins the week of Jan. 18 and will spread out over two semesters. Carrying the equivalent of a three-credit-hour graduate course, the seminar will develop theoretical and practical background for instructors at the community college level. Designed for a variety of disciplines, it will emphasize effective instructional strategies for the 21st century, assessments, and the uses of technology. Those who complete the two-semester seminar will receive a $500 stipend. A second 20-member cohort can sign up for the next seminar that will begin in September while a third is planned for September of 2011. To accommodate the schedules of participants, the schedule of meeting dates and times will be determined at the inaugural session. The plan is for the seminar to meet weekly for two hours over a 12-week period. Among the topics will be “Effective Preparation and Planning,” “Classroom Incivility,” “Academic Honesty,” “Motivating Students,” “Effective Instructional Strategies in the 21st Century College Classroom,” “Teaching Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking for Today’s World,” “Assessment,” and “Navigating the KVCC Learning Environment.” More information is available by contacting the Faculty Success Center at [email protected]. Student Success Center hosts two-day open house KVCC instructors should be alerting their winter-semester enrollees about the upcoming events planned by the Student Success Center that are designed to energize academic accomplishments. The Student Success Center itself will host a two-day open house on Jan. 19-20 (Tuesday and Wednesday) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both days. Students, faculty and staff can learn about what is available, get to know the program’s advocates and enjoy refreshments in the center located just inside the Tower Entrance on the Texas Township Campus. Wednesday (Jan. 20) is also the date for the first “What It Takes to be Successful” presentation in the Student Commons Forum from 1 to 3 p.m. These examine classroom expectations for students, the effective management of time to promote student success, test-taking tips, the process for a smooth transfer to a four-year university, and job- searching suggestions. Four such sessions are booked for the winter semester. 11 The Student Commons Forum will be the location for a goal-setting and time- management workshop for students on Thursday (Jan. 21) from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Slated for Tuesday, Jan. 26, will be a workshop on how students can better handle their finances and stretch each dollar that comes their way. It will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Student Commons Forum. The Wednesday of that week is labeled Spirit Day with students, faculty and staff invited to wear their KVCC apparel for a pizza-party tailgater at 5:30 p.m. in the hallway by the gymnasium and build support for the men’s and women’s basketball games that are following. The benefits of good nutrition and exercise will be covered on Wednesday, Jan. 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Student Commons Forum. The 45-minute presentation will show students how to stay strong and vital for the winter semester. Help students map a career plan The Student Success Center’s presence on the Arcadia Commons Campus this week is beginning a series of roundtable discussions to help students make their way through the career-searching process. Each of the presentations will be held in 128 Whitten Hall on Tuesdays from 1 to 2 p.m. The inaugural topic on Jan. 19 is “Finding a Career That Is Right for You.” “Discovering Your Strengths” is the theme on Jan. 26, while developing those strengths will be covered on Feb. 2. The rest of the schedule is:  Feb. 9 – “Informational Interviewing.”  Feb. 16—“Importance of Networking.”  Feb. 23 – “Creating a Career Plan.” More information is available by contacting career adviser Diane Finch at extension 7864 or [email protected]. Kalamazoo’s hotels, inns of the past live again “Welcome to the Hotel Kalamazoo: Kalamazoo’s Early Hospitality Industry” is the Jan. 24 installment of the 2009-10 edition of “Sunday Series” presentations at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Curator Tom Dietz will dig into that part of the community’s past at 1:30 p.m. in the Mary Jane Stryker Theater. All of the programs are free and open to the public. Hotels provided a variety of important services in Kalamazoo during the 19th century. The Kalamazoo House, built in 1832, was a center of fevered activity during the boom days of the western Michigan land speculation of the mid-1830s. “Anxious buyers crowded every square inch of floor space to sleep while they climbed through windows to buy meals in the hotel’s dining room,” Dietz says. Other prominent 19th-century hotels included the Exchange Hotel, the American Hotel, and the Burdick House. They hosted travelers, traveling salesmen and physicians peddling their wares and services from a temporary office, and provided meeting places for clubs and organizations. Dances and other social functions were staged in their ballrooms. Several hotels offered public-bathing facilities for those who lacked full bathrooms in their homes. Dietz will discuss the 19th-century hospitality industry, exploring not only these well-known establishments but lesser known hotels including the International Hotel,

12 Burke’s Hotel, and the Sheridan House. He will talk about the men who owned, built, and operated these facilities as well as the many purposes that the hotels served. Hotels were often located where travelers would arrive, notably around the several railroad depots. The River House was located near the bridge over the Kalamazoo River, hoping to attract arrivals coming via the old Territorial Road. The Burdick House, which opened in 1854, stood on Main Street (now Michigan Avenue), where the Radisson Plaza Hotel and Suites now stands, making that block the site of at least one hotel for more than 150 years. When the Burdick House went up in flames on an arctic-like, bone-chilling evening in 1909, it earned a distinction that remains to this day – one of Kalamazoo’s greatest disasters. Originally known as the Cosmopolitan Hotel, what burned that night opened its 80 to 100 rooms, which could accommodate up to 150 guests, in the spring of 1853. The contractor was Frank Dennison and he attached bathing salons to the four-floor, brick building that had dimensions of 100-by-70 feet. Dennison didn’t launch the project. Work was started in August of 1850 by Alexander J. Sheldon, a shaker-and-do’er who is given credit for literally lifting the village out of the mud by installing the first planked walkways. In June of 1855, the hostelry, built for $12,000, became the Burdick House -- named for Gen. Justus Burdick, an influential early settler. Known for its “elegant arches,” one was described as “magnificent. . .(sitting) like a majestic queen with her children ranged on either side.” Broad “winding, spirally” stairs took guests to the upper floors. A 45-foot “elegantly finished” tower on the roof reached for the sky, while the window sills were white marble from Vermont. An arcade of shops eventually filled the ground level. It was heralded as the “largest and best constructed hotel in western Michigan.” Flames took their first crack at the Burdick House in October of 1855 when wooden buildings in an adjacent block caught fire. While fast work by fire fighters saved the day, the hotel did sustain damage to furnishings because water was thrown into rooms to prevent any kind of ignition. As the village’s social hotspot and one of the finer inns in the region, the Burdick added stables to serve the transportation medium of most guests. The barn that could house up to 200 horses cost $3,000. Flames consumed it in 1876, but the main structure was again spared. Not so in December of 1909 when the then half-century-old building was reduced to rubble, looking like the results of a World War II bombing. Here are the “Sunday Series” programs through spring:  “William G. Dewing: From Calcutta to Kalamazoo” – Feb. 14  “Poetry Artifactory VI” – Feb. 28  “Kalamazoo’s Argonauts: The Lure of California Gold in 1850” – March 14  “The Ladies Library Association” – March 28  “Play Ball! – Baseball in Kalamazoo” – April 11  “Kalamazoo’s Musical Heritage” – April 25. For further information, contact Tom Dietz at 373-7984.

13 Corrections Academy V a go for February KVCC will offer a fifth Corrections Academy from Feb. 1 through Feb. 26 at the M-TEC of KVCC on The Groves Campus. Under the auspices of the Kalamazoo Law Enforcement Training Center at the Texas Township Campus, the Corrections Academy prepares people for jobs in county jails and other lockup facilities operated by municipalities. The fee for 160 hours worth of training in14 modules is $1,100. Rick Ives, who heads the center that includes the Kalamazoo Police Academy, reports that the application procedure for the Corrections Academy produces a “healthy” waiting list, which set the stages to conduct another. Those interested should contact him. Past enrollees hailed from sheriff’s departments in Kalamazoo, Van Buren, Cass, Barry, Branch and Allegan counties. About half are in an in-service mode because they already were in the profession while the others have been using the academy to launch a career. The concept of an academy, he said, sprang from state legislation that now requires certification for professionals in the corrections field. “Most of the enrollees come from those already in the profession who now need the required state certification,” Ives said, “but there are people who are interested in establishing careers in the corrections field.” Those who successfully complete the 160 hours of training will also receive 10 credit hours that they can apply to a degree in criminal justice at KVCC. The college’s center is offering the academy in conjunction with the Michigan Sheriffs Coordinating and Training Council. “The academy was created,” Ives said, “to not only meet the need for corrections certification, but also to offer a different kind of career opportunity to KVCC students. Pre-certified candidates would set themselves up with an edge in the employment market.” All of the instructors are certified and approved by the council. Completion of the 160 hours of training becomes one of the requirements needed to become certified as a corrections officer. Each enrollee must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. The 14 training modules are: booking and intake, correctional law, cultural diversity, custody and security, defensive tactics, ethics in corrections, fire safety, interpersonal communications, prisoner behavior, report writing, workplace harassment, stress management, suicide prevention, and first aid, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, and automated external defibrillator (AED) familiarity. For information about the academy, contact Ives at (269) 488-4459 or [email protected]. Another source of information is at the college’s web site – www.kvcc.edu – under the keyword of “Corrections Academy.” EFE open house slated for Feb. 9 The Education for Employment (EFE) initiative, which has been in existence for more than two decades, will hosts its annual open house for students, parents and supporters on Tuesday, Feb . 9.

14 The gathering is slated for 5:30 to 8 p.m. at The Air Zoo, 6151 Portage Road. KVCC is one of the founding partners in the award-winning EFE program that is operated through the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (K-RESA). Students and parents can take a look at the scores of vocational, technical and professional programs that are available to sample during their years in high school. Sharing the spotlight will be the countywide Education for the Arts program and its offerings. Visitors can learn how both EFE and EFA experiences can satisfy Michigan Merit Curriculum requirements and how college credits can be earned by those still in high school. The EFE programs that can provide college credits include accounting, welding, allied health, network administration, art and design, marketing, auto collision, machine tool, auto technology, law enforcement, aviation, hotel-restaurant-travel management, banking, heating-ventilation-air conditioning, computer technology, furniture and cabinet making, emergency medical technology, electrical technology, early-childhood education, drafting and design, digital video production, culinary arts, and the construction trades. Other EFE programs include cosmetology, photography and digital imaging, radio broadcasting, business management, dynamic web programming, animal science, animal technology, dental assistant, health occupations and veterinary science. Work co-op experiences are also available through EFE. For more information about the open house, call (269) 388-9484. 119 welcomers launch 2010 semester Faculty and staff manned welcome-back-students tables on both the Texas Township and Arcadia Commons campuses for an hour or two – and even more -- to launch the winter semester on the right foot. Sharing their cheers, smiles and talent at the Center for New Media and in the hospitality room of Anna Whitten Hall were Heidi Stevens-Ratti, Makida Coulter, Diane Finch, Pat Pallett, Brandy Thompson, Ola Johnson, Pat Pojeta, Tom Thinnes, Kevin Dockerty, Valerie Jones, Anora Ackerson, Cindy Wilson, Barbara VanZandt, Brian Olson, Nicole Newman, Dan Chapman, Scott Eberstein, Linda Rzoska and Karen Visser. Those who brought their smiling faces and affable ways to the tables at the Texas Township Campus entrances by the tower and the flags, as well as at the gateway to technology wing and just inside the exterior entrance to the Student Commons, included: Arleigh Smyrnios, Kandiah Balachandran, Bill deDie, Bob Post, Bob Vezeau, Brian Graening, Bruce Punches, Caroline Whiting, Chris Preston, Chris Garrett, Connie Edlund, Daniel Cunningham, Darlene Kohrman, Dawn Pantaleo, Deb Dawson; Dwight Coblentz, Francis Granzotto, Gloria Barton Beery, Gordon Bielby, Harland Fish, Jack Bley, Jackie Howlett, Jan White, Jane Geschwendt, Jim Turcott, Joe Brady, Jon Stasiuk, Kate Ferraro, Kim Grubka, Larry Taylor, Lena Marie Cool; Lisa Winch, Lynne Morrison, Mark Sigfrids, Maryalice Reck, Marylan Hightree, Michael Tyson, Natalie Patchell, Pat Conroy, Ray Hendriksma, Rob Haight, Rod Albright, Roxanne Bengelink, Sheila Eisenhauer, Stephen Doherty, Su Cutler; Sue Hollar, Suzi Puckett, Tim Farrow, Tim Kane, Tom Hughes, Tom Keena, Renee Mielke, Michael McCall, Jim Taylor, Beth Hubbard, Diana Haggerty, Muriel Hice, Ebba Spyke, Russell Panico, Laura Cosby, Mike Collins, Dan Mondoux; 15 Jackie Howlett, Shannon Lindquist, Kathleen Cook, Shawna Smith, Teresa Fornoff, Jaime Robins, Stephanie Strong, Pamela Siegfried, Mike Hall, Matt Dennis, Karen Maas, Nancy Taylor, Anna Cheeks, Catie West, Ezra Bell, Steve Cannell; Lori Evans, Colleen Olson, Theo Sypris, Amy Triemstra, Ray Andres, Tom Lentenbrink, Adrianna Collins, LaJoyce Brooks, Stephanie Rayborn, LaKyndra Dalton, Byron Foster, Diane Vandenberg, Doug Martin, Terry Hutchins, Dan Maley, Mel VanAntwerp, Kathy Johnson, Charissa Oliphant, Denise Baker, Gail Fredericks, and Carol Orr. Some 122 took part in the 2009 winter-semester effort. Masks illustrate cultures, not hide them You could learn a lot by ignoring the advice in Jim Croce’s lyrics and pulling “the mask off the old Lone Ranger,” but so much more insight is possible by experiencing a mask and the culture it represents than seeing who is behind it. That’s the idea behind “Spirit of the Mask,” a 95-item collection that is viewable in the Kalamazoo Valley Museum’s first-floor gallery through Feb. 14. It is the work of Carla Hanson who realized that masks and “masking” were special the first time she dressed for Halloween in her hometown of Waterville, Kan. After taking anthropology classes at Kansas State University and meeting people from other cultures, she purchased her first ethnic mask, soon to be followed by many more. Her collection now numbers in the hundreds, representing more than 40 countries and many Native American nations. Masks have been used in diverse cultures on every continent except for Australia. They are composed of natural and man-made materials mask-makers usually find locally. While some are intricately decorated and some are very rudimentary or abstract, others can be lifelike as evidenced in Hanson’s collection. Masks are ceremonial or theatrical, with functions ranging from entreaties for worldly interventions on the part of a deity or ancestral spirit, to assertions of social control to advance a particular culture’s mores. Masks can serve a singular purpose in a specific celebration, but often they are used for multiple functions. Healing, fertility, and good fortune are a few examples of masking themes. Mask wearers traditionally are nearly exclusively men, even when female characters are depicted. “The masking traditions can teach us how these cultures deal with their lives and their environment,” Hanson says. “While masks traditionally have specific purposes, they are so beautiful and powerful that they can be appreciated as works of art as well.” Among the masks that are part of the Kalamazoo exhibit are those originating on five continents from indigenous people in more than 50 countries, including Bali, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Nigeria, India, Brazil, Bolivia, Germany, the Ivory Coast, New Guinea, Mexico, Mali, New Guinea, Zaire, Russia, Sweden, Holland and Switzerland. Masks from a dozen Native American tribes are also included. They range in age from 10 to 60 years old, and are made from such materials as palm froth, root dye, stains, wood, papier-mâché, polychrome, cloth, leather, natural pigments, and white clay. “Masks tell stories,” said Elspeth Inglis, the museum’s assistant director. “They don’t hide them.”

16 Looking for a special Valentine treat Math instructor Sue Hollar and her Mid-Lakes Chorus of Sweet Adelines are offering an innovative Valentine’s Day remembrance for those who have our hearts. The singing group will send a quartet to visit the person of choice, sing two songs, and present a flower and a card – all for $40. The offer is open to those whose special Valentine is within a 35-mile radius of Kalamazoo. “We can also telephone someone and deliver personal greetings and two songs for just $15,” she said. Those interested can contact Hollar or check out the form on this website: www.midlakessweetadelines.org ( http://www.midlakessweetadelines.org ) or “become a fan of Mid-Lakes on Facebook.” Hollar reports that the singing group’s annual Christmas concert at St. Catherine's last December earned more than $1,200 for Meals on Wheels and the Kalamazoo Free Clinic. “I wanted to offer Mid-Lakes' thanks to the community for supporting these two worthwhile charities, and for supporting of our chorus and our craft,” Hollar said. 1010 in 2010 More than a millennium of service was honored at last week’s KVCC Board of Trustees Breakfast that annually kicks off the winter semester. Leading the way with 40 years on the KVCC payroll was John Corbin. Down at the other end of the service spectrum are five-year-ers Marty Adams, Darryl Chapman, Dwight Coblentz, Gwen Conarton, Mike Gard, Janice Wilson, Steve Walman, Patricia Wallace, Diane Vandenberg, Brenda Moncrief, Lynn Martin, Tim Luce, Rick Ives and Mark Gates. Six have achieved 35 years at KVCC, including President Marilyn Schlack. Joining her in reaching that hallmark were Ken Bouma, Harland Fish, Rick Margelis, Art Parker and Arleigh Smyrnios. Logging three full decades are Dick Shilts, Sandy Bohnet and Betty VanVoorst. At the quarter-of-a-century mark are Marilyn Betts, Terry Hutchins, Gerri Jacobs, Michael McCall, Don Morris, Gloria Norris and Ron Young. Newly inducted into the 20-year club are Lois Baldwin, Barbara Taraskiewicz, Connie Edlund, Eunice Levy, Tim Farrow, Annette Hoppenworth, Tarona Guy, Rob Haight and Ray Hendriksma. Those reaching 15 years are Rick Bridges, Scott Williams, Paul Chiu, Sue Visser, Laura Cosby, Laurie Dykstra and Sue Hills. Wrapping up their first decade at KVCC are Barbara VanZandt, Gloria Barton Berry, Heidi Stevens-Ratti, Dennis Bertch, Paul Rice, Ron Cleveland, Stephanie Moats, Leona Coleman, Martha Makay, Judy Collins, Tom Keena, Steve Gerike, Lena Marie Cool and Mike Collins. 4-year reps coming to campus Representatives of several four-year colleges in Michigan will be available on the Texas Township Campus to talk to prospective transferees in February. All will be having discussions with KVCC students in the cafeteria on the dates. Michigan Tech will lead the way on Feb. 9-10 (Tuesday and Wednesday) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

17 Lake Superior State University will be on campus Feb. 10-11 (Wednesday and Thursday) from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Siena Heights University is booked for Tuesday, Feb. 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lake Superior will make a return visit on Feb. 17 and again on Feb . 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Michigan Tech returns on Feb. 17 and Feb. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wrapping up February will be Lawrence Tech on Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The college’s Transfer Resource Center/Focus Program is also arranging a series of trips for KVCC students to visit campuses around the state. The first trek was to Western Michigan University on Jan. 15 with others in the pipeline. Departure times are 9 a.m. and the return is timed for 4 p.m. Students can visit the center in Room 1364 for details about the series of free campus visits. Taking the stress out of a job search Students who have job-search fears can ease that anxiety by taking part in a series of “Ready to Work” workshops that will start in February at Anna Whitten Hall. Free and organized by career adviser Diane Finch, each will be held on the first level on Tuesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. Here is the schedule:  Feb. 2 – “Resume Do’s and Don’t’s”  Feb. 9 – “How to Write a Cover Letter.”  Feb. 16 – “Interviewing Techniques.”  Feb. 23 – “Practice Interviews.” Finch can be contacted at extension 7863 or at [email protected]. ACC now has a book store A satellite book store is now operational on the Arcadia Commons Campus. Located on the ground floor in Room 132 of Anna Whitten Hall, its permanent hours are: Mondays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesdays from 2 to 6 p.m.; and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be closed on Fridays. The book outlet is in the space formerly assigned as office space for part-time instructors. They have been moved to the second floor in what had been serving as a meeting room for the KVCC Board of Trustees. PeaceJam Club plans for winter semester KVCC’s PeaceJam Club will be mapping its winter-semester events, including a chance to meet a Nobel Peace Prize winner, when student members gather for their first meeting on Tuesday (Jan. 19). Chapter president Zachary Wood said current and prospective members will meet from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Student Commons Forum. “Members can make a difference in their community,” Wood said. “They’ll be able to serve as mentors as the upcoming PeaceJam Youth Conference, create service projects to change the world and make it better, and meet a Nobel Peace Prize winner.” The latter is Betty Williams, the 1976 Nobel Laureate who won for her work in Northern Ireland to help end the conflicts between Protestants and Catholics there. She will be making a series of presentations on the Western Michigan University campus April 16-18, some of which will be open to the public.

18 The umbrella organization, the PeaceJam Foundation, is an international education program focused on creating a new generation of young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities and the world through the inspiration of Nobel Peace laureates. Wood, a Plainwell High School graduate who is majoring in psychology, said the KVCC chapter is affiliated with Great Lakes PeaceJam that serves Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana. “We use the model of education, inspiration, and action to help enact lasting change in our communities,” Wood said. “We teach students ways to make a difference, inspire them through meeting and learning about how the Nobel laureates did their wonderful work, and then help them perform service-learning projects in their communities. “PeaceJam is an amazing organization,” he said. “I was a high school and college participant myself before taking this position at the affiliate. Our PeaceJam clubs do some very, very amazing work. There isn't a week that goes by that I'm not impressed by something I hear from one of our clubs. “Teaching our students how to make change in the world is the best way to ensure our future and that of future generations,” Wood said. “It's a very exciting program.” For more information, contact Wood at (269) 492-7750 or link to this web site: http://www.greatlakespeacejam.org. Novara’s youth novels are now e-books Joe Novara, a part-time English instructor who has published middle-reader and young-adult novels over the past decade, reports some of his nonfiction works are now online as e-books with Smashwords.com. Among his creations are: “Wa-Tonka,” a novel about camp cowboys; “Tales from the Drake House Outhouse” about a pioneer home on Drake Road being restored; and “From My Side of the Fence,” a collection of humorous tales about steeds from a “horsehusband’s point of view.” Says Novara: “’Wa-Tonka” was the first in a series about boys and horses and girls. As one of my young male readers said, ‘Yeah, there are girls, but not enough to ruin the story.’ “If any of our KVCC family know of children interested in these kinds of G-rated adventure stories,” he said, “and have a computer of iPhone or other kind of reader, they could easily and inexpensively introduce the youngster to some wholesome and interesting reads.” They can be previewed at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Joenovara. Novara has also served as a guest lecturer in classes in children’s literature at KVCC. He can be contacted at [email protected] or 344-2449. And finally. . . Instructors at all levels of education have heard the classic reason for why take-home assignments couldn’t meet the hand-in deadline – my dog ate my homework. But how about these excuses for being absent:

19 Please excuse Johnnie for being absent on Jan. 23, Jan. 29, Jan. 32 and Jan. 33. I keep Billie home to go Christmas shopping because I didn’t know which size she wore. Please excuse Johnnie for being. It was his father’s fault. Mary could not come to school because she was bothered by very close veins. Chris was not in school because he had an acre in his side. Please excuse Paul from school. He had a stomach egg. John was absent because he had two teeth taken off his face. Lillie was absent from school because she had a going over. My son is under a doctor’s care and should not take fiscal ed. Please execute him. My daughter was absent because she was tired. She spent the weekend with the Marines. Please excuse Joyce from P. E. for a few days. She fell off a tree and misplaced her hip. Please excuse Ray from school. He has very loose vowels. Mary Ann, her brothers and sisters all had a fever, sore throat and body aches. I wasn’t feeling so well myself. The glu must be going around. Please excuse Blanche from jim today. She is administrating. George was absent yesterday because he had a stomach. Ralph was absent Monday because he had a sore trout. Please excuse Sarah for being absent. She was sick and I had her shot. Irving was absent this morning because he missed his bust. ☻☻☻☻☻☻