Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Established in 1966 following a successful referendum outcome among local voters, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a two-year college that actually began giving classes two years later in 1968. The school operates two campuses: one in the heart of Kalamazoo itself and another a few miles south in Texas Township (this is the original of the two campuses).

A point of pride at the school that is frequently brought up to visitors is the fact that Kalamazoo Valley Community College was the first Michigan college to designate a female as president.

Information Summary

Ranks 70th in Michigan and 2962nd overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	51.4
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$5,246
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	21 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	63% / 46%
Enrollment Total (all students)	8,069

Academics

Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s academic accreditation has been granted by the Commission of Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1972 through the present. Furthermore, the school is accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) as of 1998.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College offers one-year certificate programs and two-year associate degree programs to its students, and furthermore prepares them for transfer to four-year baccalaureate degree programs at colleges all over the country. The school is divided into approximately 40 academic departments, among which a few noteworthy examples would include the departments of Machine Tool Technology, Nursing, Automotive Technology, and Electrical Technology.

In addition to the technical and vocational programs offered at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, the school’s business programs have stood out for their quality and popularity among students. Students may strive toward achieving an Associate of Applied Science degree in either Accounting, Administrative Assistant, E-Business, Business Administration or General Marketing (in addition to other certificate programs).

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Unique Programs

There are various unique programs in place at Kalamazoo Valley Community College that help maintain the school’s reputation of excellence. To begin with, there are various apprenticeship programs available for students (who must be employed by the company at which they plan to be an apprentice) in the fields of welding, millwright, machinist, mold maker, and HVAC technician.

A program to train wind turbine technicians was launched at the college in 2009 and was at the time the only such program in the entire nation, putting Kalamazoo Valley Community College ‘on the map’ in a big way. The program is part of the school’s Wind Energy Center, and is formally administered by the school’s Wind Turbine Technician Academy. In a related matter, the school also happens to be a training center of the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium, further solidifying its role in the unconventional energy sources field.

Finally, the Center for New Media at the college hosts a biennial animation competition known as the Kalamazoo Animation Festival International, which grants approximately $15,000 in prize money and which attracts animators from all over the planet.

Admissions

Admission at Kalamazoo Valley Community College—as with virtually all community colleges throughout the nation—is open for all qualified candidates. The school accepts many different kinds of applicants, whether from the surrounding area or farther afield, whether still in high school or a senior citizen. The admissions process for practically all categories of applicants entails simply filling out the application form (online or in print) and then taking the placement assessment test to determine skill and knowledge level. Following, an orientation process ensues after which students will proceed to register for their courses to be taken in their first semester of studies.

All appropriate transcripts (whether from high school or from another college in the case of transfer students) must be submitted along with the application form in order to be considered for admission to Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

Financial Aid

Financial aid for students is readily accessible at this school. Similarly, need based financial aid distribution is determined through Academics, Minority Status and State/District Residency. If you are not a need based student, non-need distribution for financial aid is determined by Academics and Athletics. Financial aid forms are FAFSA and Institution’s own financial aid form.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 6244th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Michigan.

Students

Again, it is part of an Suburban setting, Small city (50,000 – 249,999) and Commuter campus. Besides, the student body consists of ninety-nine percent in-state students, one percent out-of-state students, forty-three percent part-time students, fifty percent women, fifty percent men, one percent american indian per alaskan native, two percent asian per pacific islander, nine percent black per non-hispanic, four percent hispanic, seventy-nine percent white per non-hispanic, one percent non-resident alien and four percent race per ethnicity unreported. Kalamazoo Valley Community College offers Associate degrees. The school’s size is approximately nine thousand, two hundred and ten degree-seeking undergrads and one thousand, nine hundred and twenty-one first-time degree-seeking freshmen.

This school features the Suburban setting, Small city (50,000 – 249,999) and Commuter campus. Again, the university has many unique facilites such as museum. Anyway, the school is located 130 miles from Detroit, 150 miles from Chicago.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

Kalamazoo Valley Community College is known for its strong athletics performance and the high availability of athletic scholarships and aid. The school fields various teams, and in all they are: men’s and women’s basketball, women’s softball, men’s baseball, women’s tennis, women’s volleyball, and men’s golf. The school’s mascot is the Cougar, and the school colors are blue and white. The school’s athletics teams are members in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and compete in Region XII. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is also a member of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College