During the past year, Kalamazoo College has been carrying out a number of projects behind the scenes to strengthen the reliability and sustainability of our campus infrastructure.
Consumers Energy presents an energy efficiency rebate to Kalamazoo College in front of the new central chiller plant at Dow Science Center. Pictured from left to right are: President Jorge G. Gonzalez; Jeff Bechtel, Andy J. Egan Co., Inc.; Director of Facilities Management Susan Lindemann; Ralph Huston, Consumers Energy; and Erik Lathers, Consumers Energy.
Last winter, K contracted with Andy J. Egan Co., Inc. to replace the central chiller plant and the chiller plant in the Dow Science Center. This work provides more efficient climate control to campus buildings, resulting in cost savings and a reduced carbon footprint. In November, Consumers Energy presented Kalamazoo College with a $143,311 energy efficiency rebate, which helped to fund the project. It’s estimated that the replacement reduces K’s annual electrical consumption by at least 715,475 kWh, which is equivalent to around 553,116 pounds of coal (the amount burned to generate the electricity) or 506 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
The work hasn’t stopped there. During the summer, the College replaced four electrical transformers that service the east end of campus, and Facilities Management continues to work on the steam lines that run between buildings to improve their performance. A campus energy study outlining plans for upgrading electrical and thermal systems campus-wide has also been completed.
Of the improvements, President Jorge G. Gonzalez said, “While these projects are often invisible to students, faculty, staff, and alumni, they meet a critical need on campus. Having a plan for how to maintain and upgrade our infrastructure ensures we can enjoy our beautiful and historic buildings for years to come, and do so in both an environmentally- and cost-conscious way.”
Happy holidays from Kalamazoo College! Click on this image for our holiday video.
Kalamazoo College has long enjoyed a close communion with the natural world: through the instruction of our early biology professors, William Praeger and Frances Diebold, and the inspiring professors — of many disciplines — who would follow; through LandSea and other outdoor adventures; and through the hands-on experience gained in various gardens, the Hoop House, the Lillian Anderson Arboretum and research projects around the world.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Crossing a bare common, in snow puddles, at twilight, under a clouded sky … I have enjoyed a perfect exhilaration.” Such is the experience of many a K student, surveying wildflowers along the trails of the Arboretum, canoeing on Killarney Lake or the Raquette River, or simply walking through the quad on a silent snowy night. This winter, may nature’s many gifts and the spirit of the holidays bring you peace and joy.
Sincerely,
President Jorge G. Gonzalez and Suzie (Martin) Gonzalez ’83
Family Weekend 2019 activities will include the Honors Day Convocation at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 8.
Each fall, Kalamazoo College is excited to invite families to visit their students and experience a taste of life at the College. Family Weekend 2019 begins Friday, Nov. 8, and includes opportunities to take in a theatre performance, learn about study abroad, catch an athletic event and more. Below you will find a list of activities along with links to the campus map in our virtual tour, providing the locations of each facility. Questions about Family Weekend 2019 may be directed to Dana Jansma, associate dean of students in the Student Development Office, at 269.337.7209 or dana.jansma@kzoo.edu.
Where to Eat with Your Family
Campus dining will be available from 7:30 to 10 a.m. (breakfast), 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (lunch) and 5:15 to 7:45 p.m. (dinner); 9:30 to 11 a.m. (continental breakfast), 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. (brunch) and 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday (dinner); and from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. (brunch) and 5 to 7 p.m. (dinner) on Sunday at Welles Dining Hall. Family members pay $5.60 per person for breakfast, $7.50 per person for lunch and $10.50 per person for dinner.
Hot chocolate, tea or specialty espresso along with grab-and-go foods will be available from the Book Club Café from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Grab-and-go foods including sandwiches, salads, yogurt parfaits, fruit, snacks and beverages will be available at the Richardson Room from 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Friday, Nov. 8
8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hicks Student Center atrium Stop by anytime to access a variety of information about the campus and the wider Kalamazoo community. Pick up schedules, information sheets, things to do in Kalamazoo, maps, a local restaurant guide, and more.
8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attend a K class. An online list of classes will be available by Monday, Nov. 4, or find a printed list when you arrive on campus at the information table at Hicks Student Center atrium.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., lower level, Hicks Student Center
The Kalamazoo College Bookstore will feature 20 percent off all K-imprinted items.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., A.M. Todd Rare Book Room, Upjohn Library Commons
Kalamazoo College and the Philosopher’s Stone, The Early Science of Alchemists, Astronomers and Apothecaries: Visit the A.M. Todd Rare Book Room to see mysterious books about alchemists who tried to turn lesser metals into gold, astronomers who charted the constellations, and apothecaries who cataloged plants and the components of medicines and elixirs.
11 to 11:50 a.m., Stetson Chapel Kalamazoo College observes Honors Day in the fall term of each year, recognizing those who earned special recognition during the previous academic year.
3 to 5 p.m., Intercultural Center, Hicks Student Center Pick up flyers to learn more about the programs available through the Intercultural Center, relax, read or leave your student a note on our chalk wall.
4 to 5 p.m., Dewing Hall, First Floor Why Critical Civic Engagement Matters: Associate Director Teresa Denton and Assistant Director Moises Hernandez talk about the Center for Civic Engagement. A student panel of civic-engagement scholars will discuss their experiences working through local community partnerships.
Evening, Hicks Student Center Pick up a list of shopping, walking and dining suggestions at the information table and explore Kalamazoo.
7:30 p.m., Nelda K. Balch Playhouse See Kalamazoo College students perform in The Spitfire Grill. Based on the 1996 movie of the same name, the musical follows the story of a young woman trying to fit back into society after being released from jail. Ticket reservations are available online.
9:30 p.m., Dewing Hall, Room 103 K’s weekly film series, Zoo Flicks, features Blinded by the Light. Free admission, popcorn and soda. Show up early to ensure a seat.
Saturday, Nov. 9
8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hicks Student Center atrium Stop by anytime to access a variety of information about the campus and the wider Kalamazoo community. Pick up schedules, information sheets, things to do in Kalamazoo, maps, a local restaurant guide, and more.
8:30 to 10 a.m., Hornets Suite, Athletics Fieldhouse
Legacy families will receive an invitation to this breakfast.
9 to 9:50 a.m.,Hicks Student Center banquet room Find out what first- and second-year students and parents need to know about study abroad.
10 to 10:50 a.m.,Hicks Student Center banquet room
Learn about the College’s commitment to integrating career exploration and development throughout a student’s four years at K, including how parents and others can get involved.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., A.M. Todd Rare Book Room, Upjohn Library Commons
Kalamazoo College and the Philosopher’s Stone, The Early Science of Alchemists, Astronomers and Apothecaries: Visit the A.M. Todd Rare Book Room to see mysterious books about alchemists who tried to turn lesser metals into gold, astronomers who charted the constellations, and apothecaries who cataloged plants and the components of medicines and elixirs.
11 to 11:45 a.m.,Hicks Student Center banquet room Hear from Provost Danette Ifert Johnson and Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students Sarah Westfall regarding College updates.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., lower level, Hicks Student Center
The Kalamazoo College Bookstore will feature 20 percent off all K-imprinted items.
1 p.m., Gabel Natatorium, Western Michigan University
The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will compete against Illinois Tech.
1 p.m., Angell Field, Athletics Complex
Take your family to see the K football team face Hope College on Senior Day.
7:30 p.m., Nelda K. Balch Playhouse See Kalamazoo College students perform in The Spitfire Grill. Based on the 1996 movie of the same name, the musical follows the story of a young woman trying to fit back into society after being released from jail. Ticket reservations are available online.
9:30 p.m. to midnight, Hicks Student Center
Join K Baile, a student organization committed to providing an inclusive dance environment, for a night of Bachata and other dances at Zoo After Dark. Enjoy tamales and champurrado as you dance the night away. Activities such as Loteria, a game of chance similar to bingo that uses cards instead of ping-pong balls, and dominoes will also be available.
Sunday, Nov. 10
8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hicks Student Center atrium Stop by anytime to access a variety of information about the campus and the wider Kalamazoo community. Pick up schedules, information sheets, things to do in Kalamazoo, maps, a local restaurant guide, and more.
All day, Hicks Student Center Pick up a list of shopping, walking and dining suggestions at the information table and explore Kalamazoo.
1 to 3 p.m., Lillian Anderson Arboretum
Meet for a two-hour guided nature hike. The arboretum features 140 acres of marsh, meadow, pine plantation and deciduous forest in Oshtemo Township. Please park at the Oshtemo Township Park, 7275 W. Main St. Your guides will meet you there to begin the hike. Please wear sturdy shoes, dress for the weather and bring water.
2 p.m., Nelda K. Balch Playhouse See Kalamazoo College students perform in The Spitfire Grill. Based on the 1996 movie of the same name, the musical follows the story of a young woman trying to fit back into society after being released from jail. Ticket reservations are available online.
Registration is not required to attend Family Weekend 2019 activities. Come when you are able, stay as long as you can, and enjoy a fall weekend with your student.
Karen Sisson, Kalamazoo College’s new CFO, is coming from Pomona College in Claremont, California, where she served for 11 years as a vice president and treasurer.
Kalamazoo College has named a new vice president to lead the business and finance areas for the liberal arts institution. Karen Sisson, former vice president and treasurer of Pomona College in Claremont, Calif. will begin her new role on March 1, 2020.
“Karen’s extensive experience in higher education, finance and operations are a great fit for K,” said Kalamazoo College President Jorge G. Gonzalez. “Her open style of communication, calm demeanor and commitment to the liberal arts impressed the campus community.”
As Pomona’s chief financial officer, Sisson was responsible for financial management and capital planning, including financial reporting, budget administration, investments, real estate, and nonacademic business supervision for human resources. She was also responsible for the physical plant, including housekeeping, grounds, maintenance and food service. In addition, Karen oversaw Pomona’s significant efforts toward a more sustainable campus.
“I am thrilled to join K and to become part of such an academically distinctive and caring community! I look forward to working with and supporting students, faculty and staff in my new role,” said Sisson.
Prior to working in higher education, Sisson spent 17 years in California local government finance and administration, including nine years as chief financial officer and deputy executive director of Los Angeles World Airports, the department responsible for LAX, Van Nuys, and Palmdale airports. While serving as deputy mayor for finance and performance management in Los Angeles, she was appointed the city administrative officer, the first woman to hold that position. Sisson also has experience in commercial banking, mortgage banking and financial consulting.
An alumna of Pomona College, Karen earned her M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and her M.A. in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Kalamazoo College’s former vice president for business and finance left K to become the vice president for finance and business at The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio.
Sisson was selected after a nationwide search conducted by an on-campus committee with the assistance of Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, an executive search firm specializing in the education and non-profit sectors. Comprised of faculty, staff and trustees, the committee was co-chaired by Associate Provost Laura Lowe Furge and Vice President for Advancement Al De Simone.
“The committee worked diligently and recruited a robust pool of candidates, and I am delighted with the outcome.” said Gonzalez.
Kalamazoo College, founded in 1833, is a nationally recognized residential liberal arts and sciences college located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The creator of the K-Plan, Kalamazoo College provides an individualized education that integrates rigorous academics with life-changing experiential learning opportunities.
Kalamazoo College will welcome back alumni, families and friends for a fun-filled weekend as we celebrate Homecoming 2019 on Oct. 18-20.
Alumni and guests will participate in events such as the 5K Run/Walk during Homecoming 2019.
Events begin at dawn Friday when alumni are invited to begin taking self-guided tours of the Lillian Anderson Arboretum. The “Roots in the Earth” first-year seminar created the tour in 2018, sponsored by the Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Center for Civic Engagement, with stop information available at the arboretum’s website. Visitors can enjoy acres of marsh, meadow and forest, and visit the Batts Pavillion, named for H. Lewis Batts Jr. ’43 and Jean M. Batts ’43. Parking at the arboretum is available throughout the day in its main lot, with overflow parking offered at the Oshtemo Township Park, 7275 W. Main St., just east of the property.
Other Homecoming 2019 highlights will include:
Peter Rothstein ’14, the 2019 Young Alumni Award recipient, delivering a lecture titled From K to Tea at 4 p.m. Friday in Room 103 at Dewing Hall. Rothstein will talk about how he created a successful business after attending K. Rothstein, a 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree , established Dona Chai with his sister, Amy. The company crafts tea concentrates and sodas brewed with spices from around the world.
The Alumni Association Awards at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Dalton Theatre, honoring the Distinguished Achievement, Distinguished Service, Young Alumni, Weimer K. Hicks and Athletic Hall of Fame awards recipients.
Guided campus tours and opportunities to visit newer facilities including the Fitness and Wellness Center, the Intercultural Center, the Hornet Golf Lab and revamped weight room at Anderson Athletic Center, and the Admission Center. Consult our full Homecoming schedule for specific times.
An improvisation show with K’s improv troupe, Monkapult. Free tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the door at Connable Recital Hall in Light Fine Arts at 10 p.m. Friday.
The Homecoming 5K Run/Walk at 8 a.m. Saturday. Check in will begin at 7:30 a.m. The event, offering an opportunity to see the campus and neighborhood, is open to all ages and fitness levels. The first 300 registrants will receive commemorative T-shirts designed by Tanush Samson ’19.
The K Song Project at 1 p.m. Saturday. Guests can enjoy a high-energy performance from the College Singers featuring songs submitted by reunion classes.
Athletics events throughout the weekend including team reunions, a volleyball match at 5 p.m. Friday against North Park at Anderson Athletic Center, a women’s soccer match against St. Mary’s at noon Saturday at the Athletic Fields Complex, a men’s soccer match against Alma at 4:30 p.m. at the Athletic Fields Complex, and the Homecoming football game against Albion at 2 p.m. at Angell Field.
Kalamazoo College will welcome 398 first-year students and their families to the 2019-20 academic year at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, during Convocation.
Kalamazoo College will welcome 398 first-year students and their families to the 2019-20 academic year at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, during Convocation.
The ceremony, serving as the first of two bookends to the K experience with the other being graduation, will take place on the Lower Quad. The ceremony’s rain site will be Stetson Chapel.
K’s first-year students include 29 degree-seeking international students, plus 10 transfer students and 19 visiting international students. New students will attend K from 29 states including Illinois, California, Texas and Minnesota, and 15 countries including Jamaica, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. Students of color from the U.S. make up about 36 percent of the incoming class. Twenty-four percent of the incoming class will be the first in their families to attend college.
President Jorge G. Gonzalez, Provost Danette Ifert Johnson, Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students Sarah Westfall, Chaplain Elizabeth Candido ’00, faculty, staff and student leaders will welcome new students and their families. Convocation will conclude with new students signing the Matriculation Book.
Martin Acosta ’97, the founder and CEO of Inalproces and Kiwa, will deliver this year’s keynote address. Acosta was an international student from Ecuador who studied economics and business at K, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. After receiving a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science and an M.B.A. from INSEAD, he became an entrepreneur, professor and business consultant.
In 2009, Acosta and his wife, Natalie, wanted to make a difference for the people of Ecuador. In 2009, they launched Kiwa. Kiwa works directly with farmers in Ecuador and northern Peru to turn native vegetables like Andean potatoes and beets into snack foods for a worldwide market, helping these farmers escape poverty. Today, Kiwa is a global brand of premium vegetable chips sold in more than 30 countries. Kiwa has won international awards for innovation and corporate social responsibility as it strives to fulfill its mission to provide quality, innovative snacks that are friendly to the environment and beneficial to everyone.
Convocation will be available through a live stream. There will also be a reception after the ceremony behind Stetson Chapel on the Upper Quad. The reception’s rain site will be the Hicks Student Center.
For 2019, K ranks No. 26 among colleges in the Midwest, No. 65 in the nation among liberal arts schools, No. 118 among private colleges and No. 164 overall nationwide on Forbes’ Top Colleges List.
An annual review that rates undergraduate institutions on academics, student experiences, alumni career success and debt ranks Kalamazoo College among the top institutions in the country and the top private school in Michigan.
The business magazine Forbes selects 650 schools, or about 15 percent of the country’s 4,300 degree-granting institutions, for its America’s Top Colleges list. For 2019, K ranks No. 26 among colleges in the Midwest, No. 65 in the nation among liberal arts schools, No. 118 among private colleges and No. 164 overall nationwide on that list.
“Kalamazoo College is a small school that offers a bespoke academic experience with flair,” Forbes reports. “The school has an open curriculum and emphasizes experiential learning, and most students study abroad and complete a Senior Individualized Project. About 98 percent of students receive aid, and merit-based scholarships range from $20,000 to $33,000.”
“We’re proud of the array of recognition we’ve received this summer,” Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Eric Staab said. “It confirms that Kalamazoo College is an excellent place for students to receive a high-quality experiential education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences.”
The Princeton Review profiles and recommends K in the 2020 edition of its annual college guide, The Best 385 Colleges, which is on sale now.
Kalamazoo College is one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduates to earn their college degree, according to The Princeton Review. The education-services company profiles and recommends K in the 2020 edition of its annual college guide, The Best 385 Colleges, which is on sale now.
Only about 13 percent of the nation’s 3,000 four-year colleges are profiled in the book, which is one of The Princeton Review’s most popular publications. The company chooses the colleges based on data it annually collects from administrators about their institutions’ academic offerings. The Princeton Review also considers data it gathers from its surveys of college students who rate and report on various aspects of their campus and community experiences.
“We salute Kalamazoo College for its outstanding academics and we are truly pleased to recommend it to prospective applicants searching for their personal ‘best-fit’ college,” said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief and lead author of The Best 385 Colleges.
According to students Princeton Review interviewed, “the open curriculum means students have more time to explore exactly what they want to learn, rather than being required to take classes in which they have no interest, and the school motto of ‘More in Four’ not only describes how much students will learn in their time at Kalamazoo College, but also that this institution will try as hard as possible to get you to graduate in four years.”
“We’re gratified to know that students, through the Princeton Review, say they appreciate the experiential education Kalamazoo College offers,” said Eric Staab, Kalamazoo College dean of admission and financial aid. “Experiences from career-development opportunities to study abroad and senior-year projects add breadth to our distinctive approach to the liberal arts and sciences, and ensure lifelong educational value.”
The Princeton Review’s school profiles and 62 ranking lists in The Best 385 Colleges are posted at www.princetonreview.com/best385 where they can be searched for free with site registration.
The Best 385 Colleges is the 28th annual edition of The Princeton Review’s “Best Colleges” book.
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, a publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice, named Kalamazoo College among its 400 Best College Values for 2019 on Thursday.
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranked Kalamazoo College No. 92 overall and No. 50 among private liberal arts colleges on its list of the Best College Values.
The rankings place K No. 92 overall in the country and No. 50 among private liberal arts schools, making it the top-ranked private liberal arts college in Michigan. The honor confirms that K combines a quality education with affordability to provide a transformative experience accessible to students regardless of their financial need. That transformative experience is available through the K-Plan, which combines rigorous scholarship, experiential learning, independent research and international and intercultural engagement in a distinctive approach to the liberal arts and sciences.
“The flexibility of the K-Plan allows us to seek out students with a broad array of interests, achievements and experiences,” said Eric Staab, K’s dean of admission and financial aid. “Our efforts attempt to prevent costs from being barriers for students who can contribute their distinctive ideas and talents to, and benefit from, our richly diverse campus and programs.”
Kiplinger’s analyzes employment outcomes, graduation rates, student-to-faculty ratios and low student debt at graduation to compile its rankings. More than 98 percent of all K students receive financial aid and/or scholarships, 74 percent graduate within four years, and 91 percent of the class of 2018 was employed within six months of graduation.
The full list will appear in the September 2019 issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
Kalamazoo College’s Festival Playhouse will celebrate its 56th season by honoring a tradition of empowering women through a community of theatre.
The Festival Playhouse of Kalamazoo College produced “Twelfth Night” last spring in its 55th season addressing assumption and confusion. Its 56th season will amplify women’s voices with Spitfire Grill,Silent Sky and Water by the Spoonful.
Under a theme of “HERstory: Forgotten Female Figures,” the three main stage plays will provide a realistic and meaningful look at women whose voices aren’t always heard—let alone amplified—and will reflect the work the Playhouse strives to accomplish offstage.
In the fall production of the musical Spitfire Grill by Fred Alley and James Valcq, parolee Percy Talbott tries to forge a new place for herself in the small town of Gilead, Wisconsin, as she combats town gossip, mostly about herself. In addition to female empowerment, the production’s themes include redemption, the economic problems of small towns, and the plight of Vietnam War veterans. The show will run Nov. 7-10.
Silent opens in the darkest months when the stars are brightest and runs Feb. 27-March 1. The play by Lauren Gunderson honors astronomer Henrietta Leavitt for the discoveries she made without recognition in her lifetime. In 1900, she has the opportunity to work at Harvard College Observatory, but is denied he opportunities of her male counterparts. Regardless, she enthusiastically begins tracking changes in Cepheid stars, leading to scientific discoveries that have long-term implications in the field of astronomy.
The season will conclude May 14-17 with the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Water by the Spoonful by Quiara Alegría Hudes. The play follows Odessa Ortiz, who uses the screen name Haikumom to moderate a chat room that ministers to those struggling with addiction as her own family life falls apart.
All three shows will be produced at the Nelda K. Balch Playhouse. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors 65 and older, and $5 for students in the general public. Tickets are free to patrons who present a Kalamazoo College ID. Tickets will be available beginning Sept. 16 at festivalplayhouse.ludus.com or by calling the box office at 269.337.7333.
Visit the Festival Playhouse website for more information on the upcoming theatre season and additional student productions.
