Photo caption: A sneak peek at the cosmetology stations at Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s new School of Cosmetology and Barbering.

The public is invited to tour Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s new School of Cosmetology and Barbering on Thursday, May 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and to attend the building’s official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m.

The nearly 10,000 square-foot lab space is located in a renovated building on the college’s Texas Township Campus and includes the cosmetology school’s salon and spa and the barbering school’s barbershop. Staff will be available to answer questions about the new school and its program offerings.

Kalamazoo Valley will provide noncredit, employer-recognized credentials that will prepare students to take state cosmetology and barbering licensing exams with the possibility to build upon these certifications to earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in salon management* or an Associate of Applied Science in Business.

The non-credit, employer-recognized credentials offered in Fall 2024 are a 1,500-training-hour cosmetology program and a 1,800-training-hour barbering program. Programs currently in development include a 400-training-hour nail tech program and a 400-training-hour esthetician program.

Visit kvcc.edu/haircare for more information.

*Based on approval from the state of Michigan and Higher Learning Commission.

ABOUT KALAMAZOO VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Established in 1966, Kalamazoo Valley Community College offers certificate programs in more than 50 areas of study and associate degrees in 60 others. These include business, healthcare, human and public service, and technical occupations, culinary arts, and brewing training. The college has four Kalamazoo, Michigan locations, including the Texas Township Campus, the Groves Campus, the Arcadia Commons Campus, and the Bronson Healthy Living Campus. Classes are available during the day, evening, online, and weekends. Learn more at kvcc.edu.