The Testing Center will open late on Thursday August, 17 due to the Alexandria Campus Convocation.
We will open at 12:00pm, NOON, on THURSDAY AUGUST, 17 rather than the usual 8:30am.
We will be open from 12pm-9pm that Thursday. Placement test cutoff is still 7pm, and ELI exam cutoff is still 8pm.
Monday-Thursday 8:30-8:00 p.m.
Friday 8:30-3:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:30-3:30 p.m.
The Story of the Fourth of JulyWe celebrate American Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation.
But July 4, 1776 wasn’t the day that the Continental Congress decided to declare independence (they did that on July 2, 1776).
It wasn’t the day we started the American Revolution either (that had happened back in April 1775).
And it wasn’t the day Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence (that was in June 1776). Or the date on which the Declaration was delivered to Great Britain (that didn’t happen until November 1776). Or the date it was signed (that was August 2, 1776).
The Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. They’d been working on it for a couple of days after the draft was submitted on July 2nd and finally agreed on all of the edits and changes.
July 4, 1776, became the date that was included on the Declaration of Independence, and the fancy handwritten copy that was signed in August (the copy now displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.) It’s also the date that was printed on the Dunlap Broadsides, the original printed copies of the Declaration that were circulated throughout the new nation. So when people thought of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 was the date they remembered.
In contrast, we celebrate Constitution Day on September 17th of each year, the anniversary of the date the Constitution was signed, not the anniversary of the date it was approved. If we’d followed this same approach for the Declaration of Independence we’d being celebrating Independence Day on August 2nd of each year, the day the Declaration of Independence was signed!
Things to do on the first day of summer:
One major cause of students not succeeding is an unreasonable expectation concerning the amount of time college requires. Some students give themselves such as unreasonable workload that success is nearly impossible. It’s not unusual for an instructor to hear a student say something like “I’m sorry that I did not complete the assignments, but I work full time, go to school full time, and take care of three children.”
The general rule is that you should expect to spend a minimum of two hours working on assignments outside of class for every hour that you spend in class. So imagine that you are taking 12 credit hours. This number of credit hours requires that you spend at least 10 hours a week attending class, along with at least 20 hours a week working on assignments outside of class (remember that this is a minimum!). And you probably spend at least five hours a week getting ready for class and driving to and from the college. That’s 35 hours a week as a minimum amount of time you need to devote to your classes, and that’s about the equivalent of a full-time job. Now imagine having a full-time job as well.
I can’t imagine someone thinking that he or she should have no problem working two full-time jobs, yet many students think that they should have no problems handling a full-time job and a full load of college courses. These expectations are unreasonable, and they often lead to failure.
Don’t set yourself up to fail. Realize that a successful college experience takes a lot of time, probably a lot more time that 35 hours a week for a full-time student. Give yourself a reasonable workload, and you should greatly increase your likelihood for success.
Tip #1: Clearly Communicate To Others That It Is Crunch Time
Let those who live with you and/or are impacted by your behavior know that the next week (or two) will be difficult, assure them that it’s a finite period of time, and let them know you appreciate their support and understanding. I find that people are willing to assist me when I communicate my needs ahead of time.
Tip #2: Lower Your Standards In Non-Essential Areas Of Life
I’m what’s known as a neat freak. During crunch time, I give myself permission to be a slob. It’s OK because it’s only one week. I love to eat out, but during crunch time, I’m OK with peanut butter and pickle sandwiches because I don’t have time for anything else. And that’s OK because it’s only one week. Typically, I sleep nine hours per night. During crunch time, I sleep nine hours per night. And that’s because sleep is not negotiable for me! The point is to ask yourself: what can I let slide a bit for the next week (or two) without negative consequences?
Tip #3: Ruthlessly Assess What Grading ACTUALLY Needs To Get Done
Many students do not read comments that are given on final papers and projects. Upon the suggestion of one of my mentors, I developed the habit of asking my students ahead of time to indicate if they want me to write comments on their final papers. Fewer than 10 percent requested the comments, and I saved hours of grading that would never have been read while concentrating my comment-writing on the students who genuinely wanted feedback.
Tip #4: Say NO To EVERY SERVICE REQUEST From Now Until The End Of The Semester
If you are struggling to find time to complete all of the things on your to-do list, it makes no sense to add more items. In other words, when your time is scarce, one of the worst things you can do is to take on any additional responsibilities. Say “no” often, clearly, and without guilt.
Tip #5: Every Day Needs A Plan
Take 30 minutes on Sunday night to get your to-do list out of your head and onto a piece of paper. Then force yourself to place each of your tasks onto a specific time in your calendar. If you don’t have enough time for the tasks, then delegate them, re-negotiate the deadline, or let them go. This Sunday Meeting will clarify your week and force you to make the tough decisions in advance. Then each morning, you only need to spend two minutes reviewing the items you must complete for that day. This will keep you focused and confident that the truly important things will get done.
Tip #6: Write For At Least 30 Minutes Each Day
When new faculty feel crunched for time, one of the first things they are ready to sacrifice is their daily writing! This term, put yourself, your future, and your daily writing time into the non-negotiable category (along with classes and meetings). There are MANY other ways to be efficient besides eliminating the one activity that is central to your promotion, tenure, and long-term professional success.
Tip #7: Only Check E-Mail One Time Per Day (Max)
E-mail begets more e-mail. When you have little time, the least effective way to spend it is writing e-mails. I’m only able to restrict my e-mail to once a day during crunch times, but for one week, it’s unlikely to cause a crisis and typically works out just fine.
Tip #8: Eliminate Unnecessary Electronic Distractions
If you subscribe to any listservs, sign off until the term is over. Many people sign off during the summer, so why not just do so now? Listservs create lots of e-mail in your inbox, very little of which is critical information that you can’t do without between now and graduation. While you’re at it, why not take a respite from all electronic time-wasters: Facebook, Twitter, television, etc.
Tip #9: Take Care Of Your Body
Exercise reduces stress. When I don’t have time to go to the gym, I opt for using the stairs instead of elevators in buildings, take quick walks at lunch time, or just put on some music for five minutes and dance like a toddler who just found a cup of coffee. Be creative! Whatever you need to do to get your heart rate up and your body moving will benefit you during crunch time.
Tip #10: End Every Day With Gratitude And A Treat!
As each day comes to a close, take a moment to thank the universe for all the things that went well and affirm that everything in your life is working for your highest good. I insist on a treat every day during crunch time because I deserve it. So do you!
FacultyDiversity.org
| ALEXANDRIA TESTING CENTER
AVOID THE STRESS! Don’t wait until a deadline date to test. We have lines on those days. Peak Saturday Test Dates for Spring 2017 April 1, April 8, April 15, and especially May 6 We will also be closed 4:00-5:00 pm on Tuesday, April 11 · A valid government-issued photo ID is required for all tests. · Due to limited space, don’t bring unnecessary items. You’ll be asked to put outerwear & personal belongings in our lockers or crates. · By signing in for a test, you agree to follow the posted policies which partially include: No cell phones or smart watches in the testing labs and no use of unauthorized materials or email. · Come early to allow yourself enough time. All tests are ended/collected 15 minutes prior to closing.
For hours & more info: http://www.nvcc.edu/Alexandria/testing/index.html
Follow us: Twitter @AlexTestCtr or ATC blog blogs.nvcc.edu/altesting
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Due to the expected inclement weather, we will close today at 3:30. We will reopen on Wednesday, March 15, 2017.