What’s it about? Because NOVA is a state agency and also part of a larger system of community colleges, there are always questions about the college’s budget. Where do funds come from? Who determines how they are spent? How is budget oversite managed? Find the episode on our NOVAinContext page on NOVAnet. Listen to the Budget episode!
Who’s in? This episode features our co-hosts, Nate Carter and Lucy Williams, along with NOVA’s Vice President of Finance and Administration John Ferrari.
John Ferrari came to NOVA in January 2023. Previously, he was chief financial officer of a cybersecurity startup in Northern Virginia for five years. From 1987-2019, he served in the United States Army.
Over his 32-year U.S. Army career, Major General Ferrari served as the director of program analysis and evaluation, commanding general of the White Sands Missile Range, a deputy commander for programs at the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan and as a strategic planner for Combined Joint Task Force Seven in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
What’s next? A new episode of NOVAinContext will drop every two weeks during fall and spring semesters. Join us for this opportunity for faculty and staff to learn the how, what and why behind the college decisions and initiatives that affect them.
- Visit the NOVAinContext homepage where you will find a link to the latest episode as well as previous ones. And, if you want to download it to listen later, there are step-by-step instructions for that, too.
Once you listen, we’d love to hear your feedback. Just email NOVAinContext@nvcc.edu. And if you have ideas for future topics, we want to hear those, too.
We hope you enjoy this episode of NOVAinContext.
—Kathy Thompson, associate director of internal communications, Communications & Enrollment Marketing
]]>What is expressive activity?
“Expressive activity” refers to:
- speeches, performances, rallies and demonstrations;
- group meetings and events;
- distribution of literature like flyers or pamphlets;
- any form of expression protected by the First Amendment.
Students, student groups, faculty, staff and—under certain conditions—outside visitors can organize these activities.
Key legal foundations:
- First Amendment (U.S. Constitution): Protects freedoms of speech, press, assembly and petition.
- Virginia Constitution (Article I, Section 12): Affirms these rights and opposes restraint except by despotic governments.
- Higher Education Act: Requires colleges to protect student speech, even if it’s unpopular.
- Our 501(c)(3) Status: Prohibits NOVA from political campaigning for or against candidates.
Students vs. outside groups: What’s the difference?
NOVA students and recognized student organizations have broad rights to engage in expressive activity, especially in outdoor areas, without prior approval—so long as their actions don’t disrupt campus operations or safety.
Outside groups and visitors, however, must:
- be sponsored by a NOVA student organization or college department
- submit a request to reserve campus space in advance
This means students have more freedom to engage in expressive activity on campus than outside individuals or organizations.
Expressive activity on campus:
- Outdoor Areas are open to spontaneous expressive activity for students and their guests. However, activities must not block access, incite violence or disrupt college operations.
- Indoor areas must be reserved in advance. Spaces like classrooms, labs, libraries and restrooms are not available for expressive activity.
- Encampments and overnight structures are not permitted, and activities must only occur during operating hours.
Free speech in the classroom
Classrooms and labs are for instruction, not for fully-open forums for expressive activity. Students may express opinions about the day’s lesson but must not disrupt learning. Faculty should:
- include conduct expectations in syllabi;
- allow students the opportunity to correct disruptive behavior;
- apply classroom rules consistently and without viewpoint bias.
If a student persists in off-topic or disruptive speech, this may be addressed through the Student Code of Conduct.
What types of speech are not protected?
While most speech is protected, five categories are not:
- True Threats – serious threats of violence
- Incitement – speech likely to provoke imminent lawless action
- Fighting Words – insults likely to incite immediate violence
- Defamation – false statements made to damage reputation
- Obscenity – offensive content that lacks serious value, as defined by Virginia law
Each act of free speech must be evaluated on its own merit.
Please note, specific forms of unpopular speech could fall under the definition of protected speech. As such, faculty and staff should be cautious about disrupting expressive activity outside of classroom environments. Within the classroom, faculty should always consider whether expressive activity is substantially disruptive to the learning environment and, in so doing, turn to evidence to justify their claim. Students engaged in disruptive behavior, including expressive activity, should be allowed to correct their behavior and advised there is an appropriate time, place and manner by which their expressive activity could continue.
How to Report
If you believe someone’s expressive rights were violated, or you witness concerning activity:
- visit the Free Speech at NOVA webpage;
- complete the Free Speech Reporting Form.
Final Reminder
Freedom of expression is essential to NOVA’s mission and values. By understanding the boundaries and responsibilities surrounding expressive activity, we ensure our campus remains a place where all voices can be heard—safely, respectfully and in support of learning.
—Dr. Nathan Carter, chief institutional effectiveness & inclusion officer, Office of Care & Inclusion
]]>What’s in the playlist? In under 15 minutes, students can watch this playlist of seven short videos to learn about
- the types of financial aid,
- how to apply,
- how to check their status and
- available resources.
Share it with students: This playlist is included in the New2NOVA virtual orientation and can be used to provide financial aid information to students in other settings as well. Please feel free to share this playlist with students!
To be considered for the maximum amount of financial aid for fall 2025, including grants, loans and work-study awards, students should apply for financial aid by the May 1 priority application date.
To apply for aid, students will need to complete the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit any items that may be requested on their myNOVA Student Information System (SIS) To Do List.
Please encourage students to contact the Financial Aid Office if they have any questions or need assistance.
—Clint Young, financial aid officer, Office of Financial Aid
]]>Who we need: We’re specifically interested in instructor feedback and opinions regarding NOVA Online in-person testing. Please take our brief anonymous survey.
Thank you for your feedback. We are on a constant quest to improve services, and we appreciate your input!
—Corey Esparza, accommodations counselor, Manassas Campus
]]>- Total number of participants: 112
- Total number of food items collected and donated: 1,176
Thanks to all who participated — we hope this program continues to be a huge success. Look out for the next two-week donation period in fall 2025!
—Lance Titus, parking and NOVACard supervisor, Office of Parking and Transportation
What’s in the playlist? In under 15 minutes, students can watch this playlist of seven short videos to learn about
- the types of financial aid,
- how to apply,
- how to check their status and
- available resources.
Share it with students: This playlist is included in the New2NOVA virtual orientation and can be used to provide financial aid information to students in other settings as well. Please feel free to share this playlist with students!
To be considered for the maximum amount of financial aid for fall 2025, including grants, loans and work-study awards, students should apply for financial aid by the May 1 priority application date.
To apply for aid, students will need to complete the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit any items that may be requested on their myNOVA Student Information System (SIS) To Do List.
Please encourage students to contact the Financial Aid Office if they have any questions or need assistance.
—Clint Young, financial aid officer, Office of Financial Aid
]]>Who we need: We’re specifically interested in instructor feedback and opinions regarding NOVA Online in-person testing. Please take our brief anonymous survey.
Thank you for your feedback. We are on a constant quest to improve services, and we appreciate your input!
—Corey Esparza, accommodations counselor, Manassas Campus
]]>—Elizabeth Lanthier, secretary, College Senate
]]>—Santiago Rivera, instructor in welding, MSTB-Manassas Campus
]]>NOVA is not closing any existing testing centers. Rather, we have explored the feasibility of establishing two expanded collegewide testing centers to accommodate testing for students taking NOVA Online courses. An analysis of our current testing infrastructure and capacity was conducted, and while it does not dictate a specific path forward, it has helped inform and shape the ongoing discussions.
Recognizing the importance of faculty, staff and, most critically, student input, the College Senate and the Instructional and Student Services Committee (ISSC) have been charged with providing a recommendation to the Administrative Council next month. As part of this process, ISSC recently deployed a survey to gather faculty feedback. While this survey was not distributed to students, ISSC has been strongly encouraged to seek student input to ensure that their voices inform the final recommendation.
Our goal is to ensure that NOVA’s approach to online course testing balances accessibility with robust academic integrity measures. By working together, we can develop a student-centered, faculty-supported solution that maintains the credibility of our academic programs. The College remains committed to engaging all stakeholders in this conversation, and we look forward to the recommendations that will emerge from these discussions.
We appreciate the collaboration and insights of our faculty, staff and students as we navigate these important decisions together.
—Dr. Richmond Hill, provost, Woodbridge Campus
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