Immigration enforcement on our campuses
All students are welcome at NOVA, and our college remains committed to our mission of providing equitable access to exceptional education and to our values, including care and inclusion. Virginia has made no changes to its policies regarding undocumented students. To date, no immigration enforcement has occurred on a college campus in Virginia. NOVA has sought guidance from the VCCS regarding the steps faculty and staff should take if such action were to occur on one of our campuses. We have been advised that guidance is forthcoming.

Amount provided for employee tuition reimbursement
HR has historically tied the amount provided to employees through the tuition reimbursement program to the graduate tuition at GMU. HR will review this amount to ensure that it still is aligned with GMU tuition.

Flags displayed in buildings, classrooms and libraries
Only the flags of Virginia and the United States may be permanently displayed in college buildings/on college property.

Centralized scheduling of courses
The work of the course scheduling work group led by Provosts Richmond Hill and Julie Leidig continues and the current process for course scheduling—decentralized at the campus level—is unchanged. We know that Teaching Faculty are focused on developing course schedules that meet the needs of current NOVA students. As NOVA seeks to grow enrollment among adult learners, however, we will need to consider how to expand/change our scheduling of courses to serve these learners.

Success of non-traditional scheduling
A faculty member shared the success they experienced in offering five-week pathway courses to cohorts of learners. Such approaches may be scalable to other disciplines with similar success in attracting, retaining and completing adult learners. This particular program has a defined audience with clear goals, and NOVA continues to expand similar programs that are directly linked to in-demand regional career pathways, such as the Fast Forward program. NOVA also recently ran its second-ever Winter Session, which increased in enrollment and student success.

Adult student enrollment
NOVA has begun a re-enrollment program for adult learners who have stopped out in the past 18 months and are within 15 credit hours of earning their degrees. The college has partnered with Inside Track for this outreach and re-enrollment coaching, and seven percent of the initial cohort of approximately 1,400 students have re-engaged with NOVA. Student feedback is being used to improve operations, services, and processes. For example, students have shared that they experienced difficulties navigating the graduation process, finding classes at times that fit with their schedules and preferred campus and lacked financial resources to complete their degrees.

With the coming demographic cliff impacting all of higher education, our college continues to look for innovative and effective ways to connect “new traditional” students to the opportunities at NOVA. This includes growing programs for which student demand far outstrips availability and employer demand for talent far outpaces the number of NOVA graduates, such as in health care programs at the MEC and trades programs at Manassas, Alexandria and Woodbridge. Such pathways are much more likely to draw adult learners—as are FastForward industry credential programs.

Employee retention
The college understands that, post-pandemic, turnover has been higher in entry-level positions, and we continue to explore ways to recognize employees’ growth as professionals. NOVA has invested in expanded employee professional development, reward and recognition opportunities and wellbeing and wellness activities. The college has increased training for supervisors with a focus on supporting their teams’ development. NOVA has also added an Employee Ombuds to provide confidential and impartial support in navigating processes. At a time when many employers are requiring a return to the office, NOVA continues to offer many employees the ability to telework, and the Commonwealth of Virginia continues to offer competitive annual salary increases.

Kind regards, Anne

I have asked the provosts for an after-action report that explains the lack of clear communication from academic administrators to faculty on this important matter and provides a plan to prevent such an issue going forward (which will also be posted to the President’s Office site when received).

At this point, just a week before summer classes begin, our teaching faculty have been caught by surprise by changes in the plan because of the communication failures, which does not serve them or our students well. And, for this, I am sorry.

Given the current situation, I have amended the summer pay plan as follows (changes are in italics):

The 2024 optional summer pay plan will compensate faculty for up to ten (10) credits at the full-time faculty summer salary rate, pending schedule availability. The remaining three (3) hours will be compensated at the adjunct rate (per VCCS policy).

The enrollment threshold for all modalities of a summer class will be set at 70% of the course-funded ratio (CFR). This threshold should be determined on a course-by-course basis, as opposed to a discipline- or campus-basis. Rare exceptions may be made but must be fully documented and approved by the campus provost in writing.

As a reminder, decisions on course cancellations are made by deans and associate deans in consultation with their campus provosts, so if you have questions about your courses, please reach out to your dean or associate dean.

I shared the revision to the summer pay plan with the provosts, HR and the College Senate Chair on Friday, but given the significant challenges in communication already experienced on this topic, I am also sharing the information collegewide via the Daily Flyer.

After reading the details above, many of you—especially those on year-round, 12-month appointments—may be wondering why summer pay for teaching faculty differs from their pay in fall and spring, so let me provide some background.

Within the VCCS, almost all teaching faculty appointments run for nine months, covering fall and spring terms only. Summer is an optional term that is not guaranteed, covered, or funded by these appointments, so VCCS has a policy outlining the process by which each institution should determine the optional summer pay plan annually. Teaching faculty salaries in the summer pay plan must be fully funded by summer enrollment.

For some time, NOVA has had a practice of offering teaching faculty the ability to teach up to 10 credit hours at their salary rate when supported by enrollment. We are in the minority of VCCS institutions with this practice; the majority set this cap at six credit hours or below.

Continuing this practice has become challenging. Following the pandemic, summer enrollment has declined. From Summer 2021 to Summer 2023, it fell by 500 FTEs, resulting in a decrease of $1M in summer revenue. During this same time period, salaries have increased. This is welcome and good news for all our employees, but it also means that the faculty salary costs associated with summer classes have grown by $600K. Compounding these budget factors, about 28% of summer classes have run with enrollments below 70% of the course-funded ratio (CFR), with about half of these sections running at 50% CFR or below. Another way to read this figure is that at least half of the costs of these low-enrolled sections are unfunded, just as 30% of the costs of a course at 70% CFR are unfunded.

All of this suggests that NOVA would benefit from a closer look at summer scheduling and the summer pay plan. In fall, I will convene the 2025 ad hoc Optional Summer Pay Plan Committee, to be chaired by College Senate Chair Jack Lechelt and HR AVP Charlotte Calobrisi, with a charge to undertake a top-to-bottom review of NOVA’s approach to both summer scheduling and pay, considering enrollment trends/patterns and fiscal realities. I thank them for taking on these important roles and encourage teaching faculty to look for a call to participate in August.

Again, if you have specific questions about your courses, please reach out to your associate dean or dean.

Anne

First and foremost, please know that NOVA has come together to support the student who survived this horrific attack. She has been connected with a NOVA Care Counselor and a Fairfax County victims’ services advocate as well as with our Title IX Office. I also thank the faculty who are working closely with these offices to support our student in continuing in her classes—and am grateful to all of you who have expressed care and concern for her at this difficult time.

Second, I extend my deepest appreciation to those who quickly came to the student’s aid when she called for help, and to the NOVA Police for their rapid response. I am also grateful to the Fairfax County Police Department, whose partnership with NOVA Police on this investigation was invaluable. As their investigation revealed, this was a random act of violence perpetrated by a suspect with a significant criminal past who is also charged with a similar assault the previous day. The insights of NOVA Sgt. Sam Souligne, in particular, led to the quick identification and arrest of the suspect.

Third, while a review of NOVA’s Annual Security Reports demonstrates a very low incidence of reported crimes across all campuses, our college is not isolated from challenges in the wider community. I encourage you to learn more about the safety resources available to you at NOVA, sign up for the NOVA Alert and LiveSafe App and reach out to the NOVA Police, who can offer training and workshops to your office, department or group. We can also all take simple steps like being aware of our surroundings, avoiding spaces that are isolating, using well-lit and highly visible paths, reporting suspicious activity and trusting our instincts. And, always, if you see something, say something: for non-emergencies, call NOVA Police at 703.764.5000; for life-threatening emergencies, immediately call 911.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and this year, the month’s theme is “Our Voices Have Power. Together, We Can Build Safe and Respectful Communities.” Together, we can keep our NOVA community safe by looking out for each other, remembering the spirit and power of our values: care, excellence, inclusion, integrity and respect. RAINN, a leading national organization on this issue, has a good overview of the role we can all play in bystander intervention—which was so important in interrupting last week’s attack.

I strongly encourage all NOVA employees and students to contact the Title IX Office to report incidents related to sexual assault, harassment and exploitation; domestic and dating violence; and stalking. NOVA’s Title IX Office works closely with the Office of Wellness and Mental Health to provide and coordinate supportive services. Sexual assault, harassment or abuse of any kind will not be tolerated at NOVA.

Thank you for working together to make our college a safer and more respectful community.

Sincerely,

Anne

• Professor Robyn Russo (English), who will be conducting interview-based research with professional writers and faculty experienced in implementing public writing and using this research to create a website with findings and assignment samples for NOVA faculty.
• Associate Professor Stephen Wissing (Physics), who will be writing a professional lab manual for NOVA’s Physics program that will be provided free to students and will make planning easier for our students, faculty and staff.
• Associate Professor William Woodard (ESL/History), who will be writing a level-appropriate historical novel for students in ESL-52; available as an eBook, it will include exercises for developing vocabulary, comprehension and research skills.

The PSC reviewed 12 outstanding applications, and I join them in expressing appreciation to all faculty applicants for the strong and thoughtful work that went into these submissions. I also thank PSC Chair and Associate Dean Donna Minnich and the committee members for their diligence in the review and recommendation process.

Again, congratulations to those awarded the President’s Sabbatical! Their projects will add much to NOVA and to the success of our students.

Best, Anne

Our College stands ready to protect those who learn and work within our community: hate has no place at NOVA. I want this message to be clear and unequivocal. Any student, faculty or staff member experiencing any act of discrimination or bias at our College, including antisemitism or Islamophobia, should report it without delay.

NOVA is dedicated to care, inclusion and respect, and we all have a responsibility to live these important values that are foundational to our community. At a time of extraordinary global turmoil and tragedy, all should feel safe and welcome at our College.

Please reach out to NOVA’s Offices of Wellness and Mental Health, Human Resources and/or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for support and assistance. If you have concerns about your safety or security while on campus, please dial 911 or contact NOVA’s 24/7 police dispatch at 703-764-5000 (or extension 2-5000 on a campus phone).

I thank you for your continued and valued commitment to our students and colleagues.

Anne

If you attended convocation at a NOVA location that ran out of boxed lunches yesterday, please email PresidentsOffice@nvcc.edu by Friday, August 18, at 12 p.m., using the subject line: No Lunch.

We are working to find a way to make it up to you.

Again, please accept my apologies and gratitude for your attendance at convocation!

If you would like to join a reading circle for Geoffrey Cohen’s Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides, please send an email to PresidentsOffice@nvcc.edu by Friday, September 1.

In your email, include your preference for participating in a reading circle on your campus/in your division OR collegewide.

After the sign-up closes on September 1, the President’s Office will order books for all who indicated interest and send reading circle assignments.

Thank you to all who have already responded to the reading circle invitation!

Anne

If you attended convocation at a NOVA location that ran out of boxed lunches yesterday, please email PresidentsOffice@nvcc.edu by Friday, August 18, at 12 p.m., using the subject line: No Lunch.

We are working to find a way to make it up to you.

Again, please accept my apologies and gratitude for your attendance at convocation!

If you would like to join a reading circle for Geoffrey Cohen’s Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides, please send an email to PresidentsOffice@nvcc.edu by Friday, September 1.

In your email, include your preference for participating in a reading circle on your campus/in your division OR collegewide.

After the sign-up closes on September 1, the President’s Office will order books for all who indicated interest and send reading circle assignments.

Thank you to all who have already responded to the reading circle invitation!

Anne