Monthly Archives: November 2016

This week at NOVA Online!

Posted on by

Priority registration for continuing students begins on Tuesday, November 8 and open registration for all students starts Monday, November 14.

To help you plan for your next semester, join a NOVA Online Counselor on Thursday, November 10 from 12:15 – 1:00 pm (EST) for the Getting Ready for your Next Semester Webinar! This 45 minute webinar that will focus on answering key questions students have about preparing for their next semester. This is a great opportunity for new and returning students!

Have any questions about your spring term courses? Need to change your degree plan? Schedule a virtual appointment with an NOVA Online Counselor! Visit NOVA Online’s Advising Week blog series for more information to help you plan your spring schedule.

November is National Career Development Month. Join NOVA Online Career Counselor on Wednesday, November 9, 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm for the Exploring Career Options Webinar. This 45 minute webinar will focus on using various online resources to research career options.

This week is National Distance Learning Week! Not sure if online courses are right for you? Take the SmarterMeasure assessment to gauge your readiness!

logoWe will celebrate throughout the week with trivia, facts/myths, and memories ! NOVA Online started as correspondence classes in 1975 and used video, audio, and postal mail for courses. Can you imagine? Join us on Facebook and Twitter throughout the week for more!

s NOVA Online-2Have a great week!

Wrap up from the advising week blog series!

Posted on by

That’s a wrap for our Advising Week blog series, but that doesn’t mean it’s over! Still have questions about spring registration? Let us know!

Take some time to reflect on what you have learned over the last two weeks. Go back and review past posts to dig a little deeper. Missed any of the live sessions? Go back and request a recording.

Here are a few tips to help you move forward:

coffee breakJoin us for the November 10th Getting Ready for Your Next Semester webinar. Learn more about the webinar and request a recording.

Use the Student Success Planner to build your academic plan and compare your plan to program requirements.

Take a moment to facilitate a time study. Remember you have different options for session length (16, 12, or 8 weeks). Make sure you have enough time to devote to the courses you take on. What has worked in the past? What hasn’t worked? Check out StudentLingo and NOVA Online webinars on time management.

Review your Advisement Report. Access NOVAConnect to run an advisement report to view your progress and outstanding degree requirements.

Take a moment to reflect upon your career planning. If you need more information about career options or would like to learn about a resource to help you build a career plan. Go back and review old blog posts to help you Focus on Career Planning, and take advantage of Free Job Search Tools!

Communicate with your advisor about your academic and career goals. Be sure to take a moment to review your plans for both the summer term (registration is occurring now) and the fall semester. Plan to have your academic plan,  advisement report, and/or career plan handy when communicating with your advisor.

If you have not declared a program of study or are not pursuing a specific program at NOVA connect with an academic counselor or advisor for assistance.

Ready to enroll? Follow this tutorial to help you add your courses in NOVA Connect.

Reach out to the Student Services offices or Virtual Advisors with any questions you have as you are planning your courses.

Where does the time go?

Posted on by

Do you know where your time goes? It seems that the older you get, the more responsibilities are put on you. Take this brief quiz via Virginia Tech’s website to determine just how much time you have to dedicate to your studies.

If the time left over is not equivalent to at least twice the number of credits you are enrolled in, you do not have enough time allotted for your studies. But, there are things you can do; such as reducing the time spent on some activities/responsibilities, adjusting your work hours, or adjusting the number of credits you take in a semester.stepbros

When one can’t reduce their time on activities or responsibilities or work; that leaves the number of credits one should take in a semester. Many students I talk with want to be able to do it all – work full-time, go to college full-time, take care of their family, etc.

Course load is often the only factor that can be manipulated; but students do not want to delay their educational goals. This is certainly admirable; but, if one does not have enough time to complete their course work accurately and on-time, and study effectively for exams; one’s grades will suffer and it can take longer to reach your goals.

I encourage you to take the quiz to see where your time goes and ask yourself: confused man holding question markDo you have enough time in the week to dedicate to your studies?

Are you using the time efficiently?

Do you find you do not have enough time?

What can you reduce or eliminate from your schedule to make more time?

Watch the Time Management: Strategies for Success video by StudentLingo to obtain some great tips on managing your time effectively!

-Written by NOVA Online Counselor, Kim Burkle

Take advantage of Advising Week events on campus or virtually as you plan your schedule and register for courses. Reach out to the Student Services offices or Virtual Advisors with any questions you have as you are planning your courses.

Where Will Your Path Lead? (Part 1)

Posted on by

This article is part one in a three part series that provides readers with an overview of the career development process designed to help you identify your path and continue on your journey.

Stop for a minute and answer the following questions:

  • Are you thinking about pursuing a degree at NOVA, but are unsure as to what degree and program to select?
  • Are you considering transferring to a four year institution to continue your studies, but are unsure which major to pursue?
  • Are you trying to decide on a career to pursue, but are unsure where to begin your exploration?
  • Are you trying to find a job or gain practical experience, but are unsure where to begin your search?

If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, look no further than NOVA’s Career Services website to help you get started finding answers.  The Career Development Process section of the website provides an overview of a four step process that will help you with the following:  1) understanding self, 2) exploring careers, 3) making decisions, and 4) finding employment.  The career development process begins with self-assessment.

Step 1: Understanding Self

When was the last time you thought about what you really enjoy doing?  During this step you will focus on gaining a better understanding of yourself by identifying your interests, personality, skills, and values through career assessments. The results of the assessments will identify potential career options for you to consider and explore.  A list of free assessments and resources can be found on the website.

One resource to try now – FOCUS 2.

FOCUS 2 is an online career and education planning system that can help you –

  • Select a program/major based on your interests and aspirations.
  • Discover occupations matching your personal preferences and attributes.
  • Map out your career plans, present and future.
  • Make informed career decisions.

NOVA’s Career Counselors are available to assist you with each step of the career development process.

Article by Christy Jensen-NOVA Academic/Career Counselor.

November is National Career Development Month.  Check NOVA’s Career Services website for information about programs being offered virtually and across the College in support of NCDM.

Happy National Career Development Month!

Posted on by

November is National Career Development Month.  NCDM was designed to highlight the importance of life-long career development and the personal empowerment of all people.

Learn more about career development on NOVA’s Career Services website.  Check the “NOVA’s Career Events” section of the website for information about  programs being offered virtually and across the college in support of NCDM.

Follow NOVA Online on Twitter this month to receive a daily inspirational quote along with tips to help you with your career development.  Throughout the month vote for your favorite quote on Facebook and join in the conversation.   Read ELife for tips, stories, and to stay connected.