One assumption that some online students make is that all NOVA Online courses are self-paced. To that end, students may put off getting started and learn that their instructor has withdrawn them for not meeting course deadlines.  Don’t let this happen to you!  It is very important to understand that all NOVA Online courses have weekly or even mid-weekly due dates. There are critical enrollment dates, that include your First Assignment Due Date – requiring you to log into your Canvas course site and complete your First Assignment by the due date. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in being dropped from the course without a tuition refund.  Online courses may be 15 weeks, 12 weeks, 10 weeks, 8 weeks, 6 weeks, or 4 weeks in length; each course has specific start, refund, first assignment due date, withdrawal, and end date that you should be aware of when you select a particular course.

In addition to logging in and completing your first assignments (as referenced in your Quick Start Syllabus and Canvas course site), NOVA Online courses also have regular weekly assignment deadlines.

When taking a NOVA Online course, it is important to understand that assignment due dates as well as test and quiz due dates come quickly. Due dates are firm and in some NOVA Online courses, assignments and tests/quizzes are sometimes removed after the due date.

To be successful in your course:

Read through your course syllabus on the first day of class. Understand all the deadlines that apply to your course and record them in your planner.

Establish a Routine – Visit your Canvas course site daily and read all of your emails and announcements.

Make Note of your Course Deadlines, and turn your assignments in on time.

If possible, take your test prior to the testing deadline—you never know what might come up at the last minute!

To ensure that you understand the NOVA Online course deadlines, please review your course specific critical course deadlines and stay on top of weekly assignments.

This article was originally published by Katie, former Orientation and Advising Specialist for ELI (now NOVA Online).

How is everything going your first week?

If you have any questions or you are not sure where to start, you can contact the NOVA Online Student Success Coaching Team at onlinesuccess@nvcc.edu or Student Services Team at 703-323-3347. We are more than happy to answer your questions, as well as refer you to useful resources and services that will support your online learning experience.

This article was originally published by Katie, former Orientation and Advising Specialist for ELI (now NOVA Online).

Here are some questions to ask as you plan your schedule.

• Do you have realistic expectations about your time and the time required for the course?
• Have you thought about all of your commitments that will occur during a specific semester?
• Have you familiarized yourself with course expectations?
• Have you considered which session length would work best for you?
• What is your experience with or interest in the courses you are considering?

NOVA offers courses in a variety of formats both asynchronous and synchronous. Courses following an asynchronous format are offered through NOVA Online, NOVA’s online division, and with few exceptions, do not require any on-site or real-time meetings. Courses following a synchronous format are offered through a NOVA campus and may require on-site meetings and/or meetings online via Zoom in real-time.

View a current Schedule of Classes. Use the Search for A Class feature to search for courses of interest.  Select NOVA Online as the Location option to search for sections of courses offered through NOVA Online.  You will enroll in courses through NOVA’s student information system.

Follow the steps below to get started enrolling in courses:

1. Apply to NOVA.  Read the Holds on Your Student Record article to identify how to address any holds on your student record.
2. View New2NOVA, an online, interactive orientation program.
3. Review NOVA course information –
   • Schedule of Classes
   • Course Descriptions
   • Course Descriptions (NOVA Online sections)
4. Communicate with a counselor (NOLCounseling@nvcc.edu) if you have any questions about program of study or course selection.
5. Enroll in courses –
   • If assistance with enrollment is not required, enroll in courses following the instructions at https://www.nvcc.edu/novaconnect/students/tuts/findeli.html.
   • If assistance with enrollment is required, contact  NOLCounseling@nvcc.edu for guidance on what documentation may need to be provided.
6. Review payment information and pay for courses.
7. Purchase course materials through the Bookstore.  For NOVA Online materials select Alexandria campus and NOVA Online for campus option.
8. Prepare to begin your course(s) by accessing Canvas. You should have access to a course site up to 3 days prior to the course start date, but no later than the course start date.

Welcome back!  If it has been more than three years since your last class at NOVA, you will need to submit an Application for Admission prior to enrolling in courses.  

After you have reapplied, check to see if there are any holds on your student record.  For information about holds on your student account visit the holds information website.

I

The first step to becoming a NOVA Nighthawk is to complete the application for admission. By completing the NOVA application, a student record will be created that allows you to move forward with the next steps associated with being a new student. You will access your record by logging into myNOVA and visiting the Student Information System (SIS) icon. The Student Information System is where you will be able to search and register for classes, make a payment, track degree requirements and completion and manage your personal information.

Now that you’ve completed the application and established your student record, you should check your Student Center to see if you have any holds and view New2NOVA, an online, interactive orientation program.

Holds can be placed on your student record based on your answers to questions on the application or the status of your student account. Most holds will require that you take action or provide documentation to have the hold removed. You can check your student account by logging into myNOVA and checking your student center for any holds.

To learn more about any holds on your student account visit our holds information page. Take immediate action to address holds by creating a case and submitting documents. Once holds are resolved, you should be able to proceed with course enrollment. 

Questions about a hold on your student record? Please contact enrollmentservices@nvcc.edu