Author Archives: Dual Enrollment Coordinator

Join us for a NOVA Online Orientation webinar

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Are you enrolled in your first online learning course this spring? Or, have you taken an online course previously and want to ensure that you are headed in the right direction? Do you have any questions about using Blackboard to complete your NOVA Online course? A great place to start is with the NOVA Online Orientation webinar. 463461567A webinar is a live, online instruction session. You can participate in a webinar from any computer or mobile device with Internet access and speakers. A microphone is not required as we will use a text chat for all questions. Participation in all webinars offered through NOVA Online is free, but registration is required. Register for a live session or request a copy of the recording on the NOVA Online Webinar webpage.

The NOVA Online Orientation webinar is a live, one hour online instruction session that focuses on getting started in your NOVA Online courses, navigating your Blackboard course site, identifying tips for success, and highlighting student support services. During the webinar, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you have before you start your course.

The NOVA Online Orientation will cover an overview of navigating your Blakcboard Course Site. Instructors make courses available on the course start date or sometimes a few days in advance. If you haven’t used Blackboard in the past, you may be interested in some short videos to review how to submit an assignment, post on discussion board, check grades, etc.

The web conference tool we use at NOVA Online is Blackboard Collaborate. You can test your connection ahead of time by following the steps in this NOVA Online Student Blog post. http://blogs.nvcc.edu/elife/2014/06/16/how-to-log-into-a-blackboard-collaborate-session/

Connect with NOVA Online on Facebook and Twitter for tips for success in your online courses. NOVA Online Student Success Coaches are available for any questions as you are getting started. Reach out to them at NOVA OnlineSuccess@nvcc.edu or 703.764.5076.

Starting Today: Purchase course materials using financial aid

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Today is the first day to use your access Financial Aid to purchase required course materials in the campus bookstore. Make your arrangements early so you have your course materials for your course start date!

Students with financial aid awards for Spring 2016 can purchase textbook and other required course materials against their excess financial aid–either online or in campus bookstores—from December 28, 2015 through February 2, 2016 (updated date from snow days), the 16-week (term) census date.  A second book purchase period will be open for students who still have anticipated aid from two weeks before the second 8-week term through that term census date, February 29 through March 22.

Students wishing to purchase books on-line must complete and sign the Bookstore Authorization E-Form, via the Financial Aid Dashboard, prior to completing a purchase.

**If you completed this form for Fall 2015, you do not need to resubmit the form. Any forms completed prior to Fall 2015 will need to be re-submitted for Spring 2016.

Students enrolled or planning to enroll in later starting classes who desire to use their financial aid to purchase books must purchase during one of the two purchase periods; no additional accommodations will be made. The financial aid process must be complete and anticipated aid must be enough to cover tuition, fees and books. Files can have no negative holds.

First Book Purchase Period

–          First day to purchase books/supplies using financial aid: December 28, 2015

–          Last day to purchase books/supplies using financial aid: January 28, 2016

Second Book Purchase Period (for students with remaining anticipated aid)

–          First day to purchase books/supplies using financial aid: February 29, 2016

–          Last day to purchase books/supplies using financial aid: March 22, 2016

zNOVA Online digital open course

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Have you registered for your courses for next term? Are you interested in taking a class that doesn’t require you to purchase any textbooks or course materials? A zero textbook-cost NOVA Online course, or zNOVA Online digital open course might be right for you!

Mobility conceptNOVA Online offers several online courses that do not require students to purchase textbooks or other course materials. These zNOVA Online courses use Free Digital/Open Educational Resources (OER) instead of expensive textbooks. You can try one or two zNOVA Online courses, or even complete an entire AS degree track without having to purchase textbooks. Instead of requiring traditional textbooks, all readings and materials used in the courses will be available to students free of charge online as OER, or through NOVA’s digital library resources.

Are you ready try a zNOVA Online class? Just look for the notification in the notes section in the online schedule of classes stating: This is a digital open course. No textbook purchase required.

Save time and money with a zNOVA Online Digital Open course! For more information about registering for NOVA Online courses, contact the NOVA Online Counselors at elicounselors@nvcc.edu or 703.323.2425.

NOVA Holiday Hours

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Northern Virginia Community College will close for Winter Break on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at 5pm and remain closed until Monday, January 4, 2015 at 8:30 am.

If you have common questions, the following information may be helpful:

Grades: Fall 2015 grades will be accessible through NOVA Connect within 7 days of the end date of your course.

Blackboard Course Availability: Instructors make classes available in blackboard on the first day the course is scheduled to begin, or sometimes a few days in advance. If you are visiting Blackboard to access your Spring 2016 class, you may not have access until closer to the start date.

Course Start Dates: 1st 16 week, 1st 8 week, 1st 12 week and 1st 4 week (MTT only) sessions will begin on January 11, 2016. View your course specific critical enrollment dates on NOVA Online’s website.

Registration: If you have not registered, Spring 2016 registration is still open. Although the College is closed, online registration is open. For registration information, please click here. Additional step by step registration instructions can be viewed by clicking here. If you need assistance with your course selection, NOVA Online Counselors will be available at, elicounselors@nvcc.edu, when the college opens on January 4, 2016. Emails will be answered in the order they are received.

Pre-requisites Satisfied at another College: If you are attempting to enroll in a course at NOVA for which you believe you have successfully completed (a grade of “C“or higher) the required pre-requisite(s) at another regionally accredited institution, you will need to submit a copy of your unofficial transcript to a NOVA Online counselor for review. Using your NOVA email, please send an email to the counselors at: elicounselors@nvcc.edu. Please include the following information with your unofficial transcript:

  • NOVA seven digit student identification number (EMPLID)
  • The specific course that you are registering for (Example: ENG 111 E55N, #45689)
  • The best way to contact you – email or phone

Requests are reviewed and processed in the order in which they are received. You should expect to receive a response about your request within three business days after offices opens.

Online Academic Resources: If you have any downtime during the break, it would be an excellent opportunity to explore the free online workshops offered by Student Lingo. Student Lingo workshops focus on time management, career development, mastering the job interview, resume writing, stress management techniques, writing techniques, study skills, test anxiety and more! They are an excellent resource that will enrich your academic and career growth.

We wish you a safe and restful holiday break!

Spring 2016: purchase books/supplies using financial aid

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Students with financial aid awards for Spring 2016 can purchase textbook and other required course materials against their excess financial aid–either online or in campus bookstores—from December 28, 2015 through January 28, 2016, the 16-week (term) census date.  A second book purchase period will be open for students who still have anticipated aid from two weeks before the second 8-week term through that term census date, February 29 through March 22.

Students wishing to purchase books on-line must complete and sign the Bookstore Authorization E-Form, via the Financial Aid Dashboard, prior to completing a purchase.

**If you completed this form for Fall 2015, you do not need to resubmit the form. Any forms completed prior to Fall 2015 will need to be re-submitted for Spring 2016.

Students enrolled or planning to enroll in later starting classes who desire to use their financial aid to purchase books must purchase during one of the two purchase periods; no additional accommodations will be made. The financial aid process must be complete and anticipated aid must be enough to cover tuition, fees and books. Files can have no negative holds.

First Book Purchase Period

–          First day to purchase books/supplies using financial aid: December 28, 2015

–          Last day to purchase books/supplies using financial aid: January 28, 2016

Second Book Purchase Period (for students with remaining anticipated aid)

–          First day to purchase books/supplies using financial aid: February 29, 2016

–          Last day to purchase books/supplies using financial aid: March 22, 2016

Students may place their on-line orders 24 hours after completing the authorization e-form or on the first business day after completing the e-form, if later.

This Week at NOVA Online

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Spring 2016 registration is open for all students! Have any questions about your spring term courses? Need to change your degree plan? Schedule a virtual appointment with an NOVA Online Counselor!

Tuition Deadline – Be sure to have a method of payment in place to meet the spring 2016 payment deadline.  Tuition is due (or have your financial aid or payment plan in place) by 5 p.m. (EST) December 15 or your classes may be dropped. If you register on or after December 15, tuition is due the following business day at 5pm to hold your seat.

First time in college? Participate in a New Student Orientation Webinar – This one hour webinar is required for new-to-college students aged 17-24. New Student Orientation will focus on academic and career goals, reading degree plans, and registering for classes. Use your VCCS username/password to register and email NOVA OnlineLearn@nvcc.edu with any questions. All are welcome.

Are you ready for Finals Week? NOVA Online can help you prepare! Finals can be a very stressful time of the year!  To ease testing anxiety, we invite you to review the How to Prepare for Finals webinar.

exam daYThis 30 minute recording will focus on topics and strategies to help ease anxiety and help you study smart such as: Early preparation, planning your approach and taking the exam.

Review the NOVA Online Student blog for information about preparing for your NOVA Online proctored exams. Remember NOVA Online Success Coaches are available to help you succeed.

Join a NOVA Online Counselor for the Getting Ready for Your Next Semester Webinar on Wednesday, December 16, 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm. This 45 minute webinar for NOVA students will focus on answering key questions students have about preparing for their next semester.  Topics covered will include program identification, course selection, college resources, schedule planning, and registration/payment tips. Can’t make it live? View the Recording of a past session to help plan for your spring term courses.

Plan ahead: Enrolled in your first online course this spring? Join us for the NOVA Online Orientation! This one hour webinar will focus on getting started in your courses, navigating your Blackboard course site, and identifying tips for success and student support services.

Tuition Deadline

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Heads up! If you registered for spring 2016 courses and haven’t submitted your tuition payment yet, you must do so by Tuesday, December 15 at 5 p.m. (EST) to avoid being dropped from your courses!

If you have questions about payment, visit NOVA’s spring 2016 tuition payment information. If you have any questions about using the payment plan, visit this past NOVA Online Student Blog post or contact the NOVA Online Hotline at 703-323-3347 or Financial Aid at 855.323.3199 for assistance. SyllabusThere’s still plenty of time to register for spring 2016 if you haven’t done so already! NOVA Online’s first fall session starts January 11 and for many courses, additional sections are offered starting January 25, February 1, or later. Check the full list of spring 2016 courses.

Just remember, if you register for fall courses on or after Tuesday, December 15, your payment is due by 5 p.m. the next business day to hold your seat in the course.

If you have questions about your financial aid, contact the student support center. Make sure your financial aid is in place to hold your classes.

This Week at NOVA Online

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Spring 2016 registration is open for all students! Have any questions about your spring term courses? Need to change your degree plan? Schedule a virtual appointment with an NOVA Online Counselor!

Tuition Deadline – Be sure to have a method of payment in place to meet the spring 2016 payment deadline.  Tuition is due (or have your financial aid or payment plan in place) by 5 p.m. (EST) December 15 or your classes may be dropped. If you register on or after December 15, tuition is due the following business day at 5pm to hold your seat.Social Studies

Are you thinking about an online course through NOVA Online, but not sure if it is right for you? Review our Furthering your education with NOVA Online recording to see if online learning is a right fit for your current educational needs. You could also take the Smarter Measure assessment to see how your personal learning styles will work with online courses.

Did you miss any of the webinars throughout National Career Development Month? View a recording or schedule an appointment with NOVA Online’s Career Counselor.

Plan ahead: Join a NOVA Online Counselor for the Getting Ready for Your Next Semester Webinar on Wednesday, December 16, 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm. This 45 minute webinar for NOVA students will focus on answering key questions students have about preparing for their next semester.  Topics covered will include program identification, course selection, college resources, schedule planning, and registration/payment tips. Can’t make it live? View the Recording of a past session to help plan for your spring term courses.

This Week at NOVA Online!

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Spring 2016 registration is open for all students! Have any questions about your spring term courses? Need to change your degree plan? Schedule a virtual appointment with an NOVA Online Counselor!iStock_000054155382_FullFirst time in college? Participate in a New Student Orientation Webinar – This one hour webinar is required for new-to-college students aged 17-24. New Student Orientation will focus on academic and career goals, reading degree plans, and registering for classes. Use your VCCS username/password to register and email NOVA OnlineLearn@nvcc.edu with any questions. All are welcome.

Throughout November we have been celebrating National Career Development Month. We have one last webinar in our monthly series! Join NOVA Online Career Counselor on Wednesday, December 2, 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm for the Conducting a Job Search Webinar. This 45 minute webinar will focus on basic strategies for conducting a job search. Topics covered will include creating a plan, identifying sources of job leads, and resume, cover letter, and interview basics.

Did you miss any of the webinars throughout National Career Development Month? View a recording or schedule an appointment with NOVA Online’s Career Counselor.

Plan ahead: Join a NOVA Online Counselor for the Getting Ready for Your Next Semester Webinar on Wednesday, December 16, 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm. This 45 minute webinar for NOVA students will focus on answering key questions students have about preparing for their next semester.  Topics covered will include program identification, course selection, college resources, schedule planning, and registration/payment tips. Can’t make it live? View the Recording of a past session to help plan for your spring term courses.