Author Archives: kshagan

Join eLEAD Spring 2018

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Are you looking for an opportunity to identify and develop your overall leadership skills?

Leadership Concept

NOVA Online Student Life has created a virtual co-curricular opportunity to develop leadership skills for students! eLEAD is a 4-week asynchronous program delivered via Blackboard. The overall goal is to foster a sense of community among students taking online courses, to develop more self-awareness of leadership strengths and skills, and to help you maximize your talents as they relate to academic and professional goals.

This program is free and does not offer academic credit, however, students who participate will receive a certificate of completion. This is also a great resume builder!

Dates: February 26th – April 1st

(With a break week from March 12th -16th for spring break)

Time: Work at your own pace with weekly deadlines for group discussions and journal reflections.

Registration: eLEAD Program Registration Form. Please fill out no later than February 23rd at 11:59pm.  

Please reach out to elistulife@nvcc.edu with any questions.

 

This Week @ NOVA Online

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* Spring eLEAD Series-  NOVA Online Student Life has created a virtual co-curricular opportunity to develop leadership skills for students! eLEAD is a 4-week asynchronous program delivered via Blackboard. The overall goal is to foster a sense of community among students taking online courses, to develop more self-awareness of leadership strengths and skills, and to help you maximize your talents as they relate to academic and professional goals. Register now!


* Join our Virtual Student Union. Are you taking online classes and looking to connect with other students outside of a classroom setting? Check out our Virtual Student Union or VSU. This is an engagement hub where NOVA Online students have access to create a profile, join discussion forums and connect with other students. In celebration of our new site launch, students will be eligible for raffle prizes once they create an account and interact on the site. Drawings will be done weekly and monthly through the fall semester. Join now!

* Engage in your Community! We want to learn more about how NOVA Online Students are engaging in the community! Email us at elistulife@nvcc.edu and tell us where and when you are volunteering and we will send you a FREE NOVA Student Life T-shirt to wear!  Coming Soon! (Community volunteer booklet to learn more about the variety of non-profits participating and volunteer opportunities available)

College-wide event highlight:

Student Leadership Diversity Conference February 23. Join students from across the College for the Student Life Diversity Conference hosted on the Loudoun campus. You will have a unique opportunity to learn more about leadership, diversity, and inclusion topics to become a better leader. Register for the conference here:  https://goo.gl/forms/yegh31zMbpyzeL372

 

 

What is First Day?

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Don’t get this confused with the first day of classes! First Day is not the first day of classes, rather it is tuition based model in which the cost of digital course materials (textbooks etc.) will be included in the tuition for certain courses or programs. The benefit of this program is to provide a cost- efficient option for students, ensure students are prepared for their first day of class, and have their course material accessible from where ever there is Internet.

First Day course materials are digital versions of the physical textbook, and can be inclusive of other educational resources such as workbooks, tutorials, videos, and problem sets. Standard features included are highlighting, annotations, search functions, and multimedia links. All the digital materials will be easily accessible through the Blackboard Learning Management System.

Directions on how to access your material can be found at the following link:  McGraw-Hill First Day Registration Instructions.

Note: After you are registered the first time, you should be able to access any McGraw Hill resources indicated in your assignments course page in Blackboard.

If you prefer to have a physical copy instead/regardless you can by filling out the Course Content & eText Free Opt-Out Request form. Keep in mind the Opt- out requests must be received by NOVA campus Auxiliary Services or the Campus Bookstore prior to the Census Date. To check if the course you are registering in offers First Day you can read the Notes section of the class you are registering in SIS.

Spring 2018: Be Prepared on Your First Day

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Hand writing Are You Ready, business conceptAs you are preparing for your spring courses, it is important to keep in mind the importance of attendance and participation. Be mindful of Critical Course Deadlines and course specific deadlines so you don’t miss any assignments and fall behind in your course work.

Courses are made available in Blackboard the first day the course is scheduled to begin, or sometimes a few days in advance. If your course begins on Monday, August 21, you may not see your course in Blackboard until that day. If you are scheduled for a later starting NOVA Online course you may not see your course until closer to that start date.

As soon as your class begins, log into Blackboard and explore your virtual classroom. Use this opportunity to locate and review the course syllabus and assignments folder. This will give you a chance to see what you will be responsible for throughout the term. In addition, this will also allow you sufficient time to plan your time appropriately, making certain you will be able to complete your readings, assignments, projects and tests in time for their specified due dates. It is crucial to ensure you have completed and submitted your first assignment prior to the First Assignment Due Date to avoid being administratively withdrawn from your course. 

Logging into Blackboard as soon as the course begins will also give you the opportunity to identify any unexpected issues and provide ample time to ask any questions you might have.

New to online learning at NOVA? Join us for an NOVA Online Orientation Webinar to help you get started!

If you have any questions or you are not sure where to start, you can contact the NOVA Online Student Success Coaching Team at elisuccess@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.

NOVA Online and Inclement Weather: What to do

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With winter here it is important to be aware of NOVA’s inclement weather policy and know what that means for your NOVA Online courses.  Staying informed will allow you to plan accordingly and stay safe! NOVA makes it easy for you to stay up-to-date in the event of an emergency closing or delay.

If the College is closed or delayed due to an emergency or inclement weather, a text alert will be sent to cell phones registered on NOVA Alert, a notice will be posted on the home page of the College’s website, and a message will appear on our cable television station as well as several local radio and television stations. The College also uses several media sources to announce delays and closings. The Emergency Preparedness website provides more information as you are planning ahead.

What does this mean for your NOVA Online class?

-All in-person class sessions, and in-person labs will be canceled or delayed based on NOVA’s announcements.

-If you are planning to take an exam at the campus testing center, you will want to note that any closings or delays will affect campus testing center hours.

-Campus closing and delays will affect all campus offices, tutoring centers, and libraries.

-Keep in mind, even when the college is closed, you can still log into Blackboard to access your NOVA Online courses. 

A snow day is the perfect time to work on assignments and get ahead. If you have a live, virtual session scheduled, that meeting may still take place. Be sure to check your student email and blackboard announcement section to find out if the closing or delay will affect your NOVA Online course or if due dates have been changed due to the weather.

If you have not already, sign up for NOVA Alert today!

 

NOVA Holiday Hours

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Northern Virginia Community College will close for Winter Break on Thursday, December 21, 2017 at 12pm and remain closed until Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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

Finals Grades: Fall 2017 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 2018 courses, you may not have access until 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 Wednesday January 10, 2017. View your course specific critical enrollment dates on NOVA Online’s website.

Course Registration: If you have not registered, Spring 2018 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 and Virtual Advisors will be available  when the college opens on Wednesday, January 3, 2018. Emails will be answered in the order they are received.

Prerequisites 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 prerequisite(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 student email, submit the following information to the Virtual Advisors:

  • NOVA seven digit student identification number (EMPLID).
  • The specific course that you are registering for (ex: ENG 111 E55N, #45689).
  • Unofficial copy of your transcript (Must be able to clearly review your name, the dates attended, and the courses required).

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.

Consider registering for or reviewing the NOVA Online Orientation Webinar. 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. The NOVA Online Orientation is highly recommended for students who are new to online learning.

We wish you a safe and restful holiday break!

Holiday Safety Tips

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We all look forward to the holiday season. We get time off from work and school and spend festive time with family and friends. However, the holiday season has risks that threaten our safety.
Sadly, we are not the only people looking forward to the holidays. Predators and thieves look forward to enhanced opportunities to rob and steal. Thieves who get their hands on personal  items have valuable assistance in    stealing one’s identity.

Here are some tips to protect you and your family:

– The best defense against predators is to be aware of what’s happening around you. Most crimes are crimes of opportunity. If you are aware of what’s happening around you and appear empowered to protect yourself, a predator will likely choose a victim who appears more vulnerable; an easier “mark”.

– Keep valuable parcels locked in your vehicle and out of sight.

-Do not announce your holiday plans on social media. Wait until you return to tell your friends about your travels.

-If you are going away for more than 2-3 days, ask the
post office to hold your mail and/or have a neighbor retrieve any packages or other deliveries.

Courtesy of NOVA Public Safety. To learn more safety tips during the holidays, visit the December 2017 edition of their newsletter.

Student Spotlight: International Student Experience at an American College

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Check out the following student spotlight post from Yaw, highlighting their experience as an international student and the strength and value of our diverse student body.

 

Adapting to a new culture is often challenging. I moved from Ghana to the United States for college. It was nothing like I imagined. Beforehand, my point of reference to life in the US is movies, pictures and other forms of media. College could be an exciting opportunity to mature away from parents but just as easily, the gift of freedom could motivate bad decisions and a drastic fall off. I have found that it is important to discover one’s balance with work and play as well as entertaining fruitful relationships with fellow school mates.

Upon arrival, my first significant shock was just how open everyone is. The experience of meeting a vast variety of personalities was very enlightening. I have found that integrating into the college is made easier by the range of diversity present. I believe that my perspective on issues has broadened, having the opportunity to appreciate different points of view. The faculty have been welcoming at the same time blunt. Nova presents an atmosphere not too comfortable for its students causing complacency but rather a competitive one that keeps me motivated throughout the course of the semester. Academic assistance is easily accessible. I often utilize writing labs for my ENG 111 essays, it has been extremely helpful to get more eyes on your paper to critique and help improve.

I would rate my experience so far, an 8 out of 10. It is definitely an experience I would never forget and would love to go through a second time.

If you are interested to share your NOVA story in one of our student spotlight posts, please reach out to us at elistulife@nvcc.edu.

Intersectionality and Me

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 As a college-wide initiative intended to highlight LGBTQ History Month, Student Life will be hosting the Gender and Sexuality panel entitled Intersectionality and Me on Tuesday, October 24th from 2-4pm. This event will be hosted on the Manassas campus, streamed to select locations on participating campuses, and will be livestreamed to our NOVA server so that online and campus-based students who do not want to commute can participate. Following the panel, there will be a Q &A to localize this topic to the NOVA community.

Livestream instructions can be found at: http://eli.nvcc.edu/studentlife/. Find out more information about the event and the panelists below:

How do identities intersect?

With the help of our diverse panel, we will discuss the concept
of holistic identity and how stereotypes and assumptions
influence daily interactions in the NOVA community and how
to become better allies.

Dio Aldridge identifies as a Blatinx transgender man born in Limon, Costa Rica. He graduated from UC, Santa Barbara’s Black Studies program, and it was there where he truly began his journey of understanding the complexity of how identity shapes and impacts our lived experiences.

Romeo Jackson is a Black, Queer, Non-Binary Femme, feminist dedicated to intersectional justice and cross movement building. Currently, they study Race, Gender, and Sexuality within a Higher Education Context with an emphasis on the experiences of Queer and Trans Students of Color.

Bianca Humady Rey was born and raised in the Philippines. Her passions include a devotion to the normalizing and visibility of the Transgender community. Bianca has also worked with Equality Virginia’s Transgender Advocacy Speaker Bureau Program as a Speaker/Facilitator. She is currently a Project Coordinator at Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States Region.

 

Online Virtual Scavenger Hunt

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Happy National Online Learning Day! Today we celebrate the wonderful opportunity that NOVA offers for students to take online classes no matter where you live!

To celebrate, we have created a virtual online scavenger hunt so you can learn more about taking online courses through the Extended Learning Institute at NOVA. Here is what you need to know to begin:

1)Beginning at 9am pm on September 15th , participants will have 24 hours (until 9am on September 16th) to submit your answers.

2)Answers can be found on any of the digital resources that NOVA Online provides.(Follow our Twitter handle @NOVA Online for possible hints).

3) Tie breakers will be determined by which participant(s) submitted their form in the quickest time. Prizes will be given to the first 5 participants who turn in their form in the quickest time with all the correct answers. Five additional participation winners will also be announced.

Good Luck and HAVE FUN!

-NOVA Online Student Life

 

Start the Virtual Scavenger Hunt