Another Summer Session Begins Today!

The second 8-week summer session for NOVA Online begins today.  If you missed the New2NOL presentation, presented by a NOVA Online Success Coach, you can access a recording using the following passcode: M22R^iqA.  Topics covered in the presentation include the following:

  • How a NOVA Online course is different from a campus or virtual course.
  • How to log into a course.
  • How to Navigate a course in Canvas.
  • Best practices for successful completion of a course.
  • NOVA supports and resources.

 

Managing Your Time

Below are tips to help you manage your time whether your course has already begun or as you prepare to start a course that will begin later this summer or fall.

  1. Check the academic calendar. Identify and take note of key dates for a session.
  2. Review each course syllabus. Note due dates as well as contact information for the professor and preferred method of contact.
  3. Create a schedule for studying and completing assignments. Refer to the following resource for time management tips: Time Management Strategies for Success workshop available on-demand through StudentLingo. If your course has already begun make note of the amount of time it took you to complete and submit an assignment.  Adjust your schedule as needed to make sure you are creating an accurate schedule.
  4. Access the Canvas and EdTech Resources for Students course to make sure you are aware of and utilizing features of Canvas. Some features include setting notifications for announcements from a professor and adding to-do items to your personal calendar.  If you need some help, consider attending a free NOVA Student Workshop: Getting Started in Canvas.  Workshops are currently offered on Tuesdays at 6PM and Thursdays at 3PM.  Join a workshop through the Canvas and EdTech Resources for Students tile in Canvas.

It’s Not Too Late to Enroll in Spring Courses

Registration continues for the spring semester. 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.

Throughout the semester NOVA may offer courses following a 15, 13, 12, 10, 8, 7, or 6 week schedule.  View NOVA’s academic calendar for information about registration and other important dates.  Scroll to the bottom of the calendar for information about sessions offered through NOVA Online.

View a current Schedule of Classes to learn more about course offerings.  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.

For planning purposes, registration for the summer is open with first session courses beginning on May 16.  View the Getting Started at NOVA Online to learn more about continuing your studies.

 

NOVA Online and Inclement Weather: What to do

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

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!

This week at NOVA Online!

FALL Tuition Payment: If you registered for fall 2017 courses and haven’t submitted your tuition payment or have financial aid in place, you must do so  by Monday, July 24 at 5 p.m. to avoid being dropped from your courses! Check out NOVA’s website for more for more details about tuition payment methods and deadlines.

Of course, there’s still plenty of time to register for fall if you haven’t done so already! NOVA Online’s first fall session begins Monday, August 21. NOVA Online has additional fall start dates later in the semester. Check the full list of fall 2017 courses.

NOVA offers a payment plan for students enrolled in courses. Please note the last day to sign up for the payment plan is August 24.

Just remember, if you register for fall courses on or after Monday, July 24, your payment is due by 5 p.m. the next business day.

Proctored Exams: All NOVA Online courses require proctored exams! Plan ahead so you are prepared as your exams quickly approach. Review the testing information website to make arrangements. This previous blog post will also help as you prepare whether you are taking exams at NOVA, through ProctorU, or with a testing location in your area. Questions? Reach out to NOVA OnlineCourseSpecialists@nvcc.edu or 703.323.3347. Join our Virtual Student Union: NOVA Online’s VSU has a new look! 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! Did you miss our Community Involvement Fair? Check out our community volunteer booklet to learn more about the variety of non-profits participating and volunteer opportunities available: Community Volunteer Booklet. 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!

Want to write for the NOVA Online Student Blog? Share your story? Connect with your peers? Send us a writing sample to get started. Email NOVA OnlineStuLife@nvcc.edu for more information.

NOVA Offices closed for 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!

NOVA offices, including campus testing centers, will be closed Saturday, July 1 through Tuesday, July 4, 2017.  ProctorU will be available during this time to take exams for courses that offer the online proctoring option.

Testing Center hours are subject to change so please visit the Testing Center Calendar when making your plans. Remember it is important to provide plenty of time to take the exam as there may be lines when you arrive.

NOVA Campus Offices will reopen Wednesday, July 5. Please plan accordingly.

Memorial Day!

NOVA campus offices, including the Campus Testing Centers, are closed today Monday, May 29 in observance of Memorial Day!

451846227Summer Tuition Payment: If you registered for summer 2017 courses and haven’t submitted your tuition payment or have financial aid in place, you must do so by the following business day at 5 p.m. to avoid being dropped from your courses! The last summer start date for NOVA Online courses is Monday, June 5. Check out this blog post for more details about summer tuition payment.

Join our Virtual Student Union: NOVA Online’s VSU has a new look! 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! Did you miss our Community Involvement Fair? Check out our community volunteer booklet to learn more about the variety of non-profits participating and volunteer opportunities available: Community Volunteer Booklet. 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!

Financial Avenue – Financial Literacy Contest: Twenty $100 NOVA bookstore gift cards towards educational costs at NOVA will be given-away throughout the 2016‐2017 academic year to randomly selected students NOVA Online who successfully complete Financial Avenue web‐based financial literacy modules! Last date to submit your module is June 11. For more information visit Financial Aid’s Financial Literacy Blog. Official contest rules and registration to participate can be found here.

Want to write for the NOVA Online Student Blog? Share your story? Connect with your peers? Send us a writing sample to get started. Email NOVA OnlineStuLife@nvcc.edu for more information.

Summer Tuition Payment

Heads up! If you registered for summer 2017 courses and haven’t submitted your tuition payment or have financial aid in place, you must do so by Monday, April 24 at 5 p.m. to avoid being dropped from your courses! If you have questions about payment, visit NOVA’s summer 2017 payment information here. You can also call the NOVA Online Hotline at 703-323-3347 for assistance.Of course, there’s still plenty of time to register for summer if you haven’t done so already! NOVA Online’s first summer session starts Tuesday, May 16 with additional start dates on Monday, May 22 and Monday, June 5. Check the full list of summer 2017 courses.

NOVA offers a payment plan for students enrolled in courses. Please note the last day to sign up for the payment plan is May 22.

Just remember, if you register for summer courses on or after Monday, April 24, your payment is due by 5 p.m. the next business day.