Category Archives: Academics

Ready to Become a Nighthawk?

Posted on by

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 on Your Student Record

Posted on by

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

Helpful Hints for Transient Students

Posted on by

Welcome to NOVA! We are so excited to have you join the Nighthawk family this summer. If you haven’t already, please complete the NOVA application to establish your student account. Next, log into myNOVA and check for holds. To learn more about holds on your student account visit our holds information page. If you have holds that require documentation, take immediate action and submit your documents to NOVA. Once you have any holds on your record resolved, view the Schedule of Classes and enroll in courses unless a prerequisite needs to be verified. 

In order to register for a course for which a prerequisite needs to be verified, we will need to review your unofficial transcript. Please email an unofficial copy of your transcript to virtualadvising@nvcc.edu.  Include in your email your NOVA student ID number along with the course(s) you’d like to be cleared to take. Monitor your email for a response to your request. Keep in mind your home institution may require approval in advance in order to transfer NOVA courses. Check with your advisor at your home institution to ensure you have everything in place to have your NOVA course transferred.

Once you have enrolled be sure you pay your tuition balance in full by the payment deadline. Also make sure to have your course materials on the first day your course begins, there is no time to lose with the short summer sessions! You will be able to purchase your books at the respective campus bookstore or online. Be sure to review guidance for purchasing books prior to ordering.  Your course will be available in Canvas up to three days prior to the scheduled start date.

After your course is finished and your grade has been posted to your transcript, you will be able to order an official copy of your NOVA transcript. Institutions’ transfer credit processes can vary, check with your institution to verify where your NOVA transcript should be sent and if any additional forms associated with the transfer credit process need to be completed.

Our summer courses fill quickly! We recommend finalizing your summer schedule as soon as possible.  Questions? Virtual Advisors are available to assist you in this process, either by email or online Live Chat.

Advising Week Comes to an End – Let’s Review

Posted on by

As advising week comes to an end, now is a good time to reflect on the week and the progress you are making towards achieving your academic and career goals.  At the beginning of the week you were encouraged to do the following:

  1. Reflect on your academic and career goals.
  2. Review your Advisement Report.
  3. Communicate with an advisor about your academic and career goals.
  4. Register for courses.
  5. Participate in programs being offered.

How did the week go?  Are you ready for your next semester or term?  Remember, NOVA offers many services and resources to support you.  Take a moment and review past blog posts to learn more.

Remember, registration is –

  • In progress for summer.
  • Opens for Fall 2020 on April 27.
  • Ends at 11:59 pm on the day prior to a session start date.

 

Are Your Career Plans in Focus?

Posted on by

As you plan your schedule for your next term/semester, prepare to transfer, or get ready to begin a new job take a moment to focus on your career development.  Are you attending NOVA to pursue a certificate or degree, but unsure about what career options might be available to you? Have you decided on a major, but have difficulty answering the question – “What can I do with a major in _____?

Do you need to fine tune your skills or add to your skill set in preparation for a career change? Learn more about career options by utilizing FOCUS 2, an online interactive self-guided 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

FOCUS 2 is free for NOVA students.   Learn more about and access the system at NOVA’s Career Services website.

Advising Week is Here!

Posted on by

Advising Week is offered every fall and spring at NOVA as a time for students to reflect upon their academic goals and career development in preparation for planning and evaluating their schedule for next semester.

Get the most out of Advising Week by following the steps below:

  1. Reflect on your academic and career goals. If you need more information about career options or would like to learn about a resource to help you build a career plan visit NOVA’s Career Services website
  2. Review your Advisement Report. The report indicates requirements that have and have not been satisfied for a certificate/degree of interest. It also indicates courses that can be used to satisfy program requirements.
  3. Communicate with an advisor about your academic and career goals. If you are pursuing a certificate or degree check with your advisor to make sure you are pursuing a program of study that aligns with your goals. Also make certain the program of study listed on your advisement report is the program of study you are pursuing. It is a good idea to have a copy of your academic plan, advisement report, and/or career plan handy when communicating with an advisor.
  4. Register for courses. Registration for summer is in progress.  Registration for the Fall semester begins on April 27.
  5. Participate in programs being offered. Visit the Virtual Student Union and NOVA’s Events Calendar to learn more.

Advising Week Spring 2020 Comes to an End – Let’s Review

Posted on by

As advising week comes to an end, now is a good time to reflect on the week and the progress you are making towards achieving your academic and career goals.  At the beginning of the week you were encouraged to do the following:

  1.  Reflect on your academic and career goals.
  2.  Review your Advisement Report.
  3. Communicate with an advisor about your academic and career goals.
  4. Put courses you plan to take in your shopping cart in NOVA Connect so you will have the specific information needed when it’s time to register.
  5. Participate in the NOVA Online Advising Week Spring 2020 lunchtime webinar series.
  6. Enter a post in the Advising Week Spring 2020 discussion board in the NOVA Online Virtual Student Union to earn a chance to win a Rocketbook.

How did the week go?  Are you ready for your next semester or term?  Remember, NOVA offers many services and resources to support you.  Take a moment and review past blog posts to learn more.

As you move forward, below are some deadlines to keep in mind.

Registration

  • In progress for current students.
  • Opens on November 11 for new students.
  • Registration ends at 11:59 pm on the day prior to a session start date.

Payment

Spring 2020

  • If you enroll through April 22 payment is due by 5 pm on April 23 or your classes may be dropped.
  • If you enroll on April 23 or later payment is due by 5 pm the next business day after you enroll or your classes may be dropped.

Information about payment methods is available at https://www.nvcc.edu/payment/methods/index.html.

Your Final Semester is Almost Here!

Posted on by

 

Congratulations to all students who will be preparing for their final semester !  You have almost reached the finish line. The following are a few things to do in preparation for graduation:

Apply for graduation. Access NOVA’s graduation website to view the Crossing the Finish Line: NOVA’s Graduation Program video and complete the Graduation Application Form.  The deadline to apply for graduation is March 1.

Update your resume.  Review an action plan you may have created in FOCUS 2.  Utilize resources in Career Connection.  Connect with a career advisor/counselor.

Prepare to conduct a job search if you will be looking for a job or a new opportunity.  NOVA’s Career Services website is a great place to start.

Review websites of potential transfer institutions for information about applying, if you are planning to transfer.  Don’t forget to look for information about financial aid and scholarships as well.  NOVA’s Plan to Transfer website has many helpful tips.

Participate in employment and transfer focused programs.  Check out NOVA’s Events calendar to see what is happening around the college.

Don’t forget, in addition to daily blog posts, NOVA Online is offering a lunchtime webinar series this week focusing on topics to help you with preparing for your next semester. All webinars are thirty minutes and begin at 12:15 pm. Learn more about the series and register at https://nvcceli.wufoo.com/forms/q17oo4ni0mszh1v/.

 

 

Three Reasons to Communicate with an Advisor

Posted on by

It’s Advising Week – an excellent time to connect with an advisor. Here are three reasons why –

Confirm the program of study you are pursing aligns with your academic and career goals. 

What are your academic goals? What are your career goals? Share these goals with an advisor. Indicate the program of study you are pursuing. Discuss whether or not the program identified is an appropriate choice to support you with achieving your goals. Discuss your plan for achieving your goals. Don’t have a plan – work with your advisor on developing one.

Review your academic performance. 

How are you doing in your courses? Are you making appropriate progress towards earning your certificate or degree or completing courses for the reason(s) you are attending NOVA? Through NOVA Connect, students can view their grades and an advisement report. The report indicates requirements that have and have not been satisfied for a certificate/degree of interest. It also indicates courses that can be used to satisfy program requirements. Prior to enrolling in courses each semester it is a good idea to review your report. Confirm the report indicates the correct certificate/degree. Review requirements and check the progress you are making towards completion. If you have questions about the program, concerns about grades, or any of the information provided on the report – share questions and discuss concerns with an advisor.

Identify challenges you have encountered and discuss solutions to address the challenges.  

  1. Refer to the following website for information on how to connect with an advisor: https://www.nvcc.edu/advising/my-advisor.html.
  2. How would you describe this semester? Are you earning the grades you intended to earn? Are you making steady progress towards completion of a certificate/degree? Are you making progress towards achieving your goals? NOVA offers many services and resources to support students. Communicate with an advisor about the challenges you are or have encountered. An advisor can work with you to address challenges, connect you to appropriate resources, and provide referrals when appropriate.

Don’t forget, in addition to daily blog posts, NOVA Online is offering a lunchtime webinar series this week focusing on topics to help you with preparing for your next semester. All webinars are thirty minutes and begin at 12:15 pm. Learn more about the series and register at https://nvcceli.wufoo.com/forms/q17oo4ni0mszh1v/.

Earn a Chance to Win a Rocketbook

Posted on by

During Advising Week Spring 2020 earn a chance to win a Rocketbook by following the steps below –

  1. Participate in any advising week program/event being offered across the college. Recommended events – any webinar that is part of the NOVA Online Advising Week Spring 2020 webinar series.
  2. Access the NOVA Online Virtual Student Union during November 5 – November 10.
  3. Select Discussions.
  4. Review the Discussion Board Rules located at the top of the discussion board main page.
  5. Select Advising Week Spring 2020 Contest from the list.
  6. Click the Reply button and respond to the following:
    1. What was the name, date, and location of the program/event in which you participated?
    2. Why did you select this program/event?
    3. How does participating in this program/event support you with achieving your academic goals?
  7. Click the Post Reply button

While you are in the discussion board, although not required for the challenge, we encourage you to read and respond to someone’s post.

Throughout Advising Week the NOVA Online Student Blog will provide you with tools to plan effectively, resources to help guide your decisions, and answers to frequently asked questions.  Programs to support you will also be offered across the College. Take advantage of Advising Week events online as well as on campus as you plan your schedule and prepare to register for courses.