First Week Reminders!

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).

Schedule Planning Tips for Taking Courses Through 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?

 

 

Getting Started with NOVA Online

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 –
  4. Communicate with a counselor (NOLCounseling@nvcc.edu) if you have any questions about program of study or course selection.
  5. Enroll in courses –
  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.

Ready to Become a Nighthawk?

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

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

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

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?

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!

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.