Helpful Tips for Transient/Visiting Students

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Welcome to NOVA!  We are so excited to have you join the Nighthawk family this summer.  Refer to the Visiting and Transient Student website for guidance on how to get started.  Keep in mind your home institution may require approval in order to transfer NOVA courses. Check with your advisor at your home institution prior to enrolling in a course at NOVA to make sure you have everything in place to receive transfer credit.  If you encounter problems enrolling in courses, other than needing assistance with verification of a prerequisite, review your student record for any holds.  To learn more about holds on your student account visit the holds information website.

Access the Schedule of Classes website to view course offerings.  Be sure to pay careful attention to course formats and requirements.  Sections of courses offered through the NOVA Online Division will begin with the letter “E”.  The NOVA Online Course Information website provides information about sections of courses offered through NOVA Online.  If you are enrolling in a section of a course offered through NOVA Online, review the NOVA Online Orientation website before beginning a course.  Regardless of course format, you should have access to the course tile 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.  Connect with a virtual advisor by visiting the Virtual Advising website.

Next Steps After Applying to NOVA

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Below are steps to take after you have applied to NOVA, addressed holds on your record, and viewed New2NOVA.

  1. Review NOVA Online Orientation website.
  2. Review program and course information –
  3. Communicate with a counselor (NOLCounseling@nvcc.edu) if you have any questions about programs of study or course selection.
  4. Enroll in courses –
  5. Review payment information and pay for courses.
  6. Purchase course materials through the bookstore. For NOVA Online materials select Alexandria campus and NOVA Online for campus option.
  7. 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?

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Registration for the summer term and fall semester are in progress.  First session courses for the summer term begin on May 16.  First session courses for the fall semester begin on August 21.

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.

After you have 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.

5 Tips for Building a Better Schedule

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Follow the tips below to build a better schedule.

Tip #1 – Plan your time accordingly.

As you begin to create your schedule, take a moment to think about all of the commitments you will have during the semester along with everything you wanted to accomplish.  How much time will you have available to focus on college courses?

Tip #2 – Identify how each course helps you achieve your goal.

Think about your academic and career goals.  How does each course you are planning to take help you progress towards achieving your goals?

Tip #3 – Know what will be covered in a course before you enroll.

Check out the course content summary to learn about major topics in a course.  View a partial syllabus for sections of courses offered through NOVA Online.

Tip #4 – Select a course format that works for you.

NOVA offers courses in a variety of formats.  Which format will work best for you for each course you plan to take?

Tip #5 – Be aware of important dates.

NOVA offers courses that vary in session length and have different start and end dates.  Know the important dates for sections of courses you are considering.

It’s Not Too Late to Enroll in Spring Courses

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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.

 

Graduation Deadline – March 1

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Congratulations to students nearing the completion of their certificate or degree!  The deadline to apply for Spring 2022 Graduation is March 1.  Learn more about preparing for graduation by participating in a Graduation Prep Session (access the Virtual Student Union for registration information) or viewing the Crossing the Finish Line: NOVA Graduation Preparation Program video.

 

Getting Started with NOVA Online

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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.  Below are links to articles that will provide guidance for applying based on your student status:
  2. Read the Holds on Your Student Record article to identify how to address any holds on your student record.
  3. View New2NOVA, an online, interactive orientation program.
  4. Review NOVA course information –
  5. Communicate with a counselor (NOLCounseling@nvcc.edu) if you have any questions about program of study or course selection.
  6. Enroll in courses –
  7. Review payment information and pay for courses.
  8. Purchase course materials through the Bookstore.  For NOVA Online materials select Alexandria campus and NOVA Online for campus option.
  9. 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.

Resources to Support You With Your Academic Goals

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As a NOVA Online student you have access to numerous resources to support you in achieving your academic and professional goals.  This post highlights just a few of the resources.

Success Coach

NOVA Online Success Coaches are here to help, we can refer you to resources and supports, provide help with time management, testing skills and more!  Contact a coach at onlinesuccess@nvcc.edu

Weekly Study Time for Online Learning

View an article that provides guidance on suggested study time based on course length and number of credits.

Tutoring 

Access free tutoring available on days and times that meet your schedule.

Virtual Student Union 

Get connected and stay connected to the NOVA community.

Financial Stability and Advocacy Centers

Learn more about resources to support you in achieving your goals.

 

 

 

Are You Focused on Your Career Development?

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As you continue your studies, plan your schedule for your next 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.

Consider participating in a Focus on Your Career Planning webinar.  Two webinars are being offered on Wednesday, June 2 – at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.  An overview of FOCUS 2 will be provided during the webinar.  RSVP for this webinar through the Events section of Career Connection.  Registration closes on June 1.

Know Your Course Due Dates

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One assumption that some online students make is that all NOVA Online courses are self-paced. To that end, students may put off getting started and learn that their instructor has withdrawn them for not meeting course deadlines.  Don’t let this happen to you!  It is very important to understand that all NOVA Online courses have weekly or even mid-weekly due dates. There are critical enrollment dates, that include your First Assignment Due Date – requiring you to log into your Canvas course site and complete your First Assignment by the due date. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in being dropped from the course without a tuition refund.  Online courses may be 15 weeks, 12 weeks, 10 weeks, 8 weeks, 6 weeks, or 4 weeks in length; each course has specific start, refund, first assignment due date, withdrawal, and end date that you should be aware of when you select a particular course.

In addition to logging in and completing your first assignments (as referenced in your Quick Start Syllabus and Canvas course site), NOVA Online courses also have regular weekly assignment deadlines.

When taking a NOVA Online course, it is important to understand that assignment due dates as well as test and quiz due dates come quickly. Due dates are firm and in some NOVA Online courses, assignments and tests/quizzes are sometimes removed after the due date.

To be successful in your course:

Read through your course syllabus on the first day of class. Understand all the deadlines that apply to your course and record them in your planner.

Establish a Routine – Visit your Canvas course site daily and read all of your emails and announcements.

Make Note of your Course Deadlines, and turn your assignments in on time.

If possible, take your test prior to the testing deadline—you never know what might come up at the last minute!

To ensure that you understand the NOVA Online course deadlines, please review your course specific critical course deadlines and stay on top of weekly assignments.

This article was originally published by Katie, former Orientation and Advising Specialist for ELI (now NOVA Online).