This week at NOVA Online

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Photo of Search Key on ComputerAccess NOVAConnect to identify your fall priority registration date. Fall open registration for all students begins on May 5. Summer registration is currently open for all students. Check the schedule of classes in NOVA Connect and follow this tutorial to help you search for online classes through NOVA Online. Make sure you change the date to reflect the term you are looking to register for (summer ’15 or fall ’15).

Are you thinking about an online course through NOVA Online, but not sure if it is right for you? Review our Furthering your education with NOVA Online recording to see if online learning is a right fit for your current educational needs. You could also take the Smarter Measure assessment to see how your personal learning styles will work with online courses.

Wednesday – Conducting a Job Search – Virtual – 12:15 – 1pm. This 45 minute webinar will focus on basic strategies for conducting a job search. Topics covered will include creating a plan, identifying sources of job leads, and resume, cover letter, and interview basics. Registration is required.

Wednesday – NOVA Online Birthday Celebration – WO – 1-3pm. The Extended Learning Institute is turning 40! NOVA Online will be visiting all six campuses and invite students to join us in celebrating 40 years of online learning at NOVA! This week we will be at the Woodbridge campus. Come by and enjoy a cupcake to help us celebrate! Use #HappyBirthdayNOVA Online on Twitter to share your pictures!

Thursday – NOVA Online Book Club. Join NOVA Online’s Book Club! This semester we will read “How I Live Now” by Meg Rosoff. After you sign up, you will gain access to the book club’s discussion board. We will end the book club with a live viewing of the movie adaptation this Thursday! Sign up today and watch the movie with us! Register here.

Thursday – How to Prepare for Finals Webinar – 1:00 – 1:30 pm. This 30 min live session will focus on topics and strategies to help ease anxiety and help you study smart such as: early preparation, planning your approach and taking the exam. Sign up now and promote your success! Register here.

All Week – Money Smart Week – Do you know where your money is going each week? Do you have a financial plan? This week we will feature posts around making smart money choices. Do you have any questions about using financial aid? Use the Student Support Center to get your questions answered.

Resource of the Week – Review this list of the 50 best apps for surviving finals from OnlineUniversities.com. What study apps are your favorite? What helps get your through studying for finals? Share with us!

Start Strong at NOVA

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Welcome to NOVA Online! We are dedicated to helping you start strong. Whatever your educational goals, we can help you achieve them. If you are a first-time-to-college student, ages 17-24 (including high school/homeschool/GED graduates), you need to Start Strong at NOVA.

start strongThe new polices are part of an effort to strengthen the NOVA experience. Five of the new policies affect first-time-to-college students (ages 17-24). New students are required to attend a Student Orientation and meet with a First Year Advisor. As a new NOVA Online student, you can attend a campus Student Orientation, or you can work with NOVA Online virtually to get started.

As you are getting started, utilize your Student Success Planner to help guide your academic goals throughout your NOVA degree. You will also need to take the SmarterMeasure assessment early to help you gage your readiness for online learning.

The sixth policy requiring on-time registration impacts all students: new, current, transfer, international, military or any other type of student. All students must be registered for classes by 11:59 p.m. the day before the session’s start date. Once the session begins, registration is closed.

If you are not enrolled in a class on the start date of the session you will not be able to enroll without permission from the division dean. If you miss on-time registration you can still register for later start date. NOVA Online has several start dates each semester, for students interested in starting a class later in the semester. Check out NOVA Online Critical Course Deadlines for more information. For more information about on-time registration view this video.

#LIBRARYMADE

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banner for #librarymade promotion for national library weekToday’s libraries are more than just books. Increasingly, they are places of creativity where people can meet to share a hobby, use a 3D printer, edit a video, or use software to record their own music. Libraries offer access to the tools and technology essential to the economic and cultural lives of their communities.

Help us demonstrate the Unlimited possibilities available @ your library by sharing what the library has helped you to create.

Did you research or write your book, learn how to make a hand-knitted scarf or culinary creation? Have you used the library’s 3D printer or produced a video? Did the library help you find a new job or get your small business off the ground? Or perhaps the library’s homework help service made a difference in your child’s last report card.

Join in the fun. Promotion begins Monday April 13 at noon CT and ends Friday, April 17 at noon CT.

Share a photo or link to your creation on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #librarymade for the chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Maker Shed or Amazon. Photos can also be added to our Unlimited possibilities Flickr group. If 140 characters isn’t enough, add your story to the collection here on the I Love Libraries website.

Follow the fun during National Library Week on the #LibraryMade Hashtag Wall.”1

Official Rules: http://ilovelibraries.org/librarymade. Take a look at some of the things you can learn from NOVA’s libraries: http://blogs.nvcc.edu/elife/2014/12/23/hobby/. Have fun and good luck!

 

1. Text from http://ilovelibraries.org/librarymade

This week at NOVA Online

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ThinkstockPhotos-179335356Summer registration is currently open for all students and fall priority registration opens this week. Access NOVAConnect to identify your fall priority registration date. Fall open registration for all students begins on May 5. Check the schedule of classes in NOVA Connect and follow this tutorial to help you search for online classes through NOVA Online. Make sure you change the date to reflect the term you are looking to register for (summer ’15 or fall ’15).

Are you thinking about an online course through NOVA Online, but not sure if it is right for you? Review our Furthering your education with NOVA Online recording to see if online learning is a right fit for your current educational needs. You could also take the Smarter Measure assessment to see how your personal learning styles will work with online courses.

All Week- Pedometer Challenge. Participate in the NOVA Online Pedometer Challenge through our Health and Wellness Interest Group! Compete and share experiences with other students by tracking your average daily steps for a month as well as create personal health and wellness goals. Request to join the Google Community to connect with fellow NOVA Online students. Any questions – email NOVA OnlineStuLife@nvcc.edu.

All Week- NOVA Online Book Club. Join NOVA Online’s Book Club! This semester we will read “How I Live Now” by Meg Rosoff. After you sign up, you will gain access to the book club’s discussion board. We will end the book club with a live viewing of the movie adaptation! So, don’t wait and sign up today! Register here.

Wednesday – Spring Fling & NOVA Online Birthday Celebration – MA – 11-2pm. The Extended Learning Institute is turning 40! NOVA Online will be visiting all six campuses and invite students to join us in celebrating 40 years of online learning at NOVA! This week we will be at Manassas and joining the Spring Fling Festivities! Stop by and learn more about NOVA Online!

Resource of the Week – Stress Management and Coping Skills Support Group – Access Hope is offering free group counseling services for students at the Alexandria campus. The group is open to all NOVA students. Contact Ms. Grace Gray at ggray@thewomenscenter.org for more information.

The Red Flag Campaign

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red_flag_dayThe Red Flag Campaign is a public awareness campaign designed to address dating violence and promote the prevention of dating violence on college campuses. The campaign was created using a “bystander intervention” strategy, encouraging friends and other campus community members to “say something” when they warning signs (“red flags”) for dating violence in a friend’s relationship. What are some of those red flags?

  • Constant phone calls, texts, e-mails, or messages throughout the day or showing up unexpectedly
  • Telling you how to dress or act
  • Take your money or take advantage of you in other ways
  • Try to isolate you and control whom you see or where you go
  • Blame you for how they treat you, or for anything bad that happens.

Dating/partner violence is about power and control. Research indicates that in 21% of college dating relationships, one of the partners is being abused. College aged women (16-24) experience the highest per capita rate of intimate partner violence. Recognize a red flag in a friend’s relationship? Violence and abuse in relationships usually continues and often gets worse over time if no action is taken to stop it. You can help your friend by being honest about your concerns. Say something!

If you are in need of services or have questions regarding red flags in a relationship, please contact NOVA SAS at nova.sas@nvcc.edu or text/call 703-338-0834 (24 hours / 7 days a week). We can help you approach a friend to let them know that you are concerned and help guide them to resources.

-Written by: Angela Acosta, Sexual Assault Services (SAS) Outreach Specialist, NOVACares Office 

Being an Advocate for your Success

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As a student there really is no one better to ensure your success but you. Therefore, there is no better advocate for your success than you! Students have the ability to shape their educational experience by using their voices to speak on their own behalf. When a situation calls for self advocacy, it is always good keep the following tips in mind:

Start with your instructor. Many issues can be handled by simply reaching out to your instructor (i.e. grading, difficulty with course material, problems submitting exams and assignments, etc.). Try to facilitate a dialogue of mutual respect and avoid using abrasive, accusatory, or otherwise aggressive language in all communications with instructors. Review tips on emailing your instructor.

Don’t be intimidated and understand that your voice matters. Sometimes speaking up can be an intimidating task. Students may fear being unjustly persecuted by an instructor if they raise an issue against the instructor. Sometimes it’s more comfortable to rely on others to handle matters or to ignore issues completely, but there are times when you are the person from whom action is required and pretending the problem does not exist does a disservice to you and your education.  If the difference between enduring maltreatment and having an enriching learning experience is you speaking up for yourself, then it’s time to be vocal and let your needs be heard.

Be knowledgeable of your role, responsibilities, and rights as a student. Students have a responsibility to be knowledgeable of the student handbook, codes of conduct, student grievance policy, course policies, etc. When situations arise, you need to be clear on all rules, regulations, and policies related to your issue. You wouldn’t want to raise a stink that could have been avoided by researching school policy. An informed student is an empowered student.

Access your resources. Any time you are not sure how to approach a situation, are uncertain who to address your concerns with, etc., reach out to your support staff for advice, resources, and assistance.  Contact the NOVA Online Success Coach team and they can point you in the right direction at 703-764-5076 or elisuccess@nvcc.edu.

Understand that  not all change is instant and not everything will have the outcome you desire. However, remember that your education is a cause worth advocating for. Namaste.

-Jennifer, NOVA Online Success Coach

#NOVA OnlineBookClub Meeting Dates

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Book and movie posters for "How I live Now" by Meg Rosoff

Here are some important dates for the book club:

April 16 @ 6:30 p.m. EST: We will discuss the book online using Google hangouts.

April 23 @ 6:30 p.m. EST: We will watch the movie adaptation online.

Instructions for accessing each event will be posted on the book club website.

There is still time to sign up for the book club! Register here: http://goo.gl/forms/uJu6FlJA03. After you sign up, you will gain access to the book club’s discussion board. All you need is your NOVA e-mail address! #NOVA OnlineBookClub

It’s Advising Week!

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career road signs
Advising week is offered every fall and spring semester 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.   Advising week for the Fall 2015 semester will be held from April 6 – April 10. Get the most out of advising week by following the steps below:

  1. Attend a Getting Ready for Your Next Semester webinar. Learn more about the webinar and register for an upcoming session here.
  2. Use the Student Success Planner to build your academic plan and compare your plan to program requirements.
  3. Review your Advisement Report.   Access NOVAConnect to view your report.
  4. Take a moment to reflect upon your career planning.  If you need more information about career options or would like to learn about a resource to help you build a career plan consider attending a Focus on Your Career Planning webinar.  Learn more about the webinar and register for an upcoming session here.
  5. Communicate with your advisor about your academic and career goals.  Be sure to take a moment to review your plans for both the summer term (registration is occurring now) and the fall semester.  Plan to have your academic plan,  advisement report, and/or career plan handy when communicating with your advisor.

If you have not declared a program of study or are not pursuing a specific program at NOVA connect with an NOVA Online counselor for assistance.  Priority registration for the fall semester will begin on April 14.   All current students will be assigned a priority registration date.   During advising week access NOVAConnect to identify your priority registration date. Open registration begins on May 5.

Tip of the week: Figure out a calendar system that works for you! Are you using a paper calendar or electronic calendar? Do you set alerts on your phone or computer? Do you keep a to-do list on your paper calendar? Try out a few different ways to see what works best for you! You have a lot to keep track of as you get registered for your classes, and then once classes start! Get organized. Let us know what works best for you! Tell us in the comments.

SAAM KICK OFF!

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ThinkstockPhotos-180121101April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM)! The goal of SAAM is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities on how to prevent it.  Sexual violence is a major public health, human rights and social justice issue. We need everyone’s help to end it. The NOVA Community can help make a difference!

NOVA Sexual Assault Services (SAS) would like you to get involved during SAAM! NOVA SAS is hosting several events this month:

April 6th – April 10th: Red Flag Campaign Week (Annandale Campus)

April 9th: Red Flag Info Table (Annandale Campus – CF Quad)

April 9th: Walk a Mile in Her Shoes (Annandale Campus – CF Quad)

April 13th – April 17th: Red Flag Campaign Week (Medical Education Campus)

April 14th: Jackson Katz: “Violence Against Women-it’s a men’s issue” Roundtable (Alexandria Campus – Women’s Center)

April 16th: Red Flag Info Table (Medical Education Campus – 1st Floor)

April 16th: Student Government Association (SGA) Benefit Concert   (Annandale Campus – Ernst Theater)

April 20th – April 24th:  Red Flag Campaign Week (Loudoun Campus)

April 21st: Red Flag Info Table (Loudoun Campus – Front of LR)

April 21st: Take Back the Night (Loudoun Campus – Side entrance of LW)

April 28th: Bystander Intervention Roundtable (Alexandria Campus – Women’s Center)

April 29th: Denim Day (Annandale Campus – CF Quad)

If you would like more information regarding these events, please contact Angela Acosta at aacosta@nvcc.edu or 703-323-2406 or like us on Facebook

If you are in need of services, please contact NOVA SAS at nova.sas@nvcc.edu or text/call 703-338-0834 (24 hours / 7 days a week).

-Written by: Angela Acosta, Sexual Assault Services (SAS) Outreach Specialist, NOVACares Office 

NOVA Sexual Assault Services (SAS)

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ThinkstockPhotos-1793353561 in 5 college women will experience sexual assault during their college career.  In spite of this, sexual assault is a crime that is rarely talked about and even more rarely reported.  Anyone in our NOVA community can be a victim, not just students.

Sexual assault survivors are not alone. NOVA Sexual Assault Services (SAS) aims to address issues of sexual assault, stalking, and dating/partner violence by providing free confidential support and services to any member of the NOVA family.  We assist students as well as faculty, staff, and immediate family members, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. Victims need support during and after such a crisis and we are here to help.

NOVA SAS provides the first line of contact for members of our community experiencing these difficulties. Besides offering telephone or in-person crisis intervention and support, we can accompany victims to police and/or court interviews as well as to the hospital or academic meetings.

Contact NOVA SAS at 703-338-0834 or by email at NOVA.SAS@nvcc.edu. We are available to help or support a victim in the best and safest way possible 24 hours a day. NOVA SAS is a program of the NOVACares Office.

-Written by: Angela Acosta, Sexual Assault Services (SAS) Outreach Specialist, NOVACares Office