“Always Innovating: Improving Outcomes Through Technology” in CS Building, Room 129 from 8:45 AM to 3:00 PM with registration and snacks CF Building, Faculty Dining Room – Register at http://www.pearsonhighered.com/myevents/nova2014

This is Advising Week so plan to meet with your faculty advisor to discuss your academic plans and progression. Choose your courses for the spring semester. Review your requirements for graduation.

If you don’t have an advisor or can’t reach your current one, you may meet with a faculty member this week in the CA lobby, first floor from 10-2 and from 4-7.

In addition, if any students plan to graduate this upcoming Spring 2015 or Summer 2015, they don’t want to miss this very important workshop entitled “Crossing the Finish Line” on Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 3:00pm in CA 302.

[cid:image003.jpg@01CFF5C4.477EEF50]<http://www.nvcc.edu/sixpolicychanges.pdf>

NOVA captured the 2014 National Junior College Athletic Association Region 20 Division II Championship with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Frederick Community College Sunday afternoon, November 2, at Hagerstown Community College.

Bravo, Ladies!

Virginia Election Day is November 4.  Have you registered to vote?  For more information visit www.vote.virginia.gov. You must register by October 14 to qualify for the November 4 election.

Smart people vote.
Responsible citizens vote.
Wise people know how important voting is.

You must register to vote a month ahead of time. You must also be a resident and at least 18 at the time of election.

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/vregis.htm

• Effective July 1, 2014 New Photo Voter ID Requirements
• November 4, 2014 Election Registration Deadline: October 14th at 5:00 p.m., online: 11:59 p.m.
• Register to Vote Online or Update Your Current Voter Registration (Virginia Department of Elections)
• Download the Virginia Voter Registration Application Complete the form, sign and return to the Office of Elections
• Verify Your Voter Registration and/or Absentee Ballot Application Status  (Virginia Department of Elections)
• Current and Historical Voter Registration Statistics (Virginia Department of Elections)
• Can I Conduct a Voter Registration Drive in My Community?

“Free, imaginative play is crucial for normal social, emotional and cognitive development. It makes us better adjusted, smarter and less stressed” writes Melinda Wenner Moyer in Scientific American Mind & Brain, http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-serious-need-for-play-creativity-special/?&WT.mc_id=SA_MB_20140903

For many of us, the end of August marks a new year and a fresh start. With that in mind, I’d like to make some recommendations for getting off to a good beginning:

1.  Attend your first class session. Like a first date or a first interview, this first meeting sets the tone for all others. Missing this session means that you are missing many of the critical communication elements that make a good relationship among your colleagues.

2. Read your syllabus, textbook, and Blackboard site. Sure, you might be able to fake it, but why do you want to? You’re in college to get a good education and getting one means you’re not faking it.

3. Declare a major and meet with your faculty advisor. You can change these if needed but you need to started in a direction. Make a plan and then work that plan. Your faculty advisor is a professor in the discipline that you want to study who will mentor you.

4. Think of your education as your profession. Develop professional habits  including arriving to class on time, submitting work that you’re proud of, dressing well, and asking questions when you aren’t clear about expectations. Treat yourself as the professional that you are.

5. Get involved on the campus. Even if you work full-time, carve out some time to go to student events, join an honors society, work out, and/or get involved in athletics.

Have a great academic year!

College is different from high school and many students experience culture shock after two months. Culture shock includes feelings confused, frustrated, irritated, surprised, and disgusted by the new rules. For some students, culture shock leads to feeling isolated and depressed.

To ensure that you move through shock into acceptance and integration, get involved in your classes and in student activities. Don’t rely upon your high school friends and family to be your sole support. You are opportunities to meet new friends and to learn a lot. Work out in our fitness center. Play sports. Join a student club. Go to class and talk with your professors during their office hours for more assistance. Work with your academic advisor.

I’m giving a talk to international students to prepare them for culture shock here at NOVA this semester. Below are my tips for them:

Cultural Adjustment
Ms. Nan Peck
Associate Professor, Communication Studies
CM 306

Expect and accept that you will experience culture shock (normally 2-4 months after your arrival).

Stage 1: Honeymoon
America is baseball and apple pie. And football, Costco, Walmart, and junk food.

Stage 2: Disillusionment – Culture Shock
Expect and accept that you will experience culture shock (normally 2-4 months after your arrival).

 Culture shock includes feeling of irritation, confusion, frustration, fear, sense of loss, surprise and disgust. This is normal.

America is not like TV or the internet.
Americans love cars but hate traffic and other drivers.
Americans love guns but argue about gun ownership and gun control.
Americans love to argue.

If you don’t have good support systems (family, friends, counselors), you may experience isolation and depression.

Stage 3: Acceptance
Stay in touch with your family and friends. Get involved with student services and your classmates. Get support from your advisors and professors.

This will be one of the hardest and best experiences of your life.

Fall is a great time of year for academics. Like students, we get excited (and nervous) about preparing for courses. Most faculty spend their summer taking courses, reading journals, and experimenting with new educational technology. The new year gives us an opportunity to try out new ideas and ways of presenting these.

This is a good time to go shopping for school clothes and supplies as well.

What are you looking forward to most this new academic year?