NOVA Web Update

NOVA Web Updates Blog: New Location

2011-06-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

Please note, this blog for NOVA Web Updates has moved to http://blogs.nvcc.edu/novawebupdates/. I hope you will bookmark this new URL and continue to follow this blog.

NOVA App Now Available

2011-05-25T06:17:00.000-07:00

NOVA now has a FREE application available for iPhone, iTouch and iPad users!

To add the new NOVA App to your MAC product:
1. go to iTunes
2. select Apps as the media type
3. enter Northern Virginia Community College in the search box
4. and click on Free App under the NOVA icon to download it

By adding the NOVA App to your device you will have direct access to NOVA's mobile website where you can conduct a Class Search; look up events, activities and holidays on the Calendar; register online through My NOVA; use Maps & Directions to find your way to and around any of the NOVA Campuses and Centers and more.

Keep an eye out for news on the soon to come NOVA App for Droids.

As always, we want to hear from you! Send us your feedback and suggestions through the comments link below. We will personally reply to all entries submitted.

Human Resources Management System (HRMS) Job Aids

2011-04-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

A new Web page has been added to the Human Resource section of the website for all NOVA employees that gives you easy access to an organized list of Human Resources Management System (HRMS) Job Aids. The HRMS is not live yet, but we encourage you to read through all the job aid documents and familiarize yourself with the new system. Also, if you have not done so already, you should complete the self-service training by clicking on the Access the Professional Development Center (PDC) link.

NOTE: All employees should continue to report time and leave in Denosys at this time until further notice.

Campuses & Centers Page Enhanced

2011-03-08T12:41:00.000-08:00

Check out our new Campuses & Centers section! The old page layout contained basic text, a bunch of links and no images. The new and improved layout includes cool features like rotating pages, graphics, buttons, links and informative descriptions. Simply click on the yellow arrows at the top of the page on the left or right and you can easily maneuver between the NOVA Campuses & Centers pages. The embedded framed photo on the right shows you an aerial view of each campus and center. Click on the View Map Online link under the photo and you'll be taken to the Virtual Tour website for the location you selected.

The main content on the pages reveals the resources and programs specific to each NOVA campus and center. In the box on the right are thumbnail images of each campus and center and Go Now buttons. The thumbnail images work the same as the left and right arrows at the top of the page. The Go Now buttons are different from the thumbnails. When you click on a Go Now button for a campus or center you'll be taken to the home page for that campus or center's Website.

Innovation Park Website

2011-03-03T08:27:00.000-08:00

Visit the new website created for NOVA’s latest center called Innovation Park. Innovation Park is located in Manassas and is associated with the Manassas Campus of NOVA. You can find Innovation Park and its sublinks listed under Campuses & Centers.

Similar to our other NOVA Campuses & Centers Web pages, you'll find upcoming event information specific to MIP, contact information, buttons leading you to Academic Divisions, Center Resources, Contacts & Hours and Maps & Directions. Listed under Innovation Park in the gold navigation bar on the left you'll also see details about Distinctive Offerings and Facilities. MIP is used to accommodate overflow classes from Manassas Campus. In addition, a variety of educational programs, continuing education classes, workforce development, personal interest courses, and student events are held at MIP.

Mobile Site Enhancements

2011-03-01T06:50:00.000-08:00

We replaced the basic text and plain look of the NOVAMobile Site with new enhanced graphic elements including 10 icons on the home page that allow you to access key Web pages easier and faster. We hope you will find these new features appealing and beneficial.

The 10 icons lead to key sections of the NOVA website and contain important information organized in defined areas in bold, easy to read text. Conduct a Class Search; look up events, activities and holidays on the Calendar; register online through My NOVA; use Maps & Directions to find your way to and around any of the NOVA Campuses and Centers and more.

On the NOVA home page under Connect With NOVA, click on the word Mobile at the bottom to learn about all the great NOVAMobile site features. To access the NOVAMobile site using the browser on your phone enter http://mobile.nvcc.edu/. At the bottom you will see an option to click on and view the Full Website. Don’t forget to bookmark our site!

Campuses & Centers Layout Tweaks

2011-01-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

Each of the NOVA Campus and Center home pages received a layout makeover.

AL Campus / AN Campus / LO Campus /MA Campus /MEC Campus /WO Campus

The home pages used to be divided into three sections with an intro, On Campus links and Learn More links. Now on each welcome section you'll find four buttons taking you to key information like Academic Divisions, Campus Resources, Contacts & Hours and Maps & Directions. The campus-specific boxed areas below include an Important Information section with links to essential information; an Upcoming Events section with dates and details for what’s happening at that campus; a Contact Us box with the campus street address and phone number and an Inside (campus name) featuring mini photos, blurbs and links to the Provost’s Welcome, Emergency Preparedness and more!

New Classified Employees Handbook 2011-2012

2010-12-22T14:18:00.000-08:00

The new Classified Handbook 2011-2012 edition is on the NOVA website. You can download it or view the online zmags version.

Human Resources has revised and updated the overall content and look of the Classified Employee Handbook. A detailed Table of Contents guides you quickly to the appropriate section and page(s); the handbook also includes an Index and Appendix D Contact Websites gives you links to a wide range of relevant outside agencies and resources. They also incorporated Web links throughout the handbook for easy access to information.

Human Resources will update the handbook on a yearly basis and if warranted, after the July 1 Commonwealth of Virginia legislative changes go into effect.

Newsworthy Notes About Our Website

2010-12-20T10:42:00.000-08:00

The hard work of the WSDM team seems to be paying off...

NOVA Website High on Search List
Northern Virginia Community College is ranked #5 on Google Zeitgeist 2010 for the most searched website in the D.C. region! The rankings are based on the aggregation of billions of search queries people typed into Google in 2010.

NOVA Website Receives a Good Grade
The Virginia State Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) ran a website accessibility compliance scan recently on the NOVA website and gave us a score of 98%. Ours was the highest score of any of the public two and four-year institutions of higher education in the state of Virginia!

Call Center Update

2010-12-10T10:25:00.000-08:00

We made an improvement to the Call Center Contact Us page. We added a new boxed area containing graphic icons and details on the five easy way you can reach the Call Center directly -- by Phone, Live Chat, Email, Request Form or Snail Mail.

New Vet Tech Website

2010-12-09T07:26:00.000-08:00

Visit our new Veterinary Technology aka Vet Tech website. On this site you'll find everything you need to know about preparing for and pursuing a career as a veterinary technician or related position. NOVA offers two great options to meet your specific needs ... an On-Campus Full-Time Program and an Online Part-Time Program.

On the main page you'll find three buttons leading you to direct information on the two programs and a quiz. There is also a photo gallery demonstrating the amazing and compassionate work being done by students currently enrolled in the program. To the right are additional links to News & Events specific to the program, Contact information, Courses, FAQ, Financial Aid/Tuition and more!

Art Program Website

2010-11-29T06:32:00.000-08:00

We recently completed a new website for the Art Program at NOVA's Loudoun Campus. On the home page of the site you can read an overview of the program, view a photo gallery of the facilities, click on a button to the right to make a contribution, or click on another button to take a survey.

Links to sub pages include:

faculty and staff bios and contact information
mini photos and descriptions of the great art facilities
a list of the course offerings
photos of our talented students works in various mediums such as drawing, design, painting, printmaking and ceramics
the Waddell Art Gallery
a photo gallery and details about the College's art collection
external art resources.

Have fun exploring the visual wonders of NOVA's Loudoun Campus Art Department!

Achieving the Dream Web Updates

2010-11-23T09:33:00.000-08:00

Some new details have been added to the Achieving the Dream website including … organized boxes with images and blurbs for each of the six major initiatives, a button for National Achieving the Dream that leads you to an external ATD website, a Current Events button leading to ATD specific events, a page called Initiatives, a Contact Us page leading to key names and email address for the department, and the page formerly titled Workshop was renamed Presentations.

NSO and SOAR Spring '11 Online Registration

2010-11-19T08:03:00.001-08:00

Attention first-time college students, the Spring '11 online registration process for NSO and SOAR has been updated! Participate in NOVA's orientation programs offered at five of NOVA's campuses.

New Student Orientation (NSO) gives you and your parents the opportunity to learn about resources that support student success at NOVA. You will learn more about transfer and career resources, financing your education and your academic division. You will have the opportunity to meet with faculty advisers, counselors and financial aid specialists. You can also tour NOVA facilities and receive answers to your specific questions.

Student Orientation Advising and Registration (SOAR) sessions are led by Student Services faculty/staff, college teaching faculty and student ambassadors. During a SOAR session you will receive first semester advising, create your class schedule, learn about payment options and register for courses.

Spring '11 'My Story' Profiles

2010-11-19T07:55:00.000-08:00

A new set of student and faculty profiles are up for Spring '11. We hope you will find their personal stories about NOVA enlightening and informative.

Facebook: Getting Started Tab

2010-11-18T06:09:00.000-08:00

The Spring '11 semester is around the corner! Are you a NOVAaccess Facebook fan yet? Don't get left out. Join your classmates online and click on the Getting Started tab at the top of the page. Next, click on any of the 12 squares to gain direct access to important information on:

How to Apply - College Catalog - MyNOVA - Schedule of Classes - Events Calendar - Student Life - Academic Calendar - Student Services - Programs & Events - Libraries - Campuses & Centers - Checklist

Center for Excellence in Health Information Systems (HIS)

2010-11-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

Health Information Systems is a rapidly growing field. We developed a new website featuring this program for all of those interested in a career in Health Information Systems (HIS), Health Information Management (HIM), and Health Information Technology (HIT).

You'll find ...

details about the program
buttons in a Learn More box on the right taking you directly to admission checklists and applications to get you started
course descriptions and resources
information on each of the six Health IT Workforce Roles, including charts with the course requirements for the various six-month programs
faculty & staff contacts and more.

Footer Enhancements

2010-09-24T07:35:00.000-07:00

As you can see in the image above, the old footer contained a limited amount of links and was condensed into three lines of copy. The new revised version of the footer includes additional links important to students and faculty/staff organized by category in a clean, easier to navigate four-column layout. The four main categories include: NOVA Links, Support, Policies, and About NOVA. Under the Support column we added links to Student and Faculty Email for easy access and convenience. Some of the other useful links we incorporated are: A-Z Index, Mobile Version, Jobs at NOVA and Maps & Directions.

International Students Site Upgrades

2010-09-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

The International Students website under Future Students and Current Students was enhanced with new features. Some of the website improvements include buttons for quick access to the Admissions Process, F-1 Visa Application, Guaranteed Admissions and NOVA ESL. All the content was reorganized and edited to be more concise, making it easier to read and understand things like the Admissions and F-1 Visa Application Processes. It's also easier to locate specific topics of interest like Guaranteed Admissions, F-1 Employment Opportunities, Scholarships, Taxes and Housing. There's even a new Office of International Student Services (OISS) Contacts page with all the details you need to call or email a member of the OISS Team with any questions.

New Student Handbook Format

2010-08-11T13:13:00.000-07:00

The Student Handbook is online and in a new user-friendly zMag format. Note: To open file it requires Flash.

Check out the cool zMag features:

Table of Contents - leads you directly to the first page of each section in the handbook
Binoculars - allow you search the handbook by key word(s)
Envelope - use to share content by email
Arrows - allow you to navigate through the pages quickly
Printer - use to print the document
PDF - convert the file so you can view it in .pdf format
Crop Box - allows you to crop a section of a page then save it as a file or email it

When you’re on a page your cursor turns into a little magnifier icon that you can use to make the text appear larger or smaller and then scroll the page. You can now breeze through the Student Handbook pages with ease and find the information you're seeking.

2010-2011 College Catalog

2010-08-03T06:53:00.000-07:00

The new online 2010-2011 College Catalog is now available. The Catalog is a great centralized resource for campus specific information, general NOVA details, instructional programs, programs of study, course descriptions, faculty and staff listings, curriculum codes and much more.

Here is a small sampling of what you'll find:

You can conveniently view the online version of the comprehensive 2010-2011 College Catalog at home, work, school -- anywhere you have computer access.

Attention First Year Students

2010-08-02T10:19:00.000-07:00

The new First Year Experience (FYE) website is a must-read for all first year students at NOVA. If provides a wealth of information on:

There are three user-friendly buttons on the FYE home page. One button will lead you to a welcome letter from the deans, another will take you to our new convenient online sign up for FYE form and the third will lead you to an activities page that covers convocation, peer mentoring and more.

On the Get Started page you'll find a handy student checklist that you can print out and take with you on the go. The list contains links to key college offices like financial aid, parking services and NOVAConnect. The Discover Resources page is divided into three sections: advising, transfer and explore career services. Each section contains extensive details organized in an easy to read format with buttons to other relevant Web pages.

If you are a new student at NOVA you will not want to miss clicking through and reading the FYE website!

WDCE - Annandale Has a New Look

2010-07-08T13:44:00.000-07:00

Looking to take a class or program for fun or to enhance your professional development? Visit the redesigned Workforce Development and Continuing Education – Annandale Campus website.

The site was updated to consistently match the look of the NOVA College website. The content is presented in a way that’s easier to navigate. On the home page you’ll find …

a boxed section at the top for announcements
two button features – one that links to the NOVACEAnnandale Twitter page and on that quickly leads you to the most recent edition of the catalog, where you’ll find listings for hundreds of great classroom and online courses
boxed sections with lists of links for your convenience to Upcoming Classes and Featured programs and classes.

In the green navigation section on the right you can access categorized information about WDCE, customized training, facilities rental, maps, contacts and much more!

Essential Info for New Students

2010-06-25T07:35:00.000-07:00

Visit our New Student Orientation (NSO) and SOAR website!

Within this website, you’ll find lots of valuable new information on everything you need to know before you register for classes -- broken down into easy to find and read sections.

At New Student Orientation, you’ll be provided with an opportunity to meet fellow students, faculty and staff. You’ll learn more about our resources for academic success, career/transfer information and our First Year Experience program. You can now sign up for orientation directly online. Click on the NOVA campus of your choice to view session dates and times, then click on the Sign Up link, fill out the form and press submit.

SOAR sessions are designed for student participants who are first-time college students. You can now view online SOAR sessions by clicking on the NOVA campus location convenient to you. The panel will expand revealing detailed steps along with a button leading you to session dates and times. With this information, you can then go to the Student Services Center closest to you to register in person for a session.

Career Services Web Renovations

2010-06-10T09:56:00.000-07:00

Check out our greatly improved Career Services website!

The main page is divided into four block sections tailored to our target audiences – students, employer/community, faculty and staff and alumni. Simply click on the image for the category you wish to access.

On the student page there is a dynamic color-coded looping graphic that leads you through the four easy steps of the Career Development Process. The four steps include Understanding Self, Exploring Careers, Making Decisions and Finding Employment. When you click on one of these steps you are taken to a matching section that reveals informative and valuable content organized in tab format.

There are links to many internal and external resources such as NACElink, a national recruiting network that provides Web based recruiting and career services automation tools serving the needs of colleges, employers and job candidates. There are also links to a variety of helpful assessment tools for students and faculty.

Blackboard Update

2010-06-07T10:27:00.000-07:00

Blackboard Web pages have been added to the NOVA website for students and faculty.

The new student page reveals how to obtain information and instructions on using Blackboard for online, hybrid or classroom courses.

The new faculty page explains how Blackboard can improve communication, make important information easier to share and support student learning for online and classroom courses. There is also a list of Blackboard resource links:

Watch faTV

2010-05-21T11:39:00.000-07:00

faTV is Financial Aid’s new video channel. You can access the faTV button from the Financial Aid page or you connect to the faTV page directly.

A welcome segment in the center of the page will appear explaining how to find dynamic short videos with answers to your common questions. You can search by topic or playlist. If you have a question that isn’t covered by one of the videos, contact the Financial Aid Office.

Some of the many topics asked about by your fellow students include: scholarships, paying for college, qualifying for financial aid, loans, Pell Grants and much more. If you click on one of the videos listed on the far left it will appear and play in the center of the page with a list of additional questions and answers on the right. There are even videos En Español and Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin). Under More Options if you click on Ask a Question a pop-up box will appear that you can fill out and submit or you can select Share (information) With a Friend.

Get on the Right Path

2010-05-20T12:59:00.000-07:00

Visit our new Pathway to the Baccalaureate partnership site. The Pathway Program offers high school students a successful transition, retention, graduation and transfer through Northern Virginia Community College and on to a university of the student’s choice.

The Pathway to the Baccalaureate site was designed using informative copy and inspiring images to entice students to enroll in the program. On the home page you’ll find intro details, news and a video overview. On the Program page you’ll find easy to follow steps that will guide you through the process along with links on the side leading you to other informative details. Click on the My Pathway page to connect with other students through social media sites Facebook and Twitter and access helpful resources such as Blackboard. Select the Information Center and find details about the Partner Schools, Awards & Recognition, Fact Sheet, Data, Contacts and much more.

Gain insight from video testimonials of four students who are part of the Pathway to the Baccalaureate program at NOVA.

WSDM Makes Their Debut

2010-04-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

Web Services & Digital Media (WSDM), a new division of NOVA's Marketing and Communications Department, recently launched their website.

WSDM is dedicated to promoting the positive image of NOVA by providing a rich Web environment for their many audiences who need access to NOVA information and services. WSDM is responsible for NOVA’s website, mobile site and social media.

On the WSDM website you'll find the following features:

screenshots linking to WSDM's Web work including the college calendar, news and events, students resources and more;
an About Us page with details on how you can reach members of the WSDM staff who are ready to assist you with any of your Web needs;
a variety of tutorials covering how to create blogs, Web page design, podcasting and more;
approved procedures and guidelines for the college identity, social media and digital signage;
a vast array of resources including buttons to fun NOVA postcards you can customize and send to your friends and/or colleagues, six different PowerPoint templates and a gallery of NOVA images for use. There are also Web publishing tools, social networking tools and workshop and conference presentation materials;
a button to a Request Services form for any projects you have for the WSDM team; and
a Contact Us page with WSDM's hours of operation, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address.

As always, we want to hear from you! Send us your feedback and suggestions through the comments link below. We will personally reply to all entries submitted.

Financial Aid Site Updated

2010-03-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

Our Financial Aid site has been reorganized to be more user-friendly! We've added extra functionality to make it easier for you to navigate the site, new tabs, a Latest News box and video clip. There are two new buttons -- one leads you to the online application and the other goes to a resource page where you can get an estimate on how much aid you will receive. The FAQ page has been cleaned up and the staff contacts page has been updated. The scholarship page is now streamlined; it includes content organized by tabs and useful links to all the available scholarships on one page.

New Events Calendar

2010-03-24T13:43:00.001-07:00

Check out the new Events Calendar we recently rolled out! You'll find all sorts of great organized college-wide events by day, week, month or year. The calendar is updated on a daily basis.

Subscribe to the calendar and you'll receive reminders to events and changes/updates to event details. Add the calendar to your social network pages like Facebook and Twitter. Need directions to a posted event? No problem, the calendar is integrated with Google Maps so you can conveniently look up directions to a NOVA campus event. You can also do a search by event category, campus location, date and/or keyword(s) and print out calendar pages.

iTunes U Activity on the Rise

2010-03-05T07:40:00.000-08:00

Since August 2009 the number of NOVA on iTunes U podcast downloads has tripled!!! If you haven’t done so already, be sure to check out NOVA on iTunes U, a Web-based service that delivers a variety of podcasts and open courses for FREE via the iTunes program.

NOVA’s iTunes U Categories Include:

Window Into NOVA -- watch an introduction to NOVA by President Robert G. Templin, go on a virtual tour of the campuses and centers, find out about NOVA’s Distance Learning program and more.
Academics -- listen to many audio presentations on subjects like Taking the Math Placement Test, Commencement, PUP Presentations and more, In addition, you can view great Science Seminar videos, entertaining instructional cooking segments presented by a professional chef from NOVA’s Hospitality Management Program who solves common cooking issues and more.
NOVA Community -- find the latest student, faculty and college news to keep you informed!
Open Courses -- hear a collection of instructive speeches given on an assortment of subjects of interest relevant to the NOVA community including Communication Design, History and Biology.
Training & Services -- listen to a series of instructional audio clips on topics such as how-to create your own podcast, Blackboard tips and tricks and more.

NOTE: You must have iTunes downloaded on your computer in order to access NOVA on iTunes U.

New NOVA ESL Website

2010-02-19T06:26:00.000-08:00

Visit the new English as a Second Language (ESL) website! Here you'll find lots of information on the two programs NOVA offers to help students with a variety of English goals improve their skills -- College ESL and the American Culture and Language Institute (ACLI).

Under the College ESL section you'll locate information about ...

how to reach campus contacts
placement testing procedures and sample test questions
the various levels along with details on the ACCUPLACER placement test
background information on ESL faculty and students
some of the most frequently asked questions

In the American Culture and Language Institute (ACLI) section you'll find details on ...

how to reach campus contacts
customized training options for working professionals
specialty course offerings
explanations on the levels of the program including hours, prices and locations
some of the most frequently asked questions

Link Descriptions

2010-02-02T07:12:00.000-08:00

For your convenience, we've now added brief descriptions for all the links listed on the main page of Current Students and Faculty & Staff.

We've also included them on all the Campus Resources pages for each NOVA campus and center.

AL / AN / LO / MA / MEC / WO / Arlington Center / Reston Center

Simply place your courser on top of any link listed on these pages, and a mini box will appear revealing what kind of information you will find when you click on that specific link.

Subscribe to Our RSS Feed

2009-12-04T13:38:00.000-08:00

Stay informed, check out the NOVA RSS feed by clicking on the orange button on the NOVA News & Events website. The NOVA News & Events RSS Feed is posted every Friday. You can also view our top 20 latest RSS Feed entries by visiting us on NOVA iTunes U. Click on our iTunes U link off the NOVA home page. When you’re on our NOVA iTunes U site, scroll down to the NOVA Community section and click on the first track called NOVA News and Events – it will take you to a list of NOVA’s top 20 news feeds all for FREE!

Academic Divisions Changes at Alexandria

2009-11-20T09:43:00.000-08:00

During registration for Spring 2010 classes, please note an important change -- there were previously four academic divisions at the Alexandria Campus, but now there are two. The two new redistributed academic divisions are Liberal Arts and Science, Technology & Business.

In addition to all the great existing programs offered by the Alexandria Campus Liberal Arts Division, they've added a new program called Library Technology.

In addition to all the wonderful existing programs offered by the Alexandria Campus Science, Technology and Business Division, they've added a new program called Health.

Your Future in Geoscience

2009-11-20T07:45:00.000-08:00

If you enjoy the study of Geography and Geospatial Technology, you’ll want to visit our new comprehensive Geoscience website. GST is a rapidly expanding field which can be applied to virtually any profession. GST joins three technologies (GIS, GPS and RS) to create a visual, geographic representation of any subject matter.

This website is loaded with revealing information on the topic of Geoscience, along with details on NOVA’s GIS Certificate Program, jobs, FAQ, a student gallery, resource materials, events and more.

In addition, you’ll find information about NOVA’s unique Geospatial Career Pipeline Initiative (GCPI) program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. When you’re visiting the site, make sure to also check out the Virtual Geography Club.

Blogs at NOVA

2009-11-20T06:57:00.000-08:00

Check out the new Blogs at NOVA Web page!

On the Blogs at NOVA page you will find boxes with descriptions, insider information and links to ALL official college-wide blogs. Read updates, make comments and provide feedback on …

NOVA’s Ready for Spring 2010

2009-10-26T13:01:00.000-07:00

Be prepared for the next semester; check out our new online Spring 2010 Schedule of Classes! You can search for Spring courses and view other college information. Our interactive Schedule of Classes also includes special notes and prerequisites for each course.

Virtual Academic Advising begins on Monday, November 2 and runs through Thursday, November 5. Academic advising helps you to plan a program that will meet your educational objectives. The Virtual Advising Project is designed to extend academic advising by offering evening hours and an alternate way to reach an advisor for students who are unable to come to campus during Advising Week for whatever reason. Virtual Advisors are available by chat or email. Make sure to have your Student ID number available.

Priority Registration for continuing students starts on November 10 and runs through November 13. On November 5, you will be able to determine your assigned priority registration date. Open registration for Spring classes starts on November 16 for all students. Spring 2010 classes begin on January 11.

Explore NOVA's new Wait List Tutorial feature. It will be available for high-demand courses, not all classes. When you attempt to enroll through Self-Service in a class that is full, you will be given the opportunity to be entered on a Wait List. If a spot in the class becomes available, students on the wait list would gain entrance to the class on a first-come-first-served basis. If you are on a wait list for a class, you will not be charged tuition for the class until you become enrolled.

Be Prepared

2009-10-12T07:22:00.000-07:00

NOVA’s Emergency Preparedness website has been redesigned and updated. This site is loaded with lots of important and valuable information. You will find the latest news on the H1N1 virus, college closings, emergency numbers, alerts, emergency preparedness plan details and much more.

If you haven’t done so already, be sure to sign up for NOVA alerts by clicking on the Register for NOVA Alerts button at the bottom of the Emergency Preparedness home page. NOVA Alert is an awareness system that allows the college to contact you during an emergency by sending text messages to your cell phone, e-mail, BlackBerry, etc.

NOVA Goes Mobile

2009-10-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

A mobile version of the NOVA website is up and running. NOVA realizes our students, faculty and staff lead very busy lives. In an effort to meet your on-the-go needs, we developed a NOVA mobile site you can easily access from any Web-enabled phone or PDA.

The main categories of the NOVA mobile site are Library, Calendars, Class Search, My NOVA, Campus Maps and Directions, Facilities, Contacts and other links to important details. Additional features include the ability to click-to-call phone numbers, emergency updates and public transportation information.

Atteeeeention!

2009-09-02T06:54:00.000-07:00

A newly revised section of NOVA’s website called Military/Veterans & Their Families is now completed. You will find it listed under both the Current Students and Future Students sections of our website.

The three main categories of the Military/Veterans & Their Families website are Active Duty, Dependents and Veterans. There are many sub pages listed under those categories that offer you important and detailed information on a range of topics like Getting Started at NOVA, AVOTEC, SOC Program, Education Counseling, Military Installation Contacts, MyCAA, Domicile Information, Post-9/11 GI Bill, Survivors' & Dependents’ EAP, Veterans Advisors and more.

We are honored to serve your academic needs.

NOVA’s Website at Your Fingertips

2009-08-19T08:20:00.000-07:00

Find a vast array of NOVA information using our new A to Z Index! Our latest Web feature is located in the footer section of all our main Web pages.

Our A to Z Index allows you to search for endless information on the NOVA website two different ways:

By Letter - when you click on a letter at the top of the page you'll be taken to the index section for that alpha letter.
By Topic - when you click on a specific topic from the alphabetized list, you'll be taken directly to the landing page for that topic where you'll find more details.

The A to Z Index was created for your convenience; we hope you'll find it helpful.

News & Events

2009-07-08T09:33:00.000-07:00

Extra, extra, read all about it!

Check out our newly redesigned News & Events page. It’s LOADED with content and links to the latest NOVA news.

Interesting page features include a story recap and photo from a NOVA event at the top of the page; a list of our press releases on the right; links to our social networking sites Twitter and Facebook and a button to the NOVA Events Calendar. There are also six organized sections at the bottom of the page showcasing:

a running newsfeed of NOVA related stories
a list of upcoming NOVA events
an interactive poll
a link to our weekly NOVA News podcast
the latest issue of Intercom
a recognition section honoring NOVA faculty and staff

In addition, you will find our media contacts staff list and our comprehensive online press kit.

Visit the News & Events page daily for all your NOVA college-wide updates!

Campus Resources

2009-06-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

The Campus Resources pages have undergone some design and content changes. The previous format showed an overview of our various services in paragraph format. Now, the links to important student pages are organized into six categories, bulleted for simplified navigation. The categories are: Student Services, Academic Support, Campus Life, Campus Information, Faculty & Staff and Important Links. We've been hard at work developing this more efficient structure that encompasses all of our student service offerings specific to each campus, including links to some new areas we feel are vital to online student support.

To find the resources available at your NOVA Campus, go to Campus & Centers in the navigation bar on the right, select a campus location and then click on the Campus Resources link. It is our goal to help our students feel plugged-in and aware of the many great resources available to them at NOVA.

NOVA Blogs

2009-06-05T14:02:00.001-07:00

Our blogs are a great way to get up-to-the-minute information about different aspects of NOVA. They also offer an open forum where students, faculty and staff can interact.

Here are some of our new blogs that we encourage you to follow and participate in :

Admissions Blog - important updates to the admissions process, as well as your questions and comments
Alexandria Campus Learning Resource Services - discover what we're doing to enhance teaching and learning. Post your comments, questions and ideas.
Arlington Center Library - updated when new books, DVDs and other resources hit the shelves
Blackboard - use technology to teach and learn at NOVA; including useful tips and updates
elife - the NOVA-ELI student blog by ELI faculty, staff and students
NOVA Web Update - get the latest updates on the progress of NOVA's website
YOUR Alexandria Campus Library - new additions to the browsing collection, changes to hours and other updates

Coming Soon: A Transfer blog.

Open Courses on NOVA's iTunes U

2009-05-26T12:05:00.000-07:00

Learn something new from our latest Open Courses section on the Northern Virginia Community College iTunes U site. Open Course categories available at this time include:

Communication Design (ART 116) taught by Julia Turner - learn the proper techniques for designing for the Web
History (HIS 276) taught by Dr. Charles Errico - see the last 50 years of American History come alive in this 26-part series
History (HIS 101) taught by Charles Evans - examine the development of western civilization from ancient times to the present

Use the black back arrow button near the top to navigate between podcasts. If you are taken back to the general iTunes U page don't worry, click on the Universities & Colleges link, look for the Northern Virginia Community College listing and click on it.

Make sure to check back for many other exciting Open Courses on our iTunes U channel as they become available in the future.

New Student Orientation

2009-05-21T11:22:00.000-07:00

Visit our freshly updated New Student Orientation (NSO) site. Here you'll find everything you need and want to know about NOVA. On the NSO home page you’ll have access to a list of phone numbers for each campus. There’s also a button that leads you to another page where you’ll see instructions on how-to sign up for a NSO session, a sample agenda of a session, and details about various dates and times sessions are being offered at a NOVA Campus near you.

We want to hear from you! Send us your feedback and suggestions through the comments link below. We will personally reply to all entries submitted.

FAQ Interactive Feature

2009-04-27T14:06:00.000-07:00

Do you want your questions answered by actual NOVA students via video? Check out our cool new interactive video FAQ section for Future Students!!! Simply click on any of the questions in green on the left and a lively video feed on the right featuring NOVA students will reveal answers.

We want to hear from you! Tell us what other interactive features you would like to see on the NOVA website. We'll work to make your idea(s) come to life.

Faces of NOVA

2009-04-06T05:42:00.000-07:00

Get to know the people at NOVA! Visit our My Story gallery at the top of the NOVA website home page to see our new group of students and faculty members. We update the gallery every fall and spring semester.

Photos and narratives of five NOVA students and two faculty members are featured in this rotating section. Click on the Find Out More button to read their complete and unique perspectives on the college.

Social Media Outlets Expanded

2009-04-03T05:50:00.000-07:00

NOVA now has a presence on a variety of social media sites including iTunes U, YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn andTwitter due to the collaborative efforts of Marketing and Communications and the Technology Applications Center (TAC). Make sure to look at the special boxed section of social media links called Connect With NOVA on at the bottom of the College’s Website under the Current Students, Future Students and Faculty & Staff home pages.

Connect with fellow NOVA fans on our Facebook and MySpace NOVAaccess pages and see postings for a variety of college events. We hope you will enjoy these new NOVA Web tools!

Revised Sections Update

2009-03-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

Check out the new landing page for Current Students. We hope the arrangement of information will make it easier for you to find what you need. The NOVA Web team is working on revisions to most of the major landing pages on the site. Be sure to send us your comments by clicking on the Comments link below.

You will also notice the Transfer site and Career Services site have been revised. Last but not least, check out details on how to participate in Athletics. Be sure to read the Sports News for the latest happenings with NOVA teams.

Social Media Outlets

2009-03-01T21:36:00.000-08:00

We’re proud to announce our debut on YouTube and iTunes U!!!

Check out our YouTube channel, NOVAaccess. Here you’ll find a brief introduction about NOVA, along with a range of exciting video clips covering student activities, testimonials, interviews and special events like the Native Pride Dancers performance.

We also invite you to turn up the volume and explore our channel on iTunes U - Northern Virginia Community College. Did you know NOVA was the second college in the state of Virginia to be approved and listed by Apple on iTunes U? While surfing our channel, you’ll find podcasts on a variety of dynamic topics including: a shout-out from President Templin, how to get started at NOVA, instructional segments, guest lectures, events, training and tips. Don’t miss our popular 60-Second Chef series, filled with entertaining and instructional cooking segments.

Be sure to check back for the latest update on our Facebook, MySpace and Twitter pages!

Work in Progress

2008-09-25T10:33:00.000-07:00

The NOVA Web redesign team has worked very hard to bring you a website that we hope will exceed your expectations!

Our progress so far is thanks to the work of members of the Web Advisory & Web Implementation Committees, along with staff from the Technology Applications Center, Marketing & Communications Department and the Alexandria and Annandale Campus Webmasters.

Like all major projects, this one has layers that are being worked on in phases. We are currently finishing Phase II, which entailed the migration of all revised old content into the new NOVA website layout. The content and design are being stored in the new Content Management System. We will continue to tweak pages as we receive input from various departments. We are a small team ready to work hard to accommodate many requests in a timely manner. As we prepare to start on Phase III of the Web project, these are some of the areas we'll be focusing on ...

assessing what pieces need to be updated,
the finalization of our Web guidelines and policies,
the new functionality of our website,
creating a mobile version of the site to be viewed on handheld devices and
expanding our reach to social media sites available on the Internet.

We thank you for your patience and we welcome your feedback!