NOVA Web Updates Blog: New Location

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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.