Getting Started Guide

IMPORTANT DATES
June 7: Fall 2011 open registration begins July 29: Fall 2011 tuition due for all classes registered by July 28, 2011 August 22: Fall 2011 classes begin August 22-28: Drop/ Add period for classes October 10-11: NonInstructional Days (Fall Break) October 31November 4: Spring 2012 Advising Week November 8: Priority registration begins for Spring 2012 November 12: Open registration begins for Spring 2012 November 23: No classes; college offices close at NOON November 24-25: No classes; college offices closed for Thanksgiving Break December 5-11: Last week of Fall semester classes December 12-19: Final Exam Week December 23-January 2, 2012: College closed; all offices closed during Winter Break

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Welcome from the Dean of Students

challenging. Our mission is to ensure that our students never feel lost at NOVA. We provide a number of services designed to supplement your academic experience and help you plan for the future. These services include general academic advising, transfer and career counseling, as well as services for veteran students and students with disabilities. Additionally, we can provide a wide-range of student engagement opportunities including student activities, cooperative education and internships. By attending NOVA, you are investing in your future and the growth of our community and nation. Today is a great day to stop by any of the student development offices to continue the life-long learning process of becoming all you can be! Athos Brewer, Ph.D. Dean of Students Annandale Campus

A hearty welcome to you as you join the more than 20,000 students who attend NOVA's Annandale Campus. Helping you to achieve your academic goals is our primary focus. We recognize that navigating the college system can sometimes be

Financial Aid Quick Tips!

Remember that you need to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for each academic year you are at NOVA. Apply online at: www.fafsa.gov! Once you complete your FAFSA, correspondence will be sent via your NOVA Connect email account. Check your To Do list on NOVAConnect weekly and submit all requested documentation immediately. View your financial aid award through NOVAConnect. Look under campus finances to view your award status. Check your account summary. Pay any portion of your bill not covered by financial aid to avoid being dropped from course. If you have any questions about financial aid, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 703-3233400 or by email at anfinaidhelp@nvcc.edu. We are here to help!

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Counseling Center CA Building - first floor Room 112 (703) 323-3200 Mon-Thurs: 8:30am-7:30pm Fri: 8:30-5pm Sat: 10am-2pm Admissions, Records, and Registration CA Building - first floor Room 114 (703) 323-3400 Mon-Thurs: 8:30am-7:30pm Fri: 8:30am-5pm Sat: 10am-2pm Email: anssc@nvcc.edu Business Office CA Building - first floor Room 104 (703) 323-3132 Mon-Thurs: 8:30am-7pm Fri: 8:30am-5pm Sat: 10am-2pm Career Transfer Center CA Building Room 105 703-323-3144 Mon-Fri: 8:30am-5pm College Bookstore CA Building - second floor Room 202 703-425-2558 Mon-Thurs: 8am-9pm Fri: 8am-6pm Sat: 9am-5pm Disability Services CA Building - first floor Room 112 (703) 323-3200 Meeting by appointment Financial Aid Office CA Building - first floor Room113 (703) 323-3400 Mon-Thurs: 8:30am-7:30pm Fri: 8:30am-5pm Sat: 10am-2pm Email: anfinaidhelp@nvcc.edu

Getting Started Checklist

Now that you have applied to NOVA, follow the next easy steps to complete your registration! Before you begin, please be sure you have access to the following important information which was given to you when you applied to NOVA: In/Out of state student status, NOVA Student ID Number, NOVAConnect user ID and password! STEP 1: Take the placement test (CA Building - first floor, Room 115)____________________ Most new students take the English and Math placement tests. The tests are given in the Testing Center, CA 115. No appointment is necessary. The Testing Center hours and testing policies can be referenced online at http://www.nvcc.edu/annandale/lrc/testing/, telephone number: 703323-3149. A photo ID is required, such as your drivers license, school ID, or green card. Allow approximately two hours for each test. There is no cost for taking the placement tests. Exemptions from placement testing are made for students who have completed a college-level English or Mathematics course at another college or university or for those students who have completed and passed certain, AP, IB, or CLEP exams. Students who scored 550 or better on the Critical Reading portion of the SAT exam are eligible to register for ENG 111. Transcripts and exam results are required in order to waive the placement tests. Give your best effort on the exams. The English placement test may only be retaken once every six months and the Math placement test may only be retaken once every three months. If you would like to inquire about accommodations for your placement test, please consult with a disabilities counselor prior to testing. Disability counselors are available in the counseling office located in CA 112, 703-323-3200. STEP 2: Attend a Student Orientation Advising and Registration Session (SOAR)___________ During peak registration times, all new students are highly encouraged to attend a new Student Orientation Advising and Registration Session (SOAR) to learn about class registration and to pick your first semester of classes. Please sign up online at http://www.nvcc.edu/orientation to select a session date and time. Please bring your Placement Test results to these sessions. Following SOAR, you may also come to the Counseling Center (CA-112) to meet one-on-one with an academic counselor for any questions or concerns. Meetings are on a walk-in basis only and no appointments are taken in advance. Please call 703-323-3200 for more information or go to http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/services-to-students/orientation/soar/index.html. Review the online NVCC Catalog at http://www.nvcc.edu/schedule/. The catalog contains degree, certificate, and course descriptions, as well as prerequisite requirements. Catalogs may be obtained at the Counseling Center (CA 112). Obtain a current Schedule of Classes. The schedule lists class times and locations for all six campuses. Registration dates and instructions for NOVAConnect and telephone registration are also included in the Schedule of Classes. Copies of the Schedule of Classes are available in the CA Building and online at http://www.nvcc.edu/schedule/. A Student Development (SDV 100 or 101) course is required for all NOVA students prior to registering for their 16th academic credit. This course covers study skills, how to utilize the college library, and identifies numerous college resources.

GETTING

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International Student Center CA Building - first floor Room 113 Students with disabilities who wish to receive accommodations must register with a Disability (703) 323-2272 Services counselor and provide disability documentation. Refer to the Disability Services website for Mon-This: 8:30am-7:30pm Fri: 8:30am-5pm more information http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/disability-services/. New Student STEP 3: Register for ClassesOnline/CA 114_________________________________________ Orientation CF Building You may register using any computer with internet access at http://www.nvcc.edu/novaconnect/ Room 232 703-323-3147 student/hdi-apply.htm. Computers are also available on campus in CA 114 for this purpose. NOVA Photo ID Office CA Building - first floor Room 103 703-323-4267 Mon-Thurs: 8:30am-7pm Fri: 8:30am-5pm STEP 4: Pay for CoursesOnline/CA 104____________________________________________ Sat: 10am-2pm

Getting Started Checklist

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Register Early! The sooner you register, the more likely you are of securing the classes with the days, times, and professors of your choice. When registering, please be sure to note which NOVA campus/center your class is scheduled for. Students can take classes at multiple campuses and at the online Extended Learning Institute (ELI) during the same semester.

You must pay in full after registering for classes. Payments may be made by credit card using NOVAConnect or by cash, check, or money order in the Business Office, CA 104. Your registration for classes is not complete until full payment is made. You may be dropped from the class if payment is not received by the following business day at 5pm depending on the time of year! STEP 5: Check your Receipt Online_________________________________________________ You can get a receipt and copy of your course schedule online by using NOVAConnect. Check your receipt for any errors. Make sure you are registered for the proper courses and that the days, time, and campus are correct. It is your responsibility to verify that your registration is correct. Print a copy of your enrollment schedule every time you make a change to your schedule. STEP 6: Purchase Your Text BooksCA 202_________________________________________ Textbooks for classes at the Annandale Campus may be purchased in the Campus Bookstore, CA 202. You may also order textbooks online at http://nvcc-annandale.bncollege.com/webapp/ wcs/stores/servlet/BNCBHomePage?storeId=24554&catalogId=10001&langId=-1. Please bring a copy of your schedule to the bookstore to help identify the appropriate textbooks for your classes.

Parking Services CA Building - first floor Room 103 703-323-4267 703-323-4267 (manager) Mon-Thurs: 8:30am-7pm Fri: 8:30am-5pm Sat: 10am-2pm Pathway to the Baccalaureate CA Building - first floor Room 112 703-323-3359 Mon: 8:30am-7:30pm Tues-Fri: 8:30am-5pm Student Activities Offices CF Building Campus Events - Room 232 Clubs & Orgs. - Room 230 703-323-3147

Student Services Center STEP 7: Purchase Your Parking Pass & NOVA Photo IDCA 103_______________________ CA Building - first floor Room 114 (703) 323-3400 Student parking passes may be purchased for $75 per semester in CA 103 or online at https:// Mon-Thurs: 8:30am-7:30pm parking.nvcc.edu/. Students requiring a handicapped parking spot must display a valid, stateFri: 8:30am-5pm issued placard, sticker, or license plate for individuals with disabilities. Sat: 10am-2pm Testing Center CA Building - first floor Reminder: All new students must attend a New Student Orientation (NSO) session and a Student Room 115 Orientation and Registration (SOAR) session at any of the colleges six campuses. Dates and times for the (703) 323-3149 sessions are available online. You can register for SOAR and NSO at Mon-Thurs: 9am-9pm Fri: 9am-4:30pm http://www.nvcc.edu/orientation. Sat: 9-3pm
GETTING STARTED GUIDE

Get your NOVA photo ID in CA 103. The NOVA photo ID is required to use many campus resources including the library, computer labs, and parking garage.

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Important Links & Resources

College Website www.nvcc.edu Sample Placement Tests http://www.nvcc.edu/future-students/placement-tests/ Degree Programs at NOVA http://www.nvcc.edu/curcatalog/programs/ http://www.nvcc.edu/depts/academic/proginfo.htm Student Activities and Sports http://www.nvcc.edu/annandale/anstudentservices/activities/index.htm http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/student-life/athletics--fitness/index.html Transfer Guides http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/transfer/ Guaranteed Admissions Agreements http://www.nvcc.edu/about-nova/directories--offices/administrative-offices/academic/ guaranteed-adm/index.html George Mason Guaranteed Admissions Agreement http://www.nvcc.edu/about-nova/directories--offices/administrative-offices/academic/ files/georgemasonuniversity2011.PDF State Council of Higher Education in Virginia Transfer Program Tool http://www.schev.edu/students/transfer/default.asp Financial Aid and Scholarships at NOVA http://www.nvcc.edu/current-students/paying-for-college/financial-assistance/index.html

REMINDER!
All newly enrolled students must attend a New Student Orientation (NSO) and Student Orientation and Registration (SOAR) Session!! Please reference the Orientation Website for session dates and times and to register for both NSO and SOAR! http://www.nvcc.edu/ orientation During orientation you will learn about campus resources, how to register for classes, tour the campus, and much more!

Do you plan to work while taking classes at NOVA? If so...here is what NOVA suggests you limit yourself to as a student:
If you work: 40 hrs/week 30 hrs/week 20 hrs/week 5-15 hrs/week Take no more than: 6-7 credits 9-10 credits 12-13 credits 14-16 credits

College life extends beyond the classroom...get involved with Student Activities!
Life in college extends beyond the classroom experienceconsider joining one of NOVAs many clubs, organizations, or sports teams! With over 85 student clubs, Student Government, numerous intramural groups, and 5 competitive sports teams, there is something for every interest and schedule at NOVA. Please check out the NOVA student activities website for a full list of clubs, organizations, and teams as well as opportunities for additional campus involvement at http:// www.nvcc.edu/annandale/ anstudentservices/activities/ index.htm or contact 703-323-3147. We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming New Student Orientation Session and welcoming you into the NOVA campus community. Welcome to college!!

(12 or more credits = full time student status)