Closing Information

NOVA announces campus and college closings on the NOVA homepage. You can also receive notification by cell phone or email if you register for NOVA Alert. Also review NOVA’s guidance on emergency closings, delayed openings, and continuation of instruction.

If a course is canceled due to a weather event or other unforeseen situation, check the course Canvas site or NOVA email (@email.vccs.edu) as soon as possible for instructions and assignments to avoid falling behind in coursework. You are expected to be up to date with all assignments the next time the class meets.

Communication

Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) faculty, staff, and administrators communicate with students through their official NVCC email accounts (________@nvcc.edu). Students are likewise required to use their VCCS email accounts (__________@email.vccs.edu) to communicate with instructors and other college personnel. Students should check their email accounts regularly.

Course Drop/Withdrawal Policy

Please note these important deadlines related to your enrollment in a course:

●        Students may drop courses through NOVAConnect until the last day to drop with a tuition refund (census date). Students who drop a class during this period will receive a full refund.

●        Requests to change your grade status to audit must also be completed before the last day to drop with a tuition refund (census date).

●        Students who do not attend at least one class meeting or participate in an online learning class by the last day to drop with a tuition refund (census date) may be administratively withdrawn from the class. This means that there will be no record of the class or any letter grade on the student’s transcript. The student’s tuition will not be refunded.

●        The Last Day to Withdraw is the last day to withdraw from classes without a grade penalty. Students will receive a grade of W.  Students may withdraw from a course through NOVAConnect. The student’s tuition will not be refunded. Withdrawing from a course after the census date and before the withdrawal date will result in a “W” grade appearing on your transcript.

To identify these important dates for your courses, please visit the College Academic Calendar and scroll down to the specific session for your course. Please note that any drops or withdrawals from a course may impact financial aid, international student status, or military benefits. Students with questions should check with the appropriate offices.

Enrollment Cancellation

• Students who do not make payment arrangements for their courses will be dropped.
• Students dropped for nonpayment cannot be enrolled in a course after the Last Day to Add/Drop, even if they have attended the class and completed coursework. Only students who were dropped due to college error are eligible for late enrollment (enrollment after the Last Day to Add/Drop).
• See https://www.nvcc.edu/admissions/tuition/payment/index.html for Payment Options.

Financial Stability and Advocacy Centers

services available. For more information, please visit the Financial Stability and Advocacy Centers webpage, or contact the office by calling 703.323.3450 or emailing financialstability@nvcc.edu.

Forms to Request Services and Assistance

NOVA's Forms Library is where you can access forms frequently used by the College. The forms are available in Portable Document Format (.pdf), Online or Excel. Some of the forms you will find online include:

Accommodations and Accessibility Services: Request for Alternate Format

Course grade appeal

Enrollment Services: Course Repeat Request

Enrollment Services: Enrollment with Permission

Financial Aid: Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Form

Parking Services: Vehicle Registration Form

Student Grievance Forms

Veteran Enrollment Request Form (VERF)

You also have the option to Make a Report to the college. Here is the list of reports you can submit:

·       Report an academic violation.

·       Report a student conduct violation (non-academy integrity).

·       Report Sexual Misconduct (Title IX).

·       Report a student needed assistance (non-conduct).

·       Title IX Pregnant and Parenting Accommodation Request.

·       Ombuds Assistance Request.

Important Dates

The academic calendar provides information about important dates and deadlines each semester. Visit this calendar to learn about

·       Open registration dates.

·       Academic advising dates.

·       Registration dates.

·       Deadlines to pay tuition fees.

·       First and Last day of classes

·       Deadline to drop the class with a tuition refund or change classes to audit.

·       Deadline to withdraw without grade penalty (W) and no refund.

·       Final Exams Schedule.

·       Breaks and holidays.

·       Financial aid disbursement dates.

·       Deadline to apply for graduation.

Spring 2025 Important Dates

spring 2025 Breaks & Holidays

* To find the last day to drop with tuition refund (census date) for a variable duration (dynamic) course, go to schedule of class, search for the course, then click on the class number.

** Withdrawals after this date require documentation of mitigating circumstances and permission of the instructor and the academic dean. Please check NOVAConnect for start dates and census dates for variable duration (dynamic) sessions.

Libraries

NOVA Libraries support the mission of the College to deliver in-person and online postsecondary teaching, learning, and workforce development to students, faculty, staff and community members. The libraries promote equity and inclusion by addressing systemic barriers to student success and fostering intellectual curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. At our libraries, you may borrow books/printed material, access article databases, access videos, connect to Wi-Fi, use the printers, and reserve a study room. 

NOVA All Access

determined to be less outside of NOVA All Access, students have the choice to opt out of the program each semester.

More information is available on the NOVA Website (www.nvcc.edu/novaallaccess).

If your course uses OER materials (for “open educational resources”) or is “no materials required,” instructor will let you know the best way to get your course materials. You may not be required to purchase textbooks and other materials for this course. We are making this information available so you can make an informed choice about participating in NOVA’s new course materials program, NOVA All Access. For more information on NOVA All Access, please visit the website – www.nvcc.edu/novaallaccess.

If your instructor indicates you are not required to purchase materials and you are taking only courses with no materials required, then you should opt-out of the NOVA All Access program.

Office of Wellness and Mental Health

During your time at NOVA, you may experience challenges including struggles with academics or your personal well-being. NOVA has support resources available. Please contact the Office of Wellness and Mental Health if you are seeking resources and support, or if you are worried about a friend or classmate.

Prerequisite Verification Statement

As noted in the Course Prerequisites Policy, some courses have prerequisite or corequisite requirements that are established to foster a student’s success in the course. Students may not enroll in a course for which they do not meet the prerequisites by the time the course begins or for which they do not simultaneously enroll in any corequisite. Students may be administratively dropped from any course for which they have not met the prerequisite. If a course has a prerequisite, it is the responsibility of the student to ensure completion of this pre-requisite course first. Any student needing assistance in determining prerequisite or corequisite requirements can reach out to their faculty member or Campus Academic Division office for support.

Remote Student Support Services

If you need academic assistance or need college services but cannot make it to campus, many of our services can be accessed remotely. We can provide assistance from several departments, including the following:

·       Academic Advising

·       Canvas and Course Resources (guides and tutorials)

·       Financial Aid

·       IT Help Desk

·       Library Support

Student Rights and Responsibilities

and resources to be successful inside and outside of the classroom.

The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR) comprise the following areas:

Student Integrity and Conduct

Investigate alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct.

• Adjudication of informal and formal Code of Conduct hearings
• Mediation (settling differences)
• Student development workshops
• Professional development workshop on topics like Conflict Resolution and Classroom Management
• Referrals to resources and services

Student Ombuds Services (SOS) 

For students who believe an unfair resolution was made for a formal complaint made to NVCC (i.e., academic concerns, ethical behavior, violation of College policies and/or procedures, business services, financial aid, etc.), SOS will investigate the student’s concern.

• Confidential - students may discuss problems or issues in a confidential manner
• Independent - of any individual/office within NVCC
• Informal - review matters received and make informal inquiries to offer resolution options, make referrals, and mediate disputes.
• Neutral - strives for impartiality, fairness, and objectivity in the treatment of people and the consideration of issues
• Voluntary – it is the student’s responsibility to contact SOS for services

Contact: Dr. Tanneh Kamara
Coordinator, Student Ombuds Services (SOS), Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities
Phone: 703-530-2834
Email: ombuds@nvcc.edu

TITLE IX

Title IX is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs, activities, admission, and employment. Complaints of sex-based discrimination, sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual or gender-based harassment are governed by the Title IX Policy. For more information or to make a report, visit the Office of Title IX.

Tutoring

NOVA’s Tutoring Centers offer free in-person and virtual tutoring to all NOVA Nighthawks. Students can drop by any one of campus Tutoring Centers for walk-in services or set up an appointment for tutoring. To request an appointment for one-on-one tutoring, either in-person or via Zoom, log in to myNOVA to select EAB Navigate. For more information and for Tutoring Center locations, visit the NOVA Tutoring Services page.  In addition, Tutor.com is an online tutoring service that Northern Virginia Community College offers that is free to all students. Tutor.com provides tutoring in a variety of subjects, many of which are available 24/7. To access Tutor.com, click on the Tutor.com: 24/7 Online Tutoring link located in your course on the navigation menu.