COVID-19 INFORMATION & UPDATES

From: Deborah Kennedy
To: All NRCC Students
Subject: Important Graduation Update
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2021 1:36 PM

Dear Students,

Recently I shared with you that the college would hold a virtual graduation ceremony this spring. Since then, the Governor’s Office released new guidance on graduation ceremonies. I am excited to share that this new guidance will allow NRCC to hold in-person graduation ceremonies. Here is an overview of the plans:

• Three ceremonies will be held to honor graduates within their specific program areas, and to ensure all aspects of the guidance are followed.
  • Wednesday, May 12, at 6:00 p.m.: Associate Degree Nursing (spring 2020 and spring 2021 graduates), and Practical Nursing (summer 2020 graduates)
  • Note: A ceremony for Summer 2021 Practical Nursing graduates will be held later.
  • Friday, May 14, at 5:00 p.m.: Division of Arts and Sciences (fall 2019 – summer 2021 graduates)
  • Friday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m.: Division of Business and Technologies (fall 2019 – summer 2021 graduates)
• Graduates and faculty only will be permitted to attend their designated ceremony. All ceremonies will be livestreamed for family, friends, and others to view off-campus.
• Graduates are required to RSVP to attend their designated ceremony, and only those who RSVP will be permitted to participate.
• Graduation apparel (gowns, caps, and tassels) are available for purchase on the NRCC Bookstore website.

More details and the Graduate RSVP Form are available here. This information also is available at the “2021 Graduation Information” link on the main www.nr.edu webpage.

Don’t delay – all graduates must RSVP no later than Friday, April 30, 2021.

Thank you in advance for understanding that all aspects of the new guidance must be followed. The full announcement released from the Governor’s Office on 03/17/21 is available here.

We look forward to honoring our graduates with these ceremonies!

Have a good day,
Dee Dee

Deborah D. Kennedy, Ed.D.
Dean of Student Services
New River Community College
5251 College Drive
Dublin, VA 24084
540-674-3690
dkennedy@nr.edu

From: Deborah Kennedy
To: All NRCC Students
Subject: Spring Semester Update #9: Spring Graduation Plans
Sent: Monday, March 8, 2021 2:46 PM

Dear Students,

The college will be holding a virtual graduation ceremony this spring to honor our current graduates, and to also honor graduates from the previous academic year. Graduates from fall 2019 through summer 2021 will be recognized on Friday, May 14, 2021. More details regarding the virtual ceremony and other ways in which graduates will be honored will be available soon.

Best wishes,
Dee Dee

Deborah D. Kennedy, Ed.D.
Dean of Student Services
New River Community College
5251 College Drive
Dublin, VA 24084
540-674-3690
dkennedy@nr.edu

From: Deborah Kennedy
To: All NRCC Students
Subject: Welcome to the Spring Semester
Sent: Monday, February 1, 2021 8:46 AM

Dear Students,

Welcome to the start of the spring semester! Here are a few reminders and some helpful information as you begin classes today.

• All 14-week and first 7-week classes begin online today.
• **Note: Even though the college’s physical sites (Dublin and Christiansburg) are closed today due to inclement weather, all online and Zoom instruction/classes/labs/meetings/remote learning/etc. will continue as scheduled.
• Only the classes listed on this link will meet on-campus beginning Monday, February 15: https://www.nr.edu/ciu/pdf/perflist-spring2021.pdf. (Except for Nursing skills labs which begin meeting sooner.)
• All classes are accessible in Canvas today using the MyAccounts link on the NRCC webpage or http://my.vccs.edu.
• Information on Zoom classes will be available in Canvas and/or included in an email from your instructors.
• Be sure to begin accessing your classes in Canvas today as you will have required work due the first week of classes. Students who do not complete their required assignments will be counted as absent or non-participating and dropped from the class.
• Two computer labs (G150 on the Dublin campus and C122 at the Uptown Christiansburg site) are available for your use this semester. Please refer to “Spring Semester Update #6” at the following link for more details: https://www.nr.edu/ciu/spring2021messages.php.

Class Registration Information

• Wednesday, February 3: Last day to add first 7-week classes
• Friday, February 5: Last day to add 14-week classes without instructor approval
• Monday, February 8: Last day to drop first 7-week classes and receive a refund
• Monday, February 15: Last day to drop 14-week classes and receive a refund

Contact your Student Services Advisor or the Advising Center (540-674-3609 or advising@nr.edu) if you need assistance adding classes.

Bookstore Information

You can purchase your textbooks and supplies online, with home delivery, through the NRCC Bookstore (www.newrivershop.com). Financial aid online purchases are available now through Saturday, February 13. The last day for any returns is Tuesday, February 16. All returns must be received by the Bookstore by this date. Returns must be in the same condition as when purchased and include a copy of the receipt and packing slip, along with student name, email, and telephone number.

Student Services Advisors

All students have an assigned Student Services Advisor who is available to assist you with any questions you may have. Your Student Services Advisor can help connect you to resources designed to support you and help you succeed in your classes. Be on the lookout for an email from your Student Services Advisor this week introducing himself/herself to you and don’t hesitate to reach out to him/her for assistance.

Continue to check your VCCS email daily and please regularly check the college’s Spring 2021 Information and Updates page.

Have a GREAT first week of classes!
Dee Dee

Deborah D. Kennedy, Ed.D.
Dean of Student Services
New River Community College
5251 College Drive
Dublin, VA 24084
540-674-3690
dkennedy@nr.edu

From: Deborah Kennedy
To: All NRCC Students
Subject: Spring Semester Update #8: Important Reminders for Monday, February 1
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2021 10:19 AM

Dear Students,

Here are some important reminders for Monday, February 1:

• All 14-week and first 7-week classes begin online on Monday
• There are no on-campus classes or labs until Monday, February 15, except for some Nursing skills labs.
• Only the classes listed on this link will meet on-campus beginning the week of February 15: https://www.nr.edu/ciu/pdf/perflist-spring2021.pdf.
• All classes will be accessible in Canvas on Monday using the MyAccounts link on the NRCC webpage or http://my.vccs.edu.
• Information on Zoom classes will be available in Canvas on Monday and/or included in an email from your instructors.

Continue to check your VCCS email daily and please regularly check the college’s Spring 2021 Information and Updates page. All “Student Update” emails are posted on this page, including past communications.

Enjoy your weekend,
Dee Dee

Deborah D. Kennedy, Ed.D.
Dean of Student Services
New River Community College
5251 College Drive
Dublin, VA 24084
540-674-3690
dkennedy@nr.edu

From: Deborah Kennedy
To: All NRCC Students
Subject: Spring Semester Student Update #7: Weather-Related College Closing Information
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 2:46 PM

Dear Students,

Here is important information for weather-related college closings for the spring 2021 semester.

What does it mean if the college is closed?

When an announcement indicates the college is closed, this means that all in-person, on-campus classes/labs/meetings/etc. are cancelled, including access to open computer labs. The announcement will include details as to whether day classes only are cancelled, evening classes only are cancelled, or both day and evening classes are cancelled

An initial decision often is made to cancel day classes (those classes with start times before 5:00 p.m.). If weather conditions do not improve, a second decision and announcement will be made later in the day to also cancel evening classes. Closing announcement information is included below.

Please note that when the college is closed, online and Zoom instruction/classes/labs/meetings/remote learning/etc. will continue as scheduled.

Where are closing announcements posted?

Closing announcements are posted in the top banner of the college webpage and included as a message on the college’s main phone line (540-674-3600).
Closing information also is sent to your VCCS email and as a text message through the NRCC Alert system. (All students are encouraged to register for the NRCC Alert.) Additionally, closing announcements are shown on WDBJ7 and WSLS10 and included on local radio stations.

Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions about this information.

Have a good day,
Dee Dee

Deborah D. Kennedy, Ed.D.
Dean of Student Services
New River Community College
5251 College Drive
Dublin, VA 24084
540-674-3690
dkennedy@nr.edu

From: Deborah Kennedy
To: All NRCC Students
Subject: Spring Semester Student Update #6: Computer Lab Availability and Wi-Fi Access
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 9:31 AM

Dear Students,

As you prepare for the start of spring classes, I want to share information regarding the availability of computer labs and Wi-Fi access on campus.

Computer Labs Available Beginning Monday, February 1

Two computer labs will be available for student use beginning Monday, February 1.

Dublin campus	Godbey Hall, Room 150	Monday-Thursday, 8:00am-10:00pm Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
Uptown Christiansburg site (formerly known as NRV Mall site)	Room 122	Monday-Thursday, 8:30am-9:00pm

You will be required to check in/out in order to access the computer labs. Instructions for the check in/out procedures are posted on the computer lab doors. Please be prepared to provide your full name, 7-digit student ID number, VCCS email address, and phone number at check in.

Only students will be allowed in the computer labs and masks will be worn at all times. Family, friends, and children will not be permitted.

Wi-Fi Access

The college has Wi-Fi access in parking lots G and H on the Dublin campus and in the parking area closest to our main entrance at the Uptown Christiansburg site. Here is a link to various Wi-Fi access points throughout the New River Valley.

Additional information concerning area resources is available on our Student Resources webpage and staff are happy to assist and answer any questions you may have.

Best wishes,
Dee Dee

Deborah D. Kennedy, Ed.D.
Dean of Student Services
New River Community College
5251 College Drive
Dublin, VA 24084
540-674-3690
dkennedy@nr.edu

From: Deborah Kennedy
To: All NRCC Students
Subject: Spring Semester Update #5: Financial Aid Bookstore Policy and Purchase Dates
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2021 1:13 PM

Dear Students,

If you will be using financial aid and/or scholarships to purchase your textbooks from the NRCC Bookstore, please carefully review the following information.

• Financial aid textbook purchases begin on Monday, January 18 and end on Saturday, February 13.
• All purchases must be made online on the Bookstore’s website (www.newrivershop.com) and your items will be shipped to you. Be sure to make your purchases early so you can receive your items before classes begin on February 1.
• The last day for any returns is Tuesday, February 16. All returns must be received by the Bookstore by this date. Returns must be in the same condition as when purchased and include a copy of the receipt and packing slip, along with student name, email, and telephone number.

Below is the NRCC Financial Aid Bookstore policy. The list of eligible electronic items has been expanded to include tablets and laptops to support remote and online learning. Students with enough financial aid may select one of these items for purchase.

NRCC Financial Aid Bookstore Policy

Students may use excess financial aid in the College Bookstore to purchase only required books and supplies for registered courses deemed eligible for financial aid for the term. A course would be deemed ineligible for financial aid if any of the four following circumstances exist:

• The course does not apply to the student’s academic program;
• The course has already been repeated once after having been successfully completed. Successful completion is defined as any grade other than an F, U, R, or W;
• The course is developmental, and the student has already attempted 30 or more developmental credits; and/or
• The course is a basic skills class (BSK) that is below the postsecondary level.

Supplies can include: (Students must have funding available)

• Required tools sold by the bookstore. Tools required for a course should be stated on the course syllabus.
• Supplies up to $100 (notebooks, pencils, book bags, etc.).
• Clothing/Uniforms required by your program of study.

Electronic items that can be purchased with available funding include:

• One tablet and keyboard or laptop, that has been financial aid approved, and warranty every two (2) years.
  • HP Laptop Bundle #3 (Best) - HP 15'' Laptop i5/8GB/256GB SSD, Wireless Mouse & Commuter Backpack (SKU - MMS023053080/0)
  • HP 14'' Chromebook - Celeron N4000 - 4GB Memory - 32GB eMMC Storage - Mineral Silver (SKU - MMS023094967/0)
  • Microsoft Surface Go 2 - Windows 10 Pro - Intel m3 - 8GB RAM - 128GB – Silver (currently unavailable)
  • Apple - iPad Air 3 10.5'' with Wi-Fi - 256GB – Silver (currently unavailable)
• Headphones under $50
• One Graphing Calculator every two (2) years

Any other electronic item is considered not course related and may not be purchased with financial aid. Other Items not approved for purchase with financial aid include, but are not limited to, apparel, food, cell phones, gift items, and gift/prepaid cards.

During the book purchase period, books and supplies purchased using financial aid cannot be returned to the College Bookstore for cash. Amounts for returned items must be credited back to the aid that paid for the books and supplies on the student’s account.

If you have questions regarding your financial aid, please email finaid@nr.edu. Additional bookstore information is available at www.newrivershop.com.

Best wishes for a successful spring semester,
Dee Dee

Deborah D. Kennedy, Ed.D.
Dean of Student Services
New River Community College
5251 College Drive
Dublin, VA 24084
540-674-3690
dkennedy@nr.edu

From: Deborah Kennedy
To: All NRCC Students
Subject: Spring Semester Update #4: Reminders and Information for the Spring 2021 Semester
Sent: Monday, January 11, 2021 9:31 AM

Dear Students,

Happy new year! I hope you are ready for the spring 2021 semester. Reminders and helpful information are included below to assist you as you prepare for the start of classes.

• Classes Begin Monday, February 1: All 14-week and first 7-week classes begin online through Canvas on Monday, February 1. Please note that classes will not be available in Canvas until February 1.
• Limited In-Person Classes: Only the classes listed in the following link will meet in-person beginning the week of February 15: https://www.nr.edu/ciu/pdf/perflist-spring2021.pdf.
  • Online requirements for these classes begin February 1. In-person meetings will not begin until the week of February 15. Please review your class schedule in SIS and contact your instructors if you have any questions about the in-person meeting schedules.
  • Note: Nursing students will begin skills labs the first week of classes. Please follow the schedules provided by your faculty and/or Dr. Coe-Meade.
• Tuition Payment: The last day to delay tuition payment is Wednesday, January 20. If your tuition is not paid or your financial aid finalized by this date, your classes will be dropped. You can re-enroll; however, payment will be due the day your register to secure your schedule. Tuition payment information is available at: https://www.nr.edu/students/payment.php.
• Textbooks: The NRCC Bookstore is available for online purchases only. Textbooks and supplies may be purchased online (https://www.bkstr.com/newriverccstore/home) and shipped to your home address.
  • Financial aid textbook online purchases begin on Monday, January 18.
  • Another email will be sent this week with specific financial aid textbook purchase information.
• Computer Labs: Open computer labs will be available to students in Dublin and at the Uptown Christiansburg site beginning February 1. More information will be shared with you as we get closer to the start of the semester.
• Remote Resources: The following website has quick links to many of the college’s resources: https://www.nr.edu/remoteresources/. These resources are available to you now and as you progress through the spring semester.

Please be sure to check your VCCS email daily for important information and updates as you prepare for the start of classes. Information continues to be available online on the “Spring 2021 Information and Updates” page at: https://www.nr.edu/ciu/spring2021.php.

Our student services team is ready to assist you with any questions you may have. Please reach out to your student services advisor or contact us at advising@nr.edu or 540-674-3609 for assistance. We continue to be available by phone, email, and Zoom appointments.

Best Wishes,
Dee Dee

Deborah D. Kennedy, Ed.D.
Dean of Student Services
New River Community College
5251 College Drive
Dublin, VA 24084
540-674-3690
dkennedy@nr.edu

From: Deborah Kennedy
To: All NRCC Students
Subject: Spring Semester Update #3: Spring and Summer Schedules are Posted and the Enrollment Shopping Cart is Open
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2020 9:16 AM

Dear Students,

The spring and summer class schedules are posted online at: https://www.nr.edu/schedule. As a reminder, the following notes have been added to help you better identify the format in which classes will be offered:

• Fully online class with no required Zoom meetings.
• Fully online class with required Zoom meetings during the scheduled class times.
• Class with both scheduled Zoom meetings and required in-person meetings. Scheduled in-person meetings begin the week of Feb. 15.
• Class with both online requirements and required in-person meetings. Scheduled in-person meetings begin the week of Feb. 15.
• Class with online requirements, scheduled Zoom meetings, and required in-person meetings. Scheduled in-person meetings begin the week of Feb. 15.

You can begin building your schedule by adding classes to your Enrollment Shopping Cart in SIS today! Click on the Enrollment Shopping Cart link located in the Academic Planning box in SIS.

Class registration officially opens on Wednesday, November 4, so be sure and return to your Shopping Cart and click Enroll to finalize your schedule.

Graduation Application Reminder
If you will be completing your degree or certificate in the spring or summer, your graduation application is due on Friday, November 13. You may submit your application via email to the appropriate advisor (see below for details) for his/her signature and then the completed application can be emailed to admissions@nr.edu.

  Graduation Application

Getting Help from Your Advisor
Help is just an email, text, phone call, or Zoom appointment away! Here is who you should contact for assistance:

Transfer Students: Contact your student services advisor for all questions and registration or graduation application assistance.

CTE Students: Contact your faculty advisor if you have questions about specific classes, the spring and summer schedules, or need to complete a graduation application. Contact your student services advisor for registration assistance.

Have a great week,
Dee Dee

Deborah D. Kennedy, Ed.D.
Dean of Student Services
New River Community College
5251 College Drive
Dublin, VA 24084
540-674-3690
dkennedy@nr.edu

From: Deborah Kennedy
To: All NRCC Students
Subject: Spring Semester Update #2: Spring and Summer Class Schedules Posted Online on Oct. 26 and Registration Begins on Nov. 4
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2020 8:46 AM

Dear Students,

Spring and summer class registration begins on Wednesday, November 4. The updated class schedules will be posted online (https://www.nr.edu/schedule/) on Monday, October 26. The SIS Shopping Cart feature also will open this day so you can begin selecting classes. Once you have added classes to your Shopping Cart, don’t forget to finalize your registration on November 4.

To help you to better identify the format in which spring classes will be offered, you will see the following notes added to all classes:

• Fully online class with no required Zoom meetings.
• Fully online class with required Zoom meetings during the scheduled class times.
• Class with both scheduled Zoom meetings and required in-person meetings. Scheduled in-person meetings begin the week of Feb. 15.
• Class with both online requirements and required in-person meetings. Scheduled in-person meetings begin the week of Feb. 15.
• Class with online requirements, scheduled Zoom meetings, and required in-person meetings. Scheduled in-person meetings begin the week of Feb. 15.

As a reminder, the spring semester begins on February 1, and all classes will be accessible in Canvas this day. The limited performance-based, hands-on classes/labs will not begin meeting in-person until February 15. View the spring and summer academic calendars.

Outreach from Your Student Services Advisor
You will be receiving an email, phone call, and/or text from your assigned student services advisor offering Zoom and phone appointments to assist you with class registration. Please be sure to respond to your advisor so he/she can answer your questions and help you finalize your spring class schedule!

In addition, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your faculty advisor with any questions concerning your program of study and spring schedule.

Other Reminders and Updates

• Be sure to continue to check your VCCS email and Canvas daily for important information from the college and your instructors.
• Fall 2020 information and updates will continue to be posted online at https://www.nr.edu/ciu/fall2020.php.
• Additionally, we’ve launched a new page specifically for spring 2021 information and updates at https://www.nr.edu/ciu/spring2021.php.

Take care,
Dee Dee

Deborah D. Kennedy, Ed.D.
Dean of Student Services
New River Community College
5251 College Drive
Dublin, VA 24084
540-674-3690
dkennedy@nr.edu

From: Deborah Kennedy
To: All NRCC Students
Subject: Letter from the VCCS Chancellor Regarding the Spring 2021 Semester
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2020 12:24 PM

Dear Students,

Chancellor DuBois has posted a letter to students on the VCCS blog regarding plans for Spring Semester 2021. Please see the link below.
https://www.vccs.edu/blog/a-letter-from-the-chancellor-to-our-students/

Have a great weekend,
Dee Dee

Deborah D. Kennedy, Ed.D.
Dean of Student Services
New River Community College
5251 College Drive
Dublin, VA 24084
540-674-3690
dkennedy@nr.edu

From: Deborah Kennedy
To: All NRCC Students
Subject: Spring Semester Update #1 - Adjustments to Academic Calendar
Sent: Friday, October 2, 2020 10:05 AM

Dear Students,

I recently shared with you a link to a letter from VCCS Chancellor Dubois regarding the spring 2021 semester, and that letter is available here. Today I want to share some NRCC-specific updates with you.

• The academic calendar for the spring 2021 semester has been revised. Classes will begin on Monday, February 1, and spring break has been removed to allow for a later start and to also allow classes to end on Friday, May 7, as previously scheduled. View the revised calendar.
• Like the fall semester, classes for spring 2021 will be delivered through online/remote instruction. A limited number of hands-on, performance-based classes/labs/clinicals will meet in-person beginning the week of February 15.
• The spring 2021 class schedule is currently being revised to reflect which classes will be fully online, fully online with Zoom meetings, require hands-on, performance-based meetings, etc. I will send an email update with more information when the schedule has been finalized in SIS and posted online later this month.
• Spring 2021 class registration begins on Wednesday, November 4.

We are in the process of creating a “Spring 2021 Information and Updates” link on our main webpage for easy access to information. I will let you know when this is available. Please continue to check your VCCS email daily, and as always, do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.

Have a great weekend,
Dee Dee

Deborah D. Kennedy, Ed.D.
Dean of Student Services
New River Community College
5251 College Drive
Dublin, VA 24084
540-674-3690
dkennedy@nr.edu