Online Education
Nova Southeastern University strongly supports teaching and learning, as well as enhancing student engagement, achievement, and academic success. We have two types of online courses:
- Fully online: a course that meets 100% online
- BlendFlex: a course that meets partially in a classroom and partially online
NSU is planning to use the BlendFlex model for the majority of its course offerings. This model simultaneously offers face-to-face and online delivery of instruction. BlendFlex courses include a portion of students attending in a traditional classroom setting, while the remaining students attend from a remote location using videoconferencing technologies, such as Zoom or Canvas. Please make sure to read the online education policies.
All first-class meetings will be delivered online using NSU’s Zoom platform so that professors and attending students can review COVID-19 safety protocols and special arrangements can be made to ensure that all in-person participants can maintain physical distancing.
The last in-person class for all full-time, traditional, undergraduate courses in the fall semester will be held Friday, November 20. All subsequent class meetings will be delivered remotely using NSU’s Zoom platform. This will enable students to have the flexibility to travel for the Thanksgiving break without being required to return to campus for the remainder of the semester/term. Classes will continue, but fully online.
NSU Halmos College of Arts and Sciences Online Resources for Students
Undergraduate Student Advising
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Undergraduate Academic Advising: All academic advising services are being provided remotely via phone or Zoom. Academic Advisors are available during normal business hours and appointments can be scheduled via GradesFirst or over the phone. Walk-in advising sessions are available remotely during walk-in hours. remotely as well. Phone: (954) 262-7990 | (800) 541-6682, ext. 27990 Virtual Hours: M-F 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Email: caps@nova.edu Schedule a Remote Advising Appointment: |
Graduate Student Advising
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All graduate academic advising services are being provided remotely via email. Academic Advisors are available during normal business hours and appointments made by email. Please contact your departmental program office. |
Student Computing Help Desk
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The Help Desk provides students at Nova Southeastern University with a centralized point of contact for technical support services. Whether the problem is email, online courses, network access, or another technical question, the Help Desk is here to assist and troubleshoot with advanced technical support from the Office of Innovation and Information Technologies (OI2T). Technical Support:
E-mail - Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Phone - Mon-Fri: 7:00am - 10:00pm / Saturday: 8:30am - 5:00pm /Sunday: 8:30am- 5pm
954-262-4357 or 1-800-541 NOVA Ext: 24357
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Office of International Affairs
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The Office of International Affairs is expected to remain open with standard operating hours. In support of social distancing measures, all advising will be by phone or email only. Additionally, all document processing* will be by email only. Please do not bring documents to the Office of International Affairs for processing. |
Tutoring & Testing
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Tutoring services are being offered online via Tutor.com. Students will be provided 10 hours of online tutoring for the remainder of the semester. In order to start using Tutor.com, you will need to first complete this survey (link below). Tutoring and Testing will respond to your survey by the end of the business day. Students with support from Supplemental Instruction should check GroupMe for updates from their leaders. |
SharkWrites Online Resources
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SharkWrites is the NSU Write from the Start Writing and Communication Center's (WCC) site for online writing resources designed to help you enhance your writing skills. Use the menu at the top of each page to navigate to general and discipline-specific resources about the writing process, citation, and library research. |
Library Resources: Ask a Librarian
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Email: refdesk@nova.edu Chat with a Librarian Chat Service Hours (EDT) Monday – Thursday, Sunday: 10a.m. – 12a.m. Friday – Saturday: 10a.m. – 5p.m.
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Student Conduct
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Student Conduct at NSU covers many facets of the student experience, from finding information about our student mediation services to reporting incidents, concerns, or grievances that you may have observed. If you have been found in violation of the student code of conduct, you will find resources here that will help you understand the process and your rights as a student. The Office of Student Conduct's ultimate goal is to uphold the values of a safe and secure community here at Nova Southeastern University. Email: studentconduct@nova.edu Phone: (954) 262-7281 |
Center for Student Counseling and Well-being
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The NSU Center for Student Counseling Services and Well Being by Henderson Behavioral Health (CSCW) offers student counseling services to the student body of Nova Southeastern University to help them maximize their best self academically, personally and professionally. NSU’s clinical partner is Henderson Behavioral Health, a leader in behavioral healthcare providing comprehensive, recovery-focused services and is accredited at the highest level for Student Counseling Services by the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
Contact:Office: 954-262-7050 or 954-424-6911Fax: 954-424-6915Hotline: 954-424-6911 (available 24 hours, 7 days a week) |
Financial Aid, Bursar, and Registrar
Financial Aid Website: https://www.nova.edu/financialaid/
Registrar Website: https://www.nova.edu/registrar/
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If you need assistance from Financial Aid, the Bursar Office, or the Registrar please call 954-262-3380 or 800-806-3680 or email finaid@nova.edu. If you are already working with a specific counselor, please contact them directly via email. |
Student Disability Services
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Email: disabilityservices@nova.edu Phone: (954) 262-7185 Student Disability Services provides information and individualized accommodations for students with identified disabilities. To be eligible for disability-related accommodations, students must have a documented disability as defined by applicable federal and state laws. Accommodations are available to students whose disabilities include, but are not limited to: |
-Learning Disabilities
-Psychological Disorders
-Visual Impairments
-Hearing Impairments
-Mobility Impairments
-Chronic Health Disorders
Nova Southeastern University complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 by providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with a documented disability. It is the mission of the Office of Student Disability Services to provide accommodations, support services, and auxiliary aids to qualified students with disabilities to ensure equal and comprehensive access to University programs, services, and campus facilities.
Title IX: Sexual Misconduct
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We are still here for you! You may be physically away from campus for the time being but the Title IX staff is here to support NSU students, faculty, and staff, regardless of location. We have developed relationships with community agencies and law enforcement throughout Florida and are committed to aiding members of the NSU community wherever they might be. Further, the Title IX staff has the Teleworking capacity to ensure continuity of care at this time. Our usual forms of communication are still open: the online reporting form remains the best way to report concerns, email is the quickest way to reach us, and our voicemail will be checked regularly. We will communicate with students primarily by email, with options for virtual and telephone meetings. In addition, sexual assault awareness programming and other educational opportunities will be provided through virtual and other creative means. Email: titleIX@nova.edu |
Career Development
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All career advising services are being provided remotely via phone and Zoom. Career Advisors are available as usual during normal business hours and appointments can be scheduled via Handshake or over the phone. Drop-ins are still being conducted during normal business hours remotely as well. Handshake Login: https://nova.joinhandshake.com/login Phone: (954) 262-7201 |
Veteran Affairs
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For more information, questions, comments, or concerns, please contact us:
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POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
What are the policies and procedures for Blend-Flex Education?
The NSU BlendFlex model is intended to provide flexibility for students and faculty returning to campus after the COVID-19 lockdown. The following HCAS policies have been developed to help implement this model in the most efficient way.
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Course Attendance
- Students planning to attend class via in person must notify the professor no later than the first day of class. Sharing this information with the student’s instructor is a crucial part of allowing the instructor to ensure that the class is in compliance with NSU classroom capacity guidelines. Once the student is assigned a specific rotation schedule, they may not switch and attend class on days other than those on the student’s schedule. Doing this could endanger the health of faculty and students in the class if the number of people in the room is not in compliance with NSU classroom capacity guidelines.
- If the student elects to attend class via Zoom and would then like to begin attending in person, the student must notify the instructor of this intention and wait to be assigned an attendance schedule before coming to class. The instructor will have to ensure that the room in which the class is scheduled can accommodate an additional student. If it cannot, the student will not be able to begin attending class in person.
- If the student has elected to attend class in person but because they are not feeling well or for another reason wish to attend a couple of classes virtually, they may do so. If the student would like to permanently switch to attending class via Zoom, they must let the instructor know. This will enable the instructor to make the most efficient decisions about the class rotation schedule.
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Course Technology
- Students must take responsibility for ensuring they have the appropriate devices as well as Internet access that supports virtual class participation. Instructors are not trained to assist with student technology issues. Please visit https://www.nova.edu/help for technology support. If students are unable to connect to Zoom for the class or the Zoom connection fails during class, they must email the instructor immediately.
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Recording Policies
- Class content throughout this course may be recorded in accordance with the NSU Class Recording Policy. If class content is recorded, these recordings will be made available to students registered for this course as a supplement to the classroom experience. Recordings will be made available to all students who were registered to attend the live offering of the class, regardless of a students’ section or discipline, or whether the student is participating in the course online. If recordings are intended to be accessible to students or third parties who were not registered for the live offering of the class, students’ personally identifiable information will be removed or redacted from the recording, unless (1) their written consent to such disclosure was previously provided, or (2) the disclosure is permissible in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”).
- Students are prohibited from recording audio or video or taking photographs in classrooms without prior permission from the instructor or pursuant to approved disability accommodation, and from reproducing, sharing, or disseminating classroom recordings to individuals outside of this course. Students found engaging in such conduct will be in breach of the Student Code of Conduct and subject to disciplinary action.
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Course Quizzes and Examinations
- Online quizzes and exams will use a lockdown browser and Respondus or other proctoring methodologies where applicable. Both a webcam and a functional electronic device are required. The device used to access Canvas must have the appropriate capability to complete the testing. Contact the help desk (https://www.nova.edu/help/index.html) for any technology and/or connectivity issues that arise. Before tests and quizzes begin the student should ensure that the technology is working properly.
What are the policies and procedures for Blend-Flex Education?
Online courses have rules, just like our classrooms have. Please be respectful of these guidelines so that our class can run smoothly, and we can make the most of the time we have together.
Online Etiquette
A key distinguishing feature of an online course is that communication occurs solely via the written word. Because of this the body language voice tone and instantaneous listener feedback of the traditional classroom are all absent. These facts need to be taken into consideration both when contributing messages to a discussion and when reading them. Keep in mind the following points:
Dress like you would come to a regular class or go outside.
Be fully present and engaged in our sessions.
Online learning, by necessity, requires more effort on your part. We have limited time together, and so it's important that you're engaging in whatever we are doing. This is the time I can find out if you need help, can teach you new things, and can have you collaborate with each other with guidance. Don't squander this time.
Be prepared for our sessions.
If I asked you to have something done before class, it's more important than ever that you have done it. We don't have enough time together for me to wait for you to read an article or to push things back a day because you weren't ready.
Be flexible. We're all learning Zoom together.
Our first few classes may have some hiccups, but the important thing is that we are learning from those mistakes. There's no way to be sure of how long we will need to do this, but we will for sure get better at it.
What is ZOOM and how will it work?
Zoom is a user-friendly, multifaceted video conferencing tool that offers both web-based and desktop accessibility. Students will “join” their courses online with a link provided by their instructors for interactive presentations, discussions, and collaboration. Through Zoom, instructors and students share a virtual space complete with whiteboards, annotation tools, and breakout rooms for moderated discussions.
Since Zoom also offers an app for your mobile device, you can even access your online education through cellular connectivity, so you’re not dependent on the fidelity of your wireless network (WiFi).
What if I have trouble accessing it? - Technical Support
Step 1 - Make sure you have created a Zoom account. You can confirm this by logging in https://zoom.nova.edu and clicking sign in.
When signing into Zoom at the application level, use the “Sign In with SSO” button to the right of the email and password fields.
NSU has created a complete tutorial, technical support, and training information site at https://www.nova.edu/oiit/news/zoom.html. This includes links to Zoom technical support as well as video tutorials.
Can students use their personal ZOOM account to join courses?
No, you will have a sign in through our NSU portal at https://nova.zoom.us. If you have a pre-existing personal account, you will be prompted to combine the two. All students must sign in using their unique NSU credentials (login and password) and full name. Students who do not sign in using their NSU credentials and full name will be required to log out and sign in again through the NSU portal.
Why do I have to use my full name to sign-in for courses?
In order to avoid confusion between students who share the same names, we require students to use their full name when participating in online courses. Additionally, Zoom courses serve as a digital attendance record, and we want to ensure that we can track attendance accurately.
Do I have to use video in ZOOM sessions?
Requirements about the microphone and video use will vary from course to course and instructor to instructor. Be prepared for video and audio conferences by selecting a quiet, clean, and bright environment for your learning station.
What oversight will ZOOM moderators have for students' behavior and Netiquette?
All Zoom sessions are recorded and will be posted to Canvas so that students will always have access to review the content of each session. As moderators, instructors can mute participants, share their screens, and even take control (with permission) of a student’s computer to lend a helping hand. Instructors can view and record the student discussions in the chat module. The first days of the online course will serve as a virtual orientation to the policies and procedures for “netiquette.”
What if my instructor doesn't show up for their ZOOM class? How long do I have to wait before we can log off?
Instructors can personalize and adapt their virtual classrooms with a variety of features. Some instructors may establish a “waiting room” where students can gather before the session begins. Waiting rooms can also help facilitate extra help sessions, which might involve only one student conferencing with an Instructor. In other cases, a student might automatically join a class, even if the Instructor is not currently online. If no Instructor or Instructor assistant arrives to begin moderating, students should wait 15 minutes before logging off. Students should email their Instructors (and copy the chair of the department) before exiting a Zoom session. If for any reason a scheduled class does not meet, that class will be rescheduled.
Canvas Support
All courses have a Canvas component. If you have not used it before, here is the link to the Canvas student guide:
https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10701
Here are some key terms that you should know:
- Announcements – The module in Canvas where students will see the weekly schedule, links, and due dates.
- Calendar – The module in Canvas where students can see scheduled Zoom meetings, links, and extra help sessions.
- Assignments – The module in Canvas where students can download/upload weekly homework assignments and get feedback.
- Modules – The module in Canvas where students can access documents, notes, and other important information for each unit.
- Discussions – The module in Canvas where students can see the weekly discussion topics, make original posts, and reply to classmates.
- Synchronous – A term for learning that occurs when teachers and all students in a course meet at one designated time online.
- Asynchronous – A term for learning that occurs when students complete assignments autonomously and conference with their teachers at prearranged times by appointment.
In keeping with the published Netiquette policy in the NSU Undergraduate Catalog, any disruptive behavior during Zoom sessions or any Zoom chat messages that disrupt the class or interfere with learning goals and objectives are unacceptable.
Electronic communication must be civil, respectful, and cordial at all times. It is also required that students participating in class via Zoom are dressed in attire appropriate to the classroom, attend from a setting where they are able to give the class their full attention, and must not be engaged in any other activities while in class. Students are required to have a functioning microphone and camera and are expected to have the camera on during class. If this is not possible for technological reasons, students should consult with their instructor.