This course Introduces you to the skills that are necessary to achieve your academic goals, to the services offered at the College and to the health care profession. It covers topics such as services offered at the College, including the learning resources center; counseling and advising; listening, test taking and study skills; and topical areas that are applicable to the health care profession.

What you learn will prepare you for success in future courses and provide you with understanding of the challenges that face allied health and nursing students.

If you do well in this course, you will be able to:

• identify various strategies for organizing, studying and preparing for exams
• use time management skills
• describe and explain policies and procedures of the College
• recognize current trends in health care delivery
• utilize current resources in health care

The required textbook for this course is:

• Keys to Science Success by Janet Katz with Carter, Bishop and Kravits. Prentice-Hall.

• A microphone for your computer.  Inexpensive microphones can be purchased at any computer store.

For information on how to order your textbooks, go to http://eli.nvcc.edu/books/

Your course grade will be determined by the introductory letter, 1 project and 4 exams, according to the following points:

There is one exam in this course.   You are expected to take your examinations at one of the NVCC campus Testing Centers. Be sure to allow enough time to complete your exam before the Testing Center closes; Testing Centers have specific policies relating to the administration of ELI exams. You will need to take a photo ID, your NovaConnect empl ID number, and the appropriate Exam Pass when you go to the Testing Center.  

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

For information on taking exams outside of the metropolitan area, click here.

I am here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contact me when they do:

E-mail : kpatton@nvcc.edu or mohutchins@nvcc.edu

1. Use your web browser to connect to http://www.nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Access your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to Blackboard at http://learn.vccs.edu.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk. If you can log on to Blackboard, but your course isn't listed, please contact ELI or your instructor.