Welcome to STD 100, Orientation.
This 1-credit course may be one of the most valuable courses you will take.  The material covered is relevant not only to college, but life in general.  Some of you may be thinking, "Why do I have to take this course?  I have already taken college courses OR I already know how to study OR this is a waste of time."   This course will not only introduce you to some useful strategies for being successful, but also to the differences in on-campus and distance learning.    It also acquaints you with the College and its resources and the various technologies that you will find in other ELI courses.   Please look carefully through this Syllabus and then proceed to the online Course Guide.  The Course Guide explains all assignments and how to complete them.

This Syllabus provides you with important information on your course requirements, required books and materials, assignments and examinations, and policies which will govern your enrollment.  Be sure to read this Syllabus carefully and to get started with your course work as soon as possible.

Use the BACK button on your toolbar to return to this menu, or simply scroll up/down the page to view information.

COURSE SUMMARY:
STD 100 provides an opportunity for you to learn new methods and reinforce trusted old methods of promoting your success in college. Areas covered include time management, memory, reading, note and test taking, creativity and college resources.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: If you successfully complete this course, you will be able to:

COURSE MATERIALS: The textbooks can be purchased at any of the campus bookstores, or you may phone (888) 744-7839 to order them by mail.

          Ellis, David B., Becoming A Master Student, Concise Edition, 10th ed.,
                New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2004.
      Northern Virginia Community College Catalog(on-line as well)
          Northern Virginia Community College Student Handbook (on-line as well)
The text and catalog are available at the campus bookstores or by mail. Textbook mail order information is enclosed with your Quick-Start Syllabus sent by ELI.   Buying your books by mail takes time, so do it immediately.  The Student Handbook is available from each campus Counseling Center.
Do not purchase the Course Guide in the Bookstore.  Your Course Guide is included on-line.  See Site Map above.

GRADING SCALE: Grading is on a contractual basis where you determine the grade for which you will work.  You will notify me of your grade contract in your first assignment, the Introductory Letter.

For a minimum "C" grade: complete #1-6

For an average "B" grade: complete #1-7

For a superior "A" grade: complete #1-8

1. Introductory Letter, open e-mail account, e-mail message
2. Discovery Wheel, Learning Style Inventory, and Journal Entries 5, 6, and 7
3. Campus Visit, Library Tutorial, participation in student forum
4. Exam
5. View all 11 videos and critique your choice of 4 on the Video Report Form..
6. Discovery Wheel/Comparison/Course Evaluation
7. Complete the Video Report Form for 8 of 11 videos
8. Project

Assignments turned in will be graded Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U). Uncorrected "U" assignments or missing assignments will result in the final grade being lowered one letter grade for each missing assignment.

For STD 100, you must pass the on-campus final exam in order to pass the course, regardless of how well you do on the other assignments.

Enrollment Date:  This is your official enrollment date, and all other dates are based on it. This is a 16-week course, but your enrollment does not necessarily correspond to campus enrollment dates. You need to buy your course materials and begin working immediately.

Last Refund Date:  This is the last date that you can ask to withdraw from this course and be entitled to a refund of your tuition. Requests for a refund must be made in writing and must be postmarked by the Last Refund Date. Use the ELI Refund and Withdrawal form on the back of your Quick-Start Syllabus (you will receive this from ELI)  to request a refund.

Last Date for Withdrawal: This is the last date that you can request to withdraw from this course without grade penalty. You should use the Refund and Withdrawal Form on the reverse side of the Quick-Start Syllabus sent to you in the mail.

End of Enrollment Date: All assignments and examinations must be completed by this date.

To help you keep track of your progress,  use the Schedule and Student Record Sheet form.   Fill in the ENROLLMENT DATE and the END OF ENROLLMENT DATE (listed on the front page of the Quick-StartSyllabus) and then fill in the DATE DUE column by adding 7 days to your enrollment date for each week of the schedule, (e.g. If your enrollment date is January 15, your first week's assignment is due on January 22, the second week's on January 29, etc.). Keep up with this schedule so you will finish on time. Remember to keep copies of all your work and graded assignments. Your official grade records are kept at ELI.

Once you begin this course, it is your responsibility to withdraw if you do not intend to finish it. If you do not withdraw and do not finish your course assignments, you will receive a grade based upon the work you have submitted. Usually, this grade is an "F."

Students who do not send in the first two assignments by the Last Withdrawal Date listed on the front page of the Quick-Start Syllabus will be administratively withdrawn from the course  with no refund and given a W grade.

To request a grade of Incomplete for this course (see Incomplete Grades for more information), you must have satisfactorily completed the following course work: Up to and including the assignments for Week 10.

At all the Testing Labs, you will be required to show photo identification to receive your examination. This may be an official driver's license, a DMV ID, or a military ID. You will also be required to provide the appropriate EXAM PASS.

EXAMINATION PROCTORS:  If you live outside of the metropolitan Washington area, you will need a proctor for your examinations. Requests for proctored exams and proctors must be approved by ELI. ELI reserves the right to reject requests for proctors for any reason. To have a proctor approved, write to ELI as soon as possible so your exams will not be delayed. Please use the Proctor Request Form  for your request.

If you are incarcerated, disabled, or have other extenuating circumstances, submit the Proctor Request form to ELI including a suggested proctor.

These programs are broadcast, two to each half hour, on cable TV (the schedule was mailed with your Quick-Start Syllabus).  They  are also on reserve for your use in the NVCC campus Learning Resource Centers (LRC); refer to the ELI Purposes and Procedures site for the addresses and phone numbers of the LRCs.  Before you go to view a tape, be sure to call the LRC to make sure of the hours of operation. Please note that there are a limited number of tapes and playback machines in the LRC, so it is not recommended that you try to complete your whole course in this manner.

 Missed broadcasts must be made up at a campus LRC.

I am a full time counselor at the Alexandria campus.  You can reach me during the week at the above phone number.  Please feel free to leave a message on my voice mail, if I do not answer in person.   I usually can return your call on the same day.

Click here to go on to the Course Guide.