Services and Resources

Advising

Faculty advisors are instructors in your division who can advise you in the selection of your courses and other academic questions. When you enrolled at NRCC, you were assigned faculty members as your academic advisor. In order to make sure that you are taking the courses that you need for your chosen program of study, you should contact your advisor or the Advising Center at (540) 674-3609 or email advising@nr.edu with any related questions.

Each student is also assigned a student services advisor who works to connect students to the resources they need in order to be successful in college. The student services advisors intentionally engage students who may be in need of academic, advising, or other types of support and help them to identify what campus and/or community resources they need and help them to access those resources.  Students are made aware of who their student services advisors are during new student orientation sessions and via an email during the first week of classes each semester.

You can also utilize the ‘Ask an Advisor’ link, which is perfect for advising referrals or general questions.  Please note that many of the faculty advisors are not on campus during the summer, so please direct your questions to the Advising Center during those times.

Advisement

Student services advisors and faculty advise students each semester in the selection of courses which will fulfill their educational goals. However, ultimate responsibility for meeting all stated requirements for the degrees rests with students.

Academic Success Center (Tutoring)

NRCC offers free tutoring for all students in every subject through its Academic Success Center (ASC). This includes the campus Writing Center, which is housed in the library, and where students may work on any writing-related task, not just coursework, and two sites for general tutoring in Dublin and Christiansburg.

Students can receive tutoring on an as-needed basis by simply scheduling a walk-in appointment through the ASC website, or they can work with a tutor on an ongoing basis via the same sign-up process. Students who cannot come to campus or whose work is primarily online can receive tutoring services remotely via Skype, Zoom, or other easy-to-use platforms.

ASC also offers many online tutorials in core subjects, and these may be accessed at any time through Canvas at the student’s convenience. Every student has a link to the ASC web page on his or her Canvas dashboard. This link can also be used to sign up for in-person or virtual services.

ASC services are available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., although hours will vary during breaks and summer sessions. The ASC website has up-to-date information on operating hours, staff, and procedures for signing up for tutoring.

The Dublin locations of tutoring are in Room 131, Godbey Hall, and Room 227 (in the back of the library) in Martin Hall for the Writing Center. At the NRCC Christiansburg site, tutoring and Writing Center help can be found upstairs in Room 202. Please call (540) 674-3664 for more information, or check out the ASC webpage.

Academic Excellence

DEAN’S LIST: The name of every student taking 12 college-level semester hours or more and who attains a grade point average of 3.2 for any one semester is placed on the Dean’s List.

PRESIDENT’S LIST: The name of every student taking 12 college-level semester hours or more who attains a grade point average of 3.5 for any one semester, and who has earned a minimum of 20 semester hours at the college, is placed on the President’s List.

Graduation Honors (Cumulative Grade Point Average)

Students who have fulfilled the graduation requirements as applicable to their programs may be eligible for graduation honors. Appropriate honors are recorded on the degree, diploma, or certificate (with the exception of Career Studies Certificates). The honors based upon the cumulative grade point average are as follows:

                3.2          Cum Laude (with honor)
                3.5          Magna Cum Laude (with high honor)
                3.8          Summa Cum Laude (with highest honor)

For additional information concerning academic status, please refer to the college catalog.

Apprenticeship

New River Community College partners with the Virginia Apprenticeship Program in delivering related instruction to employees registered as an apprentice and working for a Virginia-based employer who has agreed to be a sponsor.

Apprenticeships range from 2,000 hours/one year in length to 8,000 hours/four years in length. Each 2,000 hours of on-the-job training requires 144 contact hours of classroom-related instruction. Generally, the related instruction is conducted outside normal work hours.

Registered apprentices who successfully complete the prescribed number of hours of training and instruction in a program become certified journey level workers and will be awarded a Certification of Completion from the Apprenticeship Council. The college has a long history of working with apprentices and has served many industries in upgrading their workforce.

For additional information, contact Workforce Development at (540) 674-3600, ext. 4352 or Virginia Department of Labor and Industry/Registered Apprenticeship at (804) 225-4362 or website.

Bookstore

The New River Community College Bookstore is located in Martin Hall next to the Student Lounge for the convenience of students. The bookstore, however, is not owned by the college; it is currently under contract with Follett Higher Education Group, LLC. (Follett).

Regular semester bookstore hours:

Monday                                8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday    8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday                              8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Friday                                   8 a.m. - noon
Saturday and Sunday          Closed

These hours are subject to change. Special extended hours will be posted outside of the bookstore or refer to the NRCC Bookstore webpage for updates.

Summer term bookstore hours:

Monday - Thursday              8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Friday                                   8 a.m. - noon
Saturday and Sunday          Closed

Bookstore Purchase Information

• MasterCard, VISA, American Express, and Discover are accepted. A picture I.D. must be presented when writing a check.
• NRCC student I.D. cards are required for financial aid charges.
• The NRCC bookstore purchases textbooks daily, except for the first week of Financial Aid charges. Check the bookstore website for more information on specific dates, times, and prices.
• Daily courier service is available to the Christiansburg site at no extra delivery charge for orders placed on the bookstore website.

Check the bookstore at www.newrivershop.com for information on ordering, specific dates, times, and prices.

SCANTRON testing sheets are required for most tests on campus. These sheets are available in the bookstore during regular bookstore hours.

Book Refund Policy

Fall and Spring Semester- Refunds through last day to drop and receive a refund
Summer Term - Refunds through last day to drop and receive a refund for 10 week session

• Original Receipt Required
• New textbooks must be in new condition
• New textbooks must have cellophane wrapping intact - textbooks cannot be returned to the bookstore if the wrapping is removed. It is advised that students wait until after the first class meeting to remove cellophane wrapping from textbooks.
• All returns must be in the same condition as when purchased.
• All rented textbooks are due on or before the date indicated on your cash register/web order receipt, normally exam week. After that date, if the textbook(s) has not been returned, the credit card used to secure the rental will be charged for the remainder of the textbook cost per the rental agreement signed/agreed to via web order by the customer on the day of the initial transaction.
• Online or prepaid orders will be held for no longer than 45 days from the order date. Students will receive two notifications that their order is ready for pick up. After 45 days have passed, the order will be considered abandoned and placed back on the shelf and will not be eligible for a refund.

Charging Stations for Cell Phones & Other Devices

As a service and for the convenience of students and the campus community, New River Community College provides multi-device charging stations at the Dublin Campus and at the Christiansburg site. The charging stations are located in each building on the Dublin Campus (main lobby area in Edwards Hall, Connection Center in Godbey Hall, T. J. Anderson Student Lounge in Martin Hall, and the auditorium lobby area in Rooker Hall) and in several locations at the Christiansburg site (main lobby, hallway, and second floor Connection Center). Each station provides charging opportunities for up to eight devices (three Apple Lightning, three Micro USB, two USB Type-C). The stations provide a fast charge for Apple iOS, Google Android, Amazon Kindle, e-reader, tablet, cell phones and many other types of electronic equipment. 

Course Placement

Students entering a program of study which requires math or English courses must meet placement requirements for these courses. Many students are eligible to complete an Enrollment Form to assist with determining course placement, while others may submit multiple measures (SAT, ACT, or GED test scores) for placement purposes.

Placement Guidelines

Course placement is determined using one or a combination of the multiple measures outlined in the following tables. The measures shown represent the minimum GPA and/or test scores needed for placement. Test scores are valid for five years.

English Placement

Math Placement

* High school/home school GPA may only be used for students who received a standard or advanced studies diploma and current high school/home school seniors in their last semester of coursework and who will receive a standard or advanced studies diploma.

**These are developmental education courses and enrollment is not allowed for high school or home school students.

Placement Testing

Students who do not meet the placement guidelines may take the Virginia Placement Test (VPT). Additionally, the VPT is available for any students who wish to attempt to improve their course placement. Students must submit their application for admission to New River before taking the VPT. Students can retake the VPT one time within 12 months of their initial attempt. Placement test scores are valid for five years.

For more information visit the website.

Disabilities

Students who have disabilities or medical conditions that might interfere with class schedules or work should inform their instructors at the beginning of each semester. Documentation for students with disabilities should be submitted to the Center for Disabilities Services office located in the Advising Center in Rooker Hall. For more information about disabilities services, see Center for Disability Services Policies and Procedures . 

Online Learning (NRCC Online)

Online courses are part of New River Community College’s efforts to increase educational access to all. Online courses are for those who need to pursue academic goals outside of the traditional classroom setting. These courses are a convenient alternative to courses taught on campus, providing the same quality and content as on-campus courses. Online courses have specific qualities that equal or exceed direct classroom instruction in many ways but call for strong student commitment and motivation.

Online learning at NRCC enables students to achieve educational goals. Online instruction is both interactive and innovative.  For additional information, contact Charles Black, the eLearning Student Support Specialist, by email at cblack@nr.edu or by phone at (540) 674-3614 or visit NRCC Online at http://www.nr.edu/online.

Off-Campus Instruction

New River Community College provides classroom-based educational opportunities throughout the service area to meet the needs of the region’s residents. Coordination and management of the college’s off-campus operations are the responsibility of the Student Services’ office. Faculty from the college’s two teaching divisions (Arts & Sciences and Business & Technologies) provide high-quality instruction equivalent to on-campus instruction.

Financial Aid

The Financial Aid Office processes grants, work/study jobs, scholarships, and loans for full and part-time students. The Financial Aid Office is located in Rooker Hall, room 261. Please contact the Financial Aid office at (855) 874-6689 or by email at fahelp@nr.edu. For the online FASFA application visit our webpage. The online Financial Aid Handbook may be accessed here. You may view  the Virginia Community College Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy here.  For more help visit our website at mysupport.nr.edu.

Direct Loan Program

New River Community College offers students the Federal Direct Student Loan program.

Please check your VCCS email account periodically for communication from our office about this program or other financial aid matters.

IMPORTANT STEPS TO FOLLOW
If a student wishes to apply for a FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOAN, the following steps must be completed:

1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - complete online.
2. Student Loan Request Form - complete online.
3. Master Promissory Note (MPN) - complete online.
4. Entrance Counseling Form - complete online -first time borrowers

You may be asked to provide further documentation later if your file is selected for verification. We will contact you via your NRCC email account if this is the case.

Your student account will be electronically credited with loan funds. This means that any charges you owe the college, such as tuition and bookstore charges, will be paid from your loan proceeds first. Any remaining balance will be sent back to you through direct deposit or a VISA prepaid card. Please make sure your current address is correct on the Student Information System. You may update your address online through the Student Information System (SIS) link on our website, or in NRCC’s Admissions office.

Then, additional aid you receive, such as Pell, SEOG, CSAP, VGAP, COMA, etc., will be credited to your student account after the loan. Any remaining balance will be sent to you through direct deposit or a VISA prepaid card after all processing has taken place.

You can learn more about the Direct Loan program by visiting the website.

Library

The New River Community College Library serves the educational and informational needs of the students, faculty, and staff of the college, as well as the citizens, businesses, and industries of the New River Valley. It provides the tools necessary for education and research, including the latest in information and educational technology. In addition, the NRCC Library carries a wide range of popular and informative titles for pleasure reading and personal enrichment. 

Students and researchers have access to an extensive collection of library books and periodicals, databases, e-books, and streaming video titles. In addition to library-owned materials, the library’s membership in the VIVA (Virtual Library of Virginia) consortium provides a collection of research databases containing the latest scholarly journals, magazines, newspaper articles, research reports, dissertations, specialized resources, and more. Faculty, staff, and students may access these resources 24/7 from off-campus.

The library’s computers provide access to instructor-selected software and high-speed internet. Black & white and color copies are offered for a minimal charge; printing and scanning are free of charge. Required textbooks for each semester are also available for use in the library. Group and individual study rooms are provided, as well as solo study pods and quiet spaces for working throughout the library.

Additional library services include: Interlibrary Loan (ILL), individual reference assistance, scholarly research instruction for classes, embedded librarians, online research guides, and 24/7 online chat assistance. 
 

Orientation

All new NRCC students seeking a degree, diploma or certificate are required to attend a New Student Orientation program during which they are introduced to the college community and what they need to know in order to succeed as college students. During the session, students will identify their educational goals, create academic plans that enable them to achieve their goals, learn how to access resources online and on campus, and get to know other NRCC students, faculty and staff. Parents and other support people for incoming students will also have an opportunity to learn more about NRCC and how they can best support their students to succeed in college at an open-house style semester kick-off event prior to classes beginning.

Publications

Publications must be reviewed by the Public Relations & Marketing Office prior to publication. This office provides editorial services and helps to maintain consistency in college publications. Contact Kelly Kaiser (Public Relations Assistant) at (540) 674-3600, ext. 4301 or Jill Ross (Public Relations Specialist) at (540) 674-3600 ext.4245.

Student Identification (I.D.) Cards

Student Identification (I.D.) cards are made in the following locations: Student Activities Office, Office 121, located in the Student Lounge, Martin Hall; the Student Welcome Center, Rooker Hall; and at the Christiansburg site. Student I.D. cards are made in about two minutes and include the student’s name, student I.D. number, and identification picture.

Students will need I.D. cards to check out books from the library or sports equipment from the Student Activities Office, as well as to prove your identity when picking up checks from the Business Office or Financial Aid Office. The I.D. card is useful in the community for taking advantage of many discounts for college students which are offered by local businesses.

All NRCC students need to have an I.D. card. Once an I.D. card is made, it can be used throughout the student’s academic career at NRCC.

Student-Right-to-Know

For those students who first enrolled full-time Fall 2017 in a program at New River Community College, 26.5% had graduated by May 2020. The graduation rate for those students enrolling in a degree program was 26.6% while the rate for those in diploma and certificate programs was 26.1%.  The graduation rates for NRCC are comparable with those of other community colleges.  Many community college students take several years to complete a degree as they balance studies with employment and other activities.  Many others choose to transfer instead of completing a degree

Student Services Programs

Transcripts

Transcripts from other colleges need to be sent to the Admissions and Records Office when enrolling in a program or entering a class which has prerequisites.

New River Community College (NRCC) utilizes Parchment to manage the ordering, processing, and secure delivery of official transcripts in an electronic and paper format. All transcript orders require a major credit or debit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express) to complete the transaction. There is a $3.00 fee for an electronic transcript and a $5.00 fee for a mailed transcript. Additional Expedited Delivery options and fees are listed on the Parchment website during the ordering process. More information is available at https://www.nr.edu/admissions/index.php#transcripts.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition Rates – Effective Fall 2019

Fees And Charges For Past Due Accounts

The Code of Virginia, Chapter 44, Section 2.1-732, allows agencies to impose additional charges on past due accounts in certain instances. The full policy of fees and charges is posted in the NRCC Business Office located in Godbey Hall.

The American Opportunity Tax Credit and Lifelong Learning Credit

The American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit are tax credits that students may be eligible to claim on their tax returns (Form 1040 or Form 1040A). For more information about these tax credits, please contact your tax return preparer or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You may be able to access forms and publications on the IRS website. Some of the forms and publication of interest are Form 1040, Form 1040A, Form 8863 and Publication 970. The current address for this website is www.irs.gov. Some highlights about these two tax credits are provided below.

You may be able to claim the credits if you, your spouse, or a dependent you claim on your tax return was a student attending an eligible educational institution. The credits are based on the amount of qualified expenses paid for the student in a particular calendar or tax year. Generally, qualified education expenses are amounts paid in a tax year for tuition and course-related fees required for the student’s enrollment at the educational institution. The maximum Amerian Opportunity Tax credit that can be claimed is $2,500, and the maximum lifetime learning credit that can be claimed is $2,000. The amount of your adjusted gross income may affect the amount of these credits you are eligible to claim.

Payment of Tuition and Fees: Unless payment is delayed, tuition and fees must be paid at the time of registration by cash, check, VISA, MasterCard, or AMEX. A $35.00 service charge will be assessed for a check returned to the college by the bank for any reason or for dishonored credit or debit card payment for accounts not in past due collection status. A student must “make good” the returned check/debit or credit card payment and pay the service charge within the specified time to avoid being withdrawn from class(es). If a student is withdrawn during the add/ drop period, then the student will owe the college the service charge for the returned check only. Otherwise, the amount of the returned check and the service charge will be due the college and must be paid before a student will be allowed to register for any future class(es) or obtain a transcript.

VCCS Policy Manual

The Virginia Community College System Policy Manual may be found online.
 

Veterans

General Information

The Veterans Office for New River Community College coordinates all veterans’ educational benefits for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  The Veterans Office is located on campus in Dublin in Rooker Hall, Office 224. The direct telephone number is (540) 674-3693.  The Veterans Certifying Officer will meet with veterans at the Christiansburg site by appointment. Visit the Veterans Office webpage online at https://www.nr.edu/veterans/.

The VA requires all students to be enrolled in an official curriculum leading to a certificate or degree in order to receive benefits.  Students must contact the Veterans Certifying Officer each semester to complete the necessary forms to establish and maintain eligibility for benefits.

This institution is approved to offer GI Bill®* educational benefits by the Virginia State Approving Agency.

The Virginia State Approving Agency (SAA) is the approving authority of education and training programs for Virginia.  The office investigates complaints of GI Bill®* beneficiaries.  While most complaints should initially follow the school grievance policy, if the situation cannot be resolved at the school, the beneficiary should contact the SAA office via email at saa@dvs.virginia.gov.

New River Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. New River Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of New River Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). 

New River Community College is a member of Service members Opportunity Colleges (SOC), a consortium of over 1,300 institutions pledged to be reasonable in working with service members and veterans trying to earn degrees even while pursuing demanding, transient careers. As a SOC member, New River Community College is committed to easing the transfer of relevant course credits, providing flexible academic residency requirements, and crediting learning from appropriate military training and work experiences. SOC is sponsored by 15 national higher education associations with the military services, the National Guard Bureau, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense serving as cooperating agencies.

As part of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, please be aware that an individual who is entitled to educational assistance under Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill®* benefits, will be permitted to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the education institution a certificate of eligibility (or a “Statement of Benefits” for Chapter 33 or a VAF 28-1905 for Chapter 31) for entitlement to the educational assistance under Chapter 31 or 33 and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

• The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.
• 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certification of eligibility.

New River Community College will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facility, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 33 or 31.

*GI Bill® is a registered trademark offered by VA.  More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.” 

Tuition Assistance Program

Tuition Assistance is a benefit paid to eligible active duty military personnel to take courses at institutions.  New River Community College participates in a voluntary education partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Defense.  Please be aware of the policies and procedures enumerated below:

• No employee, full- or part-time, may accept a commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing veterans or Service member enrollments at New River Community College or by using high-pressure recruitment tactics such as multiple unsolicited contacts by phone, email, or in-person (reference:34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 668.14). Complaints should be reported to the Vice-President, Workforce Development and External Relations, at New River Community College.
• Policies and procedures for Financial Aid are found on the Financial Aid website at www.nr.edu/fa.
• Programs of study at NRCC may be found at www.nr.edu/catalog. At the website, click on “Programs” on the left side. Then, click on individual programs to see the details.

Responsibilities of Veteran Students

• Maintain satisfactory progress in order to continue receiving VA benefits.
• Take courses for which no previous credit has been received.
• Only enroll in courses that are specified for the veteran’s degree or program.
• Report any enrollment changes immediately to the Veterans Certifying Officer at NRCC, including adds/drops from courses for a semester.
• Report to VA and Veterans Certifying Officer at NRCC any change in program, address, or testing to earn credit.
• Submit all transcripts of prior training and prior credit to NRCC.
• Understand that monthly housing allowance benefits are paid on rate of pursuit.
• Submit a Veterans Registration Certification Form each semester for initial enrollment, and additions or deletions of courses. The form may be accessed on the website at https://www.nr.edu/veterans/pdf/veteranregistrationcertification.pdf.
• Understand that VA will not pay out-of-state tuition rates; not being domiciled in Virginia may result in having to pay tuition and fees balances to NRCC.