NOVA’s Early Online College Program: Partnering With Communities to Expand Access to College at No Cost to Families

Northern Virginia Community College’s (NOVA) Early Online College (EOC) program is an innovative effort with local partners to offer high school students a way to begin their college careers early. Communities subsidize up to two courses per upper-class student each semester. These courses are taken in addition to a student’s high school course load. NOVA offered a pilot in fall 2020 with one school partner and a handful of students. Officially launching in fall 2021, the program has grown from less than 50 enrollments to more than 1,200, with four municipalities partnering for fall 2022. NOVA partners with districts to select offerings, supports students through the process, and registers students. EOC courses complement dual enrollment offered at schools and facilitate progress toward completion of Virginia’s Uniform Certificate of General Studies. Courses go on a NOVA transcript and are widely transferable. EOC is an innovative opportunity to increase access, challenge students, and accelerate postsecondary pathways.

Innovators

• Eun-Woo Chang, Vice President, Academic Affairs, and Chief Academic Officer
• Amy Nearman, Director, Dual Enrollment