SDV 100 Course Redesign

Student success courses at community colleges have been shown to correlate with student success and persistence. These courses generally cover study skills, time-management, decision-making, and the development of a college and career success plan. Developing these skills is an important part of student success. Student Development Orientation (SDV 100) is NOVA’s student success course. We recommended all new students take this course. As part of the Achieving the Dream initiative, NOVA has redesigned the course. The revised course was introduced in Fall 2009 and focused on four categories of student learning outcomes:

1. Campus/college community, policies and procedures
2. Skills for academic success
3. Self-management and
4. Decision making (academic, personal and career).

Data indicates that at NOVA, completion of the revised SDV 100 class in the first semester has positive effects on student retention and GPA. This course was also paired with MTH 3 courses in learning communities starting in Fall 2008.

The SDV 100 Task Force is continuing their efforts by working to expand SDV faculty training, strengthening the connections with the New Student Orientation and the First Year Experience initiatives, ensuring students are taking the course by their 16 credit, and updating the exam students can take to place out of SDV (ABLE).

Resources on SDV 100

• Cluster Report on SDV 100, January 2010