Frequently Asked Questions for the
2003 National Victim Assistance Academy

1. When and where is the NVAA 2003 conducted?

The 2003 NVAA was held June 8–13, 2003 at California State University-Fresno, California and at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, and again on June 22–27, 2003 at the College of Charleston, in Charleston South Carolina. This concludes the offering of the week-long NVAA courses for 2003.

2. The National Victim Assistance Academy (NVAA) brochure states that the applicant must submit the original application and two copies of the typed application form. Must applicants have the original application or can they use the downloadable version?

Applicants may use the downloadable version or a copy of the NVAA application form. Applicants should be sure to submit either the handwritten or typed original with two additional copies attached.

3. Does OVC TTAC have a preference for who writes students' letters of recommendation (a supervisor, former professor, mentor)?

Applicants are asked to have someone who knows their work in the victim service field write their letters of recommendation. For example, it could be a person in a supervising capacity or, for applicants who are currently studying at an undergraduate or graduate level, a professor or supervisor for an intern or volunteer experience.

4. How much does it cost to attend NVAA?

The 2003 NVAA is scheduled for two different weeks in June, from Sunday through Friday. The cost is $300, which covers tuition, room and board, and classroom materials. (Transportation to and from NVAA sites is not included in this amount.)

5. Will scholarships be made available and, if so, how will the scholarships be awarded? What costs will the scholarship cover?

Scholarships will be available on a need basis. The scholarships can cover up to $300 of the cost to attend NVAA. When a student who indicated an interest in receiving a scholarship application is accepted into NVAA, one will be mailed to him or her.

6. Is there a place where an applicant can see a list of each site's faculty?

Once the list of faculty members has been finalized, a list specific to each site will be accessible on the NVAA Web site.

7. Can applicants still be considered for a spot at the Academy if they do not have 1 year of experience working with crime victims?

Applications will be reviewed and accepted on a case-by-case basis. Applicants unclear on whether they have ample experience should still submit their application for review. For example, undergraduate and graduate students who have worked as interns in the victim service area for a year may be eligible, as may an applicant who has worked as a victim advocate for 8 months.

8. Is it required that students attending the Academy stay in the dormitory or can students pay for themselves to stay in a hotel?

It is NVAA policy that students stay in the dormitory. Staying in the dormitory promotes student camaraderie and increases networking opportunities for all students.

9. What are the closest airports to the sites in Washburn, Kansas; Fresno, California; and Charleston, South Carolina? What is the public transportation system like in the cities where the NVAAs are being held?

All information regarding travel by air, train, bus and/or local shuttle or taxi, as well as on-campus amenities, will be mailed to all accepted NVAA students after they submit their confirmation of attendance (which they will receive in their acceptance packages). This information is contained in a comprehensive site guide for each NVAA location.

Each site guide includes logistical information pertinent to that particular NVAA site, including airport and local transportation, directions to campus, campus amenities (convenience stores, pharmacies, cafeterias, bookstore, gym, etc.), student meals, local restaurants and pharmacies, parking, typical weather, appropriate dress, on-campus security, and many other issues. The site guides will also be posted on the OVC Web site.

10. What is the class schedule for the Academy? Will students have their nights free? What amenities on the campuses will students have access to (gym, game room, library)?

You will receive your class schedule for the Academy immediately upon check-in at your Academy site, along with other introductory materials. The Academy begins late Sunday afternoon and continues through early Friday afternoon. As a general rule, required sessions are not scheduled at night, although there are often optional sessions and many students socialize informally in the evenings. However, there are occasional required evening sessions, and it is not a good idea to make definite evening plans prior to receiving your schedule.

11. What is meant by the statement in the NVAA brochure "students attending the South Carolina NVAA will receive academic credit through the other sites"?

Students attending NVAA at the South Carolina site can receive academic credits; however, they will awarded by either Washburn University or California State University-Fresno.

12. Who do students make the $120 check out to in order to receive the academic credit? Do they have to mail it in advance? Who do they mail it to?

The $120 academic credit fee is due to the university from which you are requesting academic credit and does not have to be mailed in advance. In fact, it is more practical to simply bring it with you to the Academy and pay on site.

You can request academic credit from any university that provides academic credit for NVAA. You do not have to attend the site from which you request credit. The key issue for most Academy students requesting academic credit is the particular academic course(s) through which NVAA is offered at each university. For example, if you are looking for criminal justice credits, you will want to request academic credit from the NVAA site(s) that offers criminal justice credits. If you are a social work student, you may want to explore whether any of the NVAA universities offer social work credit and/or a course that would transfer more easily into a social work program. The burden is always on the Academy student to ensure that the Academy credit will successfully transfer to their particular university. However, all NVAA university sites are fully accredited universities. There will be academic coordinators at each site who will serve as academic credit mentors to you during the week and facilitate any administrative aspects of academic credit.

13. Would it be beneficial to students who have already attended NVAA to attend again? If not, is there an advanced academy a students can attend, and where do students get information regarding advanced trainings?

Attending NVAA for a second time will not necessarily benefit students who have attended NVAA within the past 3 years. Students applying for the first time will be given acceptance priority over students who have previously attended. There is no advanced NVAA for students who have already participated in NVAA. Instead, OVC offers a specialized topic series that includes "The Ultimate Educator" and "Leadership in Victim Services."

14. Can students leave early from NVAA and still be awarded a certificate of completion and receive academic credit?

No. Students should ensure that their travel arrangements provide them the necessary time to attend the entire NVAA. The Academy will close on Friday afternoon, June 13 and June 27, at 4:00 p.m. Please plan your travel accordingly.

15. Can students stay in the dormitory the last night (a seventh night) if there are no available flights in the evening? How do students arrange staying in the dormitory an extra night? Who will be responsible for the cost of staying an extra night?

You can stay in the dormitory the last night (Friday) of the Academy week provided there is space, but you are responsible for the additional cost and you must personally contact the site's program manager as soon as you are aware you will need housing for an additional night. Housing contracts for the Academy week are negotiated for only the Academy week, i.e., Saturday through Thursday nights. Additional rooms will be available only if there is space; in the past, there has always been space. Charges for the additional night range from $25 to $40, depending on the site.

16. Does attending the Academy mean that I will become "certified" in the field of victim assistance?

No, attending the Academy does not certify you as a victim assistance provider or any other type of victim assistance professional. Students who successfully complete NVAA will receive a certificate of completion—and if they are interested and complete the respective requirements—three continuing education, undergraduate, or graduate credits. See Question 12.

Do you have any questions? TTAC staff can be reached at 1-866-OVC-TTAC or via e-mail at TTAC@ovcttac.gov.