Month: January 2019

The sky was a brilliant blue, the mercury had barely reached 20 degrees and the wind was wickedly whipping across campus when I came to work this morning. I had bundled up in a sweater, boots, a mid-calf wool coat, a scarf and gloves to brave the short walk from the parking lot to my office in Lancaster Hall. It didn’t feel like enough.

Thinking you might be wondering how your student is faring in the cold today, I ventured back out around 10:30 during class change to take a look. Here’s what I saw:

—Some boots and knit hats

—A few big, puffy coats
—Mostly bare hands (maybe because you can’t text wearing gloves?)

—A lot of bare ankles (among young women) and bare heads

—A lot of lightweight jackets, many unzipped
—A lot of hoodies (often with hoods down) and sweatshirts as the only outerwear

 

No judgment.

My college-age daughter often wears shorts with her UGGs in the winter. And I remember when I was in college (in Memphis, Tennessee, where it gets quite cold) that dressing warmly was not cool, no matter the temperature. Ah, youth. Some things never change.

The forecasters are predicting a warming trend with a high of 72 on Tuesday (no, that’s not a typo), but just in case your student comes down with a case of “There’s nothing to do” over the next few days, here are some antidotes you can offer.

 Comedian: Kevin Yee
Friday, February 1, 8 p.m. in the Upchurch University Center Soza Ballroom
Come on out and join Lancer Productions in welcoming Comedian Kevin Yee and his original comedy songs, which have been featured on the hit podcast 2 DOPE QUEENS (WNYC) and on The Gong Show(ABC)!

Peer Mentor Interest Meeting
Saturday, February 2, 2-3 p.m. in the Upchurch University Center Wilson Chamber (300)
The Office of Student Success is beginning its search for students who want to assist new Lancers in their transition to college. Peer mentors are role models and leaders on Longwood’s campus. Come to the meeting to learn more about who peer mentors are, how they engage incoming students, and the application and interview process.

Super Bowl Watch Party
Sunday, February 3, 6 p.m. in the Upchurch University Center (First Floor Lounge)
Want an awesome place to hang out with friends and watch the Super Bowl? We will be having a viewing party Bdubs style in the first floor lounge in Upchurch. We will have free food. Just come on in and claim a table!

Women’s Empowerment at Women’s Basketball Game
Tuesday, February 5, 7 p.m. in Willett Hall (gym)
Join Longwood University Athletics and the Lancer women’s basketball team for a special women’s empowerment event to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Cheer on the Lancers in their game against High Point and recognize the accomplishments of some of Longwood University’s and Central Virginia’s outstanding women. Admission to the game is free for all women.

—Sabrina Brown

If you have a student who is a budding researcher or artist (musician, actor, photographer, etc.) in the making, they can apply for funding from the university to support their efforts.

The Office of Student Research is currently accepting applications for awards of up to $500 per student to help defray the costs of engaging in research or in activities related to a creative field. Students can apply as individuals or in groups of up to three students who are collaborating on a project.

“Undergraduates in every discipline are eligible,” said Dr. Crystal Anderson, director of the Office of Student Research. “So a music major working on a recital who needs to travel to access materials at another institution or to receive instruction in a master class are examples of what could be funded.”

Examples of other eligible expenses are

• Art supplies
• Exhibit supplies
• Performance supplies
• Competition fees
• Conference fees
• Membership fees
• Software services
• Subscription services
• Laboratory supplies
• Travel to academic conferences

There will be two rounds of awards during the spring semester.
Application deadlines
Round 1: Feb. 18 at 5 p.m.
Round 2: March 25 at 5 p.m.

Students can apply for funding during both rounds. Funds must be spent by April 30, 2019.

“The council does look for projects that would best benefit from funding at the time of the request,” Anderson said. “Fully fleshed-out projects have a better chance of getting funded, as the funding process is competitive.”

To apply, students must first complete three online tutorials that help them understand how to successfully complete the application. These tutorials take about five minutes each to complete. The tutorials, the application and the required faculty acknowledgment form—as well as more information about the program—can be found online at http://blogs.longwood.edu/studentresearch/.

The number of students funded each round depends on the number of applications submitted and the strength of the application pool, Anderson said. Last semester, the office received 14 applications and funded nine projects.

So encourage your student to give it a shot if they’re engaged in eligible activities. I always say: “You don’t ask, you don’t get.”

—Sabrina Brown

The medical staff at the University Health Center includes Michelle Dunn, LPN, (left); Jeanne Strunk, FNP, (women’s health); Dr. Robert Wade, medical director; Harriet Vincent, FNP; and Bethany Rothwell, RN.

 

As cold and flu season cranks up, it seems an appropriate time to share with you some information about our University Health Center, a resource available to all currently enrolled Longwood students.

Clinic Director Ronald Goforth, Medical Director Dr. Robert Wade and the rest of the University Health Center staff are committed to providing a high level of care and to keeping your student healthy so they can be successful at Longwood.

Toward that end, the center directors asked me to emphasize one thing in this post:
Encourage your student to get a flu shot!

The University Health Center’s primary goal is to see all students needing care within 24 hours, “but most of the time they are seen the same day,” says Dr. Wade.

Now, on to some basic information about the University Health Center. For more detailed, comprehensive information, please visit the center’s website at
http://www.longwood.edu/health/

Or give them a call at the phone number listed below.

Services
The center provides primarily acute, wellness and preventative care. This means the medical staff can help if your student

• is experiencing a short-term (acute) illness
• is injured
• wants to take precautions to avoid getting sick
• wants an annual wellness or women’s health exam

In addition to these primary services, the University Health Center medical staff can also

• administer flu shots
• administer allergy shots (with serum provided by the student and a medical order from their allergist; fee required)
• write prescriptions for ADD/ADHD (with proper documentation of psychological workup within the prior three years; see website FAQs about this topic. Students who need this testing can have it done through Counseling and Psychological Services at Longwood. Information about CAPS services and fees is available at http://www.longwood.edu/caps/.
• administer IV fluids for students who have become dehydrated due to illness
• provide osteopathic manipulation for neck and back pain
• perform a tuberculosis skin test, which is required for nursing students
• collect lab specimens for testing and coordinate with LabCorp

Medical Staff
When your student visits the University Health Center, they will be seen by a member of the medical staff, which includes

• a physician
  
• a general family nurse practitioner
• a women’s health nurse practitioner
• three nurses

Appointments
Appointments are preferred but not required. Your student can make an appointment

• online through the student portal: https://cumulus.longwood.edu/cas/login?service=https://longwood.studenthealthportal.com/CASIf no appointment slots are available online, please encourage your student to call.
• by phone: 434-395-2102
  

Walk-ins
The clinic accepts walk-ins, but your student should be prepared to wait if necessary. Also, the earlier they get to the health center, the better, though every attempt will be made to see all walk-ins the same day.

Talking to the Medical Staff About Your Student
Parents of students who are 18 or older should be aware that FERPA (Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act) prevents members of the medical staff from discussing your student’s health issues with you unless your student signs a separate release form for each day they were seen at the center. (These forms are available at the center.) Of course, your student can share any and all information with you about their conditions and treatment.

After-Hours Care
If your student feels their illness or injury can’t wait until the center reopens, they can go to

• Centra Medical Group at 935 S. Main Street: 434-315-2850
• Centra Southside Community Hospital Emergency Department at 800 Oak Street: 434-315-2530
• Their primary care provider (PCP)

In addition, if your student has a non-life-threatening medical issue after hours, they may contact the health center’s nurse advice line at 805-858-3117.

Hospital and Emergency Care
Centra Southside Community Hospital and its emergency department, located at 800 Oak Street, are within walking distance of the Longwood campus. Your student may be referred to Centra Southside for X-rays and other diagnostic procedures, as well as care outside the scope of the University Health Center.

If your student has a medical emergency, they should call 911 or the Longwood University Police Department at 434-395-2091.

Payment
Being seen by a member of the medical staff is covered by student fees. If the student has health insurance, the clinic will bill the insurance provider, but no copay is required. Charges for off-site services such as prescriptions, visits to the emergency department or other health providers, hospitalization, injections and laboratory tests are the student’s responsibility.

University Health Center
Location, Hours and Contact Info
Location: Longwood Landings (106 Midtown Ave.) across from Subway
Hours of operation: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday except university holidays
Phone: 434-395-2102
Fax: 434-395-2738
email: studenthealth@longwood.edu

A Partnership with Potomac Healthcare Solutions
The University Health Center is operated by Potomac Healthcare Solutions, headquartered in Woodbridge, Virginia. PHS operates clinics and provides medical staffing in the U.S. and abroad, including for the Department of Defense and Veterans Health Administration.

—Sabrina Brown

By now many of you are probably aware that there’s snow in the Saturday and Sunday forecasts for Farmville (and consequently Longwood). Rest assured that Longwood is well-versed in preparing for snow and meeting the needs of students when it arrives.

Key administrators and staff from across the campus are meeting regularly to monitor the forecast and make preparations for the impending weather.

One change that has already been made is the time move-in will begin. Students can now begin moving back onto campus at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 11. Classes are still set to resume Tuesday morning.

As the forecast becomes more clear and decisions are made, updates to building hours, the class meeting schedule and campus events will be posted to alerts.longwood.edu. (The screen shot above shows what the site looks like.) You can visit this site for the most updated information concerning winter weather.

Updates also will be texted or emailed to students. If you would also like to receive alerts via text and/or email, you can sign up here.  Click on “Sign Up” in the upper right corner; then fill out the requested information and click on the “Create Account” tab. You’ll then have the options to fill in a phone number that can receive texts and an email address.

Of course, there’s always the chance that the snow will completely miss us. Hope springs eternal.

Best, Sabrina Brown

 

 

 

 

 

Happy 2019, Lancer parents!

If your student has mentioned wanting to step up their physical activity in the coming year, here’s some information you can pass along about how they can make that happen at Longwood.

Included are individual workouts, group fitness classes, sessions with personal trainers and intramural sports. Many of these offerings are free, while others are offered for a small fee.

Individual Workouts
Longwood’s Health and Fitness Center on the main campus offers state-of-the-art facilities and workout equipment available to all enrolled students at no charge.  Basketball and racketball courts, an indoor track, weight and cardio equipment, and free weights are accessible throughout the day and evening.

Group Fitness Classes
Free group fitness classes are held in the Health and Fitness Center Monday through Friday. Your student can participate in Zumba, yoga, Pilates, spin and more.

Free classes are also held at Longwood’s Midtown Fitness Performance Center, which is just a short walk from the main campus. Classes include circuit training, hardcore abdominal work and Bootcamp (a workout involving tires, sandbags and sleds).

Workshops
Workshops such as Women on Weights, which focuses on strength training, are offered at the Midtown location. Held on weekly from Jan. 21-March 1, workshops cost $20 for students.

Personal Training Sessions
Individual or “buddy” sessions with a personal trainer also are available in a variety of packages. For example, an individual “starter pack” includes an assessment appointment where the trainer and the student decide on goals and three workout sessions for $54. A “buddy pack” includes an assessment and five workout sessions for two students at a cost of $39 per student.

Intramurals
Intramural sports, where teams of students compete against each other, are offered throughout the spring semester. Sports begin at different points throughout the semester, beginning with 5v5 basketball, then going to indoor soccer and softball and ending with team handball. Costs range from $15-$30 per team. Students can sign up and get more information at imleagues.com/longwood.

If your student is interested in finding out more about these fitness options, direct them to www.longwood.edu/recreation.

Best, Sabrina Brown