Lancer Parent Pipeline

Commencement 2021:

This week we sent out information to senior students about our plans for Commencement 2021. In several discussions with the senior class, students asked for a way to celebrate together as a class in one ceremony. We are honoring those wishes, even though under the rigorous state commencement guidelines that will limit the number of guests allowed. Undergraduate Commencement will be May 15 at 9:30 a.m. on Wheeler Mall. Each participating senior will be allowed two guests, and each family group will sit in “pods” socially distanced per the state’s guidelines. An outdoor Graduate Commencement will take place May 14 at 5:30 p.m. on Stubbs Mall. Students will have an opportunity to sign up for professional photos that Sunday with larger groups of family and friends at Longwood House, where President Reveley will join graduates in their celebration in full regalia for photos.

If you’re like me, it only takes a couple of days of mild temperatures and sunshine to make you want to hop in the car and go—somewhere, anywhere.

So I have a suggestion that would add some purpose to that urge, both for you and for your friends, family or neighbors who have high-school students delving into a college search this spring.

Think about a trip to Farmville and Longwood.

April 1 and 2 (Thursday and Friday) are days off from classes for Longwood students. That’s a great opportunity to spend some time with your Lancer.

But first, I’d like to talk with you about how you can provide valuable help to people you know whose high-school students are looking at colleges.

Figuring out what a college or university is really like can be difficult. As the parent of a current student, you have so much insight into what it’s like to attend Longwood. Don’t be hesitant to share your and your Lancer’s experiences with friends and family. They will appreciate your insider’s perspective.

If you think Longwood would be a good fit for a high-school junior you know, please encourage their family to bring them to campus for a visit. Just in time for spring break, Longwood is hosting a series of on-campus visit days especially for high-school juniors and their families.

Dates for the junior visit days are: Mach 29-April 1, April 5-8, and April 10.

Visitors will be able to
—Take an in-person tour of campus with a guide who’s a current student (while observing safety measures, including wearing a face covering)
—Get answers to questions
—And enjoy a complimentary lunch

You can direct anyone who’s interested to the registration page here.

If you already have a student at Longwood, the first weekend of April might be a perfect time to visit campus. No classes will be held Thursday, April 1, and Friday, April 2. Maybe your Lancer would enjoy dinner out with the fam sometime during that weekend. A walk or bike ride together down the High Bridge Trail is also perfect “family time,” or you could do some shopping along Main Street.

Several restaurants downtown have outdoor seating. And so do the Virginia Tasting Cellar and 3 Roads Brewery (nonalcoholic beverages are available). Bikes can be rented downtown, and, for students, they can be checked out through the Health and Fitness Center (depending on availability).

If you or your friends make the trip and are looking for a great place to stay overnight in Farmville, take a look at the Hotel Weyanoke, newly renovated and located right across High Street from campus. Mention promo code LU15 to receive a discount or book here.

—Sabrina Brown

One of the things I love about working at Longwood is the thoughtfulness and deep emotion our president, W. Taylor Reveley IV, feels about Longwood and the students we’re here to nurture and help grow into their best selves.

This week President Reveley sent a message to your Lancer and their fellow students about the need for continued vigilance but also optimism for the remainder of the spring semester and next year. Like all of us, he is looking forward to the time when the campus returns to normal and the Longwood community will be able to express and experience their trademark connectedness fully in person.

Here is the text of his message:

Dear Students,

Halfway through the spring semester, I just wanted you to hear from me with a note of encouragement and—yes—optimism.

We are not yet through this challenge. Recent large outbreaks at other college campuses remind us how quickly Covid-19 can spread if we let our guard down. Important restrictions related to gatherings, masks and social distancing remain in place across Virginia. I suspect they will for some time, until we are more surely in the clear.

But with the first feel of spring in the air, I am more hopeful than I have been in some time. Thanks in great measure to the continued citizen leadership and responsibility of the vast majority of our students, our plan to navigate the epidemic on campus is working. Now, the weather will allow us to be outside more. Case numbers have been moving in the right direction in the Commonwealth. Every day tens of thousands more Virginians are getting vaccinated.

While I cannot be sure, I hope this spring we will see more and more aspects of life returning closer to normal.

It is one sign of progress (and pride) that all of our athletics teams are now competing. In the meantime, I have worked to convey across Longwood that a top priority these coming weeks will be to keep us connected to one another, and to honor our campus traditions, so meaningful to us all, as best we safely can. We’ve let the Class of 2021 know we will do as much as we possibly can under state guidelines for Commencement in May. As for next fall, I believe we really can look forward to a far more normal campus experience, closely resembling the deeply connected Longwood we know and love.

It has meant a lot that we have been able to be here on campus this year, and experience in-person learning more than most other colleges in Virginia or across the country. But I know it hasn’t been easy. I have heard from many of you that the precautions in place, which make it harder to connect with one another, have taken a real toll—and that you have been genuinely grieving experiences you have missed.

This next stretch will likely bring a range of emotions—that true sense of sadness and loss, but also I hope pride in how we have persisted, and real optimism for a future now within reach.

Please these next few weeks, in the finest Longwood tradition, keep looking out for one another. Ask for help if you are struggling, and offer it if you see someone in need.

And finally, I hope you will embrace the generational opportunity that follows from your generational challenge.

As students, you are caretakers of this place—our spirit, our traditions and one another. Amongst your friends and classmates and neighbors, on teams and in clubs and organizations, you can help keep vibrant Longwood’s traditions, culture and camaraderie. Each of you can help pass down what is most special about this place to those who will follow. I think you will find great purpose and reward in this work.

Be safe, take care of yourselves and one another, and savor Longwood and its campus, always so beautiful in the springtime.

President Reveley

 

Some of the most influential people at Longwood are the students who serve as peer mentors. Working with small groups, peer mentors usher new students through Orientation and serve throughout the fall semester as a resource, a role model and a “been there, done that” guide. (The peer mentors above were photographed in 2019, before Covid-19.)

The Office of Student Success is currently accepting applications for these highly sought-after positions. Students can serve on either the summer team or the fall team, or during both terms. Deadline to apply is midnight Sunday, Feb. 14.

“Peer mentors give new students—primarily freshmen—the tools and the knowledge they need to be successful,” said Caroline Gibbs, Student Success program coordinator.

Any student in good standing (including having no active judicial/honor sanctions) who has completed at least 12 hours with a 2.5 GPA or higher and who can fulfill the position requirements is eligible to apply. The selection committee is looking for students who are knowledgeable about Longwood, who are active on campus and who want to help their fellow Lancers. 

All peer mentors receive an hourly wage, and summer team members receive free housing and meals during training and summer Orientation programs. 

It truly is a transformative leadership experience and a great addition to a resume. Students often apply to serve a second and even a third year.

Victoria Cascio, a member of the Class of 2021, said being a peer mentor boosted her personal confidence and communication skills. “I have gained experience leading, teaching and making presentations,” said the English major. “It’s definitely a resume builder that will help me in my future.”

If you think your student would be interested, encourage them to take a look at the full position description, responsibilities and compensation information here.

The application can be found here.

To read what students say about what it’s like to be a peer mentor, click here.

—Sabrina Brown

 

 

 

 

Conducting research or working on another hands-on academic project alongside a faculty member is a great resume-builder for college students.

At Longwood, these mind-expanding, confidence-boosting opportunities aren’t just for science students. They’re accessible to every student, regardless of their rank (freshman, sophomore, etc.) and regardless of their department or discipline. Likewise, every student is eligible to apply for financial support from Longwood to help cover the expenses of their projects.

The Office of Student Research is currently accepting grant applications for this semester. The deadline for the first round of funding is 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29. Your student can find the application on the Office of Student Research website under Student Research Funding.

Awards range from as much as $500 for individual projects up to $1,500 for team projects undertaken by three students.

Take a look at the latest issue of Longwood’s journal of undergraduate scholarship, INCITE, and you’ll likely be surprised by the diversity of the work taking place on campus with the encouragement and guidance of faculty. It includes an analysis of a Mozart piano sonata; a student’s photography exploring his life with cerebral palsy; and research aimed at developing quick and simple methods for detecting counterfeit anti-malarial drugs.

Benefits for students who participate in this type of work are far-reaching. For starters, it facilitates active learning and spurs more creativity, better problem solving and stronger written and oral communication.

Grants from the Office of Student Research can be used to cover expenses such as laboratory, media and field equipment; art supplies; software; photocopying, printing and film processing; communication costs (postage, phone, etc.); travel to support the investigative phase of the student’s work (such as travel to field sites, museums, archives or libraries); and travel expenses related to presenting their work at a scholarly conference or the equivalent* (including transportation, mileage, lodging, registration, meals and other related expenses).

If you have a chance, ask your student if they’ve thought about doing a project this semester. If they have, encourage them to apply for a grant!

—Sabrina Brown

*Please note that during the 2020-21 academic year, support for student travel will be limited to virtual conferences and in-state travel only. The Office of Student Research encourages students to apply to present their research and creative inquiry projects at virtual conferences and symposia during the 2020-21 academic year.

 

With move-in starting Saturday for students who live on campus, I thought the following information might be helpful.

We are so excited to welcome your students back for the spring semester!

Move-in Schedule for New and Continuing Students

Jan. 9: noon-5 p.m.
Jan. 10: noon-5 p.m.
Jan. 11: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Jan. 12: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Move-out Schedule for Noncontinuing Students

Students not enrolled for spring semester should retrieve their belongings on Saturday, Jan. 9, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. These students will be provided special ID card access. Property retrieval arrangements after this date should be coordinated with the student’s REC. Contact information for each hall’s REC and front desk can be found here.

Helpers

Please remember that, due to Covid-19 precautions, only 2 helpers per student are allowed to assist with moving in or out.

Move-in Dining Hours

Dorrill Dining Hall will be open the following special hours Jan. 7-11:
Brunch: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Dinner: 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Covid-19 guidelines

As I mentioned in a post last month, students who test positive for Covid-19, are experiencing possible symptoms or are awaiting test results should not return to campus. Contact the university Health Center at 434-395-2102 for medical advice, questions, instructions and/or testing. If your student needs help with starting classes remotely, email questions@longwood.edu.

Residential and Commuter Life Move-in Weekend Office Hours

Location: Lancaster Hall Room G13 (ground floor)
Phone: 434-395-2080
Hours
Saturday, Jan. 9: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 10: noon-5 p.m.

Building Access and IDs

Building entry doors will not be unlocked during move-in, and residents will be expected to use their ID cards to enter their buildings. If your student is new to Longwood and didn’t submit a photo to the Lancer Card Center before arriving on campus, they can get a temporary loaner card at check-in. These cards must be returned to the Lancer Card office in Room G10 Coyner Hall; phone, 434-395-2715. Because the office will be closed on Saturday and Sunday, the card should be returned when the office opens for normal hours on Monday, Jan. 11.

Lost or nonworking card issues should be directed to the Lancer Card office during normal business hours Monday-Friday or to the Longwood University Police Department after hours or on the weekend (434-395-2091).

Emergency After-Hours Facility/Housekeeping Needs

The Work Order Center and the Budd Group office will be closed Jan. 9-10. Email and voicemail will not be monitored. Normal business hours resume on Monday, Jan. 11.

Emergency needs after hours or on the weekend should be directed to the Longwood University Police Department (LUPD) at 434-395-2091.

Farmville Area Bus Schedule

The Express and Campus lines begin service at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 10. Service on Monday, Jan. 11, and Tuesday, Jan. 12, will be on the weekend schedule, with regular service hours resuming on Wednesday, Jan. 13.

—Sabrina Brown

 

It’s January, and that means New Year’s resolutions, the start of spring semester—and thinking about your student’s housing for next year.

Today’s post will be aimed primarily at parents of students who will be juniors and seniors next year. We know there are many housing options available to your student. And we know you are weighing many factors as you make this important decision.

You want your student to be safe. You want them to have somewhere to turn for help if they need it—especially if it’s in the middle of the night and you’re not close enough to get there quickly.

One of the biggest advantages Longwood-managed apartments offer is peace of mind. Below are a few more of the advantages of living at Lancer Park and Longwood Landings (pictured above):

—If your student tells us by Jan. 24 that they will be registering to live in a Longwood-managed apartment, they’ll automatically be entered to win $4,000 toward their apartment for next year. Registration for apartments begins Feb. 8.

—Staff are on call 24/7 to respond to your student’s needs.

—Longwood Police Department officers keep a close eye on Longwood-managed apartments with regular patrols 24/7.

—Emergency phones and security cameras are placed at strategic locations at both complexes.

—An LUPD officer lives with his family on site at Lancer Park.

—All of your student’s neighbors will be Longwood students or staff.

—Residents can store their belongings FREE in their apartments over the summer (if they will be living in the same apartment the following fall). No more moving belongings in and out.

—Residents can live in their apartments over breaks and the summer at no additional charge (if they will be living in the same apartment after the break or for the next regular semester).

—Longwood has restructured its meal plans. A new 50-meal plan offers flexibility and savings.

—Use of washers and dryers is FREE.

—Cable, internet, water and electricity are included in housing rates. No more surprise utility bills or hassles with splitting bills and security deposits.

—Main-campus parking for apartment residents has been expanded to include 24/7 access to commuter spaces for Lancer Park residents and residential spaces for Longwood Landings residents.

A list of apartment and meal plan options, along with pricing for the 2021-22 year, can be found at go.longwood.edu/housingrates.

Longwood-managed apartments also are an option for sophomores, although we encourage the on-campus residential experience for students’ first two years.

—Sabrina Brown

P.S. Just a reminder for your student to tell us by Sunday, Jan. 24, that they plan to register for a Longwood apartment so they will be entered to win a credit of $4,000 toward the apartment! You can find the details here: go.longwood.edu/myhousingplans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we anticipate the new year, I’m passing along an email about the spring semester that was sent to your student on Wednesday, Dec. 30, by Matthew McWilliams, assistant vice president for communications.

It contains important information about
—Covid-19 precautions for students to take prior to returning to campus and guidelines for students who should delay their return
—Guidelines for move in, set for Jan. 9-11, including the limiting of helpers to 2 per student
—Continued vigilance in combatting Covid-19 this semester
—The extension of the fall visitor policy into the spring semester
… and more

I hope you can take a minute between now and your student’s return to campus to read through this update.

By working together and taking precautions seriously, the entire Longwood community—and especially students—made Longwood’s successful fall semester possible. By continuing that commitment, the coming semester can be just as successful.

Happy New Year!

—Sabrina Brown

Full text of email sent to Longwood students on Dec. 30, 2020

I hope you all had a happy and safe holiday season. I’m reaching out about 10 days before most students return to campus with some information about your return and the upcoming semester. The semester will begin as scheduled, with graduate classes beginning Jan. 8 and undergraduate classes beginning Jan. 13.

While the news about vaccines is a source of great hope for 2021, we continue to see substantial Covid-19 cases across the country and here in the Commonwealth. We must assume the virus will be present in our community during the spring semester. That means the precautions that served us well in the fall will remain in place as we return to campus. I urge every member of the campus community to review the Shared Commitment that was foundational in our success in the fall and pledge yourself to those principles again.

As in the fall, we are prepared to handle Covid-19 cases in the university community. It is up to all of us to do the things we know work—wear masks, keep socially distanced, and wash hands regularly—to make the spring successful.

Prior to Returning to Campus

Our collective steps to ensure a successful semester must begin now, ahead of our return to campus. Please exercise great care these next two weeks— wearing masks, social distancing and avoiding gatherings.

If you are experiencing any potential Covid-19 symptoms or have been contact exposed, or are awaiting test results, do NOT return to campus. Please call the University Health Center at 434-395-2102 and email questions@longwood.edu so we can work with you on academic considerations if you need to delay your return.

Per our consultations with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), our plan for repopulating campus this spring will mirror our successful approach in the fall. In general, a test is not required before returning to campus. However, if you have visited with family or friends over the holidays, testing options have expanded and can help ensure you are not an asymptomatic carrier. If you have visited with others, we encourage you to seek out one of these tests a few days before returning to campus. VDH’s testing site map may be a helpful resource. If you are near Farmville, you can arrange for a test at the University Health Center, which opens Jan. 4 at 8 a.m. To make an appointment, call 434-395-2102.

Daily Health Screening

Ten days before you return to campus, you should resume asking yourself the daily health questions:
—Are you currently experiencing a fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher)?—Are you currently experiencing a new cough?
—Are you currently experiencing a new shortness of breath?
—Are you currently experiencing new chills?
—Are you currently experiencing a new sore throat?
—Are you currently experiencing new muscle aches?
—Have you had a loss of taste or smell?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you should contact a health care provider and not return to campus until cleared following a negative test.

Move-in

Students can begin moving back into their on-campus residence halls on Jan. 9. Spring move-back is different from the fall—there are fewer belongings to move, and the return is naturally more staggered over several days, so we will not assign specific move-in times. However, please exercise caution. Remember that when you are in on-campus buildings, including residence halls and university-managed apartments, you must wear a proper face covering. This includes family members who are helping you move back in. Please limit the number of family members who assist you with move-in to two. Face coverings are also required outside when you cannot maintain consistent 6 feet of distance between yourself and others.

Visitors

The visitor guidelines put in place for the fall semester are still in effect. These will continue to be reviewed regularly in consultation with student leadership.

Testing, Quarantine and Contact Tracing

As during the fall semester, we will engage in prompt testing of those with symptoms or who are contact exposed, as well as contact tracing, and provide support services for students who may need to isolate or quarantine. The Health Center expects to be able to continue offering “peace of mind” testing to students who are not symptomatic or contact exposed but would like to be tested. VDH is strongly supportive of our approach this past fall and has not recommended random surveillance testing of the campus community. However, over the course of the semester we may engage in targeted surveillance testing — for example of a broader group of people around a cluster of positive cases.

We are looking forward to having you back on campus this spring. Thank you for continuing to take these individual actions that will be key to a successful spring semester.

Best,

Matthew McWilliams
Assistant Vice President for Communications
Longwood University