Sabrina Brown

If you’re still looking for a special holiday gift for your student, you might want to consider a Longwood class ring.

A class ring is a tangible representation of all the hard work and dedication your student has put into their academic journey—and so much more.

Many students say that Longwood feels like home, and many Longwood alumni still feel that way 10, 20 or even 50 years later. Decades from now, a class ring will remind your student of the lifelong friendships they formed here, the faculty who helped them realize their potential and the experiences that helped shape them into citizen leaders.

Best of all, Longwood’s annual Ring Ceremony in the Rotunda gives you and your family the opportunity to share that special moment when your student receives their ring and puts it on their finger for the first time.

During the ceremony, class rings are presented to students as they hear from one of Longwood’s top administrators and from a representative of the Alumni Board. Following the ceremony, students and their families are invited to the Rotunda for photos.

You can view ring designs and order online here now. Those ordering a class ring by Feb. 6, 2025, will be invited to participate in the Ring Ceremony, which is set for Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 12:30-2 p.m. in the Rotunda.

Your student also can meet with a Balfour representative in the first floor lounge of the Upchurch University Center from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Jan. 28 and Jan. 29. Students can look at ring options, find their ring size and order their ring in plenty of time to be invited to the Ring Ceremony.

—Sabrina Brown

Today’s post has what I hope will be some helpful information about Thanksgiving break.

For those of you whose students will be coming home for the holiday, I hope you have a wonderful visit and a very happy Thanksgiving.

At this time of year, those of us who work at Longwood think about how thankful we are to have the opportunity to provide your student with a college experience that prepares them for a successful and meaningful life as a citizen leader.

Now, here’s that information about the break.

If your student lives in Longwood-managed housing and is staying on campus during the break, they need to fill out an Intent to Stay form, which is available through the Student Housing Gateway.

It’s important to note that any student who needs access to their residence between 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, and noon Sunday, Dec. 1, must fill out an Intent to Stay form—even if they won’t be on campus for that entire time.

The Intent to Stay form must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25.

Filling out this form gives students uninterrupted ID card access to their housing (where applicable) and notifies Campus Police that they will or may be staying on campus during all or part of the break.

If your student asks, please let them know they should not cancel any academic or other personal obligations during the break period. Instead they can be sure to have continued access to their assigned living space by submitting the Intent to Stay form.

If your student lives in Longwood-managed housing and is coming home for the holidays, they should be sure to do the following before departing campus:

—Remove all trash, contraband, and/or perishable food.
—Thoroughly clean the unit, including the bathroom and common spaces.
—Make certain that all vents are not blocked by furniture or other personal items. As applicable, adjust the thermostat to a low/medium setting (about 68 degrees).  Apartment residents should always keep the HVAC unit’s fan operating in the AUTO setting.
—Take valuables and important items with them (medication, eyeglasses, wallet, etc.).
—Shut down and unplug all electronics except personal refrigerators or apartment appliances.
—Turn off all lights.
—Close and lock all windows.
—Lower all window blinds/shades.
—Lock all doors.

If your student lives in Moss or Johns hall, you will be able to load and unload vehicles on Spruce Street for the break. Similar to the one-way traffic flow of August move-in and fall break, please be sure to access Spruce Street by taking Wynne Drive to Pine Street and then turn onto the sidewalk in front of the Fitness Center. Use Redford Street (McDonald’s intersection) only to EXIT campus.

Campus Map: Thanksgiving Break Edition

Where to Load/Unload for Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving Break Overview

Below is some additional important information about the break that has been shared with students.

• All residential communities will remain locked (24/7) during the break. Students who filled out the Intent to Stay form will continue to have access to their assigned buildings through the card reader(s) on their building (where applicable).
• No guests are allowed in university housing during the break.
• The dining hall will close after lunch on Tuesday, Nov. 26, and re-open for dinner on Sunday, Dec. 1.  Regular hours of operation resume on Monday, Dec. 2. Up-to-date hours and information for all other Longwood Dining-managed food venues can be found at https://longwood.campusdish.com/.
• Farmville Area Bus service (FAB) will end at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, and will resume at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1. There is no bus service for travel to Lancer Park during the break period.
• Residence hall rooms and apartments are subject to entry during the break; limited work orders and/or facility safety inspections could occur.
• A necessary steam shut off will impact sections of central campus during break. This repair work is expected to occur from 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27.  During that time, no heat or hot water will be available in Moss Hall or Johns Hall.
• Campus offices will be closed Nov. 27-29.  
• For general assistance from Campus Police during the break, students can call 434-395-2091. In case of emergency, students should call 911. Students who need help with a non-life-threatening medical issue can call the Nurse Advice Line at 805-858-3117.

 —Sabrina Brown

Tailgating with your student and their friends. High-energy basketball games in our top-notch arena.  Live music that will keep you dancing. Campus tours that will give you a glimpse into what campus life is like.

All this and more happens in just one month at Longwood’s Homecoming & Alumni Weekend, set for November 8-10. If you haven’t registered, we’d hate for you to miss it! And we’d love for you to bring the whole family. Lancer spirit will be over the top with the more than 700 alumni, current students, family members and friends expected to attend.

We especially want to make sure you have priority access to purchase tickets to the basketball matchups in our state-of-the-art arena, which are expected to sell out once released to the general public next week. Register by Oct. 15 to get this priority access.

So don’t worry, you still have time to get in on the energy and excitement by registering now: go.longwood.edu/homecoming

• Register by Oct. 15 for priority access to basketball tickets in our beautiful arena, which just opened last year.
• Get this year’s Go Wood shirt FREE.
• It all starts on Friday with a picnic-style Homecoming Kickoff dinner (including one free drink ticket), an exciting circus show for all ages, a preview of Farmville nightlife with DJ Joe Fu at local hot spot North Street Press Club and spooky ghost tours of campus to end the night.
• Don’t miss the exclusive, only-chance opportunity to buy a 2024 Longwood Scarf at the Lancer Family Tailgate for just $10 each.
• Speaking of tailgates… Be sure to bring your chairs, pack some food, and fill your cooler (alcohol is allowed within the tailgate area) for the BYOB Lancer Family Tailgate, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. From there, we will head to the basketball game as our men take on Morgan State. Want to reserve a tailgate space? See your registration confirmation email for more details.
• After the game, join other Lancer fans for a meet-up at 3 Roads Brewing, and then head to the after party at local favorite North Street Press Club, where live music from The Tight Slacks will keep you dancing into the wee hours of the night.
• And finally, enjoy brunch in our current dining hall Sunday morning, then join us as the women’s basketball team takes on Hood College during Educators Appreciation Day, a collaboration between Longwood Athletics and the Office of Teacher Preparation. Are you a current or retired schoolteacher, administrator, or supporting staff member? If so, we are excited to offer you up to four FREE tickets. Details in your Homecoming registration confirmation.

Need more details about why this is a weekend you don’t want to miss? To view the full Homecoming & Alumni Weekend schedule and register today, visit go.longwood.edu/homecoming.

Adults: $35 (through Oct. 31); children (ages 6-17): $15; children (5 and under): FREE.

The more the merrier! We hope to see you there!

Please contact the Office of Alumni and Career Success with any additional questions. They can be reached at (434) 395-2044 or alumni@longwood.edu.

—Sabrina Brown

Longwood’s newest Homecoming tradition is back for the second year, and it’s specifically for parents, alumni and friends of the university!

Longwood has again partnered with nearby Sandy River Distillery to create a limited edition single-barrel bourbon called 1839 Collection—and bottles go on sale this month, just in time for Homecoming & Alumni Weekend on Nov. 9!

Parents are encouraged to attend Homecoming and experience Lancer spirit firsthand—tailgating, basketball games in the Joan Perry Brock Center and the chance to meet some of your student’s friends. Find out more and register here.  

Now back to the 1839 Collection. There are fewer than 800 bottles available for sale this year, but you can be among the first to know when Sandy River Distillery opens sales. Just enter your information at go.longwood.edu/1839Collection, and we’ll let you know the minute it goes on sale!

Sandy River is a locally owned and operated distillery that is part of an outdoor adventure center complete with a ropes course, bike and boat rentals, and log cabins and glamping tents available for rental. It was important to us to partner with a local business on this project, and we found really natural partners in Mark and Candice Smith, who own the distillery and adventure center. They are just a five-minute drive from campus, so you might want to add them to your list of destinations the next time you’re in town!

If you purchase 1839 Collection, there are three ways to get your bottle:

• Pick up at Longwood’s Homecoming & Alumni Weekend pregame tailgate event on Nov. 9 (preferred)
• Pick up at Sandy River Distillery
• Ship within Virginia

Note: There is no shipping outside Virginia at this time.

If you have questions, please contact 1839Collection@longwood.edu.

Here’s a toast to Longwood and our families!

—Longwood Marketing, Communications and Engagement

Fall break is right around the corner. Today’s post provides what I hope is some helpful information.

The break starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, and goes through noon Sunday, Oct. 13. (Classes resume at 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 14.)

If your student will need access to their Longwood-managed housing at any time from 6 p.m. Oct. 9 through noon Oct. 13, they must file an Intent to Stay form no later than 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8. The form is available through the Student Housing Gateway.

Here are some important things to know about fall break:

—For security reasons, any student on university property during the break period should be sure to carry a photo ID and be prepared to present it at the request of any university official.

—The dining hall will close after dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 9, and reopen for dinner on Sunday, Oct. 13.

—Farmville Area Bus Service (FAB) will end at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, and resume at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13.  There is no bus service for Lancer Park during the break period.

—No guests are permitted in Longwood-managed housing during the break period.

—At the start of the break, all residence hall rooms and apartments will be entered and inspected for safety violations and general break preparation compliance. In addition, during the break, Longwood-managed housing rooms and units are subject to entry for limited work orders and/or facility safety inspections.

Fall break checklist for students living in Longwood-managed housing AND leaving campus:
—Remove all trash, contraband and/or perishable food.
—Thoroughly clean the assigned living area, including the bathroom and common spaces.
—If applicable, adjust the room thermostat to a low/medium setting.
—Students should take valuables and important items with them (medication, eyeglasses, wallet, etc.).
—Shut down and unplug all electronics, except personal refrigerators or apartment appliances.
—Turn off all lights.
—Close and lock all windows.
—Lower all window blinds/shades.
—Lock all doors.

Safe travels to all the students going home for fall break.

—Sabrina Brown

 

It’s been less than a month since the final phase of move-in, and your students have wasted no time settling in, experiencing some of Longwood’s signature traditions and diving into their classes.

Most recently, the Class of 2025 began the celebration of their final year with Convocation on Sept. 12 in the Joan Perry Brock Center. (This event is open to parents in case any of you wants to start planning to attend when it’s your senior’s turn.) The tradition involves friends or family decorating mortarboards to the nines—and often sky-high—with items reflecting the student’s Longwood experiences and their favorite things. You can read more about this year’s Convocation here: https://www.longwood.edu/news/2024/convocation-2024/

I hope you enjoy this early fall photo album and video. You might even catch a glimpse of your student living their best college life.

Coming Soon: Posts about fall break and on-campus delivery of packages and purchases from local merchants.

Convocation

Convocation Video

Voter Registration

Pep Rally and The G.A.M.E.

First Day of Classes

New Lancer Days

Honors College Leadership Retreat

Honor and Integrity Ceremony

Move-in

—Sabrina Brown

 

It may seem as if you just settled your student in at Longwood—or it may seem as if it’s been forever since you’ve seen them. Either way, by the time the weekend of Sept. 13-14 rolls around, you may be ready to touch base, see how they’re doing and get a hug.

And you can tell your student you have a perfectly good reason for coming back to Longwood on this particular weekend: It’s Family Weekend!

Family Weekend starts the evening of Friday, Sept. 13, and continues through Saturday, Sept. 14, offering a mix of structured activities, free time to just hang out with your student and Farmville’s annual Heart of Virginia Festival.

Click here for all the details of Family Weekend and register to attend. All activities except the pottery class (see below) are included in registration: $25 per person. (Registration is free for children 5 and under and Longwood students.)

Registration deadline is Monday, Sept. 9, 2024.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 13, HIGHLIGHTS

Starting off the weekend is a 6-8 p.m. reception where you’ll have the chance to chat with members of the President’s Executive Council and Longwood’s academic deans. This is a great chance to get insight into your student’s academic program.

Following the reception is game night, where you can test your skills and win prizes.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 14, HIGHLIGHTS

Saturday starts with a continental breakfast from 9-11:30 a.m., where coffee, pastries and other breakfast fare come with a side of live music and information about programs and opportunities for parents to get involved in the Longwood community.

In the afternoon, you can be entertained by a student music showcase, take a pottery class with ceramics professor Adam Paulek (additional fee of $40, which includes shipping your finished creation) and talk with members of Longwood’s student organizations.

Saturday evening features an 8 p.m. performance by magician, mentalist and hypnotist Savio Joseph, a world-class entertainer who has amazed audiences across the globe with his talent and charisma. His dedication to his craft have earned him recognition and acclaim on the international stage, including features in prestigious outlets such as Maclean’s magazine and the opportunity to perform for top corporations and A-list celebrities. Savio also made history as the only magician to reach the finals of Canada’s Got Talent. Parents and families who aren’t registered for Family Weekend but would like to attend only this event can purchase tickets at the door for $5 each.

HEART OF VIRGINIA FESTIVAL

From 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, check out the Heart of Virginia Festival, which literally starts in Longwood’s front yard on High Street and spills into downtown. The festival will be filling the air with the sounds of local musicians, the aromas of fair food and the colorful sights of local artisans’ creations. And there are lots of free activities for kids, too.

JOIN US!

In addition to giving you a chance to check in with your student and meet other parents, Family Weekend promises to be a great time for everyone in the family. We hope to see you Sept. 13-14!
Register Now

—Sabrina Brown

And just like that, the first day of classes has come and gone.

I hope Monday was a good day for your student and that they’re well on the way to settling in here on campus.

I know that one of the things on a lot of parents’ minds—especially parents of freshmen and transfer students—is how the whole “making new friends” thing is going.

Honestly, the easiest time to make new friends is when so many people are new to campus: That’s now, fall semester. And one of the easiest ways to meet and connect with other Lancers is through student organizations.

Friend Factory: Student Organizations

Longwood has more than 100 of these student groups, all of which are organized around shared interests and activities. Belly dancing? Investing in the stock market? Music ensembles? Service dog training? Anime? Sports? We’ve got organizations for all of that—and much more. It’s so much easier to make friends in the small groups that these organizations provide.

Encourage your student to “find their people” at the Involvement and Volunteer Fair next Thursday, Sept. 5, from 4-6 p.m. on Brock Commons. They’ll have the opportunity to talk to students in these organizations, which are always looking for new members.

Mix and Mingle: Go to The G.A.M.E., Get a Scarf, Meet New People

Another great opportunity for students to mix and mingle is First Friday Back and The G.A.M.E. (Greatest Athletics March Ever), one of Longwood’s annual traditions, which is set for next Friday, Sept. 6. (If you’ve been wondering how your student can get a Longwood scarf, keep reading.)

First Friday Back and The G.A.M.E. Schedule
—Students get a wrist band that they can redeem later that day for a Longwood scarf.
New students: noon-3 p.m.
Upperclassmen: starting at 3:15 p.m.
Brock Commons
—Games and activities
3-4 p.m.
—Pep rally and Longwood scarf reveal
4:15 p.m.
Joan Perry Brock Center
followed by the march to the Athletics Complex, where students can exchange their wrist band for a Longwood scarf
—Field Hockey vs. Davidson
6 p.m.
Athletics Complex

Location, Location, Location

Meanwhile, the dining hall, the library, Upchurch University Center, the Fitness Center and classes are other places where your student can meet new people.

I know it can be hard for students to put themselves out there in a new setting, but please encourage your Lancer to take the chance: say hello, smile at someone, sit down and start a conversation. And they should remember that a lot of students here at Longwood are trying to make new friends, too. Your student might be surprised that, when we interview new students during move-in, the most common answer to the question “What are you looking forward to most?” is “Making new friends.”

—Sabrina Brown

The Longwood community had the happy task last week of showing new students and their parents the ropes during Orientation. I hope those of you who are parents of new Longwood students found the answers to your questions and felt reassured that your Lancer will be in good hands when you deliver them to campus next month.

Which brings me to move-in.

At Longwood, move-in is a staggered, multistage process for the various groups of students who will be living in Longwood-managed housing for the 2024-25 academic year. Staggering the dates and times for the groups of students moving in helps alleviate some of the congestion and long lines that are inevitable when hundreds of students and their families converge on a relatively small area such as the Longwood campus.

The process begins Aug. 1 with members of the women’s soccer team and concludes Aug. 25 with continuing students who are not in an early arrival group. New students living in Moss, Johns, Wheeler, Sharp and Register move in at specified times/dates on Aug. 21 and 22.

 If your student is planning to live in Longwood-managed housing this year—either in a residence hall or an apartment at Longwood Landings or Lancer Park—they should have received an email with a date, timeframe and other information about moving in. This email would have come from the Office of Residential and Commuter Life or from a contact person for their early arrival group (athletes, Peer Mentors, etc.).

If your student has not received an email with their move-in information, contact the Office of Residence and Commuter Life at housing@longwood.edu.

You’ve Got Questions—We’ve Got Answers

A wealth of information about move-in is available online. If you can’t find the answer you need at one of the websites below, contact the Office of Residential and Commuter Life at housing@longwood.edu.

General Information
https://www.longwood.edu/housing/move-in-information/

Full Move-in Schedule
https://www.longwood.edu/housing/move-in-information/check-in-time/ 

Where to Unload
https://www.longwood.edu/housing/move-in-information/where-to-unload/

Move-in Map
https://www.longwood.edu/media/residential-and-commuter-life/public-site/2024-Fall-Move-In-Map—Main-Campus.pdf

Volunteers Stand Ready to “Welcome Home Lancers”

A group of faculty, staff and student volunteers is ready to help make the move-in process as smooth as possible for first-time Lancers who will be living in Moss, Johns, Sharp and Register halls. Through the Welcome Home Program, volunteers will be available at these halls on Aug. 21 and 22 from about 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. They can help with unloading vehicles, staying with belongings while families take care of checking in and parking their cars, or assisting with the check-in process and distributing keys. Whatever your need, don’t hesitate to ask. A volunteer or staff member will try to help you themselves or to direct you to someone who can.

Think About Bringing a Rolling Cart or Dolly—and Water

Having a dolly or a rolling cart can make the move-in process much easier. These items will not be available on campus, so consider bringing one with you. Our experts highly recommend! Also, don’t forget the water. You can expect to experience some physical exertion—both inside and outside in the heat—so it’s important to stay hydrated.

Managing Expectations

We have tried very hard to streamline the move-in process, but you should still expect to experience some waiting in line as you move into loading zones, check in, and use the elevators (where applicable) and stairwells.

I hope this information will be helpful as you move your student into Longwood-managed housing.

We can’t wait to greet them, and we wish them all the best for the 2024-25 year!—Sabrina Brown