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

Rain notwithstanding, 2024 Commencement and the other events surrounding it were full of celebration, pride and more than a few happy tears.

For those of you whose students will graduate in the next few years, here’s a preview of what you have to look forward to.

For those of you whose students received their Longwood degrees this past weekend, congratulations on your Lancers’ accomplishments! As the parent of a college graduate myself, I know that you played no small part in getting them to that culminating moment. Even though it’s only been a week, it’s never too soon to relive such a happy occasion!

Undergraduate Commencement, Joan Perry Brock Center
https://www.facebook.com/LongwoodUniversity/posts/pfbid02UuxrjdmnpUBRs7rGd9ZBWYAboCqy2hhXmNGHkLQZio5PUsi4TQqemqYY3G2K9f5Zl

Undergraduate Commencement Video
https://www.facebook.com/LongwoodUniversity/videos/788644320028419/

Graduate Commencement, Joan Perry Brock Center
https://www.facebook.com/LongwoodUniversity/posts/pfbid0uWaPnJmuYbbtYTFLvKv919GQcsqa8wEHTBpx1cgbkgx82Ywbg6kyL47LWZkSa4YFl 

Princeps Secret Society Reveal
https://www.facebook.com/LongwoodUniversity/posts/pfbid033TYw8YcSmCB4xExVKzcbdVCw5kBi98aERehGajGtdLFpoVdJ4FZ6Z7dRdthQCZedl
(Find out more about Princeps at www.go.longwood.edu/princeps )

Nursing Pinning Ceremony
https://www.facebook.com/LongwoodUniversity/posts/pfbid02yGXMjaF1srZ6KrL4rgdfjKYJUNU7eA5QM8rKopn56LajqWADnb7c9DA5qrvG1wul

Diploma Signing Ceremony
President Reveley and the rector of the Board of Visitors personally sign the diplomas of selected student leaders each year.
https://www.facebook.com/LongwoodUniversity/posts/pfbid02BKwZLiYmrEJdU15yWvDWbzcpEkHCdRMKK84hHkk1WEyBfj6e1RjYG6j1WYa6iSqWl

—Sabrina Brown

 

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this post is worth nearly 100,000 words! (Maybe I should have been a photographer instead of a writer.)

Of course, there was a whole lot of studying going on this semester—but also a whole lot of fun. Take a stroll through this album of nearly 100 photos, and you’ll get a sense of what the lighter side of spring semester is like here at Longwood.

And, if you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of your Lancer living their best life.

—Sabrina Brown

Late-Night Breakfast

Faculty and staff serve up bacon, eggs and much more to help students fuel up for finals week.

Mosaic Multicultural Gala

This event celebrates Longwood’s diversity and culture.

CHI Burning

CHI is Longwood’s oldest service organization. At the CHI Burning, special commendations are given to students, organizations, faculty and staff who have made outstanding contributions of their time and talent.

Study Paws

A welcome break during the last week of classes comes in the form of four-legged critters, including a miniature horse.

Spring Weekend

Beautiful spring weather was the backdrop for an epic day of booths, bands and Oozeball.

Greek Sync

From the hits of the ’70s to house music of the 2010s, our Greeks know how to put on a show. Check out some of their moves at Greek Sync.

Solar Eclipse

The whole campus turned out to marvel at this rare event.

Ring Ceremony

Students and their families participate in a special ceremony where students receive their class rings.

It’s hard to believe the end of the academic year is almost here. Classes end April 26, and the last final exams will be given May 3.

I sincerely hope this year has been productive, enlightening and fun for your student. In the course my job and through my participation in Longwood’s Chamber Orchestra, I have the opportunity to interact with quite a few Longwood students throughout the year. In my experience, they are friendly, caring, unpretentious, talented, helpful and hard-working. In short, they are delightful to be around. What I often say is that Longwood students were raised right. You have good reason to be proud.

Commencement

Special congratulations to those of you whose students will be graduating in May! The undergraduate ceremony is set for Saturday, May 18, and begins at 9:30 a.m. on Wheeler Lawn, weather permitting. Tickets are not required. Guest seating is first-come, first-served, with no limit on the number of guests students may invite to the ceremony. You can find more information about the undergraduate ceremony on the commencement website.

Move-Out

I hope the information below will make the moving-out process a little easier for those of you whose students live in Longwood-managed housing.

Residence halls close at noon on Saturday, May 4.
Except for the groups mentioned below, all students must depart their residences within 24 hours of the conclusion of their last spring 2024 exams or by noon on Saturday, May 4, whichever comes first.

The following students may remain on campus after noon on Saturday,
May 4*:
—Graduating seniors**
—Graduating master’s degree students who live in the residence halls**
—Students approved to assist with Commencement**
—Apartment residents participating in 12-month housing
—Students working with select faculty- or staff-sponsored department activities (for example, some athletes and students working with Brock Experiences)
*Students who believe they should receive special approval to remain in Longwood-managed housing after noon on May 4 should contact their coach or the appropriate faculty member for approval information.
**Students participating in Commencement must depart campus no later than 4 p.m. Saturday, May 18.

Helpful Hints

—Do not drive or park on the grass.
—Do not park in the nearby lots for private businesses. These lots are tow-away zones at all times, including weekends.
—The sidewalks in front of Wheeler and Stubbs halls are restricted for emergency or authorized vehicle use only.
—Farmville Area Bus (FAB) service ends at 6 p.m. Friday, May 3.
—Residents are encouraged to consider donating items—especially those they might otherwise throw away—to the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore, FACES Food Pantry, Southside SPCA or a local clothes closet.  Collection boxes are available in all residence halls and at each Longwood-managed apartment community. For more information, contact steelecl@longwood.edu.

Checkout Process 

Remove all belongings. Residents must remove all personal items from their assigned space or any other areas of their unit before departing campus.
Abandoned property. Personal items still in a unit after a resident has checked out OR left in an unauthorized area of a unit will be considered abandoned and are subject to disposal and financial charges. Residents should be sure to double-check their unit and remove all personal items prior to departing campus.
Using checkout envelopes and drop box (available for all residence halls and apartment communities).
—Envelopes are available at each service desk.
—Fill out the envelope.
—Place key(s) inside envelope.
—Place the envelope in the drop box. For residence halls, the drop box is in the vicinity of the front desk. For Lancer Park, there is an exterior mounted box close to the Brown Commons front service desk. In the Landings, each ground floor elevator lobby area has a wall-mounted box.

Departure Expectations

Prior to leaving campus, all residents must complete the tasks below. Units will be inspected to ensure compliance. Failure to comply may result in judicial sanctions and/or financial charges.
Departure Checklist
—Remove all trash and perishable food.
—Thoroughly clean the unit, including the bathroom and common spaces.
—Remove all personal items (medication, electronic devices, eyeglasses, wallet, etc.).
—Turn off all lights.
—Close and lock all windows.
—Lower all window blinds/shades.
—Lock all doors.

Information for Residents of Moss and Johns Halls

—Loading zone access on the South Main Street side of Moss and Johns halls will be closed from Wednesday, May 1, through Saturday, May 4.
—In order to access Spruce Street, enter Wynne Drive to Pine Street and turn onto the sidewalk in front of the Fitness Center.
—Spruce Street and Redford Street will be open for exit only (one-way traffic) onto South Main Street from Thursday, May 2, through Saturday, May 4. Do not enter campus at Redford Street from South Main Street.

—Sabrina Brown

Saturday, March 23, was a special day at Longwood.

Under the dome of the Rotunda, with their families and Longwood alums looking on, a group of students received their long-awaited class rings.

Longwood’s annual Ring Ceremony marks this important and symbolic moment in the Longwood experience. The class ring is a tangible representation of a student’s academic accomplishments, recognizing the hard work, dedication and perseverance that went into earning their degree.

The Ring Ceremony tradition actually begins the day before the ceremony. Staff from the alumni office place all rings in a treasure chest designed and decorated by members of CHI, Princeps and CAHOOTS. The chest remains in the Rotunda overnight under the watchful eye of Joanie on the Stony, one of three sculptures on campus depicting Joan of Arc, Longwood’s patron hero.

Rings are presented during the ceremony the next day. This year Vice President for Student Affairs Cameron Patterson ’10, M.S. ’17, and Alumni Board secretary Kathy Moore Verhappen ’90 welcomed students and their families to the ceremony and luncheon.

Think your student might be interested in a class ring?

A Balfour representative will be on campus tomorrow, Tuesday, March 26, from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. in the Upchurch University Center to answer questions. Students can look at ring options, find out their ring size and even order their rings.

—Sabrina Brown

 

I hope your student was able to make it to the NCAA Tournament selection show watch party this past Sunday in the Joan Perry Brock Center on campus.

It was an unforgettable moment.

Hundreds of students and other Lancer fans filled the stands behind the men’s basketball team to find out together who Longwood would face in their first NCAA Tournament game this year. When our bracket was announced—we’ll face No. 1 seed Houston this Friday—the crowd exploded, jumping to their feet with a roar of support for what will be Longwood’s second appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the last three years.

The crowd was so enthusiastic that NBC’s Today show included a clip from Longwood in its Selection Sunday coverage.

Longwood’s game against Houston is set for 9:20 p.m. Eastern time Friday, March 22, in Memphis’ FedExForum.

For the latest information about the tournament, including how to buy tickets and where you can watch the game, go to Lancer Tournament Central.

Here’s what we know right now.

The game will be televised on TNT. Tipoff will be at 9:20 p.m. Eastern time Friday, March 22.

Longwood is working to organize regional locations to watch the game and a pregame event in Memphis where Longwood faithful going to the game can gather before heading to FedExForum.

Whatever happens on Friday, we all can feel proud to be part of the Lancer family. Go Wood!

—Sabrina Brown

P.S. I also wanted to let you know that tomorrow, Wednesday, March 20, is Love Your Longwood Day. This special day for Lancers to show their support for the university comes around every spring. Find out more at: https://love.longwood.edu/. 

For the second time in three years, our men’s basketball team is headed to the big dance—the NCAA Tournament—and, as an important part of the Lancer family, you’re invited to join in the excitement starting this Sunday!

On Selection Sunday, March 17, help us cheer on the team as they find out who they will take on in the first round of March Madness! You can join other Lancer fans at the campus watch party or at a regional watch party in your area. All of the watch parties have no entry fee and are open to all Lancer fans. (You’ll find details about times and locations at the bottom of this post.)

Or you can watch the Selection Sunday show from home at 6 p.m. on your local CBS station.

All this is thanks to the men’s stellar performance in the Big South Tournament, which earned them the conference championship. You can see some of the Big South Tournament action here.

“We’re so excited to welcome fans back to the Joan Perry Brock Center one more time this season to celebrate not only this special team and their incredible run to close out the season, but also the best fans in the Big South,” said Longwood Athletics Director Tim Hall. “I hope to see all of Lancer Nation rock JPB one more time this season when we find out where we are headed for March Madness.”

Keep an eye on https://www.longwood.edu/gowood/ for all things tournament-related. We’ll be regularly updating the site with information about watch parties, Longwood’s games and more.

Now about those Selection Sunday watch parties.

Campus Watch Party

5 p.m. Sunday, March 17
Joan Perry Brock Center

What a great moment to share with your student! Everyone will be in their Lancer blue and white and anticipating the announcement of Longwood’s first game in the tournament. (You might even be caught on camera if Virginia television stations cover the event.) There will be complimentary snacks, T-shirt giveaways, free posters and the chance to take photos with the 2024 Big South Tournament trophy before the 6 p.m. show. Try to allow yourself enough time to be in your seat behind the team by 5:45 p.m. Afterwards, everyone is invited to meet and greet team members, who will be available to sign autographs.

Regional Watch Parties

Virginia Beach
ShoreBreak Pizza and Tap House
5:30 p.m., Sunday, March 17
2941 Shore Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Let us know you’re coming on Facebook!

Richmond
River City Roll
5:45 p.m., Sunday, March 17
939 Myers St.
Richmond, VA 23230
Let us know you’re coming on Facebook!

Northern Virginia
Bronson Bierhall
5 p.m., Sunday, March 17
4100 Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22201
Let us know you’re coming on Facebook!

—Sabrina Brown