Homecoming is back Nov. 8-10, with an encore of Longwood’s newest tradition

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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:

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

The word on fall break: Oct. 9-Oct. 13

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

 

Longwood again climbs in the U.S. News rankings

As Longwood parents, you’re already aware of the quality of Longwood’s academic programs and overall college experience.

And it may make you proud—and give you bragging rights—to hear that Longwood has again climbed in annual rankings used by millions of families to make decisions about higher education.

This year, Longwood has moved to No. 6 among all regional public universities in the South, making it the 10th-straight year that Longwood is a top-10 public university in that category, according to the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings out yesterday, Sept. 24.

For the last decade, Longwood has consistently found its place among the best regional academic institutions in the South, which are defined as offering undergraduate and master’s programs, but few doctoral programs. This year, in that category, Longwood climbed two spots, to No. 6, among public universities and climbed six spots, to No. 15, among all universities, both public and private.

Longwood also stayed in the top-tier of universities on the annual U.S. News Best Value in the South list, climbing 17 spots over the past four years and this year, for the first time, claiming the honor of being the top-ranked public university in Virginia on that list.

Longwood’s nursing program, which was named the Best BSN Program in the Southeast for 2022 by NursingProcess.org, moved up more than 100 spots on the nationwide U.S. News list, bolstered by its near-perfect pass rate on nursing licensure exams over the past seven years. Longwood’s psychology and undergraduate business programs are also highlighted on nationwide lists.

You can read the full story about how and why, we think, Longwood fared so well in this year’s U.S. News & World Report rankings here.

—Sabrina Brown

The Fall in Photos: Your Student Has Dived Right In

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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

 

Family Weekend Sept. 13-14: Check In, Chill Out, Have Fun

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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.

Time for a hug from your student? Come to Family Weekend!

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

The Heart of Virginia Festival—with its live music, children’s activities, fair food and crafts by local artisans—will be happening from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday during this year’s Family Weekend, set for Sept. 13-14.

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

How your student can make new friends and get involved

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.

The Involvement and Volunteer Fair gives students the chance to “find their people” in one—or more!—of Longwood’s 100+ student organizations.

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.)

Students get this year’s version of the popular Longwood scarf at The G.A.M.E.

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

Need-to-know info for Move-in 2024

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

The view from Commencement 2024

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

 

Spring 2024 in pictures—nearly 100 chances to see your Lancer

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.

Reimagined Career Success Center takes a holistic, supportive approach to preparing students for career success

Misha Wiley ’25 (left) and Gavin Burns ’27 look through the “merchandise” in Longwood’s new professional clothes closet for students.

From students’ point of view, the new professional clothes closet seemed to be the highlight of the grand opening earlier this month of Longwood’s reimagined and newly named Center for Career Success.

Free and open to all students, the professional clothes closet is stocked with a wide assortment of new or gently used career apparel, including suits, dress shirts, dresses, slacks, skirts, ties and shoes. Students can select five items each semester—and they get to keep them as a permanent part of their wardrobe to wear for job or internship interviews or to participate in an internship or work-based learning experience.

The closet is just one initiative supported by $200,000 in grants awarded recently to the new Center for Career Success, whose mission is to give students the skills and experiences they need to be successful after they graduate.

At the grand opening, students gave the “merchandise” in the closet a big thumbs-up, and they were excited that they would be able to keep what they selected.

“It actually looks like a nice store—not what I expected at all,” said Misha Wiley ’25, a business/management and accounting major from Roanoke. He planned to come back as soon as the closet was officially open to “put together a full professional outfit” that he could wear during his summer internship with Walker-Phillips Healthcare Consulting in Roanoke.

Visiting the closet with Wiley was Gavin Burns ’27, a business/management major also from Roanoke. “This is a great addition,” he said, adding, “I really like that tie.”

Funds from the $200,000 in grants also will be used to help make it financially possible for students to participate in internships, providing stipends for travel, housing and other living expenses, as well as to support alumni networking, job shadowing, career advising, job fairs and résumé building.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read more about the many ways the Center for Career Success can help prepare your student for their future career and encourage them to take full advantage of the programs the center offers.

—Sabrina Brown