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

Your student is no doubt eagerly looking forward to spring break, which is set this year for March 4-8.

Even though undergraduate classes will not meet that week, the university will be closed only on Monday, March 4, and open for the remainder of the week.

Intent to Stay Form Deadline is February 29

If your student lives in Longwood-managed housing, be aware that in order for them to have continued access to their residence from 6 p.m. Friday, March 1, through noon on Sunday, March 10, they will need to file an Intent to Stay form.  If there is a chance your student will need access during that window, they should file the Intent to Stay form.

The deadline to submit the Intent to Stay form is 11:59 p.m. Thursday, February 29. Your student can find the form at the Student Housing Gateway.

For Students Remaining on Campus

Here are a few other items related to spring break that are especially relevant for students who are staying on campus or in Farmville for all or part of the break:

—D-Hall will close after lunch on Friday, March 1, and will re-open for dinner on Sunday, March 10. Regular hours of operation resume on Monday, March 11. Students can find up-to-date hours and information for all other Longwood Dining-managed food venues can at https://longwood.campusdish.com/.
—Farmville Area Bus Service (FAB) will end at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 1, and will resume at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 10.  There is no bus service for travel to Lancer Park during the break period.
—All residential communities will remain locked 24/7 during the break. Access to students’ assigned buildings will be via their Longwood ID card.
—Inspections by RA staff of Longwood-managed housing for safety issues and break-preparation compliance will take place starting at 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 1. Staff will enter rooms/apartments to conduct these inspections.

For Students Leaving Campus

If your student lives in Longwood-managed housing and will be not be in residence during the break, they will need to complete the following list prior to leaving campus. Housing staff will be inspecting rooms/apartments during the break to ensure compliance.

—Remove all trash, contraband, and/or perishable food.
—Clean their assigned living area, including the bathroom and common spaces.
—As applicable, adjust their room thermostat to a low/medium setting (approximately 68 degrees). Remove objects from on top of/around vents, etc. DO NOT shut off the thermostat controls.
—Take valuables and important items (medication, eyeglasses, wallet, etc.).
—Shut down and unplug all electronics, except personal refrigerators or apartment appliances.
—Turn off all lights; leave the porch light on (Lancer Park residents).
—Close and lock all windows.
—Lower all window blinds/shades.
—Lock all doors.

Traffic Patterns for Johns and Moss Halls
Similar to the ONE-WAY December closing and January move-in, residents/parents will be permitted to enter to load/unload vehicles on Spruce Street.  In order to access Spruce Street, enter Wynne Drive to Pine Street and turn onto the sidewalk in front of the Pierson Fitness Center. Use Redford Street (McDonald’s intersection) only to EXIT campus.

No Parking at Nearby Private Businesses at Any Time

Do not use the nearby private business parking lots. They are 24/7 tow-away zones. In other words, your car is subject to being towed all day every day, including weekends, if you park there.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please email them to Residential and Commuter Life at housing@longwood.edu or to the RA/REC staff within each community.

Today’s post focuses on how to successfully send a package or have items delivered from local merchants to students living in Longwood-managed housing. Instructions for students living in residence halls and apartments are below.

Please remember that no deliveries from local merchants (flowers, food, groceries, etc.) can be accepted at:
—the Longwood post office
—the front desk of residence halls or apartment complexes
—your student’s floor or room in a residence hall, Longwood Landings or Lancer Park North and South buildings.

Main Campus Residence Halls and Longwood Landings Deliveries

TRADITIONAL PACKAGE DELIVERIES

Use your student’s PO Box number for traditional mail and package deliveries (U.S. Postal Service/USPS, UPS and FedEx, for example). Your student should have received this information at Orientation, and it’s available to them through their account at my.longwood.edu.

LOCAL MERCHANT DELIVERIES (FLOWERS, FOOD, GROCERIES, ETC.)

When ordering items from local merchants that are being delivered to campus, please provide the merchant/delivery service with your student’s physical building address,which can be found below.

For every order, please also provide a contact number where the merchant/delivery person can reach your student to coordinate a meeting place for the delivery.

PHYSICAL BUILDING ADDRESSES

Lancer Park Deliveries 

For all package and local merchant deliveries, residents should use their standard mailing address, which includes an apartment number and street address. This includes packages being delivered by USPS, UPS and FedEx as well as flowers, meals, groceries and other items being delivered by local merchants. Your student’s address is available to them through their account at my.longwood.edu.

For every order made through a local merchant, please also provide a contact number where the merchant/delivery person can reach your student to coordinate a meeting place for the delivery.

—No deliveries can be accepted at the Brown Commons front desk.
—Floor-level deliveries are not permitted in Lancer Park North or South buildings.
—However, local merchants are permitted to make deliveries to other residences at Lancer Park (other than North or South buildings).

—Sabrina Brown

At this point, your student has been back at school only a few days. But by next month or early March, a road trip to Farmville may be looking pretty good.

Here’s something that will make it look even better.

A new Ultimate Fan Experience offered for four Saturday basketball games this winter gives you the chance to experience the new Joan Perry Brock Center both as a fan and as a Lancer insider.

And a free Richmond Symphony Orchestra concert the evening of Feb. 9 sweetens the deal for one weekend.

Here are just a few of the highlights of the Ultimate Fan Experience:
—A shootaround on the Jerome Kersey court and a behind-the-scenes look at the nonpublic areas of the JPB Center on game day.
—A personalized message to someone special on the jumbotron during the game.
—Access to the exclusive, pregame Spirit Zone, where you’ll get free game-day gear and insider information directly from a Lancer coach about players and strategies for the day’s matchup.
—Complimentary popcorn and beverage (nonalcoholic) during the game.
—An exclusive meet-and-greet after the game where you can get a photo with a player and their autograph. Elwood and the Longwood cheerleaders will be there, too. Blue Crew members: Bring your official Longwood basketball to get it signed.

Game days when the package is offered:
Men’s Basketball:
Feb. 10 and March 2
Women’s Basketball:
Feb. 3 and Feb. 24

Click here to see even more benefits that come with the Ultimate Fan Experience, including a discount at Hotel Weyanoke.

The cost, which includes a game ticket for those without season tickets, is $25 for adults; $20 for children 6-12; and $15 for children 5 and under.

To sign up, go to: Ultimate Fan Experience

Make it a full weekend: Feb. 9-11

For the weekend of Feb. 9-11, there are even more reasons to hit the road to Farmville.

Friday, Feb. 9
FREE Richmond Symphony Orchestra Concert
7:30 p.m., Jarman Auditorium
No tickets required

Saturday, Feb. 10 – Get the Ultimate Fan Experience
Men’s Basketball vs. Winthrop
3 p.m., Joan Perry Brock Center

Friday, Feb. 9-Sunday, Feb. 11
FREE Art Exhibitions
Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, 129 N. Main Street
Flapper Fashion of the 1920s
This exhibit showcases more than 30 period dresses worn by the everyday American woman between 1920 and 1929, and places them in the social and cultural contexts of the day.
Keith Kissee Memorial Exhibition
Featuring works from the collection of the late Keith Kissee, the legendary Richmond, Virginia, art collector. Works on display include Depression-era paintings and drawings by outstanding artists of the period.
The Adventures of Timothy Basil Ering
Worlds full of characters, wonder and adventure spring to life in the artwork of New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Timothy Basil Ering. Best-known for his illustrations for the children’s book The Tale of Despereaux, Ering delights everyone from toddlers to grandparents with the sincerity and whimsy of his art.

Of course, there’s plenty of great food and adult libations at Farmville’s wide selection of eating and drinking establishments. Hope to see you here this winter!

 —Sabrina Brown

Things are pretty quiet on campus right now, but I’m guessing your household has livened up if your student has arrived home for winter break.

The end of the fall semester is always a time that’s both festive and stressful.  We do our best to help alleviate the stress of exams with events like the LipSync performance, a fun competition that Greek organizations take pretty seriously; Study Paws, where faculty and staff bring their dogs to campus to play and cuddle with students; activities and snacks at the library; and Late-Night Breakfast, where faculty and staff serve up pancakes, bacon, eggs and more.

And the holidays are always given their due with the Grand Illumination of the multistory tree in the Rotunda; the lighting of the downtown Farmville Christmas tree, which always draws an enthusiastic crowd; caroling in the Rotunda;  and the community holiday dinner where students provide the entertainment.

I’m sharing some of these photos with you today, and I hope your family’s holidays also are full of many equally fun and memorable photo ops.

With warmest wishes for the season,
Sabrina Brown

Late-night Breakfast Photos

Study Paws Photos

LipSync Photos