Sabrina Brown

I have been seeing some questions about Commencement from parents on social media, so I thought it might be a good time to provide answers to some frequently asked questions now, even though Commencement is still more than a month away.

If you have questions that aren’t covered in this post, please don’t hesitate to email commencement@longwood.edu or visit the Commencement website, which has more information than I’ve included below.

When and where is the undergraduate ceremony?

The undergraduate Commencement ceremony for students receiving undergraduate degrees will take place Saturday, May 20, outside on Wheeler Mall. The ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. (Information about the ceremony for students receiving graduate degrees can be found on the Commencement website.)

When do students need to arrive on campus?

Graduates are expected to arrive at Willett Hall gymnasium at 8 a.m. in their academic regalia on May 20 to receive instructions and line up. Guests should proceed directly to Wheeler Mall and may not accompany students to line up.

Do guests need tickets to attend Commencement?

No, tickets are not needed. Seating for guests is on a first-come, first-served basis. There usually are lots of people in attendance, so arriving early is a good idea.

Where can guests park?

Commencement parking is available in several locations, some on campus and some off campus.
Central campus parking
Multiple central campus lots will offer both general parking and ample ADA-specific parking. A pdf of a parking map identifying the lot locations is available on the Commencement website.
Off-campus parking
Shuttle service will run loops between two off-campus locations noted below. Those with ADA specific needs should park in a central campus ADA-identified lot as shuttle vehicles are not equipped with lifts.
Sunchase Apartments, 501 Sunchase Blvd., Farmville, VA
Lancer Park, 200 Cormier Drive, Farmville, VA

Will shuttle service to and from campus be available at area hotels?

Guests staying at local hotels are encouraged drive to the shuttle stop at either Lancer Park or Sunchase Apartments. Shuttle pickup and drop-off at hotels is not planned.

What about accessible parking?

Accessible parking is available in multiple lots on campus. Please refer to the parking map on the Commencement website for locations. Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis; no reservations are required. Golf carts will be available from the ADA-identified lots for those with accessibility needs in getting to and from the ceremony area.

What if I have other questions related to access or accommodations related to a disability?

If you have questions concerning access or need accommodations related to accessibility, please contact the Accessibility Resources Office at 434-395-2391 or email accessibilityresources@longwood.edu. Accessible parking and seating will be available at a first-come, first-served basis. There is no need to make a reservation.

What is the plan in case of rain or inclement weather?

In the event of extreme conditions, including thunderstorms, tornadoes or other severe weather events, the university will activate the rain/inclement weather plan. The announcement about activating the plan will be made on Friday, if possible, and no later than 6 a.m. on the day of Commencement. Please check the Commencement website or call 434-395-2000 for the latest weather-related information.

What are students required to wear for the ceremony?

Students participating in Commencement must wear a gown, hood and mortarboard of the style and color designated by the university. Students also should wear dark shoes. Regalia can be purchased here. Volunteers will be available in Willett Hall to assist students with putting on their regalia. Students who are not able to purchase regalia can check with Martha Butler (butlermh@longwood.edu) in the SGA office, which has a limited number of gowns, caps and hoods available to borrow at no cost. Students can also “pass down” their regalia for use by future graduates after the Commencement ceremony at the Info Desk in Upchurch University Center.

Will I be able to purchase photos of my student from the ceremony?

Yes. Professional photographers from Grad Images will take pictures of each graduate during the ceremony. They will have proofs available by July 1 on their website: www.GradImages.com. Graduates and their families are invited to pre-register their contact information to receive notifications at the following link: http://gradimages.com/Preregistration.

What about a video of the ceremony?

Yes, a copy of the Commencement ceremony will be available for purchase on a DVD or Blu-ray. The video can also be downloaded post-ceremony through Memories Videography. You can order here.

Is there a way friends and family can watch the ceremony from a remote location?

Yes, there will be a livestream link available closer to the date of the ceremony. You’ll be able to find it on the Commencement website.

Is there any way I can offer my congratulations to the Class of 2023?

Yes, Longwood is doing something new this year. Faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents and other family members have the opportunity to let graduating seniors know how proud we all are of their achievements and to wish them the best as they begin the next chapter of their lives. For each gift of $20.23, you can write a personal message that will be printed and attached to the back of the chair in front of a graduate. Anyone who gives 5 or more messages (or makes a gift of $100 or more) will be entered in a drawing for exclusive VIP seating at the undergraduate Commencement ceremony. If you’d like to find out more about participating in this show of support or make a gift and create a message, click here. You can participate through April 21.

—Sabrina Brown

We know that your student’s educational expenses are a big part of your financial planning each year.

To help you start your 2023-24 financial planning as early as possible, this month your student will receive an estimate of the financial aid we project they will receive next year. (This applies only for students continuing enrollment at Longwood in 2023-24.)

Traditionally this information hasn’t been available until May, so we hope receiving the information two months earlier will be helpful.

It’s just an estimate, though, so changes in your student’s situation could result in adjustments to the actual amount of financial aid they will receive for 2023-24.

Please keep the following in mind:

The financial aid award estimate is based on the following three assumptions:

1. Your student will register as a full-time student (12 or more credits) for each semester of the 2023-24 academic year (or for the fall semester if they expect to graduate in December 2023).
2. Your student will maintain the required GPA for each of their scholarships and grants (if applicable) throughout 2023-24.
3. Your student will fulfill the requirements for making “satisfactory academic progress.”

The following additional special circumstances/considerations also could affect the actual/final financial aid offer:

• If your student receives any additional scholarships—such as those from external sites or their academic department—that are currently unknown, their gift aid amount could be affected.
• Merit scholarship renewal is estimated based on the student’s first-semester grades (fall 2022) and the number of credits they are currently taking (spring 2023). If a previously awarded merit scholarship is not represented on your student’s aid estimate, please encourage them to contact the Office of Financial Aid so we can provide suggestions to help them meet the merit award criteria as they finish out the spring semester.
• Estimated financial aid offers for students scheduled to graduate in December 2023 will include only the fall semester. If circumstances change, the offer can be re-evaluated.

Important Note: The financial aid offer estimate your student receives is based on the assumptions and criteria explained above. All offers will be re-evaluated in May to confirm accuracy. Your student will be notified of any changes to the estimate at that time. If needed, appeal processes are available for your student’s satisfactory academic progress as well as their merit scholarship eligibility.

Federal Work-Study

If your student is eligible for Federal Work-Study, spring is a great time to secure a campus job for the next term. Information about work-study jobs will be provided to students by the student employment office. All Federal Work-Study jobs are based on a student’s financial need. Each student applying for FWS must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Questions?

If you have questions about your student’s financial aid offer estimate, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

—Sabrina Brown

Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams go into the Big South Tournament, set for later this week, as defending champions. You’ll find several bits of information in today’s post about how you and your Lancers can be part of the postseason excitement.

The tournament will be held in Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. The most up-to-date and detailed information can be found at Longwood’s Tournament Central website.

Free Tournament Tickets for Students

The university is giving away tickets on site to the first 150 students who arrive for each game the Lancers play in the tournament.

Who Plays When and Where (Including Televised Games)

The women’s team (#6 seed) plays its first game vs. Campbell at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 2. The first game for the men’s team (#2 seed) is at 6 p.m. on Friday (vs. the winner of the Campbell-vs.-Presbyterian matchup on Wednesday). Both of these games will be streamed on ESPN+.

The semifinals also will be streamed on ESPN+. The men’s championship game (1 p.m. Sunday, March 5) will be on ESPN2, and the women’s championship game (6 p.m. Sunday, March 5) will be shown on ESPNU.

Tournament Tickets

But really there’s nothing like experiencing a game in person. Tournament tickets are available online at Longwood’s Tournament Central website ($20 plus fees on Ticketmaster) or at the door of the coliseum in Charlotte ($20). More information about the tournament and lodging in Charlotte can be found on the Big South Conference Tournament website.

Go Wood Lancer Gear

During the tournament or after, you can show your Lancer pride and support Longwood athletics with an official Go Wood 2023  T-shirt, sweatshirt or hoodie available on Amazon.

Next Year in Joan Perry Brock Center — Sign Up for Early Access to Season Tickets

Are you ready to join the loudest and proudest crowd that will have JPB shaking with energy? Are you ready to cheer on the Lancers? Let us know you’re interested in purchasing season tickets once they’re available by completing the 2023-24 season ticket interest form.

Completing the interest form will automatically qualify you for the exclusive purchasing window before sales are open to the general public.

It’s an exciting time to be a Lancer!

—Sabrina Brown

Your student is no doubt eagerly looking forward to spring break, which is set this year for March 6-10.

Even though undergraduate classes will not meet that week, the university will be closed only on Monday, March 6, and open for the remainder of the week.

Intent to Stay Form Deadline is March 3

If your student lives in Longwood-managed housing, be aware that in order for them to have access to their residence from 6 p.m. Friday, March 3, through noon on Sunday, March 12, they will need to file an Intent to Stay form.

The deadline to submit the Intent to Stay form is 11:59 p.m. Thursday, March 2. Your student can find the form at the Student Housing Gateway.

If your student does not file the Intent to Stay form by the deadline, they will not be able to get into their apartment/residence hall starting at 6 p.m. Friday, March 3, and continuing through noon Sunday, March 12. If there is a chance your student will need access during that window, they should file the Intent to Stay form.

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 3, and will re-open for dinner on Sunday, March 12. Regular hours of operation resume on Monday, March 13. 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 3, and will resume at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 12.  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 3. 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.
—Thoroughly clean assigned living areas, including the bathroom and common spaces.
—If applicable, adjust the room thermostat to a low/medium setting. Do not shut off the unit’s controls.
—Shut down and unplug all electronics (except minifridges and major kitchen appliances).
—Turn off all lights. Lancer Park residents should, however, leave the porch light on.
—Close and lock all windows.
—Lower all window blinds/shades.
—Lock all doors.

Traffic patterns for Johns and Moss Halls
Parents will be permitted to enter to load/unload vehicles on Spruce Street. To access Spruce Street, enter Wynne Drive from South Main Street, continue to Pine Street and turn onto the sidewalk in front of the Fitness Center.
Friday, March 3, noon-4 p.m.
One-way traffic exiting onto Redford Street and South Main (at the McDonald’s intersection) will be assisted by flag personnel. For departures before and after these hours, U-turns will be permitted on Spruce Street.
Sunday, March 12,  noon-8 p.m.
During these hours, U-turns on Spruce Street will be permitted because the construction gate will be closed and no personnel will be on site.

Redford Street Remains Closed
Due to construction, Redford Street remains closed. This means you you can’t access Spruce Street from the campus entrance at the McDonald’s intersection.

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.

Heads Up for Next Year: A Different Kind of Spring Break

I also thought I’d give you a heads up about options for off-the-beaten-path spring break options for next year. Alternate Breaks, a student organization, and some Longwood offices organize service trips for spring break. In the past, students have traveled to destinations including Puerto Rico to help with cleanup from Hurricane Maria and to the Grand Canyon, Saguaro, Zion and Joshua Tree national parks for service-learning experiences. Information about these alternate spring break activities usually becomes available toward the end of the fall semester or in January. If you think your student would be interested, encourage them to keep an eye out for informational meetings.

Here’s a description of a trip organized by Campus Recreation:
This is an Alternative Break trip in coordination with Campus Recreation, the City of Miami, and the National Park Service. We will be doing service with Historic Virginia Key Beach Park and Biscayne National Park. After doing our food shopping and getting acquainted with the area, we will be doing environmental service projects in both parks during the day and camping at night under the stars. There will be daily reflections to solidify the service learning and all meals will be prepared and shared by the group.

—Sabrina Brown

Getting a college degree involves a significant investment. So why not take full advantage of the many activities and services on campus that are provided at no additional cost?

Below are just a few of the upcoming events, activities and services that are available at no additional cost for your Lancers. And a couple are free to parents, too!

LinkedIn Professional Photo Portrait 

Thursday, Feb. 16, 1-4:30 p.m., Hiner Hall lobby

Your student can get a free professional head-and-shoulders photo taken at this upcoming “photo booth” session sponsored by the College of Business
and Education. These portraits are perfect for use on LinkedIn—and it’s never too early to establish a professional presence on this online networking site.

Open Mic Night 

Thursday, Feb. 16, 7 p.m., Upchurch University Center first floor lounge
Does your Lancer sing, write poetry, play an instrument? Lancer Productions, WMLU and SGA are bringing back Open Mic Night after last year’s success! Anyone who’s interested in performing can sign up here: Open Mic Night

Open to Parents and Families!
Richmond Symphony Concert 

Friday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m., Jarman Auditorium
This free concert by the Richmond Symphony Orchestra is open to everyone, including parents and other family members. The program will feature Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 and Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole with violin soloist Maria Duenas, a rising star in the world of classical music. No tickets are necessary.

Open to Parents!
FAFSA Webinar: Ask Questions, Get Answers

Saturday, Feb. 25, 10 a.m.
The FAFSA—Free Application for Federal Student Aid—for the 2023-24 year is live. The FAFSA is used to determine your student’s eligibility for federal and state grants, direct loans, the federal work-study program and some need-based scholarships. Parents are invited to this help session at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb 25. Access the webinar here: go.longwood.edu/fafsa

You’ll find a calendar of other activities/events provided for students—almost all at no additional charge—at http://www.longwood.edu/events/calendar/ .

Bicycles

Longwood maintains a fleet of bicycles that can be checked out by students for 30 days at a time through the Health and Fitness Center. There’s no additional charge as long as they’re returned on time.

Fitness Classes

Campus Recreation offers a wide array of group fitness classes. From yoga to Spin Bootcamp to Dance-versity, there should be something to suit just about anyone’s workout tastes. Students can take any—or all—classes at no additional charge.

Longwood Recovers Meetings

Longwood Recovers is an informal and voluntary support group for members of the Longwood community in or considering recovery. Longwood Recovery offers a private space for a weekly group meeting in addition to individual meeting slots with recovery support staff. Group meetings are held every Thursday from 3-4:15 p.m. in Upchurch University Center 305A, and all are welcome to attend (including Recovery Allies). Coffee is provided. Questions? Feel free to contact 434-394-0656.

WellTrack Boost App 

Free to all Longwood students, WellTrack Boost is an interactive self-help app that is designed to increase mental health awareness. The app also provides assessments, connections to campus resources, and strategies and tools for anxiety, stress and depression. Students can download the WellTrack Boost app and register with their Longwood email. Download WellTrack Boost

Caps, Gowns and Hoods Available to Borrow for May Commencement

The SGA has 20 caps, gowns and hoods available to borrow at no cost, especially for students who cannot purchase these items. There are a variety of sizes and hoods for the various colleges. They are available first-come, first-served from Martha Butler in the SGA office on the third floor of Upchurch University Center.

Pass Down the Gown: Recycle Graduation Regalia for Next Year’s Graduating Class

Anyone who doesn’t want to hang onto their graduation regalia can keep it from taking up space in their closet—and out of a landfill—by “passing it down” to be used by next year’s graduating class. Students can donate their caps, gowns and hoods (any or all of those items will be accepted) at the Info Desk in Upchurch University Center. Someone will be there to take donations for about an hour after the end of the May 20 Commencement ceremony.

—Sabrina Brown

If you’re thinking about brightening up a winter weekend with a trip to Longwood, I have a suggestion: Feb. 24-25.

Why?

Friday evening: Free concert by the Richmond Symphony
Saturday afternoon: Men’s basketball’s last home game of the season vs. UNC Asheville
Saturday afternoon: Exhibition of paintings by nationally acclaimed folk artist Eldridge Bagley

Of course, you can also try out Farmville’s brewery, wine-tasting venue or a local restaurant; stroll and shop on Main Street; and, most importantly, spend some quality time with your student and give them a hug.

Here are a few more details.

Richmond Symphony Concert

Friday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m., Jarman Auditorium, Longwood campus
All you need to attend this concert is a love of good music. It’s free, and no tickets are required. Included on the program are Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole, featuring violin soloist María Dueñas, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 3.

Men’s Basketball vs. UNC Asheville

Saturday, Feb. 25, 4:30 p.m., Willett Hall, Longwood campus
The reigning Big South champions take on UNC Asheville for their final home game of the season. General admission tickets are $8. Attendance has been high this season, so I recommend getting your tickets in advance at longwoodtickets.com. (Longwood students always get in free.) Also, you’ll be part of history as this is the last game of Lancer basketball ever to be played in Willett Hall. Both men’s and women’s teams will play in the new Joan Perry Brock Center starting next season.

Reflections of the Heart: Eldridge Bagley—50 Years of Painting

Saturday, Feb. 25, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, 129 N. Main Street

Bagley often depicts the substance and meaning of a vanishing small-town and agrarian lifestyle in his work. Relationships with family, friends, neighbors, religion and the land are important themes in this retrospective exhibition.

Lodging

If you’d like to spend the night in Farmville, here’s a list of places to stay.

Hope to see you here in Farmville later this month!

 —Sabrina Brown

Because it’s a top priority here at Longwood, we’re always looking for ways to be proactive when it comes to your student’s safety.

An email went out to students today letting them know about a training opportunity where they can learn more about how to be safe in different situations.

This free Code Red training is being offered by the Longwood Police Department and Office of Emergency Management, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The training will cover what steps to take in an active threat situation and severe weather emergencies.

A total of 12 sessions will be offered here on campus: six each on Monday, Jan. 30, and Tuesday, Jan. 31.

The training will last approximately 90 minutes and will be led by LUPD staff, Emergency Management Coordinator Tracie Giles ’94 and Jamie Finney ’98, a supervisory protective security advisor for the Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Students will be welcomed into each session on a first-come, first-served basis. Sessions are limited to 25 participants each.

If you or your student has questions about the Code Red training, you can email Tracie Giles, emergency management coordinator, at police@longwood.edu.

—Sabrina Brown

I’ve never shared a link to an article in Parent Pipeline before—and I won’t do it again if you let me know this isn’t the kind of content you find helpful—but I saw something in the New York Times this week that I thought was interesting and illuminating.

Written by a longtime professor (though not one at Longwood), the article addresses what success in college looks like and the simple thing students can do to achieve it.

It’s easy to think of college as job training—and that is an important aspect, writes the article’s author. However, something that will last much longer than the skills needed in today’s job market is the desire and willingness to learn, he says:

“To an overwhelming degree, students today see college as job training, the avenue to a stable career. They are not wrong, given the 70 percent wage premium for 22- to 27-year-old workers with a bachelor’s degree over those with only a high school diploma. But this orientation can close students off from learning things that don’t obviously help their job prospects. …

“The human mind, though, is capable of much more than a job will demand of it. Those ‘useless’ classes like philosophy, literature, astronomy and music have much to teach. I haven’t had to solve a calculus problem in 25 years. But learning to do so expanded my brain in ways that can’t simply be reduced to a checklist of job skills. Living in the world in this expanded way is a permanent gift.”

Here’s a link to the full article. You should be able to access it, even if you don’t have a Times subscription, as along as you haven’t yet used all of your free views for the month: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/03/opinion/college-learning-students-success.html?smid=url-share

I’d be very appreciative of any feedback you’d be willing to share about this article and/or the kind of content you’d most like to see in Parent Pipeline. Please feel free to email me at browncs2@longwood.edu.

Back to Campus and Basketball

For those of you who are bringing your students back to campus this coming Saturday, Jan. 7, you might want to consider sticking around for the men’s basketball game vs. Winthrop at 4 p.m. It promises to be an exciting contest, with Longwood so far undefeated in the Big South after four conference games. The game is in Willett Hall. General admission tickets are $8.

Also, spring semester classes begin on Wednesday, Jan. 11.

All the best to you and your family in 2023!

—Sabrina Brown

As I was watching this year’s holiday video, it occurred to me that one of the wonderful things about the holidays is that so much of it is familiar no matter where you are. I have lived in California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Mississippi and several more places, and the holidays were a big part of making each one feel like home.

We know that Longwood could never replace your student’s family home, but we have tried to give your Lancer that universal holiday feeling of lifted spirits and community here in the weeks leading up to the winter break.

You can see some of the ways we do that in the holiday video. In case you missed it, I’ve included a link below, along with a link to a few photos from the Holiday Dinner, an annual music scholarship fundraiser that features entertainment by a variety of student vocal and instrumental ensembles.

As your student makes their way home, we wish you all the happiness that comes with being together at this special time of year.

Holiday Dinner

Holiday Video

—Sabrina Brown

Exams are wrapping up, and your Lancer will be home for the holidays soon, if they’re not already.

It’s a fun time of the year, but also hectic and, for some, stressful. So Longwood provided several days of “de-stressing” activities before and during exam week. These included
—Study Paws, where faculty and staff bring their canine friends to campus for students to pet and cuddle

—Late Night Breakfast, an event for all students, regardless of whether or not they have a meal plan, where faculty and staff volunteer to serve food and to help clean up afterwards
—Chair massages
—Taco bars and s’mores
—Craft making and puzzles

In between studying for and taking those exams, students squeezed some holiday cheer into their schedules. Holiday-themed events included
—Caroling in the Rotunda and Greenwood Library
—Peformances by student vocal and instrumental ensembles for the annual Holiday Dinner music scholarship fund-raiser

—The Grand Illumination in the Rotunda
—Gingerbread crafts and holiday movies

I hope you enjoy the photos below!

Late Night Breakfast

Study Paws

Grand Illumination

—Sabrina Brown