Does your student have plans for the summer?

If not and you’d like to give them the opportunity to expand their horizons—and their minds—right here in the United States, consider the Brock Experiences.

One of Longwood’s signature programs, Brock Experiences are a rotating offering of faculty-led courses that take participants throughout the U.S. to grapple with some of the big questions facing society today. This summer students will be going to Yellowstone National Park, Alaska, San Francisco and Arizona.

All of the courses except Alaska are still taking applications.

All provide 3 hours of academic credit that fulfill a Civitae Core Curriculum requirement. Program costs vary, but are in the neighborhood of $2,500, which includes
—Tuition
—Travel in the field
—Lodging
—Most meals
—All educational activities
—A rough estimate of the travel cost to the program site (students make arrangements and pay for this separately) also is included in the $2,500 estimate

Students may also apply for scholarship support.

Below are some of the details for each of the programs still accepting applications, as well as links to the applications. (Students have to fill out the application—but you can share this post.)

If you have questions, feel free to email Josh Blakely, the program director, at blakelyjk@longwood.edu.

Stewardship of Public Lands

How do we best manage our diverse natural landscape?
Yellowstone National Park

This intense, two-week journey through Wyoming and Montana in the country’s most famous national park opens students’ eyes to the myriad issues impacting the preservation of our natural resources. As they gaze out at majestic mountains and lakes, students ponder what our responsibility as a country is to protect our precious natural resources while recognizing their value in driving commerce for thousands of communities near the park.

Dates: On-campus pre-departure workshop, May 8-10; travel portion: May 14-24
Locations: Cody and Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Gardiner, Montana; Yellowstone National Park; Grand Tetons National Park
Civitae Core Curriculum: Fulfills one Perspectives requirement
Apply here for Yellowstone program.

Being Human: Genetics and Society

What does it mean to be human in the 21st century?
San Francisco

Under the microscope in this course are our genes and their contribution to who we are as individuals, as a culture and as a species. The San Francisco Bay Area of California is the ideal location for this exploration. In cities surrounding the bay, research institutions with world-leading human genetics and bioethics programs are dissecting the human genome and inventing medical tools for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Students will interact with stakeholders from a variety of different disciplines.

Dates: On-campus pre-departure workshop, May 9-11; travel portion, June 7-14
Location: San Francisco, California
Civitae Core Curriculum: Fulfills one Perspectives requirement
Apply here for San Francisco program.

Immigration

Who comes to the U.S., and why do they make the journey?
Arizona

There is perhaps no more hotly contested issue in the United States today than immigration—who crosses our borders, and why do they make the journey to a foreign country to settle? How do they get here, and what challenges do they face once on American soil? Students will meet immigrant families, employers and border security officers as they explore this extraordinarily complex issue.

Dates: On-campus pre-departure workshop, May 9-11; travel portion, May 24-31
Locations: Tucson and Nogales, Arizona; Saguaro National Park; Tubac National Park; Richmond, Virginia
Civitae Core Curriculum: Fulfills one Perspectives requirement
Apply here for Arizona program.

—Sabrina Brown

Intent on keeping a tight grip on their unprecedented undefeated status in Big South Conference play, the Longwood men’s basketball team will take on USC Upstate at 7 p.m. Thursday night at home in Willett Hall—with the game to be televised on ESPNU.

You can watch or stream the game if you have the right service (see below for ways to do that) or consider heading to Farmville to see the game—and give your student a hug—in person.

As of this morning (Monday, Feb. 7), tickets were still available ($7 per person general admission; $3 for senior citizens). The atmosphere in Willett is electric this season, and the game will almost certainly be sold out.

It’s a historic season for both men’s and women’s basketball.

The men have won all nine of their Big South games, with an overall record of 17-5.

The women’s team is currently 9-3 in the Big South, putting them in third place in the conference, and 12-11 overall. The women’s next conference home game is at. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, against North Carolina A&T. They’re serving up some exciting basketball as well, so this game is another great reason to head to Farmville.

How to watch on ESPNU

Stream on ESPN.COM*
*Note: ESPNU games are not available to stream with an ESPN+ subscription and require a subscription from one of the following cable/streaming providers:

Verizon Fios	Ch. 73/573 HD (More or Most Fios TV plans)
DirecTV	Ch. 208 (Choice, Ultimate or Premier plans)
Dish	Ch. 141 (All plans)
Comcast Xfinity	Ch. 1301 HD (Select+, Signature+, Super+, Preferred or Premier plans)
Cox Cable	Ch. 232 HD (Contour Ultimate or Sports Pack 2 add-on)
Spectrum	Ch. 370 (Silver or Gold plans)
DirecTV Stream	Choice, Ultimate or Premier plans
Hulu	Live TV plan
Sling	Sports Extra add-on (3-day free trial)
YouTube TV	Base plan (14-day free trial)
Vidgo	All plans (7-day free trial)
Fubo TV	Elite plan or Sports Plus, Fubo Extra add-ons (7-day free trial)

ALSO WORTH NOTING:
Life skills are the focus of February presentations

The Office of Alumni and Career Services kicks off its Lancer Learning series with a presentation each Wednesday afternoon this month. Here’s the “who, what and where” in case you want to give your student a heads up about stopping by.

All three programs are scheduled for 4:30-5:30 p.m. in Upchurch 300.

February 9: Budgeting and Investing. Brad Watson, managing director of Davenport Wealth Management, will talk about how to build a budget, investing for young adults, planning for retirement early in your career, and developing good money-management strategies.

February 16: All About Taxes. Dr. Dawn Schwartz, assistant professor of accounting in the College of Business and Economics, answers these important questions: What are taxes and how do you file them? How should you fill out tax paperwork when you are hired for a job? How do you avoid common tax pitfalls?

February 23: Shedding Light on Health Insurance. Summer Martin, customer care representative from Anthem, discusses common health insurance questions: How do you choose a good healthcare plan from your employer? Why do young adults need health insurance? What do all those abbreviations mean? How do I decipher a doctor’s bill?

—Sabrina Brown

As the beginning of the semester approaches, the campus still showing signs of the blanket of snow that fell earlier in the week, Longwood administrators are keeping a close eye on Covid-19 developments and formulating a plan that takes both public health and your students’ educational needs into consideration.

The email below was shared with students Wednesday, Jan. 5, by Matthew McWilliams, assistant vice president for communications.

One important piece of information is that classes will start as scheduled and in person on Wednesday, Jan. 12. Among the additional topics discussed below are
—The impact of the Omicron variant and how Longwood is responding to it
—Guidelines students should follow before returning to campus
—Campus policy for wearing masks

Another source of information is an updated FAQ list at www.longwood.edu/covid19. If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to email questions@longwood.edu.

—Sabrina Brown

________________________________________________

Here’s the text of the email sent to students on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022

Dear Students,

As President Reveley shared with you last week, Longwood plans to start the semester in-person and on-time, with undergraduate classes beginning next Wednesday, January 12. It will once again take a commitment by everyone in our community to ensure a successful semester. Please read this email carefully so you know what to expect.

The current situation with Covid-19 is different from what we’ve faced in the past. It’s increasingly clear the omicron variant is milder for most individuals, and vaccines offer significant protection against serious illness. However, omicron is also clearly more transmissible. That means we may face, at least over the next few weeks, a large number of cases simultaneously – and we need to prepare for that.

On our campus and across the country, this change means we’ll have to shift away from certain broadly deployed tools, and in the direction of more customized ones, reflecting individual responsibility, risk and circumstances. It also means that, for the next few weeks, we may well see a temporary impact on services like dining or facilities. We will continue to communicate with campus by email.

Faculty and staff may be out more than usual, caring for themselves or impacted family, so individual classes may need to make adjustments or meet temporarily online. In such instances, faculty will be in touch with students. Getting through these weeks will require some patience and goodwill – but we are confident we can do so, just as we have in the past.

Longwood’s Covid response team has been monitoring developments carefully, in close consultation with the Virginia Department of Health, other universities and public officials. Here is an outline of our Covid protocols and what to expect.

STUDENTS RETURNING TO CAMPUS

As with previous semesters, do not return to Farmville if you have possible Covid symptoms such as sore throat, coughing, fever or congestion, or are awaiting Covid test results. Even if you are asymptomatic, we encourage you to get a Covid test before coming to campus – but we also recognize tests for the general public are in short supply, and that public officials are trying to prioritize availability for the symptomatic and vulnerable populations. Also, remember a test is only valid for the moment taken, so continue to show care in traveling to campus and once you arrive.

If you have tested positive, or are experiencing symptoms and may be arriving late, contact the University Health Center at 434-395-2102 and email your professors to let them know you won’t be in class. If you are in day 6-10 of a Covid isolation/quarantine, be sure to contact the Health Center to discuss your situation. When you can return to campus under CDC masking protocols may depend on your housing situation.

VACCINATIONS

Longwood strongly encourages you to get a booster if you are eligible (six months past your second dose of a Moderna vaccine, five months past your second dose of Pfizer, or or two months after one dose of J&J).

The first reason is boosters offer significant added protection against severe symptoms from omicron. The second is that under recently updated public health guidance, those who are boosted are less likely to have to quarantine if contact-exposed. Getting boosted if eligible means you are less likely to see your semester disrupted by having to isolate or quarantine.

We recognize a number of students are not yet eligible for boosters, and that some may have medical concerns, so we are not requiring them at this time. However, please update the vaccination status form we asked all students to fill out before last semester to let us know if you’ve had your booster (or any other status update) at https://www.longwood.edu/covid19/vaccinestatus/ . Again, this will help keep you healthy – and also avoid disruptions to the semester.

Moderna vaccinations and boosters are available at the Health Center, as well as area drug stores, all free of charge.

 IF YOU EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS ON CAMPUS

As with past semesters, if you experience symptoms such as sore throat, fever or coughing after you return to campus, please isolate and call the University Health Center at 434-395-2102. Let your professors know you are isolating and – this is important – that you have contacted the the University Health Center. If our testing capacity becomes temporarily strained, we may work with you on finding alternative ways to get a test. We are also working with the Virginia Department of Health to potentially provide some additional testing capacity if needed.

If you test positive for Covid, under updated CDC guidelines you must isolate for five days (down from 10), followed by five additional days of mask wearing whenever around others. Again this semester, we have some isolation housing available in Cox and ARC halls. However, depending on the prevalence on campus and their housing situation, students may be required to isolate or quarantine in their residence halls or at home.

MASKING

Masking requirements for classrooms and any indoor public areas will continue as we begin the semester. There is new CDC guidance that asks those who have tested positive to continue masking around others even outside for an additional five days after at least five days of isolation. Under CDC guidance, masks should have two layers and completely cover your mouth and nose. We encourage the use of masks such as N95s, and have on hand a substantial supply which we will be making available on campus early in the semester to students, faculty and staff.

DINING

Dining services will continue as last semester, including grab-and-go options for those who cannot or do not wish to eat in the Dining Hall.

You can find an updated FAQ list at www.longwood.edu/covid19. If you have further questions, please email questions@longwood.edu.

I will continue to be in touch over the course of the semester with updates. Please stay safe and continue to do your part to ensure a successful semester.

I know that many of you are counting the days—and even the hours—until your Lancers are home for Thanksgiving.

But we still have them for a few days here on campus, so we’ll be getting a jump on serving the traditional feast: Longwood’s Thanksgiving dinner will be in Dorrill Dining Hall on Thursday, Nov. 18. On the menu are ham, turkey, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet potatoes and more, plus Longwood’s famous baked Alaska for dessert.

Before the holidays arrive, there is some planning and preparing your student needs to take care of if they live in Longwood-managed housing—whether they will be away from campus during the holidays or whether they are remaining on campus.

Longwood will be closed for the Thanksgiving holidays Nov. 24-26, and no classes will be held on those days. Unless your student is told otherwise by their professor, all classes on Tuesday, Nov. 23, including evening classes, will meet as scheduled.

University administrative offices also will be closed Nov. 24-26.

Anticipating your questions, here are a few answers I thought might be helpful.

When will Longwood-managed housing be closed for the holidays?
Longwood-managed housing will be closed from 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, through noon Sunday, Nov. 28. This means that ID card access to residence halls and apartments will not be available during this time UNLESS your student has filled out an online “intent to stay” form.

If I’m picking my student up from Johns Hall or Moss Hall, are there any special arrangements I should be aware of?
On Tuesday, Nov. 23, from noon to 6:30 p.m., residents and parents will be permitted to load vehicles on Spruce Street. Instructions about this special arrangement—which will be similar to the one-way traffic pattern used during August move-in—will be emailed to all residents assigned to Johns and Moss halls. This will prevent dangerous traffic congestion on the South Main Street side the high rises.

What does my student need to do if they’re leaving campus for the holidays?
Students who live in Longwood-managed housing and are leaving campus for the break need to complete the tasks below before they leave. Rooms and apartments will be inspected to make sure the steps below have been followed.
—Remove all trash, contraband and perishable food
—Thoroughly clean their assigned living area, including the bathroom and common spaces
—If applicable, adjust their room thermostat to a low/medium setting
—Take valuables and important items with them (medication, eyeglasses, wallet, etc.)
—Shut down and unplug all electronics, except personal refrigerators or apartment appliances
—Turn off all lights
—Close and lock all windows
—Lower all window blinds/shades
—Lock all doors

What must my student do to maintain access to their residence hall/apartment during the holidays?
Any student who needs access to their Longwood-managed housing—both residence halls and apartments—from 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, through noon Sunday, Nov. 28, must submit an online “intent to stay” form through Longwood’s housing gateway.

When can they fill out the “intent to stay” form and what is the deadline?
The deadline to submit the “intent to stay” form is 11:59 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22. The form is currently active.

What safety measures will be in place for students who stay on campus during the holidays?
Submitting the “intent to stay” form will provide your student with uninterrupted ID card access to their campus residence (where applicable) as well as notify Campus Police of their continued presence on campus as a safety measure. All students who remain on campus should be sure to carry their Longwood IDs with them at all times for identification purposes.

What campus dining options will be available during the Thanksgiving holidays?
Longwood meal plans do not include a charge for the Thanksgiving break/weekend. Food outlets will observe normal hours on Tuesday, Nov. 23, and will be closed on Wednesday, Nov. 24, through Saturday, Nov. 27. Moe’s will reopen at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 28, and Dorrill Dining Hall will reopen at 5 p.m. Sunday. All normal operations resume on Monday.

Will the FAB (Farmville Area Bus) be running during the days the university is closed?
Farmville Area Bus (FAB) service will end at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23.  Bus service is expected to resume at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 28.  No bus transportation is available to Lancer Park during university breaks.

I hope you and your family have a happy Thanksgiving full of fun, friends and good food. One of the things I’ll be thinking about on Nov. 25 is how thankful I am that you have entrusted your child’s college experience to Longwood.

—Sabrina Brown

 

 

Tis the season for pumpkin-carving contests, the annual Haunted House in the Fitness Center, giant spider webs sprouting in basements and a good, old-fashioned scary movie at Longwood’s High Street Theatre.

It’s plain to see all over campus that your Lancers are up to their eyeballs in Halloween spirit this year. Below are some examples of their talents in creating creepy, cute and creepily cute costumes—proof that you never get too old to dress up for Halloween.

—Sabrina Brown

The next few weeks are full of fall events where your Lancers will be showing off what they have learned and also having some silly—and even scary—fun (boo!). All work and no play is definitely not a recipe for success, so, along with encouraging them to work hard, put in a word for taking an occasional study break.

Fall 2021 Student Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Students present their academic work, from biology research to graphic design projects, in this twice-yearly event. Ask your student if they’re planning to participate. (The registration deadline is this Friday, Oct. 22, at 5 p.m.)

The showcase is set for Wednesday, Nov. 17, from 2-5:30 p.m. Parents can see their students in action via Zoom for oral presentations and performances.   Poster presentations and visual art displays will be virtual and will be posted on the ForagerOne Symposium platform.

You can find more information here.

Student Ensemble Concerts

If you weren’t able to come to campus for Family Weekend, you missed a great showcase of our students’ musical talents. There was a sizable crowd in Jarman Auditorium, and the students got a boost from performing for a live audience again after last year.

There is something to be said for live-streamed concerts, however: Parents can watch them from home.

If your student is in the Camerata Singers, the Chamber Singers, the Wind Symphony and/or the String Ensemble, mark these dates and times on your calendar. All three concerts will be live in Jarman Auditorium and live-streamed  at “Elwood’s Recital” on YouTube.

Camerata and Chamber Singers
Thursday, Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m.
The students in these ensembles not only sing, but also share their own reflections in words and in images throughout the concert.

Wind Symphony
Tuesday, Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m.
Featuring clarinet professor Dr. Roland Karnatz in the 1940s swing-style piece “Artie Shaw Clarinet Concerto” and a Veterans Day tribute that will include service songs of the U.S. military followed by Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

String Ensemble
Saturday, Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m.
Featuring works by Gustav Holst, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Jay Ungar, Ledah Finck and Gordon Ring.

Now For the Fun

If your student is telling you there’s nothing to do, see if they know about these  entertaining events.

Magic Show: Matt the Knife
Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, 8 p.m.
Organized by Lancer Productions
Described as an “intense mentalist, magician and speaker who’s wickedly humorous, occasionally dangerous and unapologetically irreverent.”

Haunted House with Campus Recreation
Friday, Oct. 29, 8-11 p.m.
Screaming encouraged 🙂

 

Pumpkin Carving and Costume Contest
Monday, Nov. 1, throughout the day
Organized by Alumni and Career Services
Students can submit photos of their pumpkins and costumes, which will be posted online for community voting to determine prize winners. Tell your student to let you know if they enter so you can vote for them! Winners will be announced on Saturday, Nov. 6.

Step Afrika!
Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, 8 p.m.
Organized by Lancer Productions
A dance troupe that performs and teaches the history of stepping.

—Sabrina Brown

 

 

 

 

 

OKTOBERFEST: BONFIRE, COLOR WARS AND MORE

Ask your student if they had fun at Oktoberfest, which wrapped up this past Saturday with a full slate of activities and lots of live music. Some of Longwood’s most cherished traditions—including Color Wars and bonfire—take place during this fall semester celebration. (Color Wars pits students graduating in odd years against those graduating in even years in a battle of red and green paint. Bonfire is all about hot apple cider and telling stories from Longwood’s history.) You can see a full album of photos here—and maybe even catch a glimpse of your student.

PREPARING FOR SUCCESS: CAREER WEEK OCT. 11-14

Hearing that your child has gotten a job in a field they’ve worked so hard to prepare for, or been accepted to graduate school, rank toward the top of life’s best moments.

Longwood—and many of our alumni—are committed to helping students achieve those goals, and Career Week, coming up Oct. 11-14, is a perfect example of that commitment.

The week is designed to help your student navigate the job-search and graduate-school application process, as well as connect with Longwood’s alumni network and meet potential employers.

All students are welcome at the sessions noted below. It’s really never too soon to start crafting a killer resume or thinking about what it takes to get into graduate school. How to land an internship will also be on the agenda.

Please encourage your student to take full advantage of the week’s activities, which are detailed below.

Any parents, and especially those who are Longwood alums, are welcome to attend the networking session Wednesday evening (Oct. 13). Alumni parents also are invited to attend the alumni reception Thursday evening (Oct. 14). If you have any questions, you can reach out to Megan Miller, associate director of campus career engagement, at millermp@longwood.edu or 434-395-2064.

Students and parents who plan to attend should register here: http://www.longwood.edu/career/career-week/. A full schedule and descriptions of events are also available on this website.

If your student has any questions, they can email alumni@longwood.edu or career@longwood.edu.

CAREER WEEK ACTIVITIES

Monday, Oct. 11
Resume and Cover Letter Workshop | 3 p.m. | Upchurch University Center, Room 300

Tuesday, Oct. 12
Graduate School Preparation Workshop | 1 p.m. | Upchurch University Center, Room 300
LinkedIn and Networking Workshop | 3 p.m. | Maugans Alumni Center, Martinelli Room

Wednesday, Oct. 13
Alumni, Student and Employer Networking Event | 6 p.m. | Upchurch University Center, Soza Ballroom

Thursday, Oct. 14
Career, Internship and Engagement Fair | 1 p.m. | Maugans Alumni Center, Blackwell Ballroom
Alumni Reception | 6:30 p.m. | Radcliff Hall

—Sabrina Brown

 

Today’s Parent Pipeline post was contributed by Larry Robertson, Longwood’s assistant vice president for student development and former dean of students.

Fall break is just around the corner—there will be no classes Oct. 7 and 8. Your student may be heading home for the first time this semester or, if they’re a freshman, for the first time since they headed off to college.

Just like any family vacation, especially when it’s been a while since everyone has lived together under the same roof, there can be a few pitfalls. Harmony can be achieved, however, with a little forethought and planning.

Since this post is for parents, here’s my Top 10 list of things to think about before your student comes through the door.

#1

You may not be aware that you’ve become accustomed to your house being a little quieter since your student moved to campus. You will likely be amazed at how much extra noise their two feet can make—and a lot of that noise may be generated at night after you’ve gone to bed. Your student may have become a night owl.

#2

Curfews can be a point of friction, but discussing this issue before your student comes home will go a long way toward an amicable solution. Remember they’ve been coming and going as they please for several weeks—but it’s still your home and you set the rules. Even if you don’t intend to set a curfew, you may want to remind your student to let you know where they are and when they plan to return.

#3

Many of you may want to do your student’s laundry, and that is fine. However, some of you may want to remind them that they are capable of doing it for themselves. That’s OK, too. Again, it will help to discuss this before they get home.

#4

Don’t plan too much. It’s a good idea to check first with your student to see what their plans are before completely filling their time at home with family activities. Your student may have plans to connect with friends. It might be better to choose one or two times designated for family activities and give your student some flexibility to do other things. If you plan to take them out for meals, avoid Chik-fil-A, Applebee’s and other restaurants that are in Farmville. Trust me—they are ready for something different.

#5

Be prepared to see some changes in your child’s behavior, though they will probably be minor. They might have new favorite foods (sushi, for example), new favorite snacks (Flaming Hot Cheetos, for example), new exercise routines or even be using Longwood lingo you’re not familiar with (“The Wood,” “CHI,” “D-hall,” etc.). Don’t be afraid to ask them to explain. Also be aware that they may have incorporated some colorful language into their vocabulary.

#6

Try not be alarmed if they come home with a noticeable change in appearance, like a new hair color, bangs, a new tattoo or a new piercing. This is very common among college students. They may just be looking for a way to assert their newfound “freedom.”

#7

Some students may bring home loads of homework. These students may have procrastinated or suddenly realized that midterms are fast approaching. If this is your student, encourage them to take some breaks and relax a little. Some students may not bring home any homework at all. Depending upon the classes they’re taking and their personal study habits, they may have stayed on top of their assignments. If this is your student, don’t pry or nag, but ask them what midterms they have coming up. Or you may be able to find out how they’re doing by asking them about their favorite and least favorite classes.

#8

It’s not uncommon at this point in the semester for students to share that they are struggling in a class or that they are thinking about changing their major. Encourage them to talk to their professors during office hours or after class. Remind your student that help is available through tutoring and the Writing Center.

#9

If you hear the words “I am failing,” ask for clarification. Your student may think they are failing when they really have a C. Or they might be concerned about earning an A minus. In some cases, it may be important to remind them that doing their best doesn’t always mean being perfect.

#10

October can be a difficult time for a lot of new college students. In addition to adapting to their new life at college, they’re also starting to realize that life is continuing at their high school without them and their friends at other colleges are having different experiences. It may seem that everyone else is changing. What they don’t realize is that they’re changing, too. Be prepared for them to be quieter or seem down. You can ask them how they’re feeling, but don’t be surprised if they don’t know what’s wrong. It’s all well within the range of normal.

Finally, don’t forget to have some fun with your student over fall break. And don’t be surprised if you’re somewhat relieved to have the house back to yourself when they return to school. That’s within the range of normal as well.

 

 

I’m so happy to be able to share with you the good news that—for the sixth straight year—Longwood has been named one of the top 10 public universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report.

In addition, Longwood was recognized by the Princeton Review as one of the top South Region colleges on its annual list.

One important factor in this year’s U.S. News ranking is this statistic reported in the magazine: Longwood has the highest percentage of small classes of any public college or university in the South.

With nearly two-thirds of Longwood classes having 20 or fewer students, and nearly all taught by full-time faculty, your Lancers have a distinct advantage over peers at larger institutions: access to faculty members who mentor them through research projects, academic exploration and the signature Civitae core curriculum.

The latest ranking continues Longwood’s steady rise over the last decade. Since 2013, the university has climbed to No. 7 from No. 12 among public institutions in the Southern regional category. Among public and private regional universities, Longwood is again ranked in the top 20.

The biggest climb in the rankings, however, is a major jump on the Best Value in the South list: Longwood leaped a whopping 14 spots to No. 33 overall this year.

You can read the full story here.

—Sabrina Brown