Your Lancers had a great time this past weekend as students enthusiastically embraced the return of Spring Weekend, one of Longwood’s most popular traditions.

They splashed and dived in the Oozeball mud pit. They raised money and awareness for their organizations with pay-to-play games of skill and chance, and selling  “puppy kisses” and other unusual items. They strutted their stuff in step shows, sang their hearts out with student a cappella groups and crowded the stage for live performances by popular bands.

The sky was blue, and the temperature was perfect.

Here are a few photos to give you a flavor of the weekend, and you’ll find more photos on Facebook. Maybe you’ll even catch a glimpse of your Lancer.

—Sabrina Brown

Cheer on our Lancers at the Big South Conference Basketball Tournament this week as both the men’s and women’s teams compete for a chance to play in their first-ever NCAA Tournaments.

Also, please go to the bottom of this post to read about some additional students we can be proud of. The String Ensemble will present a concert this evening (Thursday) at 7:30 p.m.

Now back to basketball.

Check out go.longwood.edu/horsepower to stay on top of all the Big South Tournament news. You can also purchase tickets in advance on this site through midnight the day before games.

There lots of ways to show your support. You can attend games in person at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. (See below for information on how your student could get a free ticket to each session.) Or you can watch the action at home if you have the right cable/streaming package or subscription.

As regular season conference champions, the men’s team is No. 1 seed in the tournament. The women hold the No. 2 spot in the Big South (tied with Campbell for conference wins but with a loss to Campbell earlier in the season).

The women’s first game, which is in the quarterfinals bracket, is at 6 p.m. today, Thursday, March 3. This game will be on ESPN+. Winners progress to the semifinals, which for Longwood would mean a game at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 5. This game also would be on ESPN+. A semifinals win would take the women to the championship game, set for 8:30 p.m. Sunday, March 6. It will be televised on ESPNU.

The men’s first game, also in the quarterfinals, is at noon on Friday, March 4. This game will be on ESPN+. Winners will progress to the semifinals, which for Longwood would mean a game at noon Saturday, March 5. This game also will be televised on ESPN+. With a win in the semifinals, the men would head to the championship game, set for noon Sunday, March 6. It will be on ESPN2.

Longwood is purchasing 150 tickets for each of the men’s and women’s games, which will be distributed FREE to Longwood students. Tickets will be available at the coliseum in Charlotte on a first-come, first-served basis.

Each ticket is good for that day’s entire “session”—that includes eight games in the quarterfinals and two games in the semifinals. Students will be allowed one ticket each for each session; all they need to do to claim their ticket is show their Longwood ID.

Want to make it a family event? Head to Charlotte! Tickets for the general public are $15 and are available in advance at go.longwood.edu/horsepower until midnight the day before the games. You can also buy tickets at the coliseum.

Spring Into Strings with Concert Thursday, March 3

Do these talented students want to string you along? Absolutely—right up to the doors of Jarman Auditorium for the Longwood String Ensemble’s concert at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Thursday, March 3.

Violinist David Cassidy ’23 (left), cellist Misha Wiley ’25, violinist Daisy Colgin ’25 and violist Mary Spengler ’24 will perform a Schumann string quartet as part of the program.

The String Ensemble concert will also include a medley of tunes from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, a piece for chamber orchestra and solo cello that was featured in the movie Master and Commander, a piece that invokes the flavor of Spanish dance and, possibly for the first time ever, a selection that brings together on the same stage Longwood strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion—providing a peek into the future when Longwood might have a full orchestra.

Can’t make it in person? Tune in to the livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NiGVpGCLCU

—Sabrina Brown

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:

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