Global Posts

Today is the first day of classes, so it seemed like a good time to let you know about resources available to help your student have a successful semester and year.

For those of you who moved your student onto campus for the first time last week, I hope the move-in process went smoothly for you. I know from personal experience that it’s both an exciting and emotional time for both first-year students and their families. We’ll all do our best to make your student feel at home and to provide any assistance they may need in transitioning to college life.

And that doesn’t stop with freshmen. Longwood is committed to helping all students—from freshmen to seniors to transfer students—to be successful.

Resources for Your Student

There are many resources your student can tap into if they need assistance, including a team of staff devoted specifically to student success. You can find out more about these resources on the Student Success Services webpage.

Here are just a few examples:
—Tutoring in many subjects
—Writing Center
—CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services)
—Accessibility Resources
—Professors’ weekly student hours

And freshmen have their coaching group and peer mentor as resources as well.

Transitions Group

Also, all students are welcome to participate in the Transitions Group, which is designed to help any student who needs help in adjusting to college. The Transitions Group offers a place for students to get support and to provide support to one another, as well as to learn practical strategies in adjusting to college life. Starting Sept. 2, this group will meet once a week on Tuesdays from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Moss Residence Hall sunroom.

Tried-and-True Path to Happiness at College: Getting Involved!

I think getting involved in a student club or organization is one of the top 5 ways your student can find happiness and fulfillment here. Longwood has so many clubs and organizations where students can find their people and make friends. And the beginning of the year is the perfect time to do this—especially for new students because they’re all looking to make connections.

Please encourage your student to attend the Involvement and Volunteer Fair on Thursday, Sept. 4, from 4-6 p.m. on Brock Commons. These student groups and organizations are looking for new members!

From a cappella singing groups to Relay for Life to the Outdoors Club to fraternities and sororities, there is a place here where your student will fit right in.

Second Chances: Students Can Tweak Their Class Schedules During Add-Drop

If your student is struggling in a class or if it wasn’t what they expected—or even if they heard about a class they’d rather take—they have an opportunity for a “do-over” in their class schedule. During the add-drop period, which ends at 5 p.m. on the sixth day of classes—so at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, this semester—they can drop or add a course, or both. For new freshmen and transfer students, this requires approval from their academic advisor; consulting with the academic advisor is encouraged for all students planning to add or drop a course. The procedure usually can be handled through my.longwood.edu using the Schedule Change Form. You and your student should keep in mind that there could be financial ramifications if the number of academic hours in their new schedule exceeds or falls below the tuition rate they paid for the semester. If your student has questions about the financial aspect of adding or dropping a course, they should contact the Office of Student Accounts at studentaccountsoffice@longwood.edu or 434-395-2274.

—Sabrina Brown

Megan Singleton will give an Artist Talk, Thursday, October 23, 3:30pm in the lecture hall of Bedford 111.

Megan Singleton is a practicing artist and educator located in St. Louis, Missouri. Her ecology-based work crisscrosses the boundaries of contemporary art and craft, combining sculpture, hand papermaking, installation, and digital applications.  She received her MFA in Sculpture from Louisiana State University and BFA in Photography from Webster University. She actively exhibits nationally and internationally, her work can be found in the collections of the Louisiana Art and Science Museum, the Robert C. Williams Paper Museum, as well as numerous private and corporate collections. Megan has served on the board of directors for the hand papermaking organization The Friends of Dard Hunter, as V.P of Membership and Development, and is a member of the International Art Collective Expanded Draught, based in Galway Ireland. In recent years she was the recipient of the RAC Artist Fellowship, the Smelser-VallionVisiting Artist Fellowship in Taos, MN and was invited to install site-specific mural projects at Brown University in Providence, RI, Lambert Airport in Saint Louis, and the Gaylord Trust Building in Lockport, IL.  She has been resident artist at Haystack, Craft Alliance, A Studio in the Woods, Tide Institute and Museum, Doel Reed Center for Art, A Studio in the Woods, Kingsbrea Gardens, and the Great Sand Dunes National Park.

An exhibition will be in the Bedford Gallery, with a reception following the talk, from 4:30–5:30pm.

Learn more about the artist at https://www.megansingleton.com/

Mia Brown–Seguin, a papermaking artist who just finished a year as part of the Longwood Art Working Artist program, will give an an artist talk about her work and process, from 3–4pm Thursday, August 28th, 2025 in the lecture hall of Bedford (room 111).

A reception will follow the talk with her work on display in the Bedford Gallery. (her show will come down after the reception).

The Public is Invited to attend this FREE talk and gallery exhibit.

Learn more about the artist at https://miabrownseguin.com/

With the first day of classes less than a month away, I’m sure many of you are deep into preparations for bringing your student to campus later this month for the 2025-26 academic year.

Part of those preparations may involve making sure your student has the books and other course materials they need for their fall semester classes. As you think about that, please keep in mind the benefits of our new BookBundle program, which is designed to make accessing required course materials easier and often more affordable. Students will receive an email next week with the subject “Access Your Materials” that will provide instructions for accessing their course materials via BookBundle. 

Some students have already decided not to participate in BookBundle, which we understand is a carefully considered and individual decision. For those of you who are still considering your options, here is some information you may find helpful.

BookBundle Benefits 

• Convenient: All required materials based on your student’s course schedule are prepared by the Longwood University Store. No scouring the internet or worries about materials arriving in time. If your student decides to drop a course on or before the last day of the add/drop period, they will receive a full refund automatically.  
•  All Inclusive: With BookBundle, all of your student’s required materials are included in one all-inclusive, no-surprises price that is charged to your student’s account for easy payment each term.
• Digital Access: Digital course materials will be automatically available to your student in Canvas by the first day of class. 
• Print Materials: If physical materials are required, your student will receive an email at their live.longwood.edu address with instructions and information about picking up their materials.  
• Easy Out, Easy Back In: Students not interested in participating in the program can opt out with no penalty by 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (If you have trouble opting out, please contact the Longwood University Store at bookstore@longwood.edu or 434-990-6716.) If your student has already opted out and wants to opt back in, they can do so until the opt-out deadline of 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2. 

If your student decides to opt out, please keep in mind that they are opting out of receiving required materials for all their courses and are responsible for sourcing their own required course materials through the Longwood University Store or elsewhere.  

Need more info or have questions? Visit our BookBundle page and FAQs or reach out to the team at the Longwood University Store at bookstore@longwood.edu or 434-990-6716.

We can’t wait to welcome your student to campus in a few weeks!

 —Sabrina Brown

At Longwood, move-in is a staggered, multistage process for the various groups of students who will be living in Longwood-managed housing for the 2025-26 academic year. Staggering the dates and times for the groups of students moving in helps to alleviate some of the congestion and long lines that are inevitable when hundreds of students and their families converge on a relatively small area such as the Longwood campus.

Move-in for the general student population begins on Wednesday, Aug. 20. The first day of classes is Monday, Aug. 25.

I hope you find the information below helpful as you plan to move your student into Longwood-managed housing.

We can’t wait to welcome them to campus, and we wish them all the best for the 2025-26 year!

When and Where

Move-in dates and times vary based on residence hall or apartment complex, residence hall room number and student type. If your student plans to live in Longwood-managed housing this year, they should have already received an email with their specific move-in date and time. If your student has not received an email or doesn’t know their specific move-in date and time, please contact the Office of Residential and Commuter Life at housing@longwood.edu.

You may also be able to find your student’s specific move-in date and time here under Check-in Schedule: https://www.longwood.edu/housing/move-in-information/

You’ve Got Questions—We’ve Got Answers

A wealth of information about move-in is available online here: https://www.longwood.edu/housing/move-in-information/

You’ll find answers on these topics:
—Things to Think About Before Move-in
—Need-to-Know at Check In
—Check-in Schedule
—Early and Late Arrivals
—Permitted and Prohibited Items
—Where to Unload
—Where to Park After Unloading
—Tips and Reminders for a Smooth Arrival

If you can’t find the answer you need on this website, contact the Office of Residential and Commuter Life at housing@longwood.edu.

Where to Unload and Where to Park After Unloading

—Routes to each residence hall, unloading areas and designated parking lots are shown on the printable move-in maps below.
—Drivers should activate vehicle flashers when unloading.
—Vehicles may not be left unattended.
—After unloading, residential students should park in their designated parking permit zone.
—Families and guests are welcome to park in the designated lots on the maps below.

Printable Move-in Maps
August 20, 2025 – Move In Map (pdf)
August 21, 2025 – Move In Map (pdf)
August 22-24, 2025 – Move In Map (pdf)

Volunteers Stand Ready to “Welcome Home Lancers”

A group of faculty, staff and student volunteers is ready to help make the move-in process as smooth as possible for first-time Lancers who will be living in Moss, Johns, Sharp, Register and Wheeler halls. Through the Welcome Home Program, volunteers will be available at these halls on Aug. 20 and 21 from about 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. They can help with unloading vehicles, staying with belongings while families take care of checking in and parking their cars, or assisting with the check-in process. Whatever your need, don’t hesitate to ask. A volunteer or staff member will try to help you themselves or to direct you to someone who can.

Think About Bringing a Rolling Cart or Dolly—and Water

Having a dolly or a rolling cart can make the move-in process much easier. These items will not be available on campus, so consider bringing one with you. Our experts highly recommend! Also, don’t forget the water. You can expect to experience some physical exertion—both inside and outside in the heat—so it’s important to stay hydrated.

How Many People Does It Take to Check In? Just one!

Just one person—your student—can take care of everything needed for check in, including picking up their keys. The lobbies of the residence halls can get very congested if several people are standing in the check-in line with a student. Please consider letting your student handle this—or having just one person join them in line in case they need help.

Managing Expectations

We have tried very hard to streamline the move-in process, but you should still expect to experience some waiting in line as you move into loading zones, check in, and use the elevators (where applicable) and stairwells.

One Last Thing: Outstanding Bills

If your student has outstanding financial obligations with Longwood University, please resolve these issues prior to move-in. In accordance with Longwood University policy, any student with an outstanding bill will not be permitted to move into Longwood-managed housing or to use their meal plan.

Questions regarding outstanding bills can be directed to Cashiering and Student Accounts at 434-395-2067 or Financial Aid at 434-395-2077.

—Sabrina Brown