Come January, wired and WiFi internet speeds in residence halls, Lancer Park and Longwood Landings will get a significant boost, thanks to the university’s investment in upgrading its network in those buildings.

Students will receive technical support for connectivity issues 24/7/365 directly from Shentel, the university’s internet provider.

Uploading and downloading will be faster

Starting in January, the new internet service will offer a faster speed of 100/100 Mbps through both wired and WiFi connections. This means is that students will be able to upload and download data at a faster rate of 100 Mbps (megabits per second).

Mark Kendrick, associate vice president for Information Technology Services (ITS), said Longwood understands that internet service and its performance are crucial for students in their academic and extracurricular activities. With the recent upgrade, he added, students will experience faster uploading and downloading. This will result in less buffering and more uninterrupted viewing, especially when streaming content on platforms like Netflix or Hulu.

Faster upload speeds will aid in transferring large files, such as high-resolution photographs used in art classes, as well as facilitating file sharing in group projects, Kendrick said.

More and better connections

Also part of this project is the upgrading and increase of WAPs (wireless access points), which connect computers and other devices to wireless Internet service.

Audrey Bright, Shentel’s director of enterprise sales who has been collaborating closely with Kendrick, said they will be upgrading 157 WAPs and installing 109 new ones to improve connectivity in the residence halls and apartment buildings, including in the rooms of students.

“Overall, coverage is very good in each of the covered buildings,” she said. “However, there are some weak spots, and Shentel will be adding WAPs to enhance coverage and capacity in areas with weak signal and/or high demand. Shentel is very excited to continue our partnership with Longwood in enhancing the student experience through technology that grows along with student needs.”

The upgrades won’t function optimally—meaning slower internet speeds—unless students help with one critical part of the process, Kendrick said. If your student is using their own WAP or mobile hotspot, please encourage them to disable it when the new system becomes operational.

“We know that some students have purchased their own WAPs and turn on their mobile hotspot in an attempt to improve their internet performance,” Kendrick said. “While they may improve coverage in a specific area or for a specific student or group of students, they interfere with the performance of the network, and can negatively impact the experience of other students nearby. The effectiveness of the upgrades will be compromised by the interference that these unmanaged devices create.

“Please allow the new system to function at its highest and most effective level by removing these boosters in January.”

Technical support 24/7/365 from Shentel

If your student is experiencing connectivity issues and is unable to access the internet, Shentel is available to provide technical support 24/7/365. Simply have your student call 855-267-7289 for assistance. For other technical issues, please have your student contact Longwood’s Help Desk at 434-395-4357.

Funding for the project

A portion of the funding for this upgrade is coming from the reallocation of funds that were previously used for cable TV service, Kendrick said, adding that this decision was made after observing and receiving feedback from students living in Longwood-managed housing, where less than 1 percent of residents are currently utilizing cable TV.

“Given the substantial decline in cable TV use, we wanted to put those resources toward the network upgrade,” said Kendrick. “Longwood is committed to providing students with the tools they need to be successful academically, and technology is high on that list.”

—Sabrina Brown

Please join us in the Virginia Room from noon to 1:00 p.m. on the dates shown in the flyer. Lunch will be served.

Welcome to Longwood Blogs. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Agency Description

The Sunny Center is an inpatient and outpatient facility. We have 6 inpatient programs and 6 outpatient clinics followed by 5 rehabilitation services. The Sunny Center is a 152-bed hospital that treats more than 743 inpatients, 277-day program patients, and more than 7,161 outpatients each year in more than 46,000 visits. Our team of 34 expert clinicians provides individualized patient recovery plans and compassionate care, whether you’re recovering from a life-changing injury or stroke or other neuromuscular condition. The agency provides patients more than just medical care we want our patients to experience healing and hope through this process.

Mission

The Sunny Center provides people with a temporary or permanent disability caused by injury or disease to lead healthy and active lifestyles as independently as possible through the use of recreation activities, providing education, skill development, and community reintegration opportunities.

Vision

Setting the bar for rehabilitative car by providing astounding services to our patients.

Welcome to my Professional Identity Development Portfolio!

Today it’s my pleasure to introduce you to Longwood’s new chief of police, who today took the reins of the Longwood University Police Department.

Angela Comer, who was selected after a nationwide search, is a decorated law enforcement officer with more than 25 years of experience in community policing who has recently breathed new life into the law enforcement division of a prominent state agency.

“Angela is the kind of leader who naturally embraces Longwood’s mission of developing citizen leaders who are prepared to make positive contributions to society,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Cameron Patterson ’10, M.S. ’17, whose office oversees the university’s police department. “A defining through-line in her career that stood out to us was her ability to bring different people together to form safer communities. She’s done that at every level and at every command post, and is poised to bring that to bear here at Longwood.”

Comer previously was a captain with Virginia’s Department of Wildlife Resources, where she managed Internal Affairs, Compliance and Leadership Development for the law enforcement division. Before that, she spent the majority of her career in the Arlington County Police Department, rising from patrol officer and school resource officer to lieutenant overseeing the property crimes division. Comer holds a bachelor’s degree in government and international politics from George Mason University and a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Troy University. She is also a graduate of Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command.

At Longwood, she is leading a professional police department accredited by the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission. The department of fully sworn officers has concurrent jurisdiction with the Town of Farmville Police Department and works closely with the town and the Prince Edward County Sheriff’s Department on a range of law enforcement issues.

“I’m excited to get to know the LUPD staff,” Comer said. “I’m committed to providing the necessary resources so our existing officers achieve their career goals, and to recruiting the next generation of police officers. In my career I’ve benefited from police leadership who supported my ambitions and opened up doors for me. It’s a key role of a police chief, and I’m looking forward to stepping into that position.”

Comer’s varied background in law enforcement has led her to a perspective that puts people first.

“My philosophy in policing has always been to serve,” said Comer. “In fact, I prefer to lead with words like engagement and partnership rather than policing. When law enforcement is present and engaged and we put ourselves in the position to be a part of a community rather than separate from the people we serve, we are all safer and more secure. I’m looking forward to meeting students, faculty, staff, parents, town and county partners, and a whole host of other folks.”

“In many ways, this position represents the reasons I got into law enforcement in the first place: the opportunity to affect lives in a positive way, to be an integral part in making a safe community, and the opportunity to mentor and educate,” she said. “My time in the classroom shaped my life powerfully, and being a part of that atmosphere has been a career goal of mine.”

Throughout her tenure in Arlington, Comer developed a reputation as a fair-minded leader who drew on her family’s history to propel an ongoing conversation about the role of police in the Northern Virginia community. Her father, Irving Comer, was the first Black police officer in Arlington County, and he left a legacy that has informed Angela Comer’s life and career.

“There’s no denying that I have a distinct lens through which I interact with the community around me,” said Comer. “I am a Black female in a predominately male profession and a profession that hasn’t always had a positive relationship with Black and other minority communities. But that puts me in a unique position to show people who look like me that policing doesn’t have to be what they’ve traditionally experienced, and that success in the profession is attainable. My experience serving the diverse Arlington County community and Department of Wildlife Resources constituents is no less important, which I will leverage to serve the Longwood community responsively and equitably.”

Not one to shy away from tough conversations, Comer is eager to engage in open and respectful exchanges of ideas with the campus community.

“It’s through the tough conversations that we grow,” she said. “I’ve always looked at them as an opportunity to learn from others, to express my point of view and to build consensus.”

During a lengthy interview process, Comer met with a panel of current police chiefs at Virginia universities, led by the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, where she garnered praise for her impeccable service record and willingness to push the law enforcement community forward.

During her 24-year tenure in Arlington County, Comer spent six years as a detective in the special victims unit, where she investigated sex crimes, child abuse, domestic violence, stalking and harassment cases. One of those cases, a high-profile cyber-stalking case that resulted in a seven-year sentence for the suspect, garnered national media attention and earned her the 2013 Arlington County Crime Solvers’ Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award.

Early in her career in Arlington, Comer served as the School Resource Officer Unit team leader, where she spearheaded the development of modern school safety plans and managed security at a variety of events.

“I’ve always enjoyed being around young people,” she said. “The great thing about young people is that they always bring new perspectives to the way things are done. I like that they don’t think the way we do and aren’t afraid to speak their minds—we can all learn from that. That’s one of the great things about being in college: you start to develop the foundation of who you are. It’s a time when people can make mistakes and learn to take risks. I see myself as a resource in that time of growth while keeping the guardrails of law enforcement up.”

Sign up for safety alerts via text

I thought today’s post would also be a good time to let parents know again that they can sign up for text alerts that are sent out as part of Longwood’s emergency alerts platform.

To sign up for text alerts, just text LUALERTS to 226787. This will enter your mobile phone number into the system, and you will receive all text message alerts that are sent out. These are the same alerts that go out to students.

For all other notifications, you—and your student—can download the new Longwood Ready app. It’s free and can be found in your app store by searching “Longwood Ready.” The app has an array of helpful safety information and features, including Friend Walk, which allows you to virtually “walk your student” to their destination.

If you have trouble downloading the Longwood Ready app, please email questions@longwood.edu, and we’ll do our best to help you solve the problem. (Be sure to turn on notifications once you’ve downloaded Longwood Ready.)

—Sabrina Brown

Family Weekend is set for Sept. 15-16 this year, and it’s no coincidence that it happens just about a month after the start of the fall semester.

By that time, some of you may be missing your student after having them at home over the summer. Or you may be wondering how they’re adjusting if they’re new to Longwood. Family Weekend is the perfect cover story—I mean, opportunity—to come back to Longwood for a visit because lots of other parents will be here, too. (You can also get another couple of hugs to last you until fall break, which is set for Oct. 5-6 this year).

And you won’t have any trouble finding something to do. Family Weekend has a full slate of activities for Friday evening and all day Saturday, including the free Heart of Virginia Festival on Sept. 16, which takes place right in Longwood’s front yard and the surrounding area.

Family Weekend registration is $25 per person (Longwood students and children age 5 and under attend free). Most of the activities are covered in the registration fee. For an additional cost, you can also sign up for a pottery class with a faculty member, a paint party and/or a psychic/mentalist performance. For all the details and the weekend’s full schedule click here.

Family Weekend Highlights

Friday
—Evening Reception with Members of the Longwood University President’s Council
—Game Night, Featuring Bingo, Family Feud and Trivia
Saturday
—Continental Breakfast
—Campus Involvement Talks
—Heart of Virginia Festival
—Men’s Soccer Game vs. Saint Francis University
—Longwood Music Showcase
—Saturday Night Entertainment with the Evasons

Accommodations, Etc.

You’ll find information about local accommodations, restaurants, attractions and more on the Family Weekend website.

Registration

You can register online or in person from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, at the Upchurch University Center.

We hope to see you here next month!

—Sabrina Brown

Family Weekend is not funded by state funds, tuition or state fees. Family Weekend is an independent and self-supporting activity for families and friends of the university.

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

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

Main Campus Residence Halls and Longwood Landings Deliveries

Traditional Package Deliveries

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

Local Merchant Deliveries (flowers, food, groceries, etc.)

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

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

Physical Building Addresses

Lancer Park Deliveries 

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

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

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

—Sabrina Brown

This week

DEC and CAFÉ

Turn It In: Exploring the AI Detector

Thursday, August 17
1:00pm-2:00pm
Allen Hall 205Register @
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSkrrGaeZT8HNP_dRI-EB1ILbixSYIAWsr5WHTkot4oIFQEw/viewform 

STARTING NEXT WEEK

FOCUSED PRODUCTIVITY SESSIONS

Join CAFE for pomodoro sessions again this semester. All faculty and staff are welcome. The sessions use a focused cycle: set a goal, work towards it for 25 minutes, and then take a five-minute break. You will repeat the cycle three times. Choose the session that fits your needs:

Research Writing Session: Tuesday and Thursdays @ 8:30-10:30am, via Zoom with Adam Franssen,
https://longwood-edu.zoom.us/j/98155845624
Work Session: Mondays and Wednesday @ 10:00-11:30, via Zoom with Renee Gutiérrez
https://longwood-edu.zoom.us/j/95514040489?pwd=K0lZZGM3ZGR1MjV6OUxKL3AvQUFvQT09

JUST FYI

SNAP SHOT OF THIS WEEK AND FALL 2023

Important Dates and Events Across Campus

August 15

11:00-12:00President’s Welcome, Jarman Auditorium, followed by lunch @ noon, Dorrill Dining Hall
2:00-3:15                     College of Education, Health and Human Services Faculty Kick-Off, Soza Ballroom (Upchurch)
3:00-4:00                     Cook-Cole College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Welcome and Reception, Wygal auditorium

August 16

9:30-2:00                     College of Business and Economics Fall Advance, Nance Room, Dining Hall
8:00-4:00                     New students move-in

August 17

9:00-2:30                     College of Business and Economics Fall Advance, Nance Room, Dining Hall
8:00-4:00                     New students move-in

August 18-20

8:00-4:00                     Continuing students arrive                 

August 18      

8:30-9:00                     Faculty Coffee Hour and Breakfast, Blackwell Hall, Rotunda 
9:00-10:30                   Opening Faculty Meeting, Blackwell Hall
11:30-12:30                 Honor & Integrity Ceremony, Jarman Hall.  Line-up begins after the opening faculty meeting in Blackwell Hall; the procession begins at 11:20.

August 19                  Full Semester Graduate Classes begin. Note to graduate professors: please check the Academic Calendar for specific beginning dates for 5, 7, & 8- week courses.

August 21                   Undergraduate Classes begin
September 4               University closed for Labor Day
September 14             Convocation–undergraduate
October 5-6                Fall Break- no undergraduate classes
October 9                   Undergraduate classes resume
October 18                 Undergraduate grade estimates due
November 14             Symposium of the Common Good Day (no undergraduate classes until 5:30 PM; graduate classes held as usual)
November 15             Research & Creative Inquiry Showcase (no undergraduate classes 1:00-5:30 PM)
November 22-24        Thanksgiving Holiday
November 27             Classes resume
December 1                Last day of undergraduate classes
December 3                Faculty volunteers serve at Late Night Breakfast. (Look for email.)
December 4-8            Examinations
December 9                Last day of full semester graduate courses.Note to graduate professors: please check the Academic Calendar for specific end dates for 5, 7, & 8- week courses
December 11              Undergraduate and graduate (full semester) grades due. Note to graduate professors: please check the Academic Calendar for specific grade due dates for 5, 7, & 8-week courses.

Check out the Academic Calendar for graduate and undergraduate course add/drop,  withdraw, and registration dates.

This week

DEC and CAFÉ

Turn It In: Exploring the AI Detector

Thursday, August 17
1:00pm-2:00pm
Allen Hall 205Register @
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSkrrGaeZT8HNP_dRI-EB1ILbixSYIAWsr5WHTkot4oIFQEw/viewform 

STARTING NEXT WEEK

FOCUSED PRODUCTIVITY SESSIONS

Join CAFE for pomodoro sessions again this semester. All faculty and staff are welcome. The sessions use a focused cycle: set a goal, work towards it for 25 minutes, and then take a five-minute break. You will repeat the cycle three times. Choose the session that fits your needs:

Research Writing Session: Tuesday and Thursdays @ 8:30-10:30am, via Zoom with Adam Franssen,
https://longwood-edu.zoom.us/j/98155845624
Work Session: Mondays and Wednesday @ 10:00-11:30, via Zoom with Renee Gutiérrez
https://longwood-edu.zoom.us/j/95514040489?pwd=K0lZZGM3ZGR1MjV6OUxKL3AvQUFvQT09

JUST FYI

SNAP SHOT OF THIS WEEK AND FALL 2023

Important Dates and Events Across Campus

August 15

11:00-12:00President’s Welcome, Jarman Auditorium, followed by lunch @ noon, Dorrill Dining Hall
2:00-3:15                     College of Education, Health and Human Services Faculty Kick-Off, Soza Ballroom (Upchurch)
3:00-4:00                     Cook-Cole College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Welcome and Reception, Wygal Auditorium

August 16

9:30-2:00                     College of Business and Economics Fall Advance, Nance Room, Dining Hall
8:00-4:00                     New students move-in

August 17

9:00-2:30                     College of Business and Economics Fall Advance, Nance Room, Dining Hall
8:00-4:00                     New students move-in

August 18-20

8:00-4:00                     Continuing students arrive                 

August 18      

8:30-9:00                     Faculty Coffee Hour and Breakfast, Blackwell Hall, Rotunda 
9:00-10:30                   Opening Faculty Meeting, Blackwell Hall
11:30-12:30                 Honor & Integrity Ceremony, Jarman Hall.  Line-up begins after the opening faculty meeting in Blackwell Hall; the procession begins at 11:20.

August 19                  Full Semester Graduate Classes begin. Note to graduate professors: please check the Academic Calendar for specific beginning dates for 5, 7, & 8- week courses.

August 21                   Undergraduate Classes begin
September 4               University closed for Labor Day
September 14             Convocation–undergraduate
October 5-6                Fall Break- no undergraduate classes
October 9                   Undergraduate classes resume
October 18                 Undergraduate grade estimates due
November 14             Symposium of the Common Good Day (no undergraduate classes until 5:30 PM; graduate classes held as usual)
November 15             Research & Creative Inquiry Showcase (no undergraduate classes 1:00-5:30 PM)
November 22-24        Thanksgiving Holiday
November 27             Classes resume
December 1                Last day of undergraduate classes
December 3                Faculty volunteers serve at Late Night Breakfast. (Look for email.)
December 4-8            Examinations
December 9                Last day of full semester graduate courses.Note to graduate professors: please check the Academic Calendar for specific end dates for 5, 7, & 8- week courses
December 11              Undergraduate and graduate (full semester) grades due. Note to graduate professors: please check the Academic Calendar for specific grade due dates for 5, 7, & 8-week courses.

Check out the Academic Calendar for graduate and undergraduate course add/drop,  withdraw, and registration dates.