THE MISSION OF LONGWOOD COLLEGE
Longwood College is an institution of higher learning dedicated to the
development of citizen leaders
who are prepared to make positive contributions to the common good
of society. Building upon its
strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences, the College provides
an environment in which
exceptional teaching fosters student learning, scholarship, and achievement.
As the only four-year
public institution in south central Virginia, Longwood College serves
as a catalyst for regional
prosperity and advancement.
THE VISION OF LONGWOOD COLLEGE
Longwood College prepares citizen leaders for the common good. To achieve
this vision, all
members of the Longwood community will be dedicated to the highest
standards of academic
distinction and quality of life, and will examine, reaffirm, and refine
those aspects of the college
experience that collectively form a meaningful learning environment.
To ensure the vitality of the
learning environment, the College will increase enrollment while maintaining
its inherent character and enhancing its academic quality.
The learning environment will be characterized by dynamic, exceptional
teaching and scholarship that directly influence student learning and increase
academic achievement. Student accomplishments will be defined by established
competencies that demonstrate a sound grasp of the liberal arts and
sciences as well as the ability to think critically, to respond creatively,
and to apply knowledge to the
resolution of practical issues.
The curriculum, including the appropriate use of instructional technology,
will be refined to ensure its
relevancy to the mission of developing citizen leaders. Longwood College
will enhance its rigorous
foundation in the liberal arts and sciences and will elevate its exceptional
professional programs, such as teacher education and business, to the highest
regional and national standards.
The institution’s dedication to learning will extend beyond the degree-seeking
student to embrace all
members of the diverse college community, leading to a collegial climate
where divergent ideas are
respected. Longwood will be committed to community service and outreach
devoted to local,
regional, national, and global advancement.
The improvement of learning and quality of life will permeate all institutional
practices including the
design of student co-curricular programs and the development of physical
facilities. Longwood’s
careful and responsible stewardship of human, fiscal, and environmental
resources will be
continuously improved to incorporate the most effective methods and
practices to support the
institution’s vision.
Approved by the Board of Visitors, July 25, 1997.
LOCATION
The College is located in historic Farmville, Virginia -- 65 miles west
of Richmond and Petersburg,
48 miles east of Lynchburg, and 60 miles south of Charlottesville.
U.S. Highways 15 and 460
intersect in town. Commercial bus systems provide service to the town.
Farmville is a pleasant college town with a population of 6,500; it
is the business and education
center of the area. Located in and near town are churches, hotels,
motels, a country club, a
municipal airport, and a community hospital. Hampden-Sydney College,
a liberal arts college for
men, is five miles south of the campus. Many points of interest are
within a short distance of
Farmville, including Appomattox Courthouse and Sailors Creek Battlefield.
The Continuing Education Center of Southern Virginia, an off-campus
site of Longwood College
located in South Boston, Virginia, offers programs and courses on the
graduate and undergraduate
level. Courses and programs are offered on an intensive, weekend and
night format to meet the
needs of the non-traditional student
HISTORY
Longwood College, a pioneer first in private and later in public education,
was founded in 1839 as
the Farmville Female Seminary, became a state Normal School in 1884,
and was authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees in 1916. The College
became fully coeducational in 1976.
Graduate instruction began at Longwood in the summer of 1952 as a cooperative
program with the
University of Virginia. The arrangement allowed the College to offer
coursework to be transferred to the University of Virginia for credit toward
the Master of Education degree. The College was authorized to grant master's
degrees in 1955. The first graduate degree was awarded in 1956.
The legacy that began in 1839 continues today as Longwood offers small classes personal attention, and a meaningful learning environment to over 3000 undergraduate and 400 graduate students.
Longwood College offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of
Master of Science -
Education, Master of Arts - English, Master of Science - Environmental
Studies and Master of
Science - Sociology. In education, areas of concentration include administration
and supervision;
guidance and counseling; community and college counseling; school librarian/media
specialist;
reading specialist; curriculum and instruction specialist in elementary,
English, modern languages,
speech/theatre, physical education, and special education. In English,
areas of concentration are
literature and English education and writing. In sociology, the area
of concentration is criminal justice.
The graduate program is designed to provide capable students with opportunities
for individual
inquiry and to prepare qualified school personnel for assuming leadership
roles in professional education. Longwood College is pledged to a policy
of nondiscrimination that applies to all phases of college life, including
admissions.
THE MISSION OF GRADUATE STUDIES AT LONGWOOD COLLEGE
• To convey advanced knowledge in specified fields of study.
• To provide enhanced levels of professional competence in specific
disciplines.
• To foster an understanding of and competence in scholarly research.
• To bolster a sense of personal and professional accomplishment in
graduate studies.
• To inculcate in graduate students a sophisticated appreciation of
continued lifelong intellectual
growth.
• To enhance the application and utilization of advanced study for
the benefit of society.
These often-interrelated goals are achieved through coherent well-planned
programs of study
encompassing scholarly investigation, faculty mentoring and supervised
practical experiences.
As part of the mission of a comprehensive institution of higher education
supported by public funds,
Longwood College is committed to serving the needs of the Commonwealth
of Virginia and
particularly the Southside and Central Virginia regions. Graduate programs
at Longwood support the
continuation and development of diverse, innovative programs by building
on existing strengths and
emerging opportunities.
Longwood graduate programs encourage students to develop strengths in
critical and creative
thinking, communications, and applied skills. A balanced combination
of theoretical and practical
studies in each academic program is intended to prepare the successful
graduate for advancement in
the workplace, future educational opportunities, informed participation
in today’s increasingly
complex society and leadership in community affairs.
ACCREDITATION AND MEMBERSHIPS
The College is fully accredited as a comprehensive college. It is accredited
by the Virginia State
Board of Education (State Approved Programs), the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools,
and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. All
accreditation documents may
be viewed in the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
The College is a member of the Association of American Colleges; the
American Association of
Colleges for Teacher Education; the Association of Virginia Colleges;
the American Library
Association; and the Virginia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.