Q. How far is Longwood from a major airport or
train station?
A. Longwood's campus is 1 hour from the Lynchburg airport, 1.5
hours from the Richmond International airport, and 2 hours from the
Raleigh/Durham International airport. All of them are an easy drive and a
manageable distance. A regional airport is located just 15 minutes from
downtown Farmville. There are also bus services available from Farmville
to the various airports. Charlottesville (1.5 hours) and Richmond also
have Amtrak stations. A high-speed train runs from Richmond to Washington
D.C.
Q. What is the weather like in Farmville?
A. The weather is very pleasant most of the year. The temperature
can rise into the 90s with humidity from July to mid-September, then fair
(70s) until around November or December. The winter consists of a little
snow and temperatures in the 30s and 40s. Spring brings lots of color and
temperatures in 60s and 70s. Spring and Fall simply cannot be beat.
Q. What types of
Religious centers are in the area?
A. Farmville is home to several different types of churches,
including Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist,
Non-denominational, and Presbyterian. There is also a Jewish Student
organization and an Islamic Center.
Q. What types of Civic Organizations and
Volunteer Opportunities are in close proximity to Longwood?
A. Farmville and the surrounding area have a number of
organizations and agencies that rely on volunteerism to make their
programs successful. There are agencies focusing on youth recreation,
youth education, adult education, health services, elderly services,
emergency and counseling services, housing construction and restoration,
hunger, and the environment. Civic organizations include the Jaycees, the
Lions Club, and Rotary International. Community arts involvement is
available with the Waterworks Players and the Longwood Visual Arts Center.
Opportunities also exist with four area national and state parks, the
Robert Russa Moton Civil Rights Museum, historical societies and the Heart
of Virginia Festival. The Assistant Director of the Career Center distributes monthly listings of volunteer
opportunity and also helps
to make specific matches if there is a particular need you wish to fill.
Q.
What family services and educational opportunities are available to
professionals with families?
A. There are ample Day Care and Preschool facilities in the
Farmville and surrounding areas. Both public and private schooling
is available for elementary and seconday level children. Farmville
lies within the Prince
Edward County School district and FUQUA
is the available private school.
Q. What are the students like at Longwood?
A. The large majority of students here are from the state of
Virginia. Most of them come here because it has an inviting blend of
quality academics, a close-knit atmosphere, a lovely campus and its close,
but not too close, to home. They tend to be very involved and connected
around campus, possess a tremendous amount of Longwood sprit, and embrace
the Longwood Honor Code.
Q. How is the
Department of Residential and Commuter Life (RCL) organized?
A. The Director oversees all strategic, budgetary and major
facilities-related issues in addition to supervising the Associate Director, Assistant
Director, Residence Education Coordinators, and the RCL Office Manager/Administrative Assistant. The
Associate Director works in collaboration with the Director to oversee the RCL program and manages day-to-day operations, including
maintenance, assignments and desk operations. The Assistant Director works with Director to
oversee the residential education
program and supervise 6 Residence Education Coordinators and serve the needs of Longwood's
commuter students. The
RECs manage halls of approximately 450 students, establish and oversee a
residential education program, and supervise paraprofessional staffs of
7-11 Resident Assistants, 8-20 Desk Aids, and one Student Office Manager. Each REC meets one-on-one with the
Director of Residential and Commuter life bi-weekly. There is also
one weekly staff meeting in which all RCL staff members come together to address
pertinent campus and RCL issues.
Q. What is a typical judicial load for
Professional Staff?
A. Professional Staff average approximately 10-15 hearings per semester.
In addition, each REC serves as advisor to a student-run Judicial Board,
which requires involvement approximately four times per semester.
Q. Do the
professional staff participate in an on-call
schedule?
A. Yes. On weekends, a non-REC student affairs staff
member is on-call to assist in emergency situations. Each student
affairs professional is responsible for being on-call approximately
three times per semester. The "On-call REC" carries a cell
phone and binder from Monday until the following Monday. While on-call,
you must be on campus during non-business hours
(meaning a day trip to Richmond, Charlottesville or elsewhere is
permitted). During evenings, weekends, and official closings the
on-call professional must be on campus and prepared to handle any emergency situations
that may arise on campus.
Q. What types of professional development
opportunities can I expect to find?
A. Professional staff have tremendous opportunities for committee involvement, advising student
organizations (RHA, Greek chapters…), budgetary responsibility, as well
as sessions provided through the Student Affairs Professional Development
Committee and the Longwood Office of Professional Development
(supervision, interviewing skills, recruitment techniques, etc.). Longwood
even offers a certificate program in professional development for any
faculty/staff member who completes a pre-established professional
development track. In the past, RCL has funded participation in national, regional and state conferences hosted by
ACUHO-I, ACPA, NASPA, AFA, SEAHO, VACURH, VACUHO, and VASPA. Recently published books,
periodicals, and other resources are updated regularly and available to
RECs and their staffs in the RCL Community Development Center. The
Vice-President of Student Affairs, the
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, and
the Director of Residential and Commuter Life are very supportive of
professional development opportunities for their staffs.
Q. What type of office space do the
professional staff have?
A. Each staff member has an office containing a computer, printer,
Longwood issued phone, and all the necessary files. Office supplies are
made available as needed to professional staff.
Q. What is the parking situation like on campus?
A. Each professional staff member are has access to a faculty/staff parking pass. With the upcoming construction
projects, including a pedestrian mall, parking deck and several academic
buildings, which began in June 2002, some on-street parking will be
displaced. However, no disruption is planned for faculty/staff parking
lots located close to most residence halls and administrative buildings.
Q. What are the REC apartments like?
A. The apartments are all full-sized (one bedroom or two) with
non-institutional furniture, including a queen-sized bed, bedroom suite,
dining table, and living room furniture. One bedroom apartments are equipped with a sleeper sofa, while
two bedroom apartments can be furnished with a twin or bunking beds in the
second bedroom at your request. Each apartment comes with a kitchen, dining area, a
full bath, cable, T-1 internet connection, and
air-conditioning. Each is easily accessible to faculty/staff parking and
is a short walk from your office.
Q. What types of accommodations and services does
Longwood/RCL provide for partners and immediate family members of RECs?
A. Partners and immediate family members have full access to the
building in which the REC apartment is located and have access to many of the
academic and recreational facilities on campus. On the REC meal plan, multiple meals can be
used during a single visit to dining hall, which can allow RECs to take family
members to meals.
Q. Are the RECs permitted to have pets in their
apartments?
A. The only pets allowed anywhere on campus are non-carnivorous,
non-poisonous aquatic animals (fish, frogs…) and service animals (seeing
eye dogs…).
Q. If I am offered this position, what type of
orientation can I expect to receive?
A. All University employees participate in an intensive, day-long
orientation session facilitated by the Human Resources Department.
As well, the RECs go through an internal orientation process
at the start of their contract period. During this orientation candidates
learn about: managing day to day operations, and Longwood policies/procedures. Orientation is also a time to
develop the camaraderie and teamwork among professional staff members.
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