Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Residency Requirement at Longwood?	What will I experience as a commuter student?
I’ve heard that Longwood University is growing – What does this mean?	What kind of support and services will be available to me as a commuter student?
What safety mechanisms are in place on Longwood Campus?	What if I require special accommodations as a result of a medical or physical condition?
What must I not forget to bring?	What should I leave at home?
What are my meal plan options?	Where do I park and how do I get a parking sticker?
If I have additional questions, how may I have them answered?	If I have a problem, question, or concern what resources are available to me?

General Questions

What is the Residency Requirement at Longwood?
Longwood is a residential campus and features residence hall education focusing on student learning and personal development as part of its distinct academic mission. Therefore, students are required to live on campus unless the Office of Residential and Commuter Life (RCL) approve an exception. Residence Hall Contracts are for the entire academic year (August through May).

EXCEPTIONS:
1. Non-traditional age - reaching age 23 prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
2. Married - verified with marriage license.
3. Living at home - a notarized letter from parent(s) or legal guardian(s) required.
4. Part-time student - enrolling in less than 12 credit hours (both fall and spring semester).
5. Senior Privilege - at least 89 credit hours by the end of the spring semester.
 

I’ve heard that Longwood University is growing – What does this mean?
Given our advancements as an institution, our popularity with graduating seniors, and our high level of customer service, programs, and services provided…Longwood has become the NUMBER 1 choice for many bright, involved, and motivated students!

With placing these students, both entering and returning, in the most comfortable, living and learning environment possible in mind, we have taken a careful look at the use of residence hall space on campus. The result has been to identify additional permanent spaces in Curry Hall and to create transitional spaces in several residence halls.

Only a very few transfer and readmitted students will be placed in transitional housing - about 20 students. Transitional spaces will consist of larger rooms where one additional student will be temporarily placed in a two-room suite of four students. This arrangement will be very temporary!

As with all students at Longwood, we will support and assist students in transitional housing with dedicated effort and care. Staff will assist students with moving to permanent spaces as they become available. Based past experiences, we expect the majority of students in transitional spaces will be offered a permanent space within the first six weeks of fall semester.

Some students, however, may remain in transitional spaces for a longer period of time (not to extend past the end of fall semester) - these students will receive a rebate representing a quarter of the room fee paid for fall semester.

What safety mechanisms are in place on Longwood Campus?
 Longwood University has a police force department, not a security department.  All officers are fully certified by the state.  
Longwood also has  a student run "Night Walkers" program which offers student escorts around campus after dark.  When these students are not available Campus Police will escort people.   
Stationed throughout campus are blue tower emergency lights and phones.  These polls offer a direct line to the Campus Police Dispatch.  These can be used 24 hours a day, even when it is not an emergency.  These lights are available at all parking areas and other strategic places on campus for students to use to call a campus escort late at night.

What if I require special accommodations as a result of a medical or physical condition?
Contact Sally Scott, Director of Disability Support Services at 434-395-2391 or e-mail at scottss@longwood.edu.  It is important that you make contact early.  Documentation from a licensed medical practitioner will be required.  The Disability Support Services staff will guide you through the process.

Meal Plans

1.  How Does a Meal Plan work?

A magnetic strip on the back of your student ID card works with our computer system to identify you as a dining plan member.  By combining a “Semester Meal Allowance” with “Bonus Points” and/or “Longwood Dollars,” you can customize a plan that’s right for you.  Meals can be used at our Residential Dining Facility in Dorrill Hall or Bene Pizza in Lancer Café.  Bonus Dollars and Longwood Dollars are accepted at all Dining locations on campus.   

2.  I live in Lancer Park (formerly Stanley Park), Longwood Landings or Longwood Village, do I need a meal plan?
Longwood University and Dining Services want to allow the Longwood students the opportunity to fully experience campus life and to stay connected to the campus community.  The on-campus dining locations help to build community through socialization.  You must sign up for a plan, however you have the flexibility to choose any plan that meets your needs. 

3.  I live at home and commute on a daily basis, do I need a meal plan?
Longwood University and Dining Services want to allow the Longwood students the opportunity to fully experience campus life and to stay connected to the campus community.  The on-campus dining locations help build community through socialization.  Meal plans afford you the convenience of budgeting your money and the incentive of tax deferred meal purchases.  We have designed a 5 Meal Plan or Block 150 Plan with commuters in mind.  We encourage you to save money and experience campus life with a meal plan. 

4.  What are my Meal Plan Options?   

New Unlimited Plan + $50 Bonus Dollars - $1,450/semester, features an unlimited all-you-care-to eat meal plan.  This plan allows you to enjoy an unlimited number of meals per week with unlimited access to our Residential Restaurant, as often as you would like throughout the day.  This plan includes $50 Bonus Dollars and five guest meals to treat family and friends.  This plan is best suited for active students living on campus. 

14 Meal Plan + $150 Bonus Dollars - $1,218/semester, our most popular plan features 14 all-you-care-to eat meals a week in our Residential Restaurant.  For maximum flexibility, this plan offers $150 Bonus Dollars to be used at any Dining location and five guest meals to treat family and friends. 

10 Meal Plan + $150 Bonus Dollars - $1,060/semester, featuring 10 all-you-care-to eat meals a week in our Residential Restaurant.  For maximum flexibility, this plan offers $250 Bonus Dollars to be used at any Dining location and five guest meals to treat family and friends.  This is the best value for commuters. 

5 Meal Plan + $100 Bonus Dollars - $516/semester, featuring 5 all-you-care-to eat meals a week in our Residential Restaurant.  This plan comes with $100 Bonus Dollars to be used at any Dining location. 

5 Meal Plan + $50 Bonus Dollars – $466/semester, featuring 5 all-you-care-to eat meals a week in our Residential Restaurant.  This plan comes with $50 Bonus Dollars to be used at any Dining location. 

Block 150 + 75 Bonus Dollars - $1,052/semester, featuring 150 all-you-care-to eat meals a week in our Residential Restaurant.  This plan comes with the flexibility of using as many or as few meals per week depending on your schedule and features $75 Bonus Dollars to be used at any Dining location.  This plan is best suited for students at Longwood Landings or Lancer Village (formerly Stanley Park) and comes with five guest meals. 

*Students who live in the residence hall are required to have a weekly or block plan.  First Semester Freshman are required to participate in the Unlimited or 14 Meal Plan.  Lancer Village (formerly Stanley Park) and Longwood Landings residents are required to choose any of the above plans. 

5.  What are the dining hours of operation?
Dining locations are open 7 days a week.  We serve food from 7:00 am to as late as  midnight.  For a complete listing of hours of operation, please go to www.longwood.campusdish.com

6.  Can I change my Meal Plan selection?
Meal Plan selections and adjustments must be submitted electronically.  Any changes to a smaller meal plan can be honored until 5:00 pm on the first day of fall semester classes.  Changes to smaller meal plans for spring semester meal plans must be made by.  Unless an adjustment is requested in writing before 5:00 pm the spring meal plan selection will remain the same as previously designated during the fall.  The change of meal plan form is found in the forms page of the RCL website.  Go to www.longwood.edu/rcl/currentstudents.htm

7.  What is the difference between Bonus Dollars and Longwood Dollars?
A varying amount of Dining Bonus Dollars are attached to all meal plans.  Bonus Dollars may be used at all Dining locations on campus to purchase retail a la carte items or to purchase additional meals at Dorrill Dining RFoC.  All Bonus Dollars must be used by the end of the semester and can not be transferred to a future semester. 

Once you are out of Dining Bonus Dollars or you wish to purchase Dollars instead of a meal plan or carrying cash, you may purchase Longwood Dollars.  Longwood Dollars can be used at all dining locations and stay with you until you graduate.  Longwood Dollars are risk free.  Longwood Dollars fax or mail form can be accessed at www.longwood.campusdish.com.  Anyone with a Longwood ID can purchase Longwood Dollars.  

8.  Where can I get additional information on Dining Services?
Go to Longwood Dining website at www.longwood.campusdish.com

What will I experience as a commuter student?
You will experience esprit de corps, fun, excitement, and feelings of accomplishment, self-worth, and camaraderie. You will experience the strong sense of responsibility, support, and service that we strive to maintain. You will also experience personal satisfaction and fulfillment as you participate in university and organizational events.

What kind of support and services will be available to me as a commuter student?
The same support and service, with few exceptions, is offered and available to every student of Longwood University. The offices of Residential and Commuter Life, Leadership Programs, Student Union and Activities, Career Center, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Academic Support Center (typically referred to as the Learning Center), Health and Wellness Center, Counseling Center, Multicultural Affairs, and Campus Recreation, among other offices, are here to serve you and make your years at Longwood constructive, enjoyable, and memorable.

In addition to the opportunity to join a fraternity or sorority or any of the organizations registered on Longwood, as a commuter student you are automatically a member of the CSA (Commuter Student Association). A 12-member student Board of Directors governs this student-operated organization and is the first avenue of communication between commuter students and the university.

Longwood University offers a variety of experiential opportunities to ensure the healthy growth of mind, body, and soul of each of its students: toward this goal, Longwood offers commuter students a place in the Student Union (Lankford building) to gather between classes and communicate with fellow commuters. In the Commuter Student Lounge (Room 211) you will find a home away from home atmosphere: a kitchenette with sink, refrigerator, stove/oven, microwave, toaster, and coffee maker, sofas, and a television, VCR, and DVD player complete the scenario.

In addition to the lounge area itself, within the lounge complex you will find the offices for the Assistant Director of Commuter Life, the Graduate Assistant for Commuter Life, and the CSA, as well as lockers (you provide your own lock), a telephone, and a printer.

What must I not forget to bring?
Bring your smile, your enthusiasm, and your willingness to participate, learn, teach, and develop into a responsible citizen leader. Do not forget your honor and integrity, your laptop computer, headphones (if you wish to listen to music or play games on your laptop), change, gas money, homework, books, supplies (paper, pens, pencils, etc.), lunch (if you do not participate in a meal plan) and never ever leave home without your Longwood ID card!

What should I leave at home?
Leave behind your preconceived notions and prejudices: come prepared to meet the friends you have not made yet and dive into the fun and service-oriented activities we have planned for you If you expect the worst, you will be pleasantly surprised by the friendly, helpful, and social atmosphere. If we do not meet all of your expectations, you are welcome to help resolve the issues that concern you.

Where do I park and how do I get a parking sticker?

Campus Police maintains a virtual parking map that shows the designated RED painted curbs and commuter parking lots where you may park. Consult your Parking Regulations pamphlet for additional information regarding parking rules.

You may get your parking sticker at the Campus Police office in the Graham Building. You must first pay the $100 fee at the Cashiering Office (Lancaster 301) and then take the receipt and your automobile registration to the Campus Police office.

If I have a problem, question, or concern what resources are available to me?
Present your problems, questions, and concerns to the Associate Director of Off-Campus Living (Angela Jackson) or the CSA Board of Directors. The office for CSA are conveniently located within the Commuter Student Lounge complex (Lankford 211) and we welcome and encourage you to come in at any time.

If I have additional questions, how may I have them answered?
(1) Review the Longwood web site at www.longwood.edu; (2) Check out the Site Index. (3) Visit our online Feedback/Questions page (4) email RCL at housing@longwood.edu, or (5) visit the Office of Residential and Commuter Life in Lancaster G-13 or the Commuter Affairs office, which is right off of the Commuter Lounge in Lankford Union.  You may also contact: