March Board of Visitors Discusses Presidential Search, Tuition

Longwood's Board of Visitors (BOV) discussed academic policies, along with construction plans and ideas about tuition for the upcoming academic year during its quarterly meeting on Friday and Saturday, March 26-27, 2009.

The board first discussed progress on the presidential search. Rector Marge Connelly said that by March 2010 the new president will be identified. A campus-wide e-mail was sent out Friday afternoon announcing the 14 representatives of the presidential search and screening committee, consisting of many BOV members, along with several faculty and staff, and Student Government Association (SGA) President Caitlin Revene. Connelly also announced the timeline of meetings that will be held with faculty, staff and students. The presidential search Web site went online Monday, March 30, with a link on the Longwood homepage.

The BOV discussed several items discussed in academic and student affairs. Several revisions to the student handbook were scheduled to be approved, but it was announced approval would be pushed back to the BOV's June meeting.

Tuition for the upcoming academic year was discussed at length. Several suggestions were made, but there were no final decisions made at this meeting. The purpose of the discussion, according to Connelly, was to start "thinking about a general direction." The meeting will be held immediately after commencement. One of the main reasons nothing was approved at this meeting was the budget veto session in the General Assembly of Virginia will not be held until Wednesday, April 8. Connelly suggested the BOV look at extremes on each end of the spectrum, examining a zero percent increase to a 10 percent increase. Longwood President Patricia Cormier said the issue the university has is "we don't control our budget, there is so much restraint. We have no predictability from year to year." Kathy Worster, vice president for administration and finance, said the state is "supposed to pay 63 percent of the cost [of education], but with the budget cuts they are only paying 51 percent currently." The bottom line for tuition is that it will be a multi-year thought process, and Worster said tuition "won't be less than $16,500" next year. The figure of $16,500 covers both semesters in the 2009-2010 academic year.

There was a reported 98 percent occupancy of Longwood beds for the spring semester. According to Dr. Wayne McWee, provost and vice president for academic affairs, the process of room selection was "going very well" with the online residential management sign-up (RMS) process. In addition, 315 students applied to move off-campus for next year, and 290 were approved. McWee added that "students are enjoying managed apartments." However, Connelly voiced her concerns about "outgrowing residential capacity" and finding options for less expensive accommodations in the future. She suggested that the Office of Residential and Commuter Life (RCL) look into "loosening regulations for going off-campus" for financial reasons. McWee said the "overall quality of housing has improved" and that Longwood is "housing over 50 percent of seniors next year."

Changes to the academic suspension policy were approved, which consist of notifying students at the end of each academic term and "imposing more immediate action." The original policy stated students would receive notification of suspension in August before classes resumed, causing confusion with classes and housing.

Enrollment increased 4.4 percent overall. Out-of-state student enrollment increased 14.8 percent, and the number of non-degree seeking graduate students increased 31.3 percent.

For admissions, almost 4,000 applications have been received for the 2009-2010 academic year compared to 3,770 for 2008-2009. Acceptances were up eight percent from last year, and they have jumped 17 percent overall in the last two years. An expected 2,900 acceptance letters will be sent by the end of April. The class of 2013 is expected to have 1,050 students. It was also reported that 40 percent of applicants are applying for federal, state and Longwood financial aid.

Richard Bratcher, vice president for facilities management, introduced designs for the new university center (student union) and the information technology (IT) center to be housed in what is now French residence hall. The new student union will replace the Cunninghams residence hall and will be three stories tall. It follows a triangular design and provides easy access from Wheeler Mall, Brock Commons and Lankford. The top level will hold a ballroom and meeting spaces, much like Lankford Student Union. The middle level will consist of offices and a breezeway to add pedestrian pathways to Wheeler Mall. The basement will contain dining facilities and a convenience store. There is a glass dome that mirrors the Rotunda, and the roof forms will be identical to Lancaster Hall. The glass dome and wall of windows facing Brock Commons will allow natural light. The Brock Commons side is designed as a plaza with access to the bottom level. There are plans to put a water feature on the plaza, as well as tables and chairs for an outdoor eating area. The designs were approved, and several SGA members in attendance expressed enthusiasm and excitement about the plans.

The French IT center, designed by Moseley Architects, will be a "resurrection of French Hall" and will "restore the exterior and modernize it," according to the architect. All wood structures will be replaced by metal, and a new roof will be installed. The south entrance, close to South Ruffner and Barlow halls, will be redesigned as a plaza similar to the new university center. A service courtyard will be built along Venable Street. The five floors will be divided among instructional technology and technical services (ITTS), the communication studies & theatre department, the faculty enrichment center and institutional research. ITTS will be housed in four of the five floors. Production studios for the communication studies broadcasting classes will be on the first and second floors. The faculty enrichment center will share part of the third floor. A computer data center and key-carded elevator will be on the fourth floor, and institutional research space will be available on the fifth floor. The new design of French, particularly the south side plaza, is expected to generate a positive response of foot traffic from the Landings apartments. With the renovation and modernization, Hiner Hall will be able to expand into Coyner. The design of the French IT center was also approved by the BOV with positive response.