Longwood University President W. Taylor Reveley IV signed a contract to extend his term until 2023 during the Longwood Board of Visitors meeting on Friday, Dec. 2, announced Board of Visitors Rector Robert S. Wertz, Jr. in an email to faculty and staff on Saturday, Dec. 3.
"I’m absolutely delighted by this and I care for Longwood. I love Longwood dearly, and I think the best days are ahead," said Reveley in a phone interview.
Copies of Reveley’s current contract and newly signed contract are unavailable because they are part of his personnel file, according to Chief of Staff Justin Pope.
Pope said Reveley’s new contract will raise Reveley’s annual base salary from $332,500 to $390,000 beginning in the 2018 fiscal year as his new contract begins, a $58,000 increase.
"I think it’s important to note that the raise is not now and it’s not next year. It doesn’t take effect until the 18-19 academic year," said Reveley. "Salary for me would still be toward the lower third of all Virginia presidents."
In 2015, Reveley’s current $332,500 base salary ranked 13 of Virginia’s 14 public university president salaries. If Reveley's salary was currently $390,000, his salary would rank 12 out of 14, moving ahead of Virginia State University President Makollah Abdullah, when looking at the data from the 2015-16 fiscal year.
The data for this chart was collected from The Richmond Times-Dispatch's 2015-16 database of Virginia state employee salaries.
According to Reveley, other institutions have reached out since he began at Longwood.
"I often have people getting in touch with me, other colleges other universities, as part of their search process ... but I love being at Longwood very deeply," he said. "Longwood is a place I care for so I think I have the best job in the country."
Reveley became Longwood’s president in 2013 as he signed a five-year contract, guaranteeing his term will last until 2018. The new contract is a five-year extension.
“While his current five-year contract runs through next year, the Board was eager to finalize matters well in advance and ensure Taylor will be here, to borrow one of his phrases, ‘into the far future,’” said Wertz in his email. “Happily, President Reveley was also eager to demonstrate that commitment. Virginia’s third oldest public university is achieving new heights. We aspire to many bold endeavors with him at the helm.”
Three years into Reveley's term, he said he's most proud of the university improving its four-year graduation rate, it's improved relationship with the Moton Museum and the Town of Farmville and hosting the vice presidential debate in October. He also highlighted how much he enjoyed teaching his class on American presidency each fall.
"What I love everyday, what makes me bounce out of bed is getting to work with the students," he said.
Looking to the future, Reveley said he's excited for the university's transition to the new core curriculum structure, approved by the faculty-senate on Nov. 3, which he said could be "an example for the country." He said he's also looking forward to watching all the new additions proposed by the 2025 master plan, "Place Matters," constructed.
"It’s exciting to see Longwood play a role in Farmville, and really becoming a classic college town and enhancing the connection between downtown and main street is going to be a lot of fun, too," he said.
This photo was captured as Longwood President W. Taylor Reveley IV announced the university would host the 2016 vice presidential debate on Sept. 30, 2015.
