News

News

New FOIA Documents Show $601,865 in Local Funds Restored to Academic Departments

By Tyler Bagent | March 7

According to university documents obtained through the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Longwood University officials have restored $601,865.73 to academic departmental local accounts as of Feb. 28, 2025 after two large restorations on Nov. 13, 2024 and Feb. 21, 2025. The FOIA request was filed by The Rotunda on Feb. 13 and returned on Feb. 28, after a delay due to the university's closure for inclement weather and officials’ request for more time to respond.

---

News

Trump Administration’s Anti-DEI Letter Causes Confusion, Anxiety

By Jordan McPherson and Tyler Bagent | February 19

Last Friday, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights released a “Dear Colleague” letter, directing K-12 and higher education institutions to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs by Feb. 28, 2025 or risk losing federal funding. At Longwood, officials are not sure at ...

---

News

“Lasting Offense and Pain:” Longwood College’s Growth at a Community’s Expense

By Nick Hamlett and Tyler Bagent | February 13

Bordering the southern end of Longwood’s campus are over a dozen houses representing a once-vibrant community that lived where parking lots, academic buildings, and residence halls stand today. As evidenced by historical records, media reports, and eventually recognized by university administration, ...

---

News

Provost’s Task Force Collecting Feedback on AI Usage and Policies

By Jordan McPherson and Tyler Bagent | February 10

To address the ongoing debate concerning Artificial Intelligence (AI) usage in academics at Longwood, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Larissa Smith assembled an AI Task Force in August 2024. The Task Force has been directed to provide recommendations to Academic Affairs and the university ...

---

News

Reveley, Ferguson Address Enrollment Concerns

By Tyler Bagent | February 7

Longwood University has faced a growing trend among institutions of Higher Education, which have faced issues of declining enrollment – partially due to the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also due to the rapidly-approaching ‘enrollment cliff.’ The enrollment cliff is a term used ...

---

News

Faculty Senate Considers Changes to Student Evaluation Policy

By Tyler Bagent | January 22

At the November 21 meeting of the Faculty Senate, members discussed recommended policy changes to the role of student course evaluations, following recommended policies released by the Student Assessment of Instruction Ad Hoc Committee earlier this academic year.

---

---

News

Moss Hall Evacuated After Reported Bomb Threat

By Tyler Bagent | October 25

On October 24, Moss Hall was evacuated at 5:18 p.m. by the Longwood University Police Department (LUPD) due to a “report of a bomb threat,” according to a Longwood Alert. Soon after, at 5:35 p.m., students received another alert announcing the situation had been resolved and the building was cleared ...

---

News

Board of Visitors Revises Freedom of Expression, Use of University Facilities Policies

By Bella McCullough and Tyler Bagent | October 22

At the Sept. 13 meeting of the Longwood University Board of Visitors, the board voted unanimously to approve revisions to the Use of University Facilities and Freedom of Expression policies. These policies are largely similar to those passed at institutions around Virginia as a response to campus protests ...

---

News

ARC and Cox Halls Remain Closed Due to Lower Enrollment

By Jose Ramos Flores | October 17

Located on the Griffin Boulevard side of campus, Academic Residential Community (ARC) Hall and Cox Hall remain closed again this academic year as a result of decreased student enrollment at Longwood.  In an interview on Sept. 11, Senior Director of Residential and Commuter Life Jean Wilwohl said, ...

---

News

Board of Visitors Revises Local Funds Policy, Reveley Discusses Next Steps

By Tyler Bagent | September 16

At the Sept. 13 meeting of the Board of Visitors, the Board approved another revision of the local funds policy, this time to bolster coordination between officials and departments in future uses of local funds. Furthermore, University President W. Taylor Reveley IV discussed “replenish[ing]” funds ...

---

News

LOCAL FUNDS: Controversy Continues As Board of Visitors Prepares to Revisit Local Funds Policy

By Tyler Bagent | September 13

As the Longwood community settles back on campus, the ongoing internal discussion and controversy over the use, budgeting and June 2024 ‘sweep’ of local funds has entered its third month. According to university officials, the Board of Visitors will discuss further revisions to the local funds policy ...

---

News

President Reveley Discusses Budget Policy Change: FOIA Documents Highlight Moved Funds

By Tyler Bagent | August 19

In an August 16 interview, Longwood President W. Taylor Reveley IV answered questions about the policy change from June’s university Board of Visitors meeting related to the ‘Use and Investment of Local Funds,’ the subsequent deployment of local funds from departmental accounts to address administrative ...

---

News

Longwood Officials Face Questions, Faculty Concern Over Local Funds Policy Change

By Tyler Bagent | August 12

At the June 7 meeting of the Longwood University Board of Visitors, the Board approved changes to the ‘Use and Investment of Local Funds’ – the non-state allocated monies which are often donated to the university. The new policy passed by the Board of Visitors represents a significant change in ...

---

News

Gov. Youngkin Ceremonially Signs Child Safety Bills, Including H.B. 1427

By Tyler Bagent | May 25

At the Stafford County Public Safety Building on May 22, 2024, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin ceremonially signed four bills relating to child safety – including a bill that stemmed from an incident involving Longwood Social Work Professor Ian Danielsen’s son in 2022. The Rotunda recently recapped ...

---

News

Longwood Students Organize and Fundraise for Gaza

By Jacob Halloway | April 22

It has been over six months since Hamas’ attack on October 7, which began another chapter in a decades-long conflict between Palestine and Israel. Israel’s response to this attack has led to a devastating humanitarian crisis that has taken a heavy toll on people in Gaza – something humanitarian ...

---

News

Prince Edward County Pushes Back At Criticism Over ICE Vote, Solidifies Agreements

By Tyler Bagent | March 21

After voting unanimously to enter an Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) with the Department of Homeland Security and a subcontracting agreement with Abyon, LLC. on March 12, the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors has faced criticism over their vote from legal groups, activists, and advocates ...

---

News

New Mental Health Adviser Title Created for Longwood Athletics Department

By Conifer Selintung | March 11

This past summer, Longwood Athletics enlisted previous Associate Athletics Director for Academics and Student Services, Hannah Ledger, to be appointed for a new role: Senior Associate Athletics Director for Mental Health and Wellness. This new role is leaving a lot of questions from students and staff, ...

---

News

Admissions Addresses FAFSA Concerns Amid Delays

By Tyler Bagent | March 11

Following several months of delays and setbacks, the U.S. Department of Education unveiled its long-awaited new FAFSA form in December 2023. However, the release was not without its challenges, causing complications that have left prospective students uncertain about their financial aid status. Due ...

---

News

Administration Prepares to Adjust Electric Scooters Policy by End of Semester

By Tyler Bagent | March 11

According to Longwood Dean of Students Jen Fraley, Longwood University’s Administration will look to change its electric scooters and personal transportation device policy before the end of the semester – addressing a large uptick in scooter usage last year and a number of incidents around campus. ...

---

News

Nikki Haley Rallies in Richmond as Virginia Primary Looms

By Tyler Bagent | March 1

On February 29, Republican Presidential Candidate and Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley rallied in front of several hundred supporters  – swinging through Richmond, Va. as she hopes to gain momentum in her increasingly uphill battle against Former President Donald Trump. “In ...

---