Undergraduate Ceremony
Saturday, May 18 | Joan Perry Brock Center | 9:30 a.m.
Doors open at 7:30 a.m.
2024 Ceremony To Be Held Indoors
[Sent to graduates on 5/17/24]
Dear Class of 2024,
Campus looks gorgeous and I know this weekend is a major life milestone for you, and for so many who have helped you along the way to this proud moment. It means more than I can express that your final day as Longwood students, and your first as Longwood graduates, be as joyful as it possibly can.
So I have waited as long as possible, in hopes the very latest forecasts might change towards better weather. However, a few minutes ago, I made the hard decision to move Saturday’s Commencement ceremony indoors to the Joan Perry Brock Center.
I know many of you hoped we could proceed on Wheeler Mall, and I certainly did, too. But while we can’t be 100 percent sure of any forecast, it’s clear we’re likely to have substantial rain starting tonight through tomorrow, and also a risk of lightning as well as flash flooding.
Being wet, uncomfortable and a bit cold is one thing. Lightning, however, is a potential safety issue – and if it forced us to halt the ceremony, we couldn’t be sure it could restart again. After all your class has been through, missing out on a true high school graduation, I’m not willing to take that chance.
Moving into JPB ensures the ceremony will proceed. The program will be almost exactly the same. Happily, we have this elegant new building for this valuable purpose – ensuring graduates a worthy ceremony regardless of weather.
Judith Campbell, our tireless Commencement team leader, will follow up shortly with an email reminder about the process to secure up to three tickets inside JPB for guests, along with information about the multiple livestream viewing locations around campus, open to all. Please go ahead and secure your tickets if you have not already.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, and my thanks also to the many folks on campus who have been working incredibly hard to keep our options open and prepare for all eventualities.
President Reveley
Guest Tickets
Graduates registered for Commencement can secure electronically their three tickets per graduate, which is the limit for an indoor ceremony. Please communicate with your guests and plan accordingly.
To claim your tickets, students need to take the following steps:
- A Glitnir ticketing account has been created for all students registered to graduate, but you will need to activate the account to claim your tickets (even if you have previously used Glitnir).
- Go to this link to activate your account:
ACTIVATE YOUR ACCOUNT - After you enter your Longwood email, you will receive an email with a temporary password from Glitnir Ticketing.
- Once you have your temporary password, click this link to log in:
LOG IN TO CLAIM YOUR TICKETS
(Note: When you log in, you must use the “Login” and “Password” fields, NOT the LancerNet ID login button.) - Choose either General Admission or ADA-Accessible tickets (mobile users may have to select “ADA” again on the next screen), and follow the steps to complete your order. Make sure to click “Submit Order” on the final screen to complete your order.
Your tickets will be emailed to you, and you can forward them to guests, print them to distribute, or take screenshots and text the tickets to your guests.
Ticket barcodes will be scanned as guests enter, so multiple people cannot use the same ticket.
This ticketing system will remain open until the ceremony on Saturday. If you have issues with this process, you may contact jpbinfo@longwood.edu.
Livestream Viewing
Livestream viewing areas are set up in Blackwell, Jarman and Soza Ballroom. No tickets are needed for these areas. The ceremony will also be broadcast at go.longwood.edu/live.
Graduation Requirements
If you have questions or concerns about your Graduation Requirements contact the Registrar's Office in Brock Hall, (434)395-2580.
Inclement Weather
The Longwood University commencement rain plan will only be put in place in the event of extreme conditions, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, or other severe weather events. The ceremony will be held outside on Wheeler Mall if at all possible. If the rain plan is put in place, the announcement will be made by Friday if possible, and no later than 6:00 a.m. on the morning of commencement. Please check this website or call 434.395.2000 for the latest update on commencement and if the rain plan has been activated.
Name Pronunciation - Undergraduate
All students who have indicated that they plan to participate in the May commencement ceremony will receive an email from NameCoach prior to the commencement ceremony.
If you feel that your name is unique to pronounce, please follow the instructions in the email to have a recording of your name shared with the Commencement Planning staff.
If you have questions please contact registrar@longwood.edu.
Accessibility Needs for Graduates and Guests
If you have questions concerning access or need disability-related accommodations, please contact the Accessibility Resources Office at (434)395-2391 or email us at accessibilityresources@longwood.edu.
Accessible parking and seating will be available at a first-come, first serve basis. There is no need to make a reservation.
Attire
All degree candidates must wear appropriate attire for the Commencement ceremony, which includes an academic cap and gown, hood and dark shoes. Members of the Alumni Office will be there to assist you with your Gown, Hood and Mortarboard.
The Student Government Association has a limited number of graduation caps, gowns and hoods available for students to borrow through their Loaner Gown Program. Inventory for these are on a first come, first served basis. Inquiries may contact: Martha Butler, 434-395-2265 or butlermh@longwood.edu
Gown
Your gown is worn with the zipper in front.
Hood
The hood is worn with the velvet stripe showing in the front, draping over the shoulders to your back, and rolling over to expose the colors.
Safety pins will help secure your hood to your gown.
Don't wear bright colors on top that will detract from your hood.
The color of velvet hood stripe by degree:
- Bachelor of Arts - White
- Bachelor of Fine Arts - Brown
- Bachelor of Music - Pink
- Bachelor of Science - Goldenrod
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Drab
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Apricot
Mortarboard 
The mortarboard should be worn so that the point marked "Front of Cap" is down on your forehead. This allows the mortarboard to sit flat on the top of your head
Bobby pins will help secure the mortarboard to your head.
Tassel
The tassel is worn on the right before you graduate and turned to the left during the ceremony.
Diploma
Graduating students will receive their diplomas by mail within 4-6 weeks after graduating.
Diploma size for undergraduate and graduate diplomas is 11” (width) x 14” (height)
The frames that fit the 11x14” frames are:
- FRAMING SUCCESS WINDSOR DIPLOMA FRAME. BACHELORS, MASTERS
- FRAMING SUCCESS CLASSIC DIPLOMA FRAME. BACHELORS, MASTERS
- FRAMING SUCCESS PRESTIGE DIPLOMA FRAME. BACHELORS, MASTERS
Diploma frames may be ordered from the Longwood Bookstore website.
Announcements, Invitations and Class Rings
Order online from the Balfour Website
Professional Photography and DVD
During Commencement, professional photographers from Grad Images will take pictures of each graduate during the ceremony. They will have proofs available on their website by July 1st at www.GradImages.com.
Graduates and their families are invited to pre-register their contact information to receive notifications at the following link: http://gradimages.com/Preregistration.
Order Your Commencement DVD
A copy of the Commencement ceremony will be available for you to order on a DVD, Blu-ray, or Download through Memories Videography.
Conduct
Graduation is a formal academic ceremony and a special day for the graduates and their guests. Please respect this occasion and all who worked so hard to get here by remaining seated and quiet during the ceremony.
Also, we ask that you please show respect for your fellow students and plan to stay for the entire ceremony.
Prohibited Items:
- Alcohol
- Air horns
- Beach balls
- Bubbles
- Other Distractions
Cell Phones and Mobile Devices
All cell phones and mobile devices should be turned to silent.
Guest Seating
Tickets are not required for the ceremony. Guest seating is first-come, first-served, with no limit on the number of guests students may invite to the ceremony.
Shuttle Service
Shuttle service will run loops between two off-campus locations from 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Sunchase shopping center - 215 Sunchase Boulevard, Farmville, VA 23901
- Lancer Park - 200 Cormier Drive, Farmville, VA
Guests are welcome and encouraged to park in these lots for easy and close drop-off access to the ceremony location. The shuttle will run loops through the Sunchase Apartment complex.
Attendees with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) specific needs should park in a central campus-accessible identified lot as shuttle vehicles are not equipped with lifts.
Guests staying at local hotels are encouraged to drive to one of the available shuttle locations; individual hotel pick-up is not planned.
On-Campus Commencement Parking
Multiple central campus lots will offer both general parking and ample ADA-accessible specific parking. All parking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis and no reservations are required.
The undergraduate ceremony will take place on Wheeler Mall, and the location is marked with a yellow star on the map.
Golf carts will be available from the ADA lots for those with accessibility needs in getting to and from the ceremony area.
2024 Commencement Parking Map (pdf)
Entering Farmville: Route 460 East and West
Guests are requested to use Route 460 for entry into Farmville.
Message boards will be placed on the East Bound and West Bound sides of Rt. 460; all traffic will be directed north on Main Street.
Overnight Accommodations
Longwood Memorabilia
The Longwood Bookstore will be open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Service Animals
Only those animals designated as Service Animals are permitted at the Commencement ceremony. Please note that University personnel may ask the owner/handler the following two questions:
1) Is this animal a service animal required because of a disability?
2) What tasks or work has this dog been trained to perform?
Smoking Areas
Smoking is allowed in designated locations only.
Questions
Please contact us commencement@longwood.edu