In the Student Government Association (SGA) meeting this week, Senior Director of Student Success and Retention Dr. Emily Heady gave a presentation on the new peer mentor model for next year.
Heady said the one-credit course Longwood Seminar (LSEM) is being replaced with a new introductory process beginning with students entering Longwood during fall 2018. The students will be placed based on areas of interest and affinities instead of by major, said Heady.
Students will be asked what their college interests and will then be assigned to groups with people of similar interests led by peer mentors. The groups won't host weekly meetings throughout the semester like LSEM did, according to Heady.
The peer mentors will take the lead in deciding what to do for their assigned groups and will have more involvement in helping incoming students with the college transition.
According to Heady, groups will be given a small activities budget, allowing peer mentors to take their groups on a small trip surrounding the interests of those in the group.
New Lancer Days will still be required for new students, but Heady said that after New Lancer Days, participation is voluntary. Heady said that retention for new students should go up with this model, because it’s a common model most universities follow.
Since there will be no LSEM, Heady said this means that students will not have to pay for a course. However, students will still have to complete the 1839 course before coming to Longwood. The only difference is that it will be done the week before move-in day, according to Heady.
Students will still have to complete the MyStudentBody courses on sexual assault, alcohol and drug use, since it is required by the state. Heady also said that students will not have to do the First Year Reading Experience that’s been done in previous years.
Assistant Coordinator for the Office for Sustainability Jennifer Carlson announced that the Office for Sustainability will begin tabling on Brock Commons and Dorrill Dining Hall to kick off the Green Lancer Challenge.
Carlson said the Green Lancer Challenge is about helping the environment and creating a more sustainable campus. Action items will be set for students, and students will receive prizes based on those action items. The challenge will be running all year.
During the open forum, Director of Alumni Relations Nicole Perkins talked to SGA about the revival of an all-female secret organization called Cahoots. Perkins explained that the organization surprised campus on Jan. 30 by putting a sash on the “Joan-y on the Stone-y” statue in Ruffner Hall.
Perkins said that the organization was founded in 1966 and according to old records, went silent in the early 1980s. The organization was known as the “anti-Chi” because they would freeze things rather than burn, according to Perkins.
Senator Joseph Hyman expressed concern that there isn’t much recycling done in Lancer Park due to lack of recycling bins. Hyman said that it would be beneficial to students who would like to recycle to be able to have that ability so they wouldn’t have to drive to the recycling center on campus.
During the historian’s report, the constitution for a new organization called Promise 16 was approved. According to its president, Haleigh Pannell, Promise 16 is about suicide awareness and talking about issues close to students on campus.
Pannell said there will be a video project within the organization, where people will have to do 16 nice things and record them. Pannell said she hopes the video will be done by March 16.
Executive Senator for Senate Relations Benjamin Brody and Virginia 21 Representative Morgan Rollins are looking to work with the Longwood University Police Department (LUPD) on reducing the costs of parking tickets.
Karla Hernandez was sworn in as the new Hispanic Latino Association representative.
The next SGA meeting will be at 3:45 p.m. in the Martinelli Board Room in the Maugans Alumni Center.
Dr. Emily Heady informing SGA about the new peer mentor model.
