Longwood leaders outline Six-Year Plan priorities and approve amended consent agenda

The Longwood University Board of Visitors on Sept. 12 received a Six-Year Plan update from President W. Taylor Reveley IV that emphasized enrollment targets, retention efforts and mental-health services while trustees approved an amended consent agenda.

President W. Taylor Reveley IV told the Board meeting at the Gerald L. Baliles Center for Environmental Education at Hull Springs Farm that Longwoods undergraduate enrollment sits at about 3,200 full-time students and that the University aims to maintain a sustainable scale of about 3,400 undergraduates, targeting roughly 850 freshmen per year. "The COVID pandemic was difficult for residential institutions like Longwood, but we have come through those hard years in a sound position," Reveley said, adding that enrollment and the Universitys net position are above pre-pandemic levels.

The presentation included a focus on retention and workforce outcomes. Reveley said Longwood leads in the Commonwealth for 10-year retention in the Virginia workforce, citing a figure of 83 percent, and set a first-year-to-second-year retention goal of 85 percent. Multiple trustees pressed for details on retention strategies; Vice President for Student Affairs Cameron Patterson described several mental-health initiatives intended to support student persistence, including a step-care support model and single-session therapy. Patterson noted those programs predated his tenure.

Athletics has been a driver of recent growth, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Tim Hall told the trustees. Hall said when he started at Longwood three years ago there were 254 student-athletes and that figure increased to 308 by the end of last spring. Hall described ongoing cross-departmental work to structure athletic scholarships in ways that allow the student-athlete population to grow without changing the average discount rate.

Trustees also discussed finances and faculty composition. Vice President for Administration and Finance Matt McGregor summarized rising salary and benefit costs and said the University has kept a flat employee-to-FTE ratio in recent years. Reveley told trustees that Longwood has a high share of courses taught by full-time faculty compared with other Virginia public institutions, while also acknowledging room to improve faculty pay. Board members asked for comparative data and longer-term budget projections.

Provost Lara Smith outlined the Post Graduate Success Initiative, now in its second year, noting the effort centers on Life Design and the Practice Career Everywhere approach to help students prepare for careers and improve retention. Alumni Association President Kathy Fox described alumni networking and internship programs and urged trustees to consider Board involvement in mentorship efforts.

On philanthropy, Vice President for University Advancement Courtney Hodges said increased scholarship dollars have helped reduce the amount students need to borrow. Reveley said the Longwood University Foundation is on a path to mark the first decade in which the University raises $100 million. Trustees requested additional foundation metrics to review in future meetings.

Votes at a glance: The Board amended the consent agenda to remove Policy 2011: Debt Management for further edits and then voted to approve the consent agenda and minutes as amended; Kathleen Early moved, David Rose seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

The meeting concluded with reports from the Student Government Association, faculty and alumni representatives and an invitation from the President to tour the Baliles Center. The Board adjourned at 3:15 p.m.