Founded in 1839, Longwood University is a four year liberal arts institution based in the town of Farmville, central Virginia. Originally a female seminary, Longwood has been fully coeducational since 1976.

There are over 100 areas of undergraduate study available at Longwood, divided between the colleges of Arts & Sciences, Business & Economics, and Education & Human Services. Internships are an integral part of undergraduate study at Longwood, with all students encouraged to take one during their study and many majors requiring it. Active research is also an important part of study, such as the work being done in self-healing plastics within the Department of Chemistry and Physics.

There are a wide variety of excellent science and arts facilities at Longwood, and the campus itself was revitalised in 2004 with the opening of the pedestrian promenade Brock Commons. The modern Chichester Science Centre was opened in 2005, and contains 23 classrooms and laboratories.

The centrepiece building at Longwood is Ruffner Hall, built in the 1880s and reopened with restored pictures on the rotunda dome after a fire in 2001. Joan of Arc is the patron saint of Longwood, and an 19th Century statue of the figure nicknamed ‘Joany the Stony’ is situated in Ruffner’s main hall. The Joan of Arc Leadership programme at Longwood is dedicated to imbuing a next generation of students with qualities of equality, justice, and social responsibility.

There are over 500 graduate students at Longwood, whether that be full time on-campus students or those who take the option to study part time. There are six master’s in education available, and MBAs in General Business and Real Estate.

Willett Hall at Longwood was the location of the 2016 vice-presidential debate between Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence.