Points of Honor
The original Twelve Points of Honor resulted from the Longwood student body's re-ratification of the Honor Code in 1930. In 2010, the Twelve Points of Honor and the Honor Pledge were revised and ratified by the student body in celebration of the Honor System's 100th year.
In the 2023-2024 academic year, a committee was tasked by the Vice President of Student Affairs to review the Twelve Points of Honor individually to determine whether there was a need to update or modify them to reflect the current values and mission of Longwood University.
In addition, they must be written clearly to explain each value and in a manner that resonates with current and prospective students.
In spring 2024, Longwood University’s student body voted to accept the revisions as “Longwood University’s Points and Principles of Honor.”
Longwood University’s Points of Honor
Integrity is the cornerstone of Longwood’s Honor System. It requires maintaining a strong moral character encompassing trustworthiness, perseverance, and respect despite adversity or change. Integrity leads to accountability, compassion, and good decision-making and impacts success. It manifests in our thoughts, actions, and behaviors. Personal integrity is not always easy to uphold but is essential for building strong communities.
Honesty involves being true to oneself and others; it is essential in both action and thought. It is a virtue that promotes trust, fosters healthy relationships, and strengthens society. True honesty is always practiced, not just when it is convenient.
Accountability is the capacity to reflect upon and take responsibility for our actions, decisions, and behaviors and accept the consequences. This value makes it possible to achieve goals, build better relationships, and be successful. Accountability is crucial to maintaining our integrity.
Character encompasses the moral and ethical principles that define one's identity. This value promotes good behavior and influences one’s decision-making. It is our duty to protect and uphold our character to maintain an honorable community.
Civility is respectful engagement with others, which promotes an atmosphere for dialogue and discussion where differing points of view can be asserted. It requires active listening and open-mindedness to understand multiple perspectives. Civility recognizes our shared humanity, seeks common ground as a starting point for all interactions, and is the mark of a citizen-scholar.
Humility is an attitude of modesty and lack of pretense or self-focus that comes from understanding one’s place in the larger order of things. It is essential to both leadership and collaboration, which promote our climate of honor, trust, and respect. Humility requires one to keep desires, successes, or failings in perspective. The desired outcome is humility with self-confidence.
Perseverance is the continuous drive to reach one’s goals and improve oneself through steadfast persistence despite opposition, difficulties, or obstacles. It requires commitment, discipline, determination, and resilience. Perseverance is essential for success in both scholarship and life.
Longwood University’s Principles of Honor
Longwood University’s steadfast commitment to developing citizen leaders is rooted in our core values, which are what we call the Points of Honor. These pillars support student development and form the basis of Longwood University’s Principles of Honor: Scholarship, Service, and Leadership. At Longwood, we foster a community where knowledge is pursued, service is embraced, and leadership is cultivated in shaping individuals poised to make positive contributions to society.
Scholarship is a commitment to learning and growing inside and outside the classroom. Scholarship bridges theory and practice through discovery, integration, application, and the advancement of knowledge. It is accomplished through critical thinking, engagement, and analysis. Good scholarship connects the community, aims to make a difference, and serves the common good.
Service is a continuous commitment to helping others, enriching lives, and working for the common good. It is guided by selflessness, compassion, tact, and initiative. Leaders serve others, and as citizen leaders, we are responsible for giving back to our communities. Without service, we cannot lead.
“I have prepared to lead and in leading to serve others” -Longwood Alumna, 1927.
Leadership - Longwood University is committed to developing citizen leaders. The Points of Honor establish the foundation for citizen leadership, which empowers individuals to commit to learning, critical thinking, selflessness, and personal integrity that strengthens our society. Leadership involves taking risks, challenging the status quo, and inspiring people to work together to advance the common good.