Longwood University provides students with the opportunity to join a wide range of clubs and organizations, all of which are geared towards student success. The Collaborating with Lancers for Academic Success Program (CLASP) provides students from diverse backgrounds social, emotional, and academic support, some services provided include academic coaching, connecting with alumni, supplemental advising, and tutoring. One of the founders of this program, Dr. Brown-Meredith, shared “It's the philosophy of a WE until you become an I.” Many students join to help build community and a sense of belonging. The CLASP program provides peer study sessions on a weekly basis from 3:30 - 5:00 PM on Tuesdays in Hull 129B.
The Therapeutic Recreation (TR) program partners with CLASP to provide leisure breaks to students. One student facilitator, Kelsey 26’, shared “It can build social connections through playing games together, …knowing each other better, …they can know what TR is and shows them what they [can] do.” TR students provide education on the importance of healthy leisure habits and the value of leisure to lifelong well-being.
One CLASP member, Delaney Anderson 27’ (she shares that she joined because “I have very bad time management and it helps me stay motivated and do my work.” Jaylen Fedderman, president of CLASP, offered valuable insight on CLASP, “It is a community that allows me to have space to study effectively. I enjoy meeting new people and being a mentor to new members and learning from them as well”. As the president of the program, Fedderman spoke on his role of advocating for CLASP by spreading the word as much as possible and referring people who ask for help to a tutor. Also, he mentions the impact the TR students have on the program by coming in to make it more fun and provide breaks from studying. When asked about what students should know about CLASP, Fedderman shares, “Our target area is minority students and underrepresented communities. We are allies and here to help them navigate through college. We can help be your voice until you find it.”
