Student Services is designed to inform, engage, and support our students during their musical studies at Longy. Longy's student body is small and diverse, approximately 230 in total, and we work closely and personally with everyone. Our efforts are directed at everything that lives outside of the classroom, and we encourage you to stop by our office with any questions and/or concerns you may have. We always welcome walk-ins!
Contacts:
Alex Powell, Director of Admissions and Student Services
617-876-0956, x1521 or
Mariko Gillan, Assistant Director of Admissions and Student Services
617-876-0956, x523 or
To avoid the hassle of parking and to reduce costs, students are encouraged to use public transportation. Public transportation in the Boston area is known as the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority) or the "T" for short. The T operates the Boston and suburban subways, commuter rails, street trolleys, and buses. The MBTA website also provides useful tools to map your location, create point-to-point directions, and view schedules. www.mbta.com
Subway System
The subway lines are identified by the colors RED, GREEN, BLUE, ORANGE, and SILVER. Longy is a short, 5-minute walk from the Harvard stop on the red Line.
Buses
The MBTA bus routes link areas of Boston to the surrounding communities and the subway stops. There are many bus routes that go to Harvard Square including the #1, 66, 71, and 76 bus lines.
Cost
The subway costs $1.70 each way with a CharlieCard, and there is no cost to transfer. Your fare will cost $2.00 without a CharlieCard, therefore you should ask any MBTA associate for a CharlieCard. CharlieCards are free and available at any T station. The bus fare is $1.25 with a CharlieCard with one free transfer. Transfers are only valid for a few hours and only on a different bus line.
Semester T Pass
The MBTA offers an 11% discount when purchasing a Semester T Pass. Students who purchase a Semester T Pass have unlimited rides on the bus, subway, and/or commuter rail during the academic year. The Semester T Pass can only be purchased twice a year, in August and December.
Minuteman Bikeway
The Minuteman bikeway is a designated lane for bicycling, jogging, walking, and in-line skating, and it's a great way to get around Cambridge. The bikeway also extends into Bedford, Lexington, and Arlington and connects at the Alewife T station. Click here for a map of the Minuteman bikeway:
Students who do not have access to a vehicle can register for a Zipcar account when transportation is needed for professional gigs or personal use. Longy students can register at www.zipcar.com/longybenefit and will receive the following discounts:
50% off the annual membership fee
$25 application fee waived
With these discounts it costs only $25 to register for a Zipcar account. Please note, you must be over 21 and have a valid driver’s license to register. Gas, reserved parking, and insurance are included in your membership, and their Episcopal Divinity School location is conveniently located near Longy. Various Zipcar locations can be found throughout Cambridge and Boston as well.
Parking options are very limited in and around Harvard Square, and Longy does not offer any on-campus parking options for students. Longy parking lots are reserved for staff and faculty members at all times.
Listed below are five public parking facilities within walking distance of Longy and one parking facility located at the Alewife T station. If you are planning to drive to Longy, be sure to leave yourself plenty of time.
Church Street Lot - $20/day
The Church Street lot is the parking area closest to the Longy School of Music. From John F. Kennedy Street, go straight through the traffic lights at Memorial Drive, Eliot Street, and Mount Auburn Street. The next traffic light will put you in the center of Harvard Square, facing a newsstand called "Nini's Corner." Take a sharp left at "Nini's Corner," then bear right immediately onto Brattle Street. Take the first right onto Church Street, and the parking lot is halfway up the street on your left.
Harvard Square Parking Garage - $21/day
This parking garage is located four blocks from the Longy School of Music. From John F. Kennedy Street, go straight through the traffic lights at Memorial Drive, then turn left at the first light onto Eliot Street. The parking garage is immediately on your right.
University Place Garage $20/day
This parking garage is located three blocks from the Longy School of Music. From John F. Kennedy Street, go straight through the traffic lights at Memorial Drive, then turn left at the first light onto Eliot Street. Go straight through the next light onto Bennet Street. Bennett Street dead ends onto University Road. Turn left onto University Road, and the parking garage is immediately on your left.
Charles Hotel Parking - $20/day
This parking garage is located across the street from the University Place Garage and below the Charles Hotel. Follow the previous instructions to the University Place Garage. When you are on Bennett Street, look for the Charles Hotel parking garage on your left.
Alewife T Station $4/day
Parking is available at Alewife T Station at the intersection of Route 2 and Route 16, and midway between Massachusetts Avenue and Fresh Pond Circle. Alewife T Station is located on the Red Line and any train will take you to Harvard T station (the third stop from Alewife and approximately a five minute ride). Longy is located approximately 10 minutes walking distance from the Harvard T Stop. As you exit the underground T station, cross the street until you are standing in front of the Harvard Coop Bookstore. As you face the Coop's front door turn right and follow JFK street around until it turns into Garden Street (at the old Burial Ground). Continue up Garden street, past the Sheraton Commander. The Longy School of Music's Main building is located at 27 Garden Street.
Students gain valuable experience and networking opportunities from gigs that come through the Longy gig office. All students are encouraged to subscribe to the gig list by filling out a Gig Registration Form, available in the Academic Affairs office. Gig opportunities will be advertised to students through email and include both paid and un-paid gigs. Additional opportunities are posted on the festivals, competitions and gig bulletin boards located on the second floor of the Zabriskie house building near the student lounge.
Bridge: Worldwide Music Connection
New England Conservatory’s Bridge: Worldwide Music Connection is a comprehensive online database providing access to over 3,000 opportunities in music performance, teaching and arts administration, as well as competition, festival, scholarship and grant listings. Login to Bridge at:
Use of Bridge is limited to Longy Community members only (current Students, Faculty and Staff). Please contact the Admissions Office for Longy's username and password at
On-Campus Employment (OCE) opportunities are available for eligible students, and positions are limited to part-time hours. Due to its small size, Longy does not participate in the federal work-study program, and OCE positions are not awarded as part of your financial aid package. Students may apply for open positions by checking the OCE bulletin board, located in the student lounge on the 2nd floor of the Zabriskie House. Application forms may be found on the OCE bulletin board and in the Academic Affairs Office. The majority of OCE jobs are advertised during orientation in the fall.
Pay checks may be picked up at the Front Desk on the 15th of every month, and direct deposit is available. Contact the Business Office at 617-876-0956, x1641 for more information.
A U.S. social security number is required for all U.S. and non-U.S. citizens to work on-campus.
International Students: How to Obtain your Social Security Number
A social security number is a taxpayer’s identification number issued by the government, and if you are working in the U.S., you must have a social security number to file for an income tax return. To receive your social security number you must apply in person at the Social Security Administration Office located at:
Directions: Take the #78 Bus and get off at the Concord Avenue/Fawcett Street stop.
You must bring the following documents with you:
Passport with your visa
I-94
I-20
A letter from your designated school official that identifies your employer and the type of work you will be doing. This letter can be obtained from the Admissions Office.
A letter from your employer that provides evidence of your employment. The Admissions Office has a form letter that we will print for you. You must bring this letter to your supervisor to sign and date.
All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Photocopies or notarized copies of documents are not acceptable.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires all students enrolled three-quarter time or more at the School to purchase and maintain health insurance. Longy offers student accident and sickness health insurance coverage through Gallagher Koster, a Massachusetts-based specialist in student health insurance. Students enrolled or planning to enroll at three-quarter or full time are automatically enrolled in the school's Qualifying Health Insurance Program (Gallagher Koster) and are billed for this coverage. Qualifying part-time students enrolled at half time or less may elect to enroll in the School's health insurance program for a slightly higher cost, but are not automatically enrolled. Insurance waiver forms are available online to new and returning students well in advance of the start of the school year. U.S. students may waive the Gallagher Koster insurance if they demonstrate satisfactory coverage as required by law. This may be done by visiting http://www.gallagherkoster.com/longy The deadline for completing the online waiver form is August 15 for the fall semester, and January 15 for the spring semester.
Students currently enrolled in Longy's student health plan can find more information and search for preferred providers by specialty or location at http://www.gallagherkoster.com/longy
All students enrolled more than half-time are required by Massachusetts law to provide documentation of immunization against measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria and hepatitis B. Students must fulfill all immunization requirements within 30 days of matriculation. Students who do not fulfill these requirements are subject to a fine and a registration hold on their student account. For detailed information regarding Longy’s immunization policy, procedures, and forms please click on the following links:
Officers of the SAC are elected each year by their fellow classmates to serve as representatives of the student body. This active student government organization has been a growing force within the Longy community in the last several years. The SAC is involved in advancing student ideas and concerns, hosting events and activities, and bringing the student body closer together. Getting involved with the SAC is a fun and engaging experience that will also provide insight to the higher workings of an institution. All students are encouraged to attend SAC meetings during the academic year.
2010-2011 SAC Officers:
President: Jeremy Chiew
Vice President: Lily Tseng
Secretary: Treasurer: Von Bringhurst Event Planning Chair: Emma Gavenda
Social Planning Chair: Kerry Bird
Global Awareness/Community Outreach Chair: Eve Boltax
Publicity Chair:
The Office of the Registrar, in addition to maintaining all academic records for Conservatory students, provides the following student services:
Transcripts: Transcripts may only be obtained after the submission of a signed request. There is no fee to request a transcript. To download the Longy Transcript Request Form, please click here.
Completed and signed forms should be mailed or faxed to:
Registrar
Longy School of Music
27 Garden Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Fax: 617-876-9326
Enrollment Verification Letters: Visit the Office of the Registrar to request an official letter verifying your status as a Longy student. There is no charge for Enrollment Verification Letters.
Student Loan Deferments: Longy students who wish to defer their student loans while in attendance must fill out, each semester, a loan deferment form for each of their loan servicers. You should contact your loan servicer to request a blank in-school deferment form. Most servicers have a website where you can download this form. Fill out and sign the student section of the form, and return the form to the Office of the Registrar. Deferment Forms are completed and mailed to the loan servicers at the conclusion of the Drop/Add period each semester, or upon request later in the semester.
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records in three main categories:
The right to inspect his/her education records
The right to request an amendment of the records that the student believes are inaccurate
The right to control disclosures of their records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent
For a detailed explanation of a student's rights under FERPA, please click here for the Notification of Rights under FERPA. This notification is distributed annually to all Longy Students.
One of the information disclosure exceptions permitted under FERPA is the release of Directory Information to parties outside the institution. Directory Information is defined as information which would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. The following data elements are defined as Directory Information at the Longy School of Music:
Name
Local and Permanent Address
Local and Permanent Phone Number
Email addresses
Dates of Enrollment
Degrees and Awards received
Program and Major
Class Schedule
Enrollment Status (e.g. Full-time, Part-Time)
Photograph(s) of student
It is your right to request that Longy withhold the release of directory information unless your prior consent is obtained. Before making this request, however, keep in mind that many times it is to your benefit for Longy to be allowed to release information to parties such as
Landlords when you're looking for an apartment
Banks when you're applying for a student account
Student Travel Discount organizations
Fellow students wishing to organize rehearsals
Also, keep in mind that just because Longy can release directory information, it is not required to do so. Student information is only given out when the request is deemed to be appropriate and legitimate.
Each academic year, all students receive the Request to Withhold Directory Information form. This form should be completed, signed and returned to the Registrar only if you wish your directory information to be withheld unless prior consent is obtained. For a copy of this form, please click here.
