Study Paws gives students relief from exam stresses

Longwood University gave students a furry break from the stress of exam week this year. For the second day, professors brought their dogs to campus to put smiles on the faces of test-weary students on the lawn in front of Lancaster Hall.

“It started off as a very impromptu event,” said organizer Dr. Jake Milne, assistant professor of sociology. “We wanted to do it for a while, so I put a post up on Facebook to see if we could drum up some interest, and it came together in just a few hours.”

Dubbed “Study Paws,” at least seven dogs romped with more than a hundred students for a few hours on the first day, and even more playful pups and students took a study break on the second day.

Other schools around the country offer time with therapy dogs as a stress reliever, but Longwood is one of the only to make faculty pets available to students.

“It brings everybody together at a time when stress and emotions are high,” said Milne. “The students take a break from studying, and the faculty take a break from grading—and they love having students play with their puppies.”

Students, faculty and staff are welcome to come play with the puppies and relieve the pressure of exams with every tummy rub or ear scratch.