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Liberty University is a special place not only in the fact
that it offers uniqueness in its rapid growth and strong
commitment to furthering the gospel through Christian
education, but also in its leadership and its vision. It is a
wonderful time to be a part of Liberty University, and I am
excited that we have been chosen to help add value to the
lives of the young people we have come into contact with and
the others who God puts in our path.
In centuries gone by, "liberty" was just a concept - an idea
feared by tyrants and dreamed of by the opposed. In more
recent history, "liberty" - became a cause. A deeply held
belief worth fighting and dying for … a belief that became a
battle cry and a form of inspiration … the inscription in the
Liberty Bell reads “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land
unto all inhabitants there of, Leviticus 25:10.” Today,
Liberty University has become a place where students call home
… where people dare to dream big dreams and then work to see
those dreams come to pass … where old-fashioned values and
morality still survive and thrive in a world that appears to
have forgotten the meaning of the words …where the undeniable
Truth of the Ages still reigns supreme … where the whole
person is educated - body, mind and soul … a place where you
can learn, grow and achieve wholeness as you become all God
created you to be.
The Mission
To produce Christ-centered men and women with the values,
knowledge and skills required to impact tomorrow's world … the
mission is carried out for resident students, through both
undergraduate and graduate programs, through a rigorous
academic program and structured social environment … also, it
is carried out externally for students that can't make the
trek to the campus in a comparable academic program but
without the structure of the resident community through the
distance learning program.
A Brief History
Behind the dreams of co-founders, Liberty Chancellor, Dr.
Jerry Falwell and Dr. Elmer Towns, and President Emeritus, Dr.
A. Pierre Guillermin, Lynchburg Baptist College opened its
doors to 154 students in the fall of 1971 … by 1975, the
enrollment reached 1,569 students and 80 faculty members were
on staff … the school's name changed to Liberty Baptist
College … in 1980, Liberty received regional accreditation by
the Southern Association of College and Schools … graduate
programs in education and religion were accredited in 1984 …
on May 6, 1985, the Board of Trustees agreed to rename Liberty
Baptist College and the name Liberty University was
established … the student enrollment reached over 6,000 … in
1989, the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch newspaper labeled
Liberty as "the fastest growing college in the state of
Virginia" … in the spring of 1997, the Board of Trustees
appointed Dr. John M. Borek, Jr., as the University's second
president … in the spring of 1998, the University received its
10-year reaffirmation of accreditation with the Southern
Association of College and Schools and the Transnational
Association of Christian Colleges and Schools … presently Dr.
Ron Godwin holds the position of Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer who is currently charged with leading
the ever-growing University into the future.
Location
Liberty's campus is located in Lynchburg, the heart of
Virginia on the south banks of the historic James River with
the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains as a back drop … the city is
over 200 years old and is noted for its culture, beauty and
educational institutions … roughly 64,000 citizens call
Lynchburg their home, while a population of 203,000 indwell
the greater outlining countries around the "Hill City" …
founded in 1786, Lynchburg is one of the oldest cities in the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
Students
Liberty's 2005-06 on-campus enrollment was 9,588, including
students from all 50 states and 72 different countries …
taking into account the University's distance program,
Liberty's enrollment at the end of the 2005-06 academic year
was 21,588.
Spiritual Life
Liberty University remains unwavering in its commitment to
support the spiritual development of its students … the
Spiritual Life Department is comprised of the Campus Pastor's
Office, Campus Outreach Ministries Service and Light
Ministries … the Campus Pastor's Office oversees the spiritual
programs on campus such as campus church, discipleship, three
weekly convocations and numerous other events that promote a
more intimate walk with Jesus Christ … COMS Ministry is a
ministry designed to be an outreach of the Campus Pastor's
Office to the students … the purpose is to reach out to
students and encourage those who are experiencing hardship in
their lives, whether it be from suffering the loss of a loved
one, or walking through their own personal illness or injury …
contacts are made through phone calls and personal letters to
students in an attempt to the let them know they are not alone
as they journey down the road of adversity … Light Ministries
is the facilitator of the student missions outreach at Liberty
… Light Ministries have traveled all over the world … In the
past 19 years, Light has conducted more than 100 international
evangelistic campaignsinvolving more than 3000 students
ministering to over 2 million people all over the world …
small group Bible studies and prayer groups provide
accountability and opportunities for personal spiritual growth
and are led by Prayer Leaders as each floor of a dormitory has
several Prayer Leaders that influence small groups of students
through the ministry of prayer … Spiritual Life Directors (SLDs)
are an extension of the ministry of the Campus Pastor’s
Pastor's Office … SLDs help administrate the spiritual
programs that will lead to the spiritual development of the
students on their hall … the SLDs work hands on with Prayer
Leaders to mentor and equip them for ministry.
Dorm And Campus Life
Our unique alcohol and drug-free environment encourages the
students to enjoy college life without the pressure found on
many campuses to lower your moral standards … dormitories are
managed by the Residence Life Office (RLO) … the RLO provides
a quality Christ-centered living environment by offering
adequate processes for housing assignments and room changes
for our resident students, by offering students a variety of
living spaces, by managing the residence halls to provide
clean, safe, climate-controlled rooms with quality furnishings
and technological access and by coordinating housing for
overnight visitors who visit the residence halls … the RLO
provides a quality Christ-centered learning environment by
selecting Resident Assistants and professional staff according
to our selection criteria, by training the Resident Assistants
and professional staff to fulfill the responsibilities of our
positions, by encouraging the holistic development of the
resident student through our people and platforms and by
promoting Christian community among the resident students
through our people and platforms … on-campus resident students
make a "home away from home" in one of our 52 dormitories …
men and women live in separate residence halls … each room is
air-conditioned and houses 2-3 students … each dormitory floor
takes on its own personality and flavor as the year progresses
… the dormitory will not only become a place to live, but a
place where lasting friendships are formed through fellowship
and encouragement … a modern and well-equipped cafeteria
features food service provided by Sodexho, while numerous
cafes and stores are located throughout the Liberty campus …
students may select from a large delicatessen, salad bar,
cereal bar, ice cream bar or one of the buffet-style lines
from the Reber Thomas Dining Hall … the Keyhole Convenience
Store and the East Side Market provide students with two
unique on-campus shopping opportunities … six different cafes
are located in various positions throughout the 4,400 acre
campus and provide a variety of eating experiences.
Culture and Entertainment
Liberty has an outstanding history of bringing notable
speakers to our campus … individuals such as Presidents Ronald
Reagan, George Bush and George W. Bush, Senators Jesse Helms
and John McKain, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and
Reverend Billy Graham have delivered inspiring messages to our
students … the school also brings in evangelists, pastors,
businessmen and women, political leaders, well-known
journalists such as Sean Hannity from FOX News and others to
share their dynamic messages from our podium … Chancellor Dr.
Jerry Falwell also speaks on a regular basis … numerous
concerts featuring the best in contemporary Christian music
come to the campus … NEWSONG, D.C. Talk, Supertones, 4-Him,
Point of Grace, Newsboys, Mercy Me, Audio Adrenaline Jars of
Clay, Jennifer Knapp and Stephen Curtis Chapman as well as
Michael W. Smith, Third Day and many others have shared their
powerful testimonies through music at Liberty.
Student Activities Program
Liberty is filled with young men and women who know how to
work hard and how to play hard … Liberty provides its students
with various opportunities for recreation including the East
Campus Clubhouse, the LaHaye Lounge and the LaHaye Student
Center … the East Campus Clubhouse, located at the entrance to
Liberty Campus East dormitories, is a recreational center that
offers billiards, Foosball, air hockey, Playstation, Xbox,
satellite TV, a theater, computer lounge, the Campus East
Market and a pool … completed in the Fall of 2000, the LaHaye
Lounge now serves as a "hot spot" for students to enjoy
50-inch big screen televisions (with satellite), a computer
room, and comfortable couches for studying and relaxation …
the newest addition to the Liberty University campus is the
LaHaye Student Center, an 84,000 square foot recreation center
located in Campus North which includes a lounge, six
basketball courts, cardio and weight rooms, a multi-purpose
room and an aerobic room … Liberty's student activities
program have been named some of the best in the nation by
Campus Activities Today, a leading trade publication for
college activities … the menu of events include a concert
series, 15 different intramural sports, as well as Coffee
House, the very popular monthly student talent show … the
school year is kicked off with our annual "Block Party" … this
is a great time to relax and meet new friends or renew old
acquaintances before the pressures of the school year begins …
this is a mini-fair type event with carnival games, rock
climbing, a Velcro wall, batting cages and even fireworks. |
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