| Revision as of 13:27, 25 January 2006 editKappa (talk | contribs)36,858 edits category:Lynchburg, Virginia← Previous edit | Revision as of 18:14, 25 January 2006 edit undo65.161.73.250 (talk)No edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| ==Religious Foundation== | ==Religious Foundation== | ||
| Rev. Falwell's original vision was to build the university as large as ] and ], with 25,000 students on campus and another 25,000 in Distance Learning Program. The institution has faced a series of financial crises over the years |
Rev. Falwell's original vision was to build the university as large as ] and ], with 25,000 students on campus and another 25,000 in Distance Learning Program. The institution has faced a series of financial crises over the years. However, the fulfillment of these original ambitions looks increasingly likely each year, with total enrollment increasing by 8000 students in the past 5 years - a 74% increase. With aproximately 9,000 students on campus and 10,000 in the Distance Learning Program, Liberty has found alternative ways to balance its budget. In 2005 Liberty University finally put the financial woes of the 1980s and 90s behind them, and according to a recent IRS 990 filing, now pulls in $12 million of surplus revenue annually. In 1992 Liberty University had over $83 million dollars of debt, which has been reduced by the combined efforts of Jimmy Thomas and Dan Reber, businessmen from Forest, Virginia, and insurance tycoon Art Williams - who forgave around 50 million dollars of Liberty’s debt. A number of other benefactors reduced the debt an additional 10 million. | ||
| The remaining debt was whittled away through the installment of a financial management team, the reduction of in-house scholarships, and an increase in tuition. In the past five years residential student tuition has increased by $5,000. | |||
| Students who live on campus attend convocation three times per week where they learn from speakers in all walks of professional life. Past speakers have included Leonard Davidson, ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. | Students who live on campus attend convocation three times per week where they learn from speakers in all walks of professional life. Past speakers have included Leonard Davidson, ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. | ||
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| Current undergraduate enrollement is close to 8,000 . Liberty University continues to invest, with 19 new dormitory buildings and a tunnel connecting the east and west ends of the campus completed for the fall semester of ]. Other projects include the completion of the new LaHaye Student Center, the moving of Thomas Road Church and Lynchburg Christian Academy to a property adjacent to the Main Campus, the expansion of student activity facilities, and a new Law School and Library. The University has official ties with ], the church that founded the University. Rev. Falwell has repeatedly emphasized the important partnership between the two institutions. | Current undergraduate enrollement is close to 8,000 . Liberty University continues to invest, with 19 new dormitory buildings and a tunnel connecting the east and west ends of the campus completed for the fall semester of ]. Other projects include the completion of the new LaHaye Student Center, the moving of Thomas Road Church and Lynchburg Christian Academy to a property adjacent to the Main Campus, the expansion of student activity facilities, and a new Law School and Library. The University has official ties with ], the church that founded the University. Rev. Falwell has repeatedly emphasized the important partnership between the two institutions. | ||
| The university has a |
The university has a strict code of student behavior, including possible reprimands (and with the accumulation of reprimands, fines) for attending dances, viewing R-rated movies, kissing, drinking, and participating in unauthorized petitions. On several occasions Falwell has described it as 'Bible Boot Camp.' He still exhorts Liberty's students to burn it down if it 'ever turns liberal'. In the summer of ], the university announced that it was slightly relaxing its class ] to allow ], ], ], and other casual articles of clothing (but not shorts) to be worn in the classroom. Similar behavioral codes apply to faculty members, each of whom is working under a contract including terms that the faculty members in question agree to abide by those behavioral codes. Utilizing 'non-tenured teaching faculty' is a matter of pride to Falwell , as it allows the Administration to keep a firm grip on the behavior of the academic community. As Falwell once stated, 'When we ask a faculty member be dismissed when he's teaching something wrong, our president understands and it's good to do that - because your paycheck may not be coming along next week if you don't'. | ||
| Prospective students are strongly encouraged to read and comprehend "The Liberty Way", the university's code of conduct guide. "The Liberty Way" is a code of moral guidelines which Liberty has instituted to help keep students accountable for their actions. | Prospective students are strongly encouraged to read and comprehend "The Liberty Way", the university's code of conduct guide. "The Liberty Way" is a code of moral guidelines which Liberty has instituted to help keep students accountable for their actions. | ||
Revision as of 18:14, 25 January 2006
Liberty University is a Christian liberal arts university in Lynchburg, Virginia. It was founded as Lynchburg Baptist College in 1971 by conservative Christian Jerry Falwell, who is also the Senior Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church.
Religious Foundation
Rev. Falwell's original vision was to build the university as large as Notre Dame and Brigham Young University, with 25,000 students on campus and another 25,000 in Distance Learning Program. The institution has faced a series of financial crises over the years. However, the fulfillment of these original ambitions looks increasingly likely each year, with total enrollment increasing by 8000 students in the past 5 years - a 74% increase. With aproximately 9,000 students on campus and 10,000 in the Distance Learning Program, Liberty has found alternative ways to balance its budget. In 2005 Liberty University finally put the financial woes of the 1980s and 90s behind them, and according to a recent IRS 990 filing, now pulls in $12 million of surplus revenue annually. In 1992 Liberty University had over $83 million dollars of debt, which has been reduced by the combined efforts of Jimmy Thomas and Dan Reber, businessmen from Forest, Virginia, and insurance tycoon Art Williams - who forgave around 50 million dollars of Liberty’s debt. A number of other benefactors reduced the debt an additional 10 million. The remaining debt was whittled away through the installment of a financial management team, the reduction of in-house scholarships, and an increase in tuition. In the past five years residential student tuition has increased by $5,000.
Students who live on campus attend convocation three times per week where they learn from speakers in all walks of professional life. Past speakers have included Leonard Davidson, Sam Donaldson, George H. W. Bush, John R. Rice, Oliver North, Jesse Jackson, Skip Erickson, Freddie Gage, Billy Graham and Sean Hannity.
Current undergraduate enrollement is close to 8,000 . Liberty University continues to invest, with 19 new dormitory buildings and a tunnel connecting the east and west ends of the campus completed for the fall semester of 2004. Other projects include the completion of the new LaHaye Student Center, the moving of Thomas Road Church and Lynchburg Christian Academy to a property adjacent to the Main Campus, the expansion of student activity facilities, and a new Law School and Library. The University has official ties with Thomas Road Baptist Church, the church that founded the University. Rev. Falwell has repeatedly emphasized the important partnership between the two institutions.
The university has a strict code of student behavior, including possible reprimands (and with the accumulation of reprimands, fines) for attending dances, viewing R-rated movies, kissing, drinking, and participating in unauthorized petitions. On several occasions Falwell has described it as 'Bible Boot Camp.' He still exhorts Liberty's students to burn it down if it 'ever turns liberal'. In the summer of 2005, the university announced that it was slightly relaxing its class dress code to allow flip-flops, capri pants, jeans, and other casual articles of clothing (but not shorts) to be worn in the classroom. Similar behavioral codes apply to faculty members, each of whom is working under a contract including terms that the faculty members in question agree to abide by those behavioral codes. Utilizing 'non-tenured teaching faculty' is a matter of pride to Falwell , as it allows the Administration to keep a firm grip on the behavior of the academic community. As Falwell once stated, 'When we ask a faculty member be dismissed when he's teaching something wrong, our president understands and it's good to do that - because your paycheck may not be coming along next week if you don't'.
Prospective students are strongly encouraged to read and comprehend "The Liberty Way", the university's code of conduct guide. "The Liberty Way" is a code of moral guidelines which Liberty has instituted to help keep students accountable for their actions.
Academics
Liberty University started a new graduate program in Communication Studies in 2004. The Master of Arts in Communication Studies accepted its first class in 2004 and was approved by the SACS accrediting body in November 2004.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Liberty University in the 4th tier of Southern Master's Universities. The magazine ranked its selectivity as "Less Selective." With tuition and annual fees of over $13,000, excluding room and board, it is the most expensive university in its class, costing over twice the average of other universities in its ranking.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports
The University is a member of the Division I level Big South Conference for 17 sports. The other eight members include Birmingham Southern College and Winthrop University. The University regularly competes for the Sasser Cup which is the Big South's trophy for the university which has the winningest sports program among the member institutions. Liberty has won the Sasser Cup five times, second only to Coastal Carolina, which has won it seven times.
The University gained some media attention in the winter of 2005 when the women's basketball team, the Lady Flames, made the NCAA Sweet Sixteen and were labelled a "Cinderella Team". After defeating fourth-seeded Penn State and fifth-seeded DePaul, the Flames' winning streak was halted by top seeded Louisiana State University.
Debate
Liberty is also known for its Intercollegiate Debate program. Led by Dr. Brett O'Donnell, Liberty routinely takes top honors in the National Debate Association and American Debate Association points rankings.
Notable Alumni
- former MLB player Sid Bream
- The members of dC Talk
- WNBA player Katie Feenstra (center, San Antonio Silver Stars)
- Green Bay Packers running back Samkon Gado
- former NFL tight end Eric Green (1990 Rookie of the Year)
- Jason Jones, 2004 New York Yankees draft pick
- Former zzzz Best fraudster Barry Minkow
External links
- Liberty University Official Website
- U.S. News & World Report rankings
- Center for Global Ministries Official Website - Liberty University