What’s New at LU: Liberty makes campus enhancements for new school year

Students who returned to Liberty University for the Fall 2024 semester, which kicked off on Monday, may be noticing a number of changes around campus.

Perhaps the most obvious of the updates are two major construction projects: Residential Commons IV and the 7-story North Campus Parking Garage near Marie F. Green Hall and the LaHaye Ice Center.

Commons IV is Liberty’s fourth Residential Commons high-rise residence hall and functions as a 10-story, 166,908-square-foot expansion of Residential Commons III. The project features a 2-story connector to Commons III and adds 654 beds and two new resident director apartments.

The parking garage, which is currently slated to be completed by Liberty’s first home football game on Aug. 31 against Campbell University, will have a capacity of 1,500 cars and offer charging stations for electric cars.

Liberty also greatly improved its recreational facilities over the summer with several new offerings for students. Although not completely filled yet, Hydaway Lake has successfully been expanded from 5.6 acres to almost 31. Six pickleball courts were added at the Liberty Mountain Intramural Complex, providing students with ample opportunity to play the rapidly growing sport. The LaHaye Recreation and Fitness Center now boasts five rebuilt basketball courts with a new subfloor system and hardwood.

Liberty Dining has also initiated a number of changes to its facilities and offerings to ensure students are satisfied with their experience at LU. The Tinney Café in the Jerry Falwell Library includes a new Shake Smart, the university’s second location on campus. On Thursday, Aug. 22, the shop will celebrate its opening with Free Shake Day. In Green Hall’s Tilley Student Center, the Chick-fil-A underwent a refresh this summer and now features additional self-serve kiosks.

With the addition of a new micro-farm, LU aims to provide fresh produce for guests at the Reber-Thomas Dining Center and for special events.

Liberty has also made updates to its dining plans. Students will not be charged additional fees on PLUS+ or Basic Swipe meal plans and the number of food options on these plans has been expanded. Dining Dollars have also been increased for both meal plans to allow students to explore more menu options throughout the semester.

Residential students are also enjoying upgrades to the campus laundry facilities. Through a phone app called Speed Queen, students can pay for the machines as well as see which machines are open. The app also notifies students when their cycle is complete.

Fresh off a successful 2023-24 campaign that included nine conference championship trophies (out of 20 NCAA sponsored sports), Liberty Athletics looks to provide an even better experience for fans this season. One way they plan to do this is through the Cheer like a Champion initiative, which encourages students and fans to focus on supporting the Flames and Lady Flames in a positive manner. This approach harkens back to the university’s motto of Training Champions for Christ in every facet of life.

Liberty Athletics debuted a new video with comments from President Dondi Costin, Vice President and Director of Athletics Ian McCaw, and several team head coaches, at the Flames Kickoff event. Look for more information about this initiative in the coming weeks.

Liberty’s Student Activities Department will host many fan-favorite events that students have come to love such as Block Party (Forrest Frank, 8/24), concerts (TAYA, 9/20, and Jervis Campbell, 11/8), a comedy night (Shama Mrema and Jaron Myers, 10/19), and Christmas Coffeehouse (12/7). The department has also planned several new events, from a campuswide slumber party in the LaHaye Event Space on Oct. 4 to “Movie in the Woods,” at Hydaway Outdoor Center on Oct. 31, and a ninja obstacle course in the Vines Center on Nov. 16. (View a full list of Student Activities events).

This semester marks the launch of the Liberty Theological Seminary under the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity. The seminary, housed on the third floor of the Freedom Tower, includes the School of Divinity’s current master’s, postgraduate, and doctoral degree programs. With a new distinction as a seminary, the graduate programs will echo the original heartbeat of the university’s early seminary program in teaching students not only the foundational truths of the Christian faith but also the best way to practically apply those truths in today’s culture of chaos and uncertainty. The new seminary is intended to better enable graduate students to connect with local churches for apprenticeships as well as provide further financial assistance to these students through additional scholarships. A launch event has been scheduled at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 24 in the Freedom Tower lobby. The reception will include special guests from the School of Divinity Advisory Board and other university leadership.

Another addition for this semester is Liberty’s new Honors College. Comprised of the Eagle Scholars, Honors Scholars, Washington Fellowship, and Quiz Bowl programs, the college Trains Champions for Christ by providing high-achieving students with outstanding academic experiences, leadership preparation, service opportunities, and Christian development for their callings.

Liberty estimates that residential enrollment this fall will surpass 16,000 for the first time. The university is welcoming close to 4,400 new incoming undergraduate students. About 8,500 students are living in campus housing.

Liberty is also projecting a record enrollment of about 127,000 students in its online program for the 2024-25 academic year. Liberty’s overall enrollment, in both residential and online programs, is projected to hit a record 140,000 students.