College Parenting

Students’ records are protected by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and cannot be disclosed unless the student has given permission by assigning a PIN (Personal Identification Number). Read about FERPA and FERPA PIN system on the Registrar’s webpage.

Parking Your Car On Campus Any Weekend You Visit, use the Online Visitor Vehicle Registration Form.

Family Weekend is Sept. 20-22! Say hello to Parent and Family Connections, Liberty Ticket Office, and Voter Registration during the LU Family Welcome Table time on Friday, Sept. 20, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in DeMoss Hall across from the main elevators on the first floor.

Oct. 7 is the Add/Drop deadline to register for Fall 2024 CSER projects. See the webpage for CSER 100 and other CSER Dates and Deadlines.

Looking ahead to October

If you are planning travel dates this semester, the Academic Calendar dates to circle are: Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break.

• Final Exam schedule for Fall 2024 is posted. Ask your student about their course schedule before making travel plans.
• Other dates to consider are the end of the semester Housing and Dining Hours.
• Flames Cash is useful during breaks! Students can eat off-campus and at some dining locations on campus.
• LU Transit operates a Liberty Shuttle Service for students to/from the stations and airports.

And, Course registration for Spring 2025 begins Monday, October 14.

As the semester progresses, expect there to be a spiritual battle. Be wary, armor up!

Pray Ephesians 6:10-18 over them. Your students are answering the Lord’s call for their lives. As they are obedient to Him, there is an enemy that wages war against them. The same enemy wages war against your family’s capacity and success. Partner with your students through prayer against discouragement, confusion, disbelief, anxiety, and despair.

Whatever we think? From Psalms to Thessalonians to Ephesians, God calls us to center our thoughts on Him. “Parenting is usually more mentally demanding, more heart-wrenching, more tear-filled, and more expensive than any of us imagine we can survive.” How and what we think through all of these “more of” is vital to our family and to our student’s success. Whatsoever’s Whatever You Think is a call to action!

What are your rules of engagement? E/4:29 Parent-to-Parent Blog “How Often to Call or Text” gives helpful advice that supports you and your student.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page connects families to what is on campus for students from “Life as a Liberty Student” to “Academic Planning and Support” to their “Body, Mind, and Spirit.”

True Marks of Character

Erin Mills, Associate Director, Center for Financial Literacy, School of Business

Growing up in church, I often heard about the importance of character. One of the most common phrases was, “Character is who you are when no one else is watching.” However, character isn’t just about what we do when we’re alone; it reveals itself in every aspect of life, whether on the job, at school, in social settings, or even in one-on-one interactions with friends. My parents often reminded me that true character is most evident in stressful situations.

When I think about character under stress, I’m reminded of Nehemiah. Norman Geisler writes that “Nehemiah served the Persian king in a secular position before leading a group of Jews to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls.” This role demanded confidence in God and His calling. Nehemiah had to maintain strength and resilience, especially when those around him mocked his efforts. His private life was marked by seeking God’s counsel through prayer. In public, he demonstrated his character by focusing on those in need, avoiding hasty decisions, consulting with wise counsel, living modestly, rejecting personal gain, showing generosity, and committing to diligent work.

Nehemiah’s ability to seek spiritual counsel and trust in God’s wisdom, rather than relying solely on human understanding, distinguished his character from other leaders of his time. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:19 that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight,” and in verse 21, he cautions against boasting in human leaders. For our character to grow, we too must seek the Lord. Nehemiah’s words to his people came only after careful thought, planning, and time spent in God’s presence.

Words matter because much of our character is revealed through what we say. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “the tongue has the power of life and death.” My parents often cautioned me about being quick to speak and slow to listen—exactly the opposite of what James instructs us to do in Scripture. I still need the reminder that those with strong character think before they speak. What words are you choosing? What do you say in times of ease and in times of suffering?

When I think about suffering and character, I am inspired by Joni Eareckson Tada. I recently had the honor of hearing her speak at the Global Leadership Summit Conference. Despite a tragic diving accident that left her paralyzed and ongoing battles with cancer, Joni’s character shines through as she speaks to audiences worldwide. She believes that God uses our weaknesses, and she clings to Philippians 1:12, which says that what happened to her served to advance the Gospel. Her words remind me that we should strive to make Jesus greater and ourselves less, focus on perseverance, weakness, perspective, and resilience—true marks of character.

Pray for our CFL Peer Coaches

We ask for your prayers for our 30 coaches, that they may serve with great character. Pray that they develop confidence like Nehemiah, seek wisdom from Christ rather than the world, watch their words, and demonstrate perseverance, perspective, and resilience even in weakness.

May their identity be rooted in who God has called them to be. May they be generous with their resources, vulnerable in surrendering their situations to the Lord, and show genuine care to those they serve.