Liberty Baptist College receives full accreditation as a liberal arts college by SACSCOC.

The bald eagle is chosen as Liberty Baptist College’s mascot.

In January, Liberty Baptist College gains full acceptance into the NCAA at the Division II level.

LBC’s campus contains 18 dormitories, 4 academic buildings, a multipurpose center, an administration building, and a prayer chapel.

The B.R. Lakin School of Religion building is constructed.

The Liberty Champion, the college newspaper, is established.

Vice President George H.W. Bush speaks to 6,000 students, faculty, and guests at a rally sponsored by LBC’s chapter of Young Americans for Freedom.

U.S. Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy speaks on campus for the Liberal/Conservative Debate Series.

Over 4,500 students enroll for the fall semester, representing 50 states and 30 countries.

Baseball becomes the first NCAA Division I program.

LBC’s student body travels to Washington, D.C., for Baptist Fundamentalism ’84, a three-day conference at which President Ronald Reagan gave the closing address.

In May, Liberty Baptist College becomes Liberty University.

Liberty becomes a pioneer in distance learning by opening the Liberty University School of Lifelong Learning, now Liberty Online Programs.

Treasure Island is flooded in the great James River Flood.

Liberty receives SACSOC approval for 10 years.

Hancock Athletic Center opens with offices, locker rooms, a training room, and a weight room.

Liberty offers its first graduate degrees: a Doctor of Ministry and a Master of Business Administration.

All 16 Liberty athletic programs transition to NCAA Division I.

Liberty becomes the largest private university in Virginia with more than 11,000 students in residence and adult education programs.

Liberty University breaks ground on May 8 for a 12,000-seat football stadium. On Oct. 21, the stadium officially opens to a Homecoming crowd of 12,750 — the first time that the Flames play a home game on their own campus.