College Parenting

This Month and Next

Course registration continues for returning students for the Fall 2025 semester! View the registrar’s schedule for registration.

• April 21 – Easter Monday is a holiday; no classes
• Tues. April 29 – last day of class; this is also the last day a student can withdraw from a class for a “W” on their transcript
• Wed. April 30 – Reading Day
• Thurs. May 1- Tues. May 6 – Final Exams
• Residence halls close on May 7 at 12 p.m.

Commencement 2025 is May 8-10. View details about scheduled activities, regalia, and more on the Registrar’s Commencement site!

See Spring 2025 Move-Out for end-of-semester checkout. Students returning for the next academic year cannot leave their belongings over the summer (for more info, see ResLife’s FAQs ). Want to store items over the summer? Rent a storage unit for the summer (students often share units). Here is Google Maps link to local storage unit vendors.

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Family Weekend 2025 is Sept. 19-21! Plans are in the works!

Watch the Family Weekend webpage for details. Registration will open in late-July.

Prayer Points

Four weeks of classes to go, and then finals! Students’ stress levels are mounting.

• Pray that students will rise to the challenge, fight the good fight (2 Timothy 4:7), and be prepared to take hope, grace, mercy, and forgiveness everywhere they go (Ephesians 6:15).
• Pray for appointed times of rest and times of study (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
• Pray for them to press on (Philippians 3:14).

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV).

“…and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15 ESV).

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV).

“I press on twoard the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14 ESV).

Additional prayer points for all students during the academic year are available on these calendars of Common Stressors and Prayer Points.

College Parenting Tip of the Month

Every day is a good day to say “I love you.” Text them today. (see 1 John 4:19).

Resource of the Month

When You and Your Student Disagree on a Major is a “pulse check” of how we as parents and guardians think, believe, and act towards our adult children as they pursue God’s story in their lives.

Why It Isn’t Enough to Know About College Resources published at College Parent Central, written by Vicki Nelson.

This Month’s Theme: Peace

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

“Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 6:23).

PLUS Loan Applications are Open!

Rebekah McSherry, Student Financial Services

Federal Direct Graduate and Parent PLUS loans as well as most private student loan applications for the 2025-26 academic year are now open. Parents of dependent undergraduate students may apply for a PLUS loan using the steps listed below.

Regarding Federal Direct PLUS Loans, the amount a borrower is eligible for is based on the student’s educational costs minus any other financial aid. Parent PLUS Loans require a credit check during the application process. If the borrower has an adverse credit history, he or she may still be able to receive a PLUS loan if they meet additional requirements. Remember, parents are the borrowers of the Parent PLUS loan, so the application will require parent information, not the student’s information.

Steps to Complete a PLUS Loan Application:

1. Sign-in with your information at https://studentaid.gov/.
2. Select “Request PLUS Loan” from the options on the left side of the page.
3. Choose the type of loan you plan to apply for and complete the application.

Students who want to consider applying for a private/alternative student loan may compare different lenders using this link to ElmSelect. We’ve recently reached out to your student via email with this information if they borrowed a private student loan or had a PLUS loan borrowed on their behalf this current school year.

The Financial Aid Office at Liberty University encourages students to borrow from the Federal Direct Student Loan Program before considering private educational loans, as the interest rates and repayment requirements can vary.

Liberty University does not recommend specific student loan lenders, nor does it have a preferred lender list or preferred lender arrangement. Students may borrow from any lender that offers educational student loans. Liberty University encourages students to borrow only what is absolutely needed to prevent future debt.

If we can help in any way, please reach out to Student Financial Services!

Preparing for Commencement 2025

As we approach Spring 2025 graduation, the Registrar’s Commencement FAQ webpage is the best resource for the most up-to-date information and details.

How excited you and your son or daughter must be to have arrived at the final semester. Graduation approaches! Your student has a Month to Month Checklist that helps them get ready.

As your family makes their plans to attend, we have highlighted a few things to keep in mind:

• The Main Graduation Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 9, at 7 p.m. in Williams Stadium. Tickets are not required to attend. The graduating students will need to line up by 4:30 p.m. Guests for the main ceremony do not need to arrive as early as students. Accessible seating (ADA) will be available along both sides of the main concourse level of the stadium and is available on a first come basis. Keep in mind that graduates do not walk across the stage or have their names read during the Main Ceremony.
• There are parking lots, transportation, and maps to help everyone prepare their route and look for shuttle service to and from the parking lot that is the nearest to their student’s ceremony venue. And to make it much easier on our ADA guests who need assistance getting to and from the ceremony locations, please review the Accessibility information.
• Degree Presentation Ceremonies are smaller school/degree-specific ceremonies hosted by the specific “School of” or “College of” at Liberty University. For example, the School of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences will host separate degree ceremonies. This is where graduates will walk the stage in their cap and gown and have their names called. The Degree Presentation Ceremonies will begin on Thurs., May 8, and continue through Sat., May 10, and they will be held at various venues on campus. You can keep checking the link for updates on ceremony locations and more details. Tickets are not required to attend these degree ceremonies.
• Livestream Commencement will be available with links to the Main Ceremony and Degree Presentation Ceremonies so if physically attending one of the ceremonies is not an option for your family members, there is an option to see it.

We are praying for your student and your family as you navigate all the details involved to plan and celebrate this joyous milestone of your student’s journey at LU! If a question arises that the Commencement webpages don’t address, let us help you with the details at Parent and Family Connections, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; by email at LUFamily@liberty.edu or by phone at (434) 582-2339.

Academic Success Center Has Three Services to Encourage Your Student in Their Studies

Lindsay Burgess, Director, Residential Tutoring and Writing Center

Tutoring Services: Our mission is to encourage and equip students to do their best academically by actively engaging them in the learning process.  Our trained peer tutors are available at no additional cost in over 150 courses to LU residential students during the fall and spring semesters.  The tutors, who have either completed the requested course or a higher level of the course, provide help regarding any course content students want to learn, discuss, or review. For more information or to make an appointment, we welcome your student to visit our website at Liberty.edu/Tutoring. 

Writing Services: Our mission is to assist LU residential students in becoming effective, proficient writers at every stage in the writing process.  We welcome students to collaborate with our highly trained coaches (at no cost!) to start, revise, or finalize any writing project at the Writing Center.  We also provide our Writing Lab, a walk-in service where a coach is available to answer quick questions (in person or via chat), no appointment needed.  For more information, to make an appointment, or to view resources on writing concepts and citation styles, we welcome your student to visit our website at Liberty.edu/Writing. 

Academic Mentoring: Our mission is to empower residential students to build the essential executive functioning skills for college success through individualized one-on-one interactions.  Our faculty and peer mentors are available at no additional cost to help with areas such as study skills, test-taking skills, reading skills, organization, goal-setting, and memory retention. For more information or to make an appointment, we welcome your student to visit our website at Liberty.edu/AcademicMentoring.  

“…that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).

Birthdays and Care Packages All Semester-Long

Shelby Stidham, Liberty Dining Services

Liberty Dining offers baked goods and care packages through their online gift shop. While the website will ask for shipping information, all orders are pick-up only at the front desk of the Reber-Thomas Dining Center.

Family members may use the university address to satisfy the requirement in the cart process. Use this address: 1971 University Blvd., Lynchburg, VA 24515. When the order is ready to be picked up, your student will be called and/or texted to let them know. If you have any questions regarding your order, please email libertydining@liberty.edu.

PFC’s Mission for Families | From the First Day of Class to Commencement

At Liberty University, you can rest assured that the values you instilled in your children will not be undermined. We take pride in creating an environment where your student feels they have a home away from home. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, or guardian, we are committed to collaborating with you in guiding your student through the challenges and triumphs of the next few years.

Our goal is to support student success and promote an appropriate role for parents and families within the campus community. We hope to encourage you through your transition as a college family. As you move away from the daily monitoring of your child’s decisions and into the role of a coach who listens, prays, guides, and promotes their resiliency, some days may feel like a struggle. The challenges and struggles – and prayers – are all parts of growth. 

The First Days

The first semester in particular will give rise to new experiences, new questions, and many opportunities for your student to practice becoming an advocate of their own – housing, food, time management, friendships, classes, the pace of communication with you, and more.

• For Your First Year – interprets the key dates and activities on the university’s schedule (i.e., the academic calendar)
• Parent & Family Guide 2024-25 – equips LU families with an easy reference to the college schedule and offices
• Frequently Asked Questions  – recommends the departments that support your student’s success on campus

Every Semester

Most importantly, pray. Cover the highs and lows your student may experience during their academic journey using our Timeline as a guide. We have monthly College Parenting news, and just for you, there are regular Blogs for encouragement on your faith journey as a college parent.

We exist to support the mission of Liberty University Training Champions for Christ by sharing information with students’ family members about the resources, programs, and activities available on campus. Our purpose is to build relationships between parents and the university, promote student success, and support parents through the transition of their students being at college – all the while praying for their highest calling in Jesus Christ.

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