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This Month and Next

Dining Services’ Finals Week Hours of Operation (April 28-May 4) adjusts some of its hours and locations
Final Exams are May 1-6.
Residence halls close on May 7 at 12 p.m. Students can use the webpage Move-In/Move-Out to submit “Beyond Checkout Requests”, if their anticipated departure from campus is after the deadline.
Commencement 2025 is May 8-10. View details about scheduled activities, regalia, and more!
Summer Housing is an option at Residence Life, beginning May 11.

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

Final exams, Graduation and moving out; travel and summer plans.

Pray for appointed times of rest and study (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
Pray for them to press on (Philippians 3:14).
Rejoice and give thanks! It’s graduation time (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

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 a Google Maps link to local storage unit vendors.

Visit our Parent & Family Connections Blogs archives to help you celebrate “Finishing the Race”.

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

God is good. Always. Forever. (Psalm 100:5)

Quote of the Month

“The will of God is not primarily a place…for you to go there or work here. The will of God concerns you as a person. If you are the right you, you can follow your desires and you will fulfill His will” (ref. Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Thess. 5:18; John MacArthur, “Found: God’s Will”, p. 74-5).

This Month’s Theme: Rejoice (Joy)

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

“You have made known to me the paths of life’ You will fill me with joy in Your presence” (Acts 2:28).

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

The Journey

Elizabeth H.

I’m taking a long journey,
away and far from home.
I trust my faithful Master
I’ll never be alone.

He’s teaching me to trust Him
And follow where He leads,
He orchestrates my pathways,
Provides for all my needs.

The journey can get rocky,
I know, I’ve traveled far,
But when the trials come,
I thank Him for the mars.

He’s blessed me beyond words to tell,
the riches of His plan.
I will walk with my Master,
Holding His hand.

“Allow Your Mind To Abide In Jesus” from the Parent & Family Connections Blogs archives.

“How To Reconnect During Break” is a small measure of wisdom and grace to help your relationship with your student develop into adult friendship.

Joy Goes Deeper Than A Feeling

Rachel C., Center for Financial Literacy

How can one be joyful in all circumstances? I remember during one of the most difficult times of my life, when I suddenly lost my grandfather to suicide, turning to my Bible for comfort. I read James 1:2-4 which says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

At first, I was confused by this passage. How could I count this immensely painful circumstance as joy? I certainly did not feel joyful during that period. However, what I failed to realize at the time was that joy and happiness are not the same. I was unhappy during that time, but being unhappy did not mean I had to be joyless. Unlike happiness, joy is much deeper than just a feeling. It is normal to be unhappy when facing loss and trials, but joy comes from a place deeper than one’s external circumstances.

No matter what we are facing, situations that are happy or not, joy is found in a heart fully reliant on the sovereignty, power, and love of God as the unwavering source of perfect love and goodness. What I came to realize about this passage in James is that trials can be counted as joy because they force our faith in God to grow, producing steadfastness. I can testify to the exponential growth in my faith that came as a result of intense trials.

There are many trials we will face throughout our lives including loss, heartbreak, sickness, and financial uncertainty. As a student worker for the Center for Financial Literacy, I get to work with peer financial coaches who help others through the trials of financial uncertainty. It can be difficult to find joy in the midst of financial stress and hardship. The weight of finances can be a heavy burden, causing one to feel anxious, worried, and discouraged. At the Center for Financial Literacy, we strive to help people through their financial struggles while reminding them that true joy is found in the Lord, not money.

Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” This verse is a reminder of where our joy comes from. Whether in financial crisis or abundance, joy is found the Lord. Unlike one’s financial situation, which can be uncertain and quick to change, the Lord is unchanging, and His promises are certain. This is how we can still have joy in the midst of hardships and uncertainty.

Please join me in praying over the peer financial coaches here at the Center for Financial Literacy as they strive to ignite generational change by helping people through their financial uncertainties while reminding their clients of the joy that can be found in the Lord. Nineteen coaches are graduating this May, and while making it to graduation calls for rejoicing, it can also be a time full of uncertainty about the future. We are rejoicing in the accomplishments of these graduates and praying they will find joy in whatever circumstances they will face.

As You Celebrate This Joyous Milestone at LU!

The Registrar’s Commencement FAQ webpage is the best resource for the most up-to-date information and details.

We have highlighted a few things to help you plan:

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. Refer to the Registrar’s website link for ceremony locations and more! 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 still an option to see it and celebrate.

We are praying for your student and your family as you navigate all the details involved to plan and

If a question arises that the Commencement website does not 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.

“…A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12b)

Dear Heavenly Father,

We pray for the students to remember all that they have studied for their final exams. You know the plans You have for everyone going into the summer: internships, jobs, marriage, and mission trips.

May each one of us ask for Your wisdom (James 1:5), trust in You, and acknowledge You in all that we put our hands to do (Proverbs 3:5-6). Where there is friction or turmoil, may the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ fill our homes with truth and our hearts with peace. With joy, we ask for Your blessing on each graduate.

We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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.