Liberty University has been building a community based on biblical unity since its founding in 1971, creating opportunities for all students, regardless of race, nationality, or background. The newly renamed LU ONE (Opportunity & Enrichment) Department is moving those efforts forward with the goal of ensuring that all students are engaged with one another in the mission of Training Champions for Christ.
LU ONE encompasses the Office of Equity & Inclusion (OEI); the Office of Disability Accommodation Support (ODAS), which coordinates academic support for students with disabilities; and the International Student Center (ISC), which supports international students and promotes cultures through on-campus workshops and events.
Senior Vice President Shon Muldrow said all divisions aim to create a singular focus of unity that is rooted in Scripture.
“From before the foundation of the world, the Triune God was always there in perfect fellowship and union as three-in-one. The apostle John wrote in 1 John 5:7, ‘For there are three that bear record in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one.’ Unity is our identity as men and women created in the image of God, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
The department has held several events on campus this fall, starting with a Worldwide Welcome barbeque for new and returning international students in August. In September, LU ONE hosted a Fireside Chat with Mark Hager, senior recruiter for Edward Jones, who spoke on professional development and recruiting. The department also took part in Global Focus Week by hosting the Taste of Nations.
LU ONE held several events for Hispanic Heritage Month (observed from the middle of September to the middle of October), including a Gran Fiesta Latina featuring bands, food, and games; the Hispanic Heritage Kickoff with a presentation on Hispanic and Latino leaders; and a Latin/South American Open House, where students could immerse themselves in the different cultures and cuisines of Latin and South America.
On Oct. 17, LU ONE held a Liberty Student Resource Fair to inform students of the numerous resources available through ODAS. On Oct. 23-24, the department celebrated the legacy of Chauncey Spencer, a founding member of the National Airmen’s Association who made it possible for people of color to be trained as Tuskegee Airmen in World War II, by hosting a traveling museum on black pioneers in aviation. Spencer’s son, Chauncey Spencer Jr., spoke with students.
LU ONE’s official Launch on the Lawn event took place on Nov. 3 with food trucks, music, free T-shirts, and other promotional items.
Muldrow said although Liberty has maintained an office that promotes the ideals of biblical unity for years, the new LU ONE name sends a clear message that the mission and purpose is defined by the Word of God, not by any cultural or political trends.
“Our primary goal is still the same: to nurture a body of students with a range of life experiences, conditions, and abilities,” he said. “We will invest in our students’ education, their community engagement, their campus events, and cultural events. Unity in Christ is our highest missional priority as a Gospel-centered institution. We want Liberty to look more like heaven in Revelation 7:9.”
To learn more, visit Liberty.edu/LU-One.
