Welcome Week events help students build community as they kick off a new school year

The campus of Liberty University has once again sprung to life with an influx of students in recent days. After checking in and unpacking their dorm essentials, new and returning students have been enjoying one of Liberty’s longstanding traditions — Welcome Week — before they settle into their routine with classes beginning on Monday. The university is intentional in planning a wide array of events to help welcome students to their home away from home.

In between meeting their hall leadership team and getting to know their hallmates, students took advantage of the Liberty community and tasty snacks at events like a Big Band Night, bingo, an outdoor open mic night, and an outdoor movie double feature.

Liberty’s Office of Spiritual Development hosted “Prayer on the Lawn” gatherings on Wednesday and Thursday in the late afternoon, allowing students and campus visitors to pause, pray, and worship among fellow believers.

Welcome Week is a Liberty tradition that Chris Misiano, Vice President of Campus Recreation and Logistics, describes as a time when any new student can explore the campus and discover new friendships and favorite activities.

“It helps to expose new students to everything that LU has to offer, and to help set them up for success as they begin their journey at LU,” he said. “Alumni and upperclassmen always look back fondly on that time, and many remark how they made friendships that week that continue to endure. While the types of events might change, or the number of awesome facilities expand, what remains constant is our commitment to provide excellent opportunities for the student body to find their niche at LU.”

Freshmen and transfer students gathered in the Vines Center for a New Student Convocation on Friday, where Campus Pastor Jonathan Falwell informed them about the year to come, including upcoming Convocation guests like the 48th Vice President of the United States Mike Pence (Sept. 14) and multiple pastors and impactful Christian voices in the world today. President Jerry Prevo personally welcomed the students and parents in attendance by walking around the arena and recognizing the different states and countries represented in the crowd before delivering a message about the importance of opening one’s life to the Lord.

The new batch of Flames fans heard from some of Liberty’s head coaches and student-athletes during a Flames Kickoff event Friday evening in the Liberty Arena, where they were also trained in the multiple traditions and cheers that help the crowd “Fan the Flames” at all of Liberty’s sporting events.

Throughout the move-in days, many halls held their own activities and icebreaker games around campus. On Friday morning, students were able to have “Doughnuts with the Deans” and meet the leaders of their respective academic programs, and most schools held their own welcome events in their areas of campus.

On each of the first two days of move-in, Liberty’s Parent & Family Connections office held a welcome session in the Center for Music and Worship Arts, Concert Hall, allowing the families of Liberty students to learn more about the university, campus, and best practices for helping their student through the college experience. (Playback of the Thursday session is available to watch on the Parent and Family Connections Facebook page.)

The festivities will continue with the annual Block Party, one of the biggest on-campus student events hosted by the Student Activities Office, on Aug. 27 at 5 p.m. in the LaHaye Parking Lot. The free event will feature live music, food trucks, carnival rides, water rides, giveaways, local vendors, informational tables for Liberty clubs and departments, and more. The musical guests will be headlined by Social Club Misfits, preceded by Gable Price and Friends, Evvie McKinney, KMO, and Lucas James.

Welcome Weeks of the Past