President Costin meets with student body at Dean of Students Town Hall

Liberty University’s Student Government Association (SGA) and the Dean of Students hosted a Town Hall on Aug. 28 in the Towns Auditorium at the School of Business, providing students with the opportunity to hear from the university’s new president, Dr. Dondi Costin, and other members of administration.

The session was moderated by Student Body President Daniel Hostetter and Student Body Vice President Braden Daniels and consisted of pre-submitted and on-the-spot questions about student services, future plans for the university, university polices, and other topics of interest.

Dean of Students Dr. Mark Hyde welcomed those in attendance. Costin began the discussion with a brief overview of his role as president, which he compared to that of a town mayor in that he runs every aspect of campus logistics — traffic, safety, security, food, housing, parking, academics, and athletics — with help from his staff. As the leader of a Christian university, Costin’s job is even more vital as he relies on God to be his guide.

“At the end of the day, the president’s job at Liberty University is to do everything, with God’s help and His power, to make sure that we’re Training Champions for Christ,” Costin said.

He said that since he took the helm at Liberty on July 1, he has worked tirelessly to serve the student body, staff, and faculty, as well as further the mission set in place by Liberty’s founder, Dr. Jerry Falwell.

“Dr. Falwell’s vision (of Training Champions for Christ) could not have been clearer and more important,” he said. “I would say especially in 2023, the mission is actually more critical to the welfare of the nation and the welfare of the world than it perhaps even was in 1971 when the university was established.”

Costin highlighted some of tasks he has already taken on as president, which included meeting with almost 60 members of university leadership, reorganizing the senior leadership to form a president’s council, and starting a strategic planning process for the university. The process includes an environmental scan and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis of every area at the university. Specifically, he noted his mission to increase the ability to provide a quality experience for Liberty students while also keeping tuition affordable.

He next addressed a question on the political involvement by the university, stating that the university will continue to facilitate discussion on political principles and policies but will not endorse or otherwise support any specific politicians over others.

Costin also fielded questions on whether Liberty will continue to increase its student population, what will happen to the former dining hall, the Liberty dress code, and the university’s policy on dancing. In addition, he responded in the affirmative to a question about whether the university would consider hosting additional heritage events for students, outside of what is already being done by the International Student Center.

Costin also provided advice for students on the importance of time management and encouraged them to seek out challenging situations to facilitate personal growth, which could include joining student clubs or getting involved in the local community.

Addressing the topic of safety, Costin noted the addition of the Champion Safe app, which provides several safety features for on-campus students. Vice President of Security & Public Safety Marcus Tinsley also briefly spoke about how the university continues to prioritize campus safety.

Vice President of Auxiliary Services Louis Cambeletta addressed student concerns about long lines at the new Reber-Thomas Dining Center (a common occurrence at the beginning of each semester as students adjust to their schedules) and stated that the university is working hard to ensure that any issues are resolved.

Costin closed the discussion by commending the Student Government Association for its diligence to work for the students and noted that he looks forward to more frequent dialogue about issues as they arise.

“(Hostetter and Daniels) are fierce advocates for you (students). I’ve met with them in my office, and they don’t hold back. They represent you well,” Costin said.

Hostetter likewise thanked Costin for his service to the university.

“I know I can speak for Braden and myself, and I think the rest of the student body, in saying that you have proved worthy of our trust,” he said. “We thank you for your service, for the way in which you have led us in humility, grace, and truth so far. That’s exactly the leader that this university needs for our future.”

Chancellor Jonathan Falwell concluded the session with a brief remark on the willingness of the university to consider any Convocation guest, regardless of their background, as long as their visit promotes the advancement of the university’s mission of Training Champions for Christ. He then closed the meeting in prayer.

Following the town hall, students were invited to meet and take photos with Costin and Falwell.