President Costin welcomes families to first College For A Weekend of the school year

Liberty University President Dondi Costin kicked off the first College For A Weekend of the 2023-24 academic year by welcoming parents to Liberty and encouraging them to seek God’s voice as they explore campus with their prospective students over the next two days.

CFAW is a three-day event held twice per semester at Liberty, where high school juniors, seniors, and college transfer students can visit campus with their families and experience life as Liberty students for the weekend. More than just a campus tour, the event allows guests to attend Convocation, check out sporting events at Liberty’s state-of-the-art athletics facilities, sit in on classes, and take part in the many recreational activities the university has to offer.

Speaking at Friday’s President’s Parents Session in the Center for Music and the Worship Arts, Concert Hall, Costin recalled his first encounters with Liberty’s campus in the late 1980s, pointing out the incredible growth the university has experienced since then.

“I wish you could’ve seen what the campus (was like) in the 1980s; I wish you could have seen it compared to what it is now,” Costin said. “It is an amazing place, a special place, and a unique place.”

Speaking on academics, Costin stressed that the university’s mission goes beyond just delivering a world-class education, but an education delivered by professors who are “called here to love God and to love others.”

“They were called here because they are really, really smart. They’re also called because they’re really passionate,” Costin said. “And every professor here teaches their discipline through the lens of biblical worldview.

“Every single professor understands that it’s not their job to teach English, or to teach biology, or to teach engineering,” he continued. “Every professor understands that their job is to Train Champions for Christ.”

Chancellor Jonathan Falwell also spoke to the parents, stressing that in a time where the world is trying to steer people in the wrong direction, Liberty has leaned into the spiritual development and growth of students since the day Dr. Jerry Falwell founded the university.

“The one mission that my dad had when he started Liberty in 1971 was simply this: he wanted to create a place that was world class. But yet, if a student came here and chose to run away from God, that unlike every other college campus pretty much, they would have to swim upstream to make that happen, rather than swim downstream.”

Costin echoed his sentiments, pointing out that while the university can rival other colleges with its facilities and faculty, no other place can bring the spiritual development that Liberty provides for its students on a daily basis.

“Our faith will outpace and outstrip every other college that you can think of that’s not a sister Christian institution like Liberty University,” Costin said. “I ask God to speak to you, and I think he will. And if this is the place that you think you can leave your kid and feel safe that they’re going to be in the hands of God here, that’s exactly what you should do. That’s exactly what I would do.”

In addition to hearing from Costin and Falwell, parents also heard from the leaders of other various departments across campus, including the Office of the Provost, the Office of Security and Public Safety, Student Financial Services, LU One, and the Office of Equity and Compliance.

CFAW will continue on Liberty’s campus throughout the weekend with a concert featuring platinum-selling Christian artist Tauren Wells at 8 p.m. Friday, and a Midnight Mayhem hockey game at midnight Friday.

Upcoming CFAWS are scheduled for Nov. 9-11, Feb. 22-24, and April 4-6. For more information, visit the CFAW website.