Virginia’s Liberty transforms into evangelical mega-university

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Virginia’s Liberty transforms into evangelical mega-university

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/virginias-liberty-transforms-into-evangelical-mega-university/2013/03/04/931cb116-7d09-11e2-9a75-dab0201670da_story.html

By Nick Anderson, Mar 05, 2013 02:05 AM EST

The Washington Post LYNCHBURG, Va. — The small Baptist college that television preacher Jerry Falwell founded here in 1971 has capitalized on the online education boom to become an evangelical mega-university with global reach.

In the almost six years since Falwell’s death, Liberty University has doubled its student head count — twice.

Total enrollment now exceeds 74,000, with nearly 62,000 working toward degrees online in fields such as psychology, business, education, criminal justice and, of course, religion. That makes Liberty the largest university in Virginia — with more than double the number of students at No. 2 George Mason — and the largest private, nonprofit university in the country. With a slogan of “training champions for Christ,” Liberty also is the nation’s largest university with a religious affiliation.
....

Liberty’s expansion has yielded a river of money. The university ended 2012 with more than $1 billion in net assets for the first time, counting cash, property, investments and other holdings. That is 10 times what the school had in 2006, putting Liberty in the same financial league as universities such as Pepperdine, Georgetown and Tulane.

-- -- --

Founded by preacher Jerry Falwell, university is largest in Va. and has $1 billion in net assets. How did it become successful?

That's easy: Federal student loans.

Falwell's Liberty University one of largest recipients of federal aid for students.

[Ron Green]

1. Any outfit that uses the words "Christ," "Champions," and "Training"

in the same sentence ought to be shut down.

[sadbear]

2. And what will happen when a prospective employer sees that online degree from Liberty?

This:

[HughBeaumont]

3. Wow! TheoFascist U!

How can people be so fucking DUPED? What kind of scariness is it when you combine Government, Corporations and Religion? That's the exact opposite of where the U.S.A. should be headed.

[Heather MC]

4. The Gay Capitol of Lynchburg

That is the nickname my gay friends give LU. They tell me it's a great place to troll for boyfriends. I wonder if Jerry knows this now that he is in "Heaven"


By the way another way that got that reach is buying up property all over Lynchburg but doing nothing with it and claiming it as a loss on their taxes it's shameful how that city is dilapidating thanks to LU

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Residential municipal taxes are much higher due to all that religious property being

taken off the rolls.

BTW, Liberty University is the largest employer in the city.

[Heather MC]

6. That doesn't surprise me most of the good jobs got

sent to mexico and overseas in the 90's
My father's former place of employment is now a soccer field

[Arugula Latte]

7. Well, that's depressing.