Would you send your kid to Liberty University?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you wouldn't send your kid there, but its president is about to be confirmed as the head of the Dept. of Education's higher ed task force.

So there's going to be a lot Liberty out there for all of us with college students to grapple with.

Speaking as a higher ed professional, I am 200% horrified by this. So much good -- student loan reform, gainful employment reporting, etc --Has come In the past 10 or so years and I dread seeing it dismantled. I also dread the rise (again) of predatory for profit institutions.

+1

Earlier this week a journalist/former Liberty student spoke out against the appointment of Falwell to the education post. He backrd up his comments with a picture from his Liberty assigned "science" textbook from 2007. https://twitter.com/kevinroose/status/826630781892251648

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you wouldn't send your kid there, but its president is about to be confirmed as the head of the Dept. of Education's higher ed task force.

So there's going to be a lot Liberty out there for all of us with college students to grapple with.

Falwell? I don't think so.

[Anonymous]

I finished my Bachelor's degree as an adult with Liberty University online. Liberty is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The subjects are taught from a Christian perspective, and I was required to take three religious studies classes. I found the material to be very solid. I received a tuition discount and book stipend for being a military spouse. There were non-Christian people in some of my classes. I was not brainwashed in any way. Although I had the opportunity to attend graduation in person, I have not yet been to the campus! If you are not interested in a Christian education then Liberty may not be the right school for you. Bernie Sanders spoke at Liberty during his campaign. I mention this because there is not just an extremely left position to everything going on there.

[Anonymous]

*extremely right* correction to above

[Anonymous]

Hiring manager here, in a field where Liberty has an online / distance program.

The entry degree in my field is a BA in this area.

In fairness, I gave the first couple resumes with degrees from Liberty a shot.

In interviews, they had no clue about current trends in the field, best practices, etc.

Now I just routinely chuck them.

The diploma is worthless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you wouldn't send your kid there, but its president is about to be confirmed as the head of the Dept. of Education's higher ed task force.

So there's going to be a lot Liberty out there for all of us with college students to grapple with.

Falwell? I don't think so.

Yup:
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN15G5F4

And it could have been worse:
"Falwell told the Associated Press he turned down an offer from Trump to become education secretary, in part because Falwell did not want to move his family to Washington."

[Anonymous]

Wheaton would be better

[Anonymous]

One more thought - the online diploma mill creates major brand dilution. It's cranking out 20k+ degrees per year on top of the 5k from the Lynchburg campus.

[Anonymous]

3:20 here. I have a great job with a large company. The degree from Liberty has not been a roadblock for me. My skills matter more in interviews than where my degree came from. Recommendations from my Liberty professors helped land me into a good MBA program last year with a Virginia school. Liberty is not an Ivy school, but I make practical use of my education every day, it helps me keep an open mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A Christian university like Georgetown, vs a Christian university like Liberty...hmm.

These are not the same Christians in this situation. Georgetown, while it's a Catholic university, it's also a Jesuit school. Jesuits encourage critical thinking and respect science -- like most normal universities. Also, the Catholic Church doesn't hold take the bible literally nor is it against evolution.

[Anonymous]

Conservative evangelical Christian here. If my children were looking at colleges today, I would steer them clear of Liberty. In fact, I would steer them clear of many Christian colleges unless they had legitimate academic successes. I pray daily that my children become believers, but I also have no desire to shield them (or make them want to shield themselves) from the real world. The longer they are protected, the harder it is to function as a believer among non believers. I don't ever want my kids to think that it's bad to interact with non-Christians.

[Anonymous]

NP. No way. I have a dim view of the place because of Falwell and because the curriculum seems very weak. There are plenty of Christian schools that offer strong academics, but this isn't one of them. My neighbors' daughter is considering doing the online diploma route to get her teaching certification through Liberty, with the hopes of becoming a teacher in either Fairfax or Arlington County once she's done. This doesn't sound like a very promising path to landing a teaching job in these counties if you ask me, and I think the mom is hoping she'll change her mind and decide to apply to other schools before her senior year (she's a junior right now). I can't say I blame her. I honestly wouldn't be too thrilled if I found out my kid's teacher got his/her degree from Liberty, particularly online.

[Anonymous]

absolutely not. look at the "science" they teach. I would NEVER hire a Liberty grad either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Conservative evangelical Christian here. If my children were looking at colleges today, I would steer them clear of Liberty. In fact, I would steer them clear of many Christian colleges unless they had legitimate academic successes. I pray daily that my children become believers, but I also have no desire to shield them (or make them want to shield themselves) from the real world. The longer they are protected, the harder it is to function as a believer among non believers. I don't ever want my kids to think that it's bad to interact with non-Christians.

well said - thanks for posting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would imagine a degree from Liberty would severely limit one's job prospects outside the evangelical bubble.

Scarry as it is, it is a huge bubble.