facility expansion financed through bonds, though it spends a relatively small portion of revenue on instruction and relies heavily on federal funding. Its marketing and recruitment practices have been criticized for aggressive sales tactics, targeting military members for federal aid, and downplaying the mandatory Christian curriculum, while sponsorships and high-profile political engagements, especially with Republican leaders and Donald Trump, have bolstered its public profile. The university has faced multiple controversies, including allegations of nepotism, sexual assault mismanagement, racial and LGBTQ discrimination, censorship, and regulatory violations, culminating in a $14 million Clery Act fine in 2024 for systemic underreporting of campus crimes.
== History ==
=== Establishment ===
The school was founded as Lynchburg Baptist College in 1971 by televangelist Jerry Falwell Sr. and Elmer L. Towns. Falwell, already a pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church, served as the first chancellor of the school. …
