LYNCHBURG -- A lone rose and a basket filled with handwritten notes lay under a portrait of the Rev. Jerry Falwell, where his body will lie in repose today at Liberty University.

Outside the Carter-Glass Mansion, where Falwell had his offices, a guard screened visitors. The door was adorned with posters inscribed with Bible passages, hearts and notes including "LU will never forget you" and "We miss you, Jerry."

Campus signs flashed messages of remembrance for Falwell, 73, who collapsed in his campus office and died Tuesday, presumably of heart failure.

Students contemplated the university's future without their charismatic leader, leaving the mood on campus a mixture of sorrow and trepidation. Faculty sought to reassure students before their exams and several people voiced concerns about the school's prospects.

"I don't know, it's a big loss for a person of that stature," said Patrick Shiflett, 22, who will graduate in December. "I think the school is in good hands, but it's going to take a while to regain its footing."

Several university trustees and benefactors contacted Wednesday expressed confidence that the school's rocky financial days are behind them. Even without Falwell to attract financial support, they said traditional supporters would intervene, if needed.

Among those are trustees Beverly and Tim LaHaye, noted authors of Christian-themed books and the benefactors of the campus ice-hockey rink.

"There are many, many friends of Jerry Falwell and Liberty University who will step forward and say 'we'll not let this school struggle,' " Beverly LaHaye said. "I can understand why students might have that concern because they are unaware of the inside workings. Jerry Falwell had laid the groundwork for the day this would happen."

Mark DeMoss, a trustee and longtime friend of the Falwell family, said the university has strong senior management, trustees and faculty.

"By virtually any standard of measurement -- enrollment or revenues -- the school is probably in the healthiest position since it was founded," DeMoss said. "He leaves behind a very stable organization and that hasn't always been the case. Ten or twelve years ago I probably couldn't have said that."

In the late 1980s, when donations to Falwell's ministry dropped precipitously, Liberty University had racked up $73 million in debt and was on the brink of bankruptcy. Falwell's "Old Time Gospel Hour" was $16 million in debt.

Ron Godwin, university vice president, recounted being awoken by a 6 a.m. call from Falwell after a donation came in to the school that allowed them to make payroll during those tough times.

"I can cite many times when this university faced real financial challenges," Godwin said. "He faced those hard times with unwavering faith."

By 1997, an anonymous businessman had repaid creditors and staved off financial ruin.

Godwin said Falwell had carefully prepared for the transition of his leadership to his two sons, Jerry Falwell Jr., now vice chancellor of Liberty University, and Jonathan Falwell, executive pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church.

Without Falwell's leadership, Tim LaHaye said, it might take Liberty University longer to attain the founder's goal of 25,000 students on campus.

"I don't think there is any cause for financial worry," he said. "It may take us a little longer to reach that goal without Jerry, but we'll do it."

David Green, chief executive officer of Hobby Lobby, the Oklahoma-based craft store chain, acquired a former Ericsson cellphone plant and helped Liberty's expansion by donating the 800,000-square-foot building. Green said Falwell told him the building put his campus' footprint five years ahead of schedule.

"About two years ago, we discussed on the subject of keeping Liberty on course after his departure ... because you have a lot of universities wavering from their roots," said Green, who described Falwell as a personal hero. "From what I understand, he's brought a lot of people up under him who have been strong leaders. I think he has a tremendous number of alumni. There would be some of those to make sure the school continues."

Faculty expressed confidence in the succession plans.

Kristina Schimmels asked her students to pray for the Falwell family before she gave them a freshman English exam. She already had spoken to a freshman who wanted to discuss Falwell's impact on his life.

"Students are concerned about where the university is going and possible changes. They're wondering if things will run the same way," she said. "I'm telling them the day-to-day operations are not going to change. I think consistency is key right now."

Asked if she believed Liberty could sustain its growth, she said: "There is a concern because he was such a dynamic person and no one can ever take his place."

DeMoss was far less uncertain.

"Liberty University loses its founder, but doesn't lose all the other things that make it a university. Dr. Falwell's personal and political activism ended yesterday [Monday], but his influence continues. Every May, a couple thousand students will gain diplomas from the university he founded."

Dave Campbell, who works at the 4-year-old campus museum chronicling the Falwells, said he expects quite a few visitors at the museum today. Asked what he thinks about Falwell's death, Campbell said, "He was one of those 24/7 men. It's appropriate he died in his office. I would think he wouldn't have it any other way."

Amanda Young, a 20-year-old sophomore from Greensboro, N.C., said she wanted to refresh her memories of Falwell by walking through his museum.

Today, she expected to take a final exam and then wait in line to say goodbye over Falwell's casket.

"He was such a huge part of the school," Young said. Even with Falwell gone, "Hopefully, it'll encourage more people to come here because it was his dream to grow the school."

Freshmen Jordan Christianson, 19, a history major from Norfolk, and Cheryl Brook, 19, from Danville, said they would get in line early today to pay their last respects to Falwell.

"I think this is a sad time," Christianson said. "But the school still has to generate people coming in. The school can't close just because he's died."