RICHMOND, Va.  — Jerry Falwell Jr. has agreed to take an indefinite leave of absence from his role as president and chancellor of Liberty University, the school announced Friday.

The private university issued a one-sentence statement making the announcement.

JERRY FALWELL JR. EXPLAINS HOW LIBERTY UNIVERSITY 'BECAME THE MODEL' FOR COLLEGES IN AGE OF CORONAVIRUS

The statement said the Executive Committee of Liberty's board of trustees, acting on behalf of the full Board, met Friday and request that Falwell take leave, “to which he has agreed, effective immediately.” The statement did not indicate what prompted the request by the trustees.

Falwell has served since 2007 as president of the Lynchburg university his father founded.