Radford University Mission Statement Radford University serves the Commonwealth and the nation through a wide range of academic, cultural, human service and research programs. First and foremost, the university emphasizes teaching and learning and the process of learning in its commitment to the development of mature, responsible, well-educated citizens. Toward this end, the university is student-focused and promotes a sense of caring and of meaningful interaction among all members of the university community. Research is viewed as a vital corollary to the teaching and learning transaction as it sustains and enhances the ability to teach effectively. RU believes in the dynamics of change and has a strong commitment to continuous review, evaluation and improvement in the curriculum and all aspects of the university, so as to meet the changing needs of society. Institutional Goals The following institutional goals reflect the mission and provide a guide for the development of programs and services: To foster standards of excellence in curriculum and instruction at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. To provide a coherent general education curriculum that emphasizes the communication and analytical skills essential for educated citizens. To provide opportunities for multicultural studies and development of global knowledge and experience, and to encourage programs which promote an appreciation of cultural diversity. To create an atmosphere that ensures freedom of inquiry in the teaching and learning process. To promote the development of intellect and aesthetic appreciation through a wide variety of formal and informal academic and cultural opportunities. To emphasize and reward exemplary teaching and, concurrently,. to encourage faculty research and other professional activities and contributions. To preserve the highest standard of excellence among the faculty and staff. To provide advising, counseling and academic support services to assist students in meeting their educational goals. To provide programs, services and opportunities which promote student development and enhance the collegiate experience. To promote responsible citizenship. To promote the recruitment and retention of a diverse student body, faculty and staff. To promote widespread participation of the faculty, students and staff in the affairs of the institution. To develop effective, flexible and distributed systems of information technology resources. To assess program effectiveness in order to improve the teaching and learning process. To promote cooperative relationships with other educational institutions, businesses and industry, governmental agencies, and community groups in order to enhance lifelong learning opportunities at the local, state, national and international levels. The RU Campus Radford University is located in the city of Radford, 36 miles southwest of Roanoke, Va., on Lee Highway and I-81. The university's main campus is in a residential section of the city of 16,500. Most of the university's 20 administrative, academic and student service buildings and 15 residence halls are located on two large quadrangles in a 76-acre area. Radford's recreation and convocation complex, the Dedmon Center, which was completed in the fall of 1981, is located on a 78-acre tract of land along the New River across U.S. Route 11 (East Main Street) from the main campus. The Dedmon Center, which seats about 5,000, is one of only a dozen structures in the nation with an air-supported fabric roof. Natural forest growth, unusual rock formations, the surrounding hills and the New River provide a scenic setting for the university. Radford is not completely immune to the extremes of summer and winter weather, but the climate is basically temperate, with hot days and cool nights in the summer and cool to cold weather in the winter. Fall and spring months in the Appalachian Highlands bring some of the most enjoyable weather to be found anywhere on the East coast. Points of interest to the visitor of Radford and the surrounding areas include Claytor Lake and the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, which is 45 minutes from the campus. Claytor Lake, located off Interstate 81 in Pulaski County, offers picnicking, camping, boating, swimming and hiking areas. In addition to Radford's main campus, the university Foundation owns a 376-acre tract of land known as the Selu Conservancy. The land, which borders the Little River and is located about five miles southeast of the campus, was received in two separate donations. John H. Bowles donated the original 185 acres in the fall of 1989; four additional members of the Bowles family donated 191 acres of adjacent land in the spring of 1991. Through various campus departments, students are able to use this continuous tract in studies of ecology and botany, mapping geological features, as a model in resource management and maintenance formation on actual building techniques as well as cultural and oral histories. In addition to its educational opportunities, the conservancy offers a glimpse of Southwest Virginia's distinctive landscape and resources. The Selu Conservancy Retreat opened in 1997. Highlander Theme The influence of the Scottish immigrants who settled Southwestern Virginia more than 300 years ago is visible today in many areas of the university. These people were characterized by "firmness of decision, resourcefulness, ardor in friendship, love of country and a generous enthusiasm." Radford's athletic teams celebrate that heritage by proudly carrying the Highlander name into competition. In the spring of 1978 the university adopted as its school colors the red, navy and forest green woven into tartan plaid. From the plaid comes the name of the student newspaper, The Tartan. Accreditation and Memberships Radford University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelors', masters' and educational specialist degrees. Individual program accreditation has been granted to the following programs: Undergraduate and Graduate Business Administration, by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, International; Teacher Education (all programs), by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education; Nursing (undergraduate and graduate), by the National League for Nursing; Computer Science (baccalaureate program), by the Computer Science Accreditation Commission; Social Work, by the Council on Social Work Education; Recreation, Parks and Tourism, by the Council on Accreditation for Park, Recreation and Leisure Services; Music, by the National Association of Schools of Music; Graduate Program in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, by the Educational Standards Board of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; Dietetics, by the American Dietetics Association; and Counselor Education, by Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Radford University holds membership in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Virginia Association of Colleges, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the National Commission on Accrediting, Inc., the Southern Regional Education Board Council of Collegiate Education for Nursing, the National League for Nursing Council of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs, the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools, the Council of Graduate Schools, the Council of Graduate Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders, the Association for Continuing Higher Education and the North American Association of Summer Sessions. Academic Year and Organization The university year is divided into two semesters, August to December (fall semester) and January to May (spring semester); and four summer sessions. Students may enter the university at the opening of either semester or summer session. Students who wish to complete their academic careers in three calendar years are encouraged to enter in June and should plan to attend summer sessions for at least three years. The university is composed of seven colleges: College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Economics, College of Education and Human Development, Waldron College of Health and Human Services, College of Information Science and Technology, College of Visual and Performing Arts, and the College of Graduate and Extended Education. The chief administrative officer of each college is its dean, who reports to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Each academic department within a given college is responsible for the content and prerequisites of courses offered by the department and specifies the requirements for the department's degree and certification programs. The chairperson is the chief administrative officer at the department level. Extended Education The division coordinates off-campus credit courses and noncredit professional development programs and serves as an advocate for adult learners on and off campus. The office coordinates the partnership projects with Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke and the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon. Other Services for which the division is responsible include summer school, the Adult Degree Program, Conference Services, Experiential Learning Programs and Services, Distance Education, and several projects relating to adult education and literacy. For general information about any of these services and activities, contact the Division of Extended Education at (540) 831-5483. For specific information and assistance in any of these areas, contact each office coordinator as follows: Virginia Western Community College Partnership Project at (540) 857-6123 Adult Degree Program at (540) 831-5952 Conference Services at (540) 831-5845 Adult Literacy Projects at (540) 831-6207 Radford University Foundation, Inc. The Radford University Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit corporation chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1972, was established to strengthen the role of private assistance to Radford University. Each year, the Foundation receives gifts from alumni, friends, students, parents, businesses, corporations, and foundations to support a variety of important university programs. This financial support aids in completing vital projects which are not possible through state appropriations. The Foundation is managed by a Board of Directors composed of 24 individuals representing alumni, friends, businesses, faculty, staff and the community. The Foundation, through its Board of Directors, invests and dispenses all monies received, taking into consideration the desires of the donors, the needs of the university, and programs contributing to the general welfare of the students. Radford University Alumni Association Established in 1920, the RU Alumni Association serves more than 40,000 members. The association is governed by elected officers and an appointed executive council of alumni volunteers which holds meetings annually. The mission of the association is to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship between alumni and RU. It strives to educate alumni, students, faculty and others of the university's ideas, objectives, and needs. A student organization, The Radford University Ambassadors, serves as the official student-alumni link and assists the association with major events such as Homecoming, reunions, fundraising, and outreach. RU, the magazine of Radford University, is published throughout the year with important university information for alumni, parents and friends.

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