RUlogoRU logoRadford University
Undergraduate Catalog
for 1999-2000

General Information

Radford University is a coeducational, comprehensive public university with highly diverse curricula for undergraduates and selected graduate programs. Undergraduate majors include 112 program options in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business and Economics, Education and Human Development, Health and Human Services, and Visual and Performing Arts. The College of Graduate and Extended Education offers 45 programs of study at the master's and specialist levels. These programs provide advanced and specialized courses of study, supervised practicum experiences and opportunities for research. The university has an outstanding nationally recruited faculty, 82 percent of whom hold doctorates or other terminal degrees in their teaching fields. While their primary focus is on the teaching and learning process, the faculty also are engaged in significant scholarly, creative, and public service activities.

Radford University is located in the city of Radford (population 16,500), 36 miles southwest of Roanoke, Va., on Lee Highway and I-81 in the New River Valley, close to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The university atmosphere is residential. Most students live in university residence halls or in private accommodations within walking distance of the campus. The university grounds and facilities are conveniently arranged, beautifully maintained and effectively designed to meet the academic, personal and extracurricular needs and interests of the students.

Mission
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. Radford University 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:

1. To foster standards of excellence in curriculum and instruction at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
2. To provide a coherent general education curriculum that emphasizes the communication and analytical skills essential for educated citizens.
3. To provide opportunities for multicultural studies and development of global knowledge and experience, and to encourage programs which promote an appreciation of cultural diversity.
4. To create an atmosphere that ensures freedom of inquiry in the teaching and learning process.
5. To promote the development of intellect and aesthetic appreciation through a wide variety of formal and informal academic and cultural opportunities.
6. To emphasize and reward exemplary teaching and, concurrently, to encourage faculty research and other professional activities and contributions.
7. To preserve the highest standard of excellence among the faculty and staff.
8. To provide advising, counseling and academic support services to assist students in meeting their educational goals.
9. To provide programs, services and opportunities that promote student development and enhance the collegiate experience.
10. To promote responsible citizenship.
11. To promote the recruitment and retention of a diverse student body, faculty and staff.
12. To promote widespread participation of the faculty, students and staff in the affairs of the institution.
13. To develop effective, flexible and distributed systems of information technology resources.
14. To assess program effectiveness in order to improve the teaching and learning process.
15. 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.

History
Radford University was established by the General Assembly as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women in 1910 and has been in continuous session since its 1913 opening. The university became Radford State Teachers College in 1924 and was authorized to award the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1935. In 1944, the university was consolidated with the Virginia Polytechnic Institute as its Women's Division and renamed Radford College. The General Assembly severed the formal affiliation of Radford College with Virginia Tech in 1964, and an autonomous administration was established for Radford College. The college also was authorized to grant the Master of Science degree. In 1972, after almost 60 years as an all-women's college, Radford became coeducational and in 1979 was granted university status by the General Assembly.

Today, Radford University is a coeducational, comprehensive institution with undergraduate and graduate programs. In the last 20 years, enrollment has increased dramatically. During the fall of 1998, the enrollment was 8,534 in on- and off-campus programs. Radford's students come from all over the Commonwealth: 40 percent from Southwest; 23 percent from Northern Virginia; 18 percent from Tidewater and Southside; and 13 percent from the Richmond area. The remaining percentage of students come from other states and 43 foreign countries.

University Presidents
Dr. John Preston McConnell, 1911-1937
Dr. David Wilbur Peters, 1938-1951
Dr. Charles Knox Martin Jr., 1952-1972
Chancellor, 1972-73
President Emeritus, 1973-1987
Dr. Donald Newton Dedmon, 1972-1994
Dr. Douglas Covington, 1995-

The Campus
The university's 177-acre campus is in a residential section of the city of Radford. 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 (Norwood 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, hiking and horseback riding 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 American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business; 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 (Bachelor of Science) -- by the Computer Science Accreditation Commission; Social Work (baccalaureate degree) -- by the Council on Social Work Education (master's degree to be accredited spring of 1996); Theatre -- by the National Association of Schools of Theatre; Leisure Services -- 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
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 May or June and should plan to attend summer sessions for at least three years.

Academic Organization
The university is composed of six 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 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 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 area, contact each office coordinator as follows:

  • Virginia Western Community College Partnership Project (540) 857-6123
  • Adult Degree Program (540) 831-5952
  • Conference Services (540) 831-5845
  • Adult Literacy Projects (540) 831-6207

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICIES
Radford University does not discriminate with regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, national origin, religion, or political affiliation in the administration of its educational programs, activities, admission or employment practices. Inquiries may be directed to the Director of Personnel/Equal Opportunity at 704 Clement Street. Telephone: voice, (540) 831-5421; hearing impaired, (540) 831-5128.

The university has adopted policies to provide for prompt and equitable resolution of discrimination complaints. The Discrimination Complaint Procedure describes the grievance procedure for individuals who have experienced discrimination. The Sexual Harassment Policy further defines sex discrimination by including examples of sexual harassment and a statement concerning consensual relationships between university employees and students. The Accommodation Procedure for Individuals with Disabilities confirms the university's commitment to providing accessibility to its programs, services and activities for individuals with disabilities who are otherwise qualified and entitled to a reasonable accommodation.

Individuals who believe they may have experienced discrimination, but are uncertain as to whether a complaint is justified or whether they wish to initiate a formal complaint may discuss their concerns confidentially and informally with the Director of Personnel/Equal Opportunity. Students may also consult a staff member at the Center for Counseling and Student Development or the Office of the Dean of Students.

Only acts of discrimination committed by university employees in connection with their university employment may be reviewed through these policies and procedures. The term "employee" refers to any faculty, staff or graduate student employee. All other cases of alleged discrimination, in which the violation is committed by a student, are adjudicated by the university's student judicial system.

Copies of the complete policy statements including procedures for resolving complaints are available in the Office of the Dean of Students, Center for Counseling and Student Development, and Personnel/Equal Opportunity Office.

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