RICHMOND – The Radford University Board of Visitors today approved an ambitious academic overhaul that will both cut expenses and create innovative programs to better prepare students for the job opportunities of tomorrow.

According to the plan first proposed last week to the Board’s Academic Affairs committee by Provost Wil Stanton, the university will:

• Restructure or merge several academic departments to improve efficiency and better position the university to meet the educational needs of future students;
• Discontinue majors that are not in demand nor aligned with the university’s strategic plan and keep currently unfilled positions in those areas vacant;
• Invest in new, cutting-edge academic offerings.

“This plan will allow us to meet more student demand at a reduced cost and at a higher quality,” said Stanton.

While Gov. Tim Kaine’s proposed 15 percent budget reduction in state funding for higher education prompted the plan, Stanton said, “Our responsibilities are much greater than that. Perhaps of greater importance than meeting a reversion target is creating a solid foundation for Radford University 50 years into the future.”

President Penelope W. Kyle and Stanton began working in December with deans, directors and department heads to address the budget shortfall. In January, Stanton appeared before 370 faculty and staff members to discuss the proposal and answer questions.

“The faculty as a whole are very understanding of the process and appreciative of the process,” Faculty Senate President Steve Owen told the Academic Affairs committee.

Specifics of the plan include:

• Merging the departments of Chemistry and Biology, which will allow for the creation of new degrees;
• Combining the departments of Theatre and Dance into a school to attract more performance students;
• Creating a pioneering School of Environmental and Physical Science under which would be RU’s touted Forensic Science Institute, Department of Geology, Department of Geography, and the Physics program;
• Eliminating underperforming majors.

“The main savings with each of these restructuring initiatives lies in reduced administrative personnel, not faculty,” said board member R.J. Kirk.

In other business:

• Kyle reported to the Board that RU’s Financial Aid Office has seen an increase in the number of students and families contacting the office about financing their education due to the economic downturn, though spring 2009 enrollment stands at 7,337 full-time undergraduate students, up from 7,154 for spring 2008.
• Albert Mah was announced as the first executive director of the RU Foundation. Mah currently serves as Manager of Advancement Operations in the RU Office of University Advancement.
• The board approved a resolution to the Secretary of Finance for the Commonwealth of Virginia certifying that Radford University has no outstanding debt.
• Board member Nelson Harris reported that the Radford University Police Department has been reaccredited by the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Committee, and that, starting in the 2009-2010 academic year, alcohol will not be allowed in any RU residence hall.
• Former State Senator J. Brandon Bell of Roanoke was welcomed as the newest member to the Board.

The Board of Visitors met in Richmond to participate in Thursday’s “Radford University Day” at the General Assembly. Forty students, a group of faculty, Board of Visitors members and Kyle will spend the day meeting with Gov. Kaine and the Commonwealth’s legislators to share the Radford University story.

The next meeting of the Board of Visitors will be April 22-23 at Radford University.