RADFORD -- Radford University has become only the second university in Virginia to be awarded Level II status – an achievement that grants RU greater autonomy from the state in day-to-day activities concerning procurement and information technology.

The July 8 decision by the state culminates a year of work by the university to receive Level II status, a benchmark created by the 2005 Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act that extends autonomy in areas such as capital building projects, procurement and personnel.

To qualify for this autonomy and financial incentives, institutions of higher education must commit themselves formally to meeting a series of state policy objectives:

• Access to higher education, including meeting enrollment demand;
• Affordability, regardless of income;
• Provide a broad range of academic programs;
• Maintain high academic standards;
• Improve student retention and progress toward timely graduation;
• Develop uniform articulation agreements with community colleges;
• Stimulate economic development, and for those seeking further autonomy, assume additional responsibility for economic development in distressed areas;
• Prepare a six-year financial plan;
• And meet financial and administrative management standards.

While the state’s biggest schools – Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia and the College of William and Mary – are all designated Level III institutions with the most autonomy, Radford University joins only James Madison University with Level II status in the areas of procurement and information technology.

“This distinction validates our mission and commitment to administrative excellence while also saving both the university and state taxpayers precious financial resources,” said Radford University President Penelope W. Kyle. "I applaud the RU departments of finance and administration and information technology for their determination in bringing this effort to fruition.”

For Radford University, Level II authority:

• Recognizes the university as qualified and capable to manage its academic and administrative affairs more efficiently and effectively;
• Maintains and further expands autonomy from the Virginia Information Technology Agency (VITA), the state agency that oversees information technology policy and operations for the Commonwealth;
• Eliminates the monthly reporting requirement for IT purchases greater than $100,000;
• Eliminates the requirement for approval by VITA to use General Services Administration (GSA) contracts for information technology and telecommunications procurements;
• Eliminates sole source reporting requirement for purchases greater than $10,000;
• Increases threshold for small purchases to $50,000 for all goods and services, including professional services;
• And stabilizes the university's procurement rules and regulations for the initial period of three years.

About Radford University:

Radford University is recognized as a Top 20 Public Master's University in the South by the US News and World Report and a 2009 "Best College in the Southeast" by Princeton Review. Located in the heart of the New River Valley, Virginia, RU features a student body of approximately 9,200, nationally recognized faculty-student collaborations, and a dynamic curriculum of more than 140 undergraduate and graduate programs. In the last year alone, RU has opened a state-of-the-art visual and performing arts center and welcomed three new graduate programs: doctoral degrees in nursing practice and physical therapy and a master’s in occupational therapy. Outside the classroom, RU supports a culturally diverse student population through a wealth of co-curricular activities and events,outstanding NCAA Division I athletics and a commitment to environmental sustainability.