The Radford University Board of Visitors met May 3-4, 2012, in conjunction with the university's Spring Commencement ceremonies.

At its meeting on Friday, May 4, the board approved an increase of 3.2 percent in tuition and fees for in-state undergraduate students, marking the lowest increase in 11 years. The rates were possible because of the additional general fund support proposed by Governor Bob McDonnell and the Virginia General Assembly, new student enrollment growth, and through the internal reallocation of institutional resources.

"The board's action allows the university to continue our essential six-year plan initiatives while remaining one of the most affordable public institutions in the Commonwealth," President Penelope W. Kyle said. "Ensuring the university's academic excellence and exceptional student services remains our highest priority."

Total in-state undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees will increase $270 or 3.2 percent for the 2012-13 academic year, while out-of-state undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees will increase $682 or 3.5 percent. Total annual tuition and mandatory fees for graduate students will increase $296 or 3.3 percent for in-state students and $622 for out-of-state students, a 3.5 percent increase.

To proactively address the financial challenges facing the institution, Radford University plans to continue partnering with the state to meet the goals outlined in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011 by increasing enrollment, continuing to identify efficiencies, focusing on retention and degree completion, and strengthening development efforts to encourage external support through sponsored programs and private fundraising activities.

 The board also took the following actions at its meeting:

• Elected alumna Linda K. Whitley-Taylor of Virginia Beach as rector and Milton C. Johns of Gainesville as vice rector of the Radford University Board of Visitors. Whitley-Taylor, a 1986 graduate of Radford University, is Executive Vice President of Human Resources at Amerigroup in Virginia Beach.  Johns is a partner in the law firm of Day & Johns PLLC, which has offices in Gainesville and Manassas, and is chair at large for the Prince William County School Board.  Both appointments are effective July 1 for the ensuing year.

• Elected Emily Redd, a senior English major from Galax and President of the Student Government Association, as the non-voting advisory student member to the Radford University Board of Visitors, effective July 1, for the ensuing year.

• Approved the tenure of 21 faculty members.

• Approved Radford University's Crisis and Emergency Operation Plan.

• Approved the university's commitment to continue Level II Authority.

• Approved the financing in 2012 of the construction of the Student Fitness and Wellness Center through the issuance of 9(d) bonds and the renovation of Washington Hall through the issuance of 9(c) bonds.

• Confirmed the delegation of authority for personnel matters to the Governance and Administration Committee of the Board.

The board also heard the following:

• A report from Milton C. Johns, chair of the Academic Affairs Committee.

• A report from J. Brandon Bell, chair of the Business Affairs and Marketing Committee.

• A report from Linda K. Whitley-Taylor, chair of the Governance and Administration Committee.

• A report from Darius A. Johnson, chair of the Student Affairs Committee.

• A report from Nancy E. Artis, chair of the University Advancement and Alumni Relations Committee.

• A report from Matthew B. Crisp, board liaison to the Radford University Foundation.

• A report from Richard Roth, Faculty Senate president and faculty representative to the board.

• A report from Megan Rhodes, student representative to the board.

• A report on the university’s guns/weapons policy from President Kyle and Senior Assistant Attorney General Ron Forehand.

 President Kyle reported to members of the board:

• A team of reviewers for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools was on campus the week of March 25 as part of the process to reaffirm Radford University's accreditation. The team met with students, faculty, staff and administrators for a review that included feedback on the Quality Enhancement Plan. The university has now received the reviewers' feedback and will implement the plan over the next 10 years.

• Richard D. Brown, Virginia's secretary of finance, was at Radford March 22 as a guest of the campus chapter of the Financial Management Association International.

• Educator Ken Carter, subject of the 2005 feature film "Coach Carter," was the keynote speaker at the 13th annual McGlothlin Celebration of Teaching on April 19.  

• Women's History Month was observed in March, honoring RU's 38 distinguished women of 2012 through posters featured across campus and a closing reception on March 29 in the Covington Center.

• Deborah J. Robinson joined the university March 5 as vice president for university advancement. Her first objectives are meeting the internal and external leadership of the university, assessing staff, policies and procedures, and working to ensure that advancement reaches its fundraising goal of $6 million this fiscal year.

• Radford University has once again been named one of the most environmentally responsible campuses in the United States and Canada. The Princeton Review named RU as one of 10 Virginia schools in its second annual "Guide to 322 Green Colleges."

• The university has partnered with Enterprise Rent-A-Car to launch WeCar, a car-sharing program that offers students an environmentally friendly alternative to keeping a car on campus.

• Radford University won two Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards April 11 at the Environment Virginia Symposium, including one of four bronze awards in the project implementation category for its installation of a magnetic bearing chiller in Preston Hall.

• Renovations were completed on Calhoun Hall as the new home for the Department of Human Resources, and the new building is fully compliant with requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

• Preparations are being made to begin migrating all alumni mailboxes to Live@Edu. Communication with every alumnus with an account at RU will be coordinated with the Office of Alumni Relations.

• Plans are under way to upgrade the audio systems in several venues on campus, including Preston Auditorium, the museum and foyer in the Covington Center, Muse Banquet Hall and Hurlburt Auditorium.

• Construction on the Department of Physical Therapy's new space on the eighth floor of Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital is ahead of schedule and targeted for completion in early June.

The next board meeting will be Sept. 13-14, 2012, at Radford University.