President Kyle hosts Q&A with families
Radford University President Penelope W. Kyle welcomed RU family members to Saturday’s "Conversation with the President" as part of the many events in conjunction with the recent 2013 Family Weekend.
"We’ve had an extraordinary fall here at Radford and I'm thrilled you could join us for the weekend," Kyle said to the assembled family members.
After an update on happenings around campus, the president took questions from the curious families, which were comprised of many freshmen parents, who traveled both from around Virginia and out-of-state.
"Parents often get here for orientation or Family Weekend and they want to connect with someone so they can ask some questions," Kyle said. "I've hosted this event for the last several years so you'll have a chance to get those questions answered."
Questions about topics such as on-campus housing, academics, advising, work-study and internship opportunities, campus safety and student activity opportunities were raised by the group. Kyle was joined at the conversation by Sam Minner, provost and vice president of academic affairs, and Mark Shanley, vice president of student affairs, to answer the variety of questions that were posed.
Marcie and Keith Slayton with President Kyle after the Conversation with the President program. They are the parents of Dylan Slayton, a first year Sophomore from Appomattox.
They engaged the crowd for about an hour before breaking for a reception outside the auditorium hosted by the president. By the time coffee was served, many of the attendees had a new perspective on life at RU.
"This was such a great opportunity and we got a lot of information we didn't even think to ask about," said Dannye Ivey of Vienna, Va. Ivey, who was in attendance with her husband Jim and has two sons at RU, sophomore Kevin and freshman Brad.
"We didn't attend last year when our first son came to Radford, but now we know how useful that could have been. Radford is a great school and we're very impressed with it so far," she said.
Keith and Leslie Sibick of Nokesville, Va. were also visiting a son, sophomore transfer student Stephen, when they decided to join the conversation.
"The opportunity to have real, genuine access to the administration was excellent," Keith Sibick said. He was impressed by the availability of the president and the staff in addressing the questions put forth by their guests. "Based on what Stephen tells us, he loves it here and I can see why."
One parent offered an endorsement and emphatic recommendation. "This was a wonderful event," Leslie Sibick said. "The president needs to keep doing this every year!"