College councils discuss progress at Radford

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COBE Advisory Board Chair J.P. Beckham '87 speaks during the college's advisory council meeting on Oct. 10.

Several Radford University advisory groups convened during Alumni Homecoming and Family Weekend.

The College of Science and Technology (CSAT) Advisory Council, the College of Business and Economics Advisory Council and the College of Humanities of Behavioral Sciences (CHBS) Advisory Board met individually on Oct. 10 for updates about their respective colleges.

The councils meet at various times throughout the academic year and act as an important link between the university and the professional world. Council members represent a wide range of professions and RU alumni. Such outside knowledge is valuable to the colleges' commitment to educating students and preparing them for future careers.

"The members serve as exemplary role models for our students and resource people for our programs and the Dean’s office, said CSAT Dean Orion Rogers. "These successful scientific and business professionals are actively engaged in the life of our college and as CSAT achieves new heights of success, their dedication and service to our students and faculty are greatly appreciated."

At the CSAT meeting, the council heard about the expansive efforts of the college's faculty and student community. The college's nine departments – anthropological sciences, biology, chemistry, geology, information technology, mathematics and statistics, physics and the Radford University Forensic Science Institute – all provided updates. Matti Hamed, president of the RU STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering Medicine) Club – also updated the Council on its program of work. Among the topics covered were student research projects, departmental outreach activities, unique retention initiatives, faculty and alumni achievements and promising opportunities for growth of the college.

The CHBS board heard updates from Dean Kate Hawkins on the progress of the new CHBS building, discussed the establishment of CHBS Alumni and Posthumous Alumni Awards and explored expansions of regional alumni volunteer recruitment efforts, internships and work-study opportunities.

CHBS advisory board member Kathy Johnson '71 said the board serves as an important tool to connect students with alumni and professionals, particularly following their academic careers.

Dean Hawkins echoed Johnson's sentiments.

"They provide generous support and guidance for our students in many ways, from networking with professionals in their areas of interest to arranging for high-quality internships to positioning our students for that all-important first destination position upon graduation from RU," Hawkins said.

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COBE's Student Managed Investment Portfolio Organization (SMIPO) Board discusses possible scholarships for SMIPO students as well as strategies toward increasing interaction between the organization's current student members and its alumni.

During the COBE meeting, the council nominated new members, discussed the COBE's inaugural Executive-in-Residence program and explored avenues by which the council can be more involved in providing internship or job opportunities for COBE students.

"We rely on the expert advice of our council to make sure that our academic programs are firmly grounded on the needs of employers, and that we are being responsive to the changing environment of business," said COBE Dean George Low. "The laboratory of business is the real world, so it is vitally important that everything we do is plugged in to it."

COBE's Student Managed Investment Portfolio Organization (SMIPO) Board also met Oct. 10 to discuss possible scholarships for SMIPO students and strategies toward increasing interaction between the organization’s current student members and its alumni.

The board serves in an advisory capacity and is comprised mostly of former SMIPO members.

Oct 15, 2014