Board of Visitors briefed on university initiatives in December meetings

The Radford University Board of Visitors gathered on campus for a series of committee meetings on Dec. 1, 2022, and a full board meeting the next day in which members received reports from university representatives, including administrators, faculty, staff and students.

Radford President Bret Danilowicz spoke early in the full board meeting on Friday, Dec. 2, providing an overview “of the significant changes underway at the institution,” including open cabinet-level positions which will be filled soon.

The president said the university is looking to bring many enrollment management functions back under the university's control instead of utilizing outside corporations and agencies. “There are a lot of changes that are underway, from taking what is now supported externally and bringing it back on campus,” he said. One such measure is to restructure the Radford.edu homepage to focus on enrollment.

In addition, the university is expanding competency-based education beyond certificates and into degree programs. This will provide “a new opportunity for individuals to continue to receive higher education and place them into the workforce, which is greatly needed across our state,” Danilowicz noted.

The president also briefed the board about potential adjustments to the faculty handbook that could lead to improved faculty engagement with students, which will continue to make those engagements distinctive within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

A joint strategic leadership committee has been established, Danilowicz said, to examine priorities for program growth at Radford University Carilion (RUC) in Roanoke, Virginia, and a new RUC building.

The president informed the board that he and other college and university leaders within the Virginia Council of Presidents have “written a statement expressing our collective agreement in the support of freedom of expression on our campuses.” Radford has launched a civil discourse and freedom of expression task force aimed at improving freedom of expression on campus. The goal, President Danilowicz said, is to have actionable recommendations by the end of the spring semester.

The president provided an overview of government relations, including his participation in the Virginia Council of Presidents’ meetings with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to discuss higher education priorities and “mutual matters of interests,” he said. Danilowicz said he is continuing to meet with Virginia General Assembly members, providing them with updates about the university and advocating for our budget priorities.

Radford University students, faculty and staff will be in Richmond, Virginia, from Jan. 31 to Feb.1, 2023, for Advocacy Day. This day provides students with an opportunity to visit the Virginia capitol and promote the university to members of the Virginia General Assembly and engage with state leaders. “Members of the board are encouraged to participate,” Danilowicz said.

Following the president’s report, Merrie Winfrey, J.D., and Sarah Kennedy, Ph.D., provided the board with an update to the university’s Quality Enhancement Plan, which is included in Radford’s 10-year Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) reaccreditation. The new QEP is called RISE: Realizing Inclusive Student Excellence –Highlanders RISE Together! Winfrey and Kennedy serve as co-chairs of the QEP Development Committee and work along with about 45 faculty and students.

Faculty Representative to the Board, Kurt Gingrich, Ph.D., provided an overview of the 2022 Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) survey distributed to faculty for feedback on such areas as research, teaching, faculty support, benefits, mentoring, tenure and promotion policies, leadership and governance, department engagement and appreciation and recognition. The survey revealed areas of concern and strengths. This is “great knowledge for us to have,” Gingrich, a professor of history, said.

Michaela Baker, the board’s student representative, provided an update on her initiatives, which included a recent virtual town hall meeting for campus clubs and organizations. Her goals, she said, for the remainder of the academic year are to develop a campus-engagement survey and continue to meet with student leaders to discuss the best solutions to serve students through campus clubs and organizations. “The students who aren’t as engaged are the ones I’m really trying to reach and understand why they might not be as involved,” she said.

Before the board’s full meeting on Friday, members actively engaged in separate committees on Thursday, Dec. 1, to receive in-depth reports from campus administrators.

Academic Excellence and Research Committee

Led by chair Rachel D. Fowlkes, Ed.D., the Academic Excellence and Research Committee heard a report on the 10-year Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) reaccreditation process, which will include an on-campus SACSCOC review March 27-30, 2023. Laura Jacobsen, Ph.D., interim dean of University Libraries, led the board in discussing concerns about textbooks and materials costs for students and how the university can help reduce those costs through open educational resources. The committee also received a list of some of the many awards Radford students and faculty have received in the past few months. Artis College students Elizabeth Lee, Kiersten Smith and Marcella Gray gave the committee a presentation about their current research.

Advancement, University Relations and Enrollment Management Committee

Led by Chair Lisa Throckmorton ‘94, the committee received an enrollment management update from Craig Cornell, vice president for Enrollment Management. His report covered current enrollment strategies aligned with the 2022-23 goals. Cornell shared an update on current application behaviors as they align with the goal of leveling off new student enrollments for the fall 2023 semester, specifically those that pertain to freshmen and transfer applications and deposits.

He provided an overview of the need- and merit-based financial aid awarding programs that Radford uses.

Interim Vice President for Advancement and University Relations Penny Helms White updated the committee on the Together capital campaign progress. As of Oct. 31, $88.8 million had been raised, and 133 new scholarships have been established, bringing the total to more than 600.

Vice President for Economic Development and Corporate Education Angela Joyner, Ph.D., spoke to the committee about a brand-strategy project underway that is aimed toward positively impacting enrollment and retention.

Business Affairs and Audit Committee

Led by chair Marquett Smith ’85, the committee received from University Auditor Margaret McManus a quarterly review of the university’s discretionary fund, saying Radford is in good standing. She also presented a revised fiscal year 2023 audit plan. Stephanie Jennelle, interim vice president for Finance and Administration and chief financial officer, provided an update on university capital and infrastructure projects, including the under-construction Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity.

Radford University Chief of Police Eric Plummer gave the committee an overview of the department, explaining its mission and officer training, among other topics.

Governance, Administration and Athletics Committee

Led by chair David A. Smith ’85, M.S. ‘87, the committee received a report from Joyner on several important economics initiatives, such as increasing the number of applied learning opportunities available to Radford University students. These scaffolded experiences, Joyner said, can increase career readiness, reduce talent acquisition costs for employers and provide alternative revenue streams for the university. She also addressed how Radford University is addressing nursing and teacher shortages through Project Nightingale and Project Schoolhouse. Both will incorporate a competency-based education process and are targeted for a 2023 launch.

Director of Athletics Robert Lineburg provided an update on fall sports – including the women’s soccer team advancing to postseason play – the department’s community partnerships with local elementary schools, resources development for athletics and how the NCAA’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) impacts Radford and its intercollegiate student-athletes.

Student Success Committee

Led by chair Mark S. Lawrence, the committee heard an update from Student Government President Justine McLaughlin concerning SGA initiatives and programming. The SGA has added two cabinet and seven senate positions and has hosted a number of events so far this academic year. One of the goals for the events is to create a sense of belonging through relationship building, she said.

Vice President for Student Affairs Susan Trageser gave an update on her office’s goals, which include work to improve support for first-generation students at Radford. The committee heard a report concerning the Center for Opportunity and Social Mobility, which was established in the fall of 2021 to support first-generation students. Senior communication major Sydney Jackson and junior psychology major Chelsea Alonso spoke to the committee about their experiences as first-generation students.

Nicole Hendrix, Ph.D., assistant provost for undergraduate education, spoke to the committee about the new Highlander Success Center, which some of the board members toured the day before. The center is a combination of the offices of Student Connections (formerly New Student and Family Programs), Academic Advising (formerly the Academic Success Center), Student Retention (formerly Student Success) and Career and Talent Development.

The next Radford University Board of Visitors meeting is set for March 23-24, 2022.