Radford University
Graduate Catalog
for 1999-2000

General Information

Radford University is a coeducational, comprehensive public university with highly diverse curricula for undergraduates and selected graduate programs. The university limits enrollment to ensure continuing close interaction between students and faculty and to maintain other advantages of a medium-sized university.

The Graduate College offers 44 programs of study at the master's and specialist levels. These programs provide advanced and specialized courses of study, supervised practicum experiences and opportunities for research. The university has an outstanding, nationally recruited faculty, 83 percent of whom hold doctorates or other terminal degrees in their teaching fields. While their primary focus is on the teaching and learning process, the faculty also are engaged in significant scholarly, creative, and public service activities.

Radford University is located in a small city (population 16,500) in the New River Valley, close to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The university atmosphere is residential. Most students live in university residence halls or in private accommodations within walking distance of the campus. The university grounds and facilities are conveniently arranged, beautifully maintained and effectively designed to meet the academic, personal and extracurricular needs and interests of the students.

MISSION

Radford University serves the Common-wealth and the nation through a wide range of academic, cultural, human service and research programs. First and foremost, the university emphasizes teaching and learning and the process of learning in its commitment to the development of mature, responsible, well-educated citizens. Toward this end, the university is student-focused and promotes a sense of caring and of meaningful interaction among all members of the university community. Research is viewed as a vital corollary to the teaching and learning transaction as it sustains and enhances the ability to teach effectively. Radford University believes in the dynamics of change and has a strong commitment to continuous review, evaluation and improvement in the curriculum and all aspects of the university, so as to meet the changing needs of society.

UNIVERSITY PRIORITIES

1. Increase student enrollment, progression, and graduation.

a. Develop an enrollment management plan to increase enrollment based on distinctive program strengths and capacities and to stabilize enrollment by college and graduate programs.

b. Make Radford the institution of choice for a more diverse student body.

c. Improve student acceptance-to-matriculation rates.

d. Advance among benchmark institutions in both graduation and retention rates.

e. Expose a larger number of prospective students, parents, and guidance couselors to RU's campus and faculty.

f. Attract more academically and artistcally talented students.

g. Enhance Radford's institutional attractiveness by improving faculty and staff interactions with students.

h. Expand involvement of faculty, students, staff, and alumni in recruitment activities.

2. Enhance the quality of student life and stimulate social development.

a. Increase student involvement in developmental, social and volunteer activities which will foster a connection with the RU campus and complement classroom learning.

b. Promote student appreciation of cultural and individual differences and the heritage of the surrounding community.

c. Make student support services more reflective and supportive of traditional and non-traditional student needs within a community of learners.

d. Upgrade facilities to enhance the "Community of Learners" and foster student connections with the RU campus.

e. Continue to provide a healthy, safe, and friendly campus environment.

f. Promote school spirit, pride, and unity.

g. Enhance and expand the university's intercollegiate, club, and intramural sports programs.

3. Recognize and promote existing academic programs and scholarship.

a. Enhance RU's reputation as a creative, flexible, and responsive institution.

b. Support and expand a community of active, committed teachers/scholars.

c. Ensure that all students experience an integrated, comprehensive learning program.

d. Ensure that RU remains responsive to the community, accountable to the state, and engaged in steady and positive change.

e. Emphasize RU's comparative advantage and meet standards that bring recognition to the university.

f. Promote a strong liberal education as the foundation for life-long learning.

g. Ensure graduates have concentrated academic experiences in their fields of study to allow them to excel as employees, graduate students, and citizens.

4. Expand the curriculum to increase innovative academic programs and activities.

a. Position RU to become a leader in innovative teaching focused on learning in a variety of formats, locations, technologies, media, and time periods.

b. Ensure that RU is fully prepared for participation in a global society.

c. Enhance the capacities of students from all backgrounds and abilities to achieve their fullest potential.

d. Promote social and intellectual developments through a model community of students and scholars.

e. Expand the use of technology-based education.

f. Support the expansion of alternative, experiential, and off-campus instruction.

g. Identify and implement Centers of Excellence which bring distinction to Radford University.

5. Upgrade and maintain physical resources and facilities.

a. Capitalize on RU's location as a place for learning.

b. Design new facilities and renovations to support active learning, creative scholarship, and close faculty-student relationships.

c. Use existing and future space efficiently and effectively.

d. Attract funding for capital projects and facilities development.

e. Develop technological enhancements to living, learning, and work spaces that reflect the priorities for all of the university constituencies.

6. Ensure careful fiscal planning and thorough, efficient management.

a. Link resource allocation to strategic planning.

b. Reduce costs while maintaining levels of service and productivity.

c. Provide faculty and staff development opportunities to facilitate full use of technology.

d. Continue to meet the Management Standards for Financial Excellence established by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

e. Improve management effectiveness.

7. Increase financial support through fund raising and conservation of resources.

a. Fund critical priorities through careful consideration and planned reallocation of internal resources.

b. Ensure that state support for RU is comparable to other benchmark institutions.

c. Increase alumni support for annual and planned giving.

d. Pursue grants, contracts, and sponsored programs.

e. Plan effectively for a capital campaign.

8. Enhance internal and external relations.

a. Create communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and planning processes that include all constituent groups.

b. Continue to promote a positive work climate among faculty, staff and students.

c. Provide stronger partnership programs and service to southwestern Virginia.

d. Strengthen RU's role as a community resource.

e. Enhance the image and position of RU among targeted constituencies.

f. Increase community awareness of issues facing the university.

g. Strengthen parental involvement with and support for RU.

HISTORY

Radford University was established by the General Assembly as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women in 1910 and has been in continuous session since its 1913 opening. The university became Radford State Teachers College in 1924 and was authorized to award the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1935. In 1944, the university was consolidated with the Virginia Polytechnic Institute as its Women's Division and renamed Radford College. The General Assembly severed the formal affiliation of Radford College with Virginia Tech in 1964, and an autonomous administration was established for Radford College. The college also was authorized to grant the Master of Science degree. In 1972, after almost 60 years as an all-women's college, Radford became coeducational and in 1979 was granted university status by the General Assembly.

Today, Radford University is a coeducational, comprehensive institution with undergraduate and graduate programs. In the last 20 years, the enrollment has increased dramatically. During fall 1998, enrollment in on- and off-campus program was 8,368, of which 1,132 were graduate students.

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS

Dr. John Preston McConnell - 1911-1937
Dr. David Wilbur Peters - 1938-1951
Dr. Charles Knox Martin Jr. - 1952-1972
Chancellor, 1972-73
President Emeritus, 1973-1987
Dr. Donald Newton Dedmon - 1972-1994
Dr. Douglas Covington, 1995-

LOCATION AND CAMPUS

Radford University is located in the city of Radford, 36 miles southwest of Roanoke, Va., on Lee Highway and I-81. The university's 177-acre campus is in a residential section of the city of 16,500. Most of the university's 21 administrative, academic and student service buildings and 15 residence halls are located on two large quadrangles in a 76-acre area.

Natural forest growth, unusual rock formations, the surrounding hills and the New River provide a scenic setting for the university. Radford is not completely immune to the extremes of summer and winter weather, but the climate is basically temperate, with hot days and cool nights in the summer and cool to cold weather in the winter. Fall and spring months in the Appalachian Highlands bring some of the most enjoyable weather to be found anywhere on the East coast. Points of interest to the visitor of Radford and the surrounding areas include Claytor Lake and the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, which is 45 minutes from the campus. Claytor Lake, located off Interstate 81 in Pulaski County, offers picnicking, camping, boating, swimming, hiking and horseback riding areas.

In addition to Radford's main campus, the university Foundation owns a 376-acre tract of land known as the Selu Conservancy. The land, which borders the Little River and is located about five miles southeast of the campus, was received in two separate donations. John H. Bowles donated the original 185 acres in the fall of 1989; four additional members of the Bowles family donated 191 acres of adjacent land in the spring of 1991. Through various campus departments, students are able to use this continuous tract in studies of ecology and botany, mapping geological features, as a model in resource management and maintenance formation on actual building techniques as well as cultural and oral histories. In addition to its educational opportunities, the conservancy offers a glimpse of Southwest Virginia's distinctive landscape and resources. The Selu Conservancy Retreat opened in the fall of 1997.

HIGHLANDER THEME

The influence of the Scottish immigrants who settled Southwestern Virginia more than 300 years ago is visible today in many areas of the university. These people were characterized by "firmness of decision, resourcefulness, ardor in friendship, love of country and a generous enthusiasm." Radford's athletic teams celebrate that heritage by proudly carrying the Highlander name into competition.

In the spring of 1978 the university adopted as its school colors the red, navy and forest green woven into tartan plaid. From the plaid comes the name of the student newspaper, The Tartan.

ACCREDITATION AND MEMBERSHIPS

Radford University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's, master's and educational specialist degrees.

Individual program accreditation has been granted to the following programs:

• Business Administration - by the AACSB (the International Association for Manage-ment Education).
• Counselor Education - by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for community counseling, school counseling and student affairs practice (counseling emphasis)
• Teacher and other Professional Education (all programs) - by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
• Nursing - by the National League for Nursing and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing
• Physical and Health Education - by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)
• Social Work - by the Council of Social Work Education
• Music - by the National Association of Schools of Music
• Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology - by the Educational Standards Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Radford University holds membership in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Virginia Association of Colleges, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the National Commission on Accrediting, Inc., the Southern Regional Education Board Council of Collegiate Education for Nursing, the National League for Nursing Council of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs, the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools, the Council of Graduate Schools, the Council of Graduate Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders, the Association for Continuing Higher Education, the University Continuing Education Association, the North American Association of Summer Sessions, and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.

ROANOKE VALLEY GRADUATE CENTER

Radford University is an active participant in the Roanoke Valley Graduate Center, along with other area institutions including Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the University of Virginia, Roanoke College, Hollins College and Virginia Western Community College. Radford offers graduate credit courses and non-credit professional development workshops at the Center.

The Center, located on Church Avenue in the heart of downtown Roanoke, serves the graduate and professional needs of the Roanoke Valley community. The Center features high-quality classrooms and modern telecommunication capabilities.

For more information about the various programs offered, call the Graduate Studies office at (540) 831-5431.

THE SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER

Located in Abingdon, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center was established by the General Assembly in 1991 to strengthen the economy of the region through education and training of the current future workforce. Five institutions of higher education provide undergraduate and graduate courses and programs and are recognized as partners in the center:Radford University, the University of Virginia at Wise, Virginia Highlands Community College, Virginia Tech, and the University of Virginia. Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University, George Mason University, and Emory and Henry College also participate in the Center. Radford University initiated programming in the Center in January, 1997 and continues to be actively involved in program development and administration in the Center. At the present time, graduate programs are offered at the Center in Social Work, Counselor Education, and Educational Leadership. Plans are also being developed to schedule special institutes, primarily for teachers, during the summer months.

ACADEMIC YEAR

The university year is divided into two semesters, August to December (fall semester) and January to May (spring semester); and four summer sessions. Students may enter the university at the opening of either semester or summer session, pending approval of the department to which the student is applying.

ACADEMIC ORGANIZATION

The university is composed of six colleges: the College of Graduate and Extended Education, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Economics, College of Education and Human Development, Waldron College of Health and Human Services, and the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The chief administrative officer of each college is its dean, who reports to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Each academic department within a given college is responsible for the content and prerequisites of courses offered by the department and specifies the requirements for the department's degree and certification programs. The chairperson is the chief administrative officer at the department level.

EXTENDED EDUCATION

Based on the belief that learning is a lifelong process, Radford University's College of Graduate and Extended Education actively promotes and enhances the university's mission of teaching and learning, research and community service. The office staff responds to constituency needs by developing, managing and assisting with a diverse array of academic programs.

The college coordinates off-campus degree programs, credit courses and noncredit professional development programs and serves as an advocate for adult learners on and off campus. The office also coordinates the partnership projects with Virginia Western Community College and the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Continuing Education Office at (540) 831-5249.

UNIVERSITY NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICIES

Radford University does not discriminate with regard to race, color, sex, sexual preference, disability, age, veteran status, national origin, religion, or political affiliation in the administration of its educational programs, activities, admission or employment practices.

The university has adopted policies to provide for prompt and equitable resolution of discrimination complaints. The Discrimination Complaint Procedures describes the grievance procedure for students who have experienced discrimination. The Sexual Harassment Policy further defines sex discrimination by including examples of sexual harassment and a statement concerning consensual relationships between university employees and students. The Accommodation Procedure for Individuals with Disabilities confirms the university's commitment to providing accessibility to its programs, services, and activities for individuals with disabilities who are otherwise qualified and entitled to a reasonable accommodation.

Individuals who believe they may have experienced discrimination, but are uncertain as to whether a complaint is justified or whether they wish to initiate a formal complaint, may discuss their concerns confidentially and informally with the Director of Personnel/Equal Opportunity. Students may also consult a staff member at the Center for Counseling and Student Development or the Office of the Dean of Students.

Only acts of discrimination committed by university employees in connection with their university employment may be reviewed through these policies and procedures. The term "employee" refers to any faculty, staff or graduate student employee. All other cases of alleged discrimination, in which the violation is committed by a student, are adjudicated by the university's student judicial system.

Copies of the complete policy statements including procedures for resolving complaints are available in the Office of the Dean of Students, Center for Counseling and Student Development, and Personnel/Equal Opportunity Office.

Inquiries may be directed to the Director of Personnel/Equal Opportunity at 704 Clement Street. Telephone: (voice) (540) 831-5421; (hearing impaired) (540) 831-5128.

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