President's Report to the Radford University Board of Visitors
September 4, 2008

Good morning and welcome to the first Board of Visitors meeting of the new academic year.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest members of the Board of Visitors:

• Darius A. Johnson, senior vice-president of Consolidated Bank & Trust in Richmond
• Walter Rugaber, former president and publisher of The Roanoke Times
• Ronald R. Wesley, principal of Reynolds Wesley, PC in Richmond

I look forward to working with each of you.

I would also like to introduce our new Chief of Police, Colleen Roberts, who joined us on August 31st. She comes to us from Christopher Newport University where she has been the deputy chief. She started at CNU as an officer in 1994 and was promoted to Sergeant in 1999 and Lieutenant in 2001. Prior to CNU, Chief Roberts was a Virginia State Police trooper. She received her bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University in 1988 and graduated from the prestigious FBI National Academy for Law Enforcement Administrators in 2006.

As we prepare for the University’s Centennial, I have asked three members of the RU family to lead our Centennial efforts and would like to introduce them today. I call them the tri-chairs of the Centennial. Dr. Claire Waldron will be the “chair of the chairs.” She is joined by Dr. Gary Ellerman, representing our local community and the retired faculty, and by Barbara-lyn Morris, representing our alumni. Jenny Doud will provide staff support.

We also welcome four new deans:

• Dr. Brian Conniff is the founding dean of the College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences. Dean Conniff comes to RU from the University of Dayton, where he was Professor of English and, for the past eight years, Chair of the Department of English.
• Dr. Faye Gilbert, dean of the College of Business and Economics, was previously dean of the J. Whitney Bunting School of Business at Georgia College and State University where she was instrumental in achieving reaffirmation of accreditation by the AACSB in 2007. This experience will be invaluable as she leads RU’s AACSB reaffirmation this year.
• Dr. Dennis Grady joined us in June as dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. He was previously at Appalachian State.
• Dr. Orion Rogers is the founding dean of the College of Science and Technology. Dean Rogers began his RU career in 1994 as an assistant professor. Since then, he was promoted to associate professor, full professor, chair of the biology department, and most recently, interim associate dean of the College of Science and Technology. In addition, Orion has previously served as the Director of the Honors Academy.

We have some other very special guests with us today who will help share some wonderful news with you.

Charlie Robbins, Regional President of BB&T and Allan Funk, Area City Executive for BB&T are here today because The College of Business and Economics at Radford University has just been named the recipient of a $750,000 contribution from BB&T which will be used to encourage a thorough discussion of the moral foundations of capitalism at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The College of Business and Economics at Radford joins 38 other business schools, including Duke, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, North Carolina State and Clemson University, which offer BB&T -funded programs in Capitalism. Charlie was instrumental in helping us navigate the BB&T waters and I want to personally thank him.

The contribution will be used to fund a Radford University proposal which details several new courses, a BB&T Global Capitalism Reading Area in the library, and A BB&T Global Distinguished Lecture series. I might suggest we ask our own alumni and Rector to be the inaugural lecturer. No one supports capitalism and its benefits more than RJ!!!

Dr. Faye Gilbert, the new dean of the College of Business and Economics, will teach one of the new courses, Culture and Capitalism, in the first session which will begin spring 2009. We are very appreciate of this fabulous gift from BB&T and want to extend our gratitude to both Charlie and Allan.

I am also pleased to announce the new Department of Physical Therapy within the Waldron College of Health and Human Service is the recipient of an endowed chair position from Medical Facilities of America. This is truly an historic gift as this is the first endowed chair at Radford University. This endowed chair has been established with a $500,000 contribution. Endowed chairs are used to fund the recruitment and/or retention of faculty of stellar quality. The funds produced by the endowment will be used to provide salary supplements to a new or existing position and may also be used to provide research and/or program support for the Chair holder. The Medical Facilities of America Chair in Physical Therapy will be used to recruit the head of this new graduate program. I would personally like to thank Heywood Fralin, Karen Waldron and Novel Martin for their help with this generous gift.

These two contributions provide a wonderful way to begin our academic year and validate the work we have been doing to further enhance the reputation of Radford University.

These private partnerships will be the all the more important in light of the memorandum we received yesterday from Gov. Kaine’s office. In response to depressing economic indicators, Gov. Kaine has instructed the Secretary of Finance to begin the process to reforecast revenues. The results of that reforecast will be available in early October.

Second, in anticipation of a reduced revenue forecast, Governor Kaine has directed each agency to prepare plans to reduce its budget. To that end, each agency is asked to submit proposed strategies to reduce its budget by five (5) percent, ten (10) percent, and fifteen (15) percent for each year of the biennium.

Multiple reduction plans are requested since the revised revenue estimates are not yet known. We cannot wait until the revised revenue forecast is finished to prepare for budget reductions. The selected percentages are designed to identify a range of actions that may be taken up to the maximum amount (15 percent) that the Governor is permitted to execute under his executive authority.

The memo states:

“As you prepare your reduction plans, I ask that you conduct a comprehensive review of all options, looking in particular at areas where our costs outstrip national norms. We will also need to take a close look at current state policies that might lead to higher costs. It is important to focus on targeted cuts rather than across-the-board reductions. We will continue to do all we can to protect core services, but the need for tough decisions will require examination of all areas of state spending.

“We must also take steps to ensure that we do not degrade essential services that could compromise public safety, health, or welfare. Accordingly, within the next few days, the Department of Planning and Budget will provide detailed instructions which identify the activities and services that fall into this category. These services will be examined separately in the budget process.”

In response to a separate state priority -- that of energy consumption and environmental sustainability -- I have created a Sustainability Advisory Committee chaired by Dr. Dennis Grady. This committee will advise the President’s cabinet and the Board of Visitors on all matters related to RU becoming a truly green campus. Dr. Grady is perfectly suited for this role, having been the lead academic in the University of North Carolina campus system for sustainability. He also chaired the Appalachian State University campus sustainability committee appointed by Chancellor Ken Peacock. As you may know, sustainability is a major initiative at most colleges and universities across the nation. This committee will examine various strategies to help RU to become a green campus and a leader in resource conservation.

Academics

On onday, we welcomed around 1,900 new freshmen to campus. This group of students represents the largest freshman class in more than two decades. Total enrollment of undergraduate and graduate students is expected to reach more than 9,200. Last year, the enrollment was 9,122. According to early estimates, 1,050 of this number are graduate students.

We received a record number 8,850 freshman and transfer student applications. About 92% of RU’s student population is from Virginia. The out-of-state student population hails from more than 25 states across the nation including Hawaii, California, Alaska, South Carolina, New York and Maryland. We welcome 47 new international and exchange students representing 25 countries including Croatia, India and Romania.

We provide students with numerous opportunities to study and learn in many different countries and cultures. This past academic year students participated in programs in more than 15 countries. And we offer numerous foreign language classes, including Mandarin Chinese and, for the first time this academic year, Arabic.

Our commitment to academic distinction is reflected in the ever-increasing number of degrees appropriately awarded by the university. Last academic year, we conferred degrees on 2,263 individuals, and that includes 438 graduate degrees, the second largest class in our history following the previous year’s 2,288. Last year did witness the largest graduating class with master’s degrees at 426.

Radford has also received external recognition, including the distinction of being named one of the best colleges and universities in the Southeast United States by The Princeton Review. I want to quote from the profile on RU that can be found at The Princeton Review website – “Students come to Radford University for the small class sizes, residential community, dedicated professors, and academic excellence.” I can’t think of greater praise or a better validation of our efforts and direction.

Further, Radford University is ranked 14th among public master’s universities in the South in U.S. News and World Report’s 2009 Guide to America’s Best Colleges. RU has been named one of the top 20 public universities in this category for five consecutive years and has been ranked among the top 15 public institutions for the past two years. Among the 121 public and private universities in the south, RU is at number 36, up from 38 in 2008.

RU welcomed its first five Doctoral Students this week, who will be enrolled in our new Doctor of Psychology program in Counseling Psychology. We also gained state approval this year to offer the Masters in Occupational Therapy and the Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees beginning next year and have submitted a proposal for a new Doctor of Nursing Practice degree to begin in 2010. 

Facilities

Radford’s progress in ensuring academic excellence is being matched by our commitment to providing new and exciting facilities on our rapidly evolving campus. Over the past year, we have seen significant advancement in securing the funding we need to construct state of the art buildings and renovate our existing facilities.

Earlier this spring, the Virginia General Assembly approved a bond package that included $34.2 million for a new building for the College of Business and Economics. We will raise $10 million in private funds in support of this project for a total of $44.2 million dedicated to the new home for COBE. Radford is also the recipient of $1.5 million in general fund monies to pay for the planning component of a new $37 million building for the College of Science and Technology.

• The new College of Business and Economics building will have many amenities including a stock market trading room and breakout rooms to support the many case analyses so typical of a business education.
• The new College of Science and Technology building will also have many amenities including state-of-the art laboratory classrooms as well as other labs dedicated to faculty-student collaborations.
• The renovation of our flagship classroom building, Young Hall, includes interior demolition and construction of a new floor plan configuration at each of the floor levels in the 42,000-square-foot academic facility. Unlike our other academic buildings, upon renovation, Young will create a 21st Century learning environment that responds to contemporary pedagogy and learning expectations of today’s student by offering flexibility and adaptability. Aside from the paradigm change, the renovated facility will have updated mechanical, electrical, and technology infrastructure. Interior demolition is complete and renovation work began in May. Currently, interior walls are being framed and rough-in of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are underway. The renovated facility will re-open fall 2009.  Total project budget is $6,551,000.
• Renovation of Heth Hall includes interior demolition and a new floor plan arrangement that will transform Heth into a student services facility. Following renovation, Heth will become the home to the following departments: Student Accounts, Registrar, Student Support Services, Multicultural and International Student Services, Financial Aid, Parking Services, Telecom and Billing Services, the Dean of Students, office of Vice President for Student Affairs. Meeting rooms and conference space will also be incorporated into this facility. Responding to a current shortcoming of Heth (ease of entry) there will be a major exterior change to the entry facing the clock tower plaza.  This change will create a grade level access (currently a series of steps) by constructing a mid-floor level entry and providing a mid-floor elevator stop. With the renovation, Heth will also be equipped with a fire suppression system and infrastructure upgrades. Interior demolition is complete and walls are being framed and rough-in of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are underway. The renovated facility will re-open fall 2009. Total project budget is $8,939,668.
• The Covington Center for Visual and Performing Arts, which will be open this fall, will offer an extraordinary venue for performances, rehearsals, and recitals, and our Flossie Martin Art Gallery will relocate to the Covington Center. As with Young Hall, the Covington Center will be rich with technology to provide the absolute highest quality performances. And its lobby and art gallery will service us with another much needed location in which we will host special social events.
• The Dedmon Center roof replacement and air-conditioning project includes the removal of the existing air supported arena roof and replacement with a steel truss-supported insulated membrane system. The project will also provide installation of a building-wide air conditioning system and replacement of the tension supported fabric roof membrane over the Natatorium. Demolition and replacement of the air conditioning portion of the project (all areas other than the arena) began early May and is substantially complete and ready for re-occupancy this week. The existing air supported roof over the arena has been removed and preparation work including construction of a concrete ring curb, fabrication of tri-cord trusses and manufacturing of the fabric membrane is underway. The arena portion of the project is scheduled to be completed January 2009. The total project budget is $15,784,617.

In addition to these projects, the Governor and the General Assembly have authorized RU to undertake another $114.2 million in capital improvement projects funded through auxiliary funds and university-paid debt. We hope to use this authorization to provide the campus with up to three new residence halls, a new student fitness center, double the size of the Bonnie Hurlburt Student Center and perhaps a parking deck.

We are also continuing to make improvements in the area of Dining Services.  As you will recall, last year, we added a full-service Starbucks, Wendy’s and Salsarita’s.  This year, we continue that expansion by adding an expanded Au Bon Pain, a new Ben and Jerry’s ice cream parlor, an Asian-themed eatery and a full table-service dining option in Muse Hall called the New River Grill.

Technology

Two major milestones for the Banner Administrative System implementation were met in July 2008. The Finance and Advancement project teams both celebrated their hard work and accomplishments as Phase I of their respective implementations moved into production.

With this technology, RU is one of only three VA higher education institutions to implement the eVA e-procurement system for requisitioning and receiving of goods and services to Banner integration and is one of the first to deploy the integration to university departments. The Finance team also trained more than 175 departmental users on Banner Finance and eVA during July and early August.

The Luminis portal, now known as MyRU, is scheduled to be released as a beta version for the university community by early November. MyRU remains on schedule for a university-wide rollout in January 2009.

On the infrastructure side, the construction of an additional data center was completed in July.  This center enhances RU’s ability to quickly recover critical services in the event of a disaster in the primary data center.

The Division of IT continues to work towards improving the reliability of the campus network.  In late July and early August, the network architecture was changed from a single backbone router for the campus to a core and distribution model with five routers. This eliminates several single points of failure for the campus network. During this upgrade, 10 Gigabit Ethernet links were used between routers to provide enhanced network capacity.

Student Life

Residential Life’s P.R.I.D.E. program is a new initiative this year in the residence halls. It’s an acronym for Personal development, Responsibility for self and others, Integrity, Determination, and Enthusiasm. P.R.I.D.E. focuses on those individual traits that are part of a students’ maturation and also on the emotion that students should feel about living on campus and attending Radford University. Residential Life staff is endeavoring to bring all elements to bear upon students’ decision-making about their academic pursuits, life in the residence halls and life in general. Radford P.R.I.D.E will be infused into students’ daily experiences.  

In other news, the “Bonnie” is a great place to be according to a recent benchmark assessment survey done by Educational Benchmarking (EBI) in partnership with the Association of College Unions International (ACUI). Students ranked the Bonnie Hurlburt Student Center in the top 20% of 113 institutions that participated in the survey. “Bonnie” was ranked high on such items as safety, welcoming and student-oriented environment, value and quality of the activities, enjoyment, and promoting a sense of community. Some of the institutions in this assessment survey to which RU’s student union was compared included Kutztown University and Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (two schools in RU’s new national peer group), Longwood and VCU, Princeton, Truman State, Weber State, Arizona State, University of Kentucky, Southern Methodist, and Syracuse.

Athletics

Our Rugby Club Team won its second national championship. In May, the team defeated Utah Valley State College 25-14 in Palo Alto, Calif., to win the Division II Men's Collegiate national championship. And as “no good deed goes unpunished,” we have now been moved to the Division I level.

Radford graduate Goran Nava established a new Serbian national record in the 1500 meter event at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, posting a time of 3:42.92. 

After another successful season, Radford men’s tennis was recognized in the final ITA Division I Men's team rankings. The two-time defending Big South champions concluded 2008 with a ITA ranking of 69. Radford, under the direction of Coach Mike Anderson, posted a 15-2 overall record and participated in the NCAA Team Championships for the second straight season. The Highlanders entered the rankings for the first time in school history on March 4 at 59th and stayed ranked throughout the 2008 campaign.

Our women’s softball team won more than 40 regular season games for the first time in school history and clinched second place in the Big South Conference.

Our athletes also excelled in the classroom. Radford University placed 141 student-athletes on the Big South Conference’s prestigious Presidential Honor Roll. Radford was one of four institutions with at least 50 percent of its student-athletes named to the honor roll, as 51.5 percent of its 274 student-athletes were recognized.

Radford University is on the move!