Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

Please allow me to welcome each and every one of you to Radford University for the 2018-2019 academic year! Over the summer, Radford University has been proudly represented in Australia, Belgium, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Malawi, Netherlands, Peru, Spain and Uganda, as well in the New River Valley, the Commonwealth of Virginia and across our nation. As our students and faculty carried their Highlander pride and passion on their adventures and explorations across the globe and our University Advancement team hosted the Highlander Hometown Tour with 31 stops in 25 cities across four states, much work occurred on our campus.

This summer, our University celebrated our first graduate and welcomed new strategic partners as part of our competency-based program, IMPACT. Also, countless individuals dedicated themselves to advancing important work related to the merger of Jefferson College of Health Sciences into the Radford University family of colleges and departments in anticipation of the Fall 2019 merger completion. The comprehensive renovation of Reed and Currie Halls continued, while faculty and staff from the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the Waldron College of Health and Human Services worked diligently on the pre-planning for the Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity. The Enrollment Management team constantly engaged in the recruitment process by connecting with prospective students and hosting new students and their families as they prepare for an exciting journey that officially begins today. These are just a few examples of how our campus remained engaged throughout the summer in service to our students, our programs and our community!

Indeed, summer has been a time of reflection and renewal for our University, and I hope it has been for each of you as well. Now, it is with great enthusiasm that we embark upon the new academic year with a continued dedication to excellence, accountability, transparency, and student-centeredness. I would like to take a few moments to share with you our commitment to serving others, our plan for success and the bold steps currently underway at Radford University. As many of you know, last year students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members came together to chart a course for our University and our future. Through the development, adoption and implementation of a five-year strategic plan, Embracing the Tradition and Envisioning the Future, we have defined our goals for the future and set benchmarks for our success. I have been encouraged by the many ways in which colleges, departments and offices have embraced our strategic plan and allowed it to guide their daily work and future planning. It will truly take the collective effort of our entire campus and the unwavering support of our local community in order for us to achieve strategic growth and long-lasting success.

Later this fall, we will release the first comprehensive report regarding the implementation status of our strategic plan, our financial investments to date and our early successes. I know this first report will provide a strong foundation in which future efforts and subsequent reports will build upon in meaningful ways. Throughout the fall semester and moving forward, I ask that you continue examining the strategic plan and live our core values of student empowerment and success; excellence; inclusiveness; community; intellectual freedom; innovation; and sustainability each and every day. I am confident that we will achieve our vision of becoming a premier, innovative university in the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond with a keen focus on teaching, research and service. Together, we will fulfill our mission of empowering students from diverse backgrounds by providing transformative educational experiences. At the same time, we will be equally dedicated to providing a culture of service, support and engagement, while embracing innovation and tradition and instilling students with purpose and the ability to think creatively and critically.

In the months and years to come, we will continue to focus on innovation and allow it to challenge and drive us in new and profound ways. The initial success and continued growth of our IMPACT program and the limitless possibilities associated with the Jefferson College of Health Sciences merger have become our new normal. We must continue to embrace new ideas and ways of thinking. We must hold onto the traditional core of our campus, while exploring additional opportunities and taking bold steps forward. We must continue to support each other on this collaborative journey and our pursuit for the Radford of tomorrow.

To our newest group of Highlanders, welcome to the Class of 2022! Truly, it is an exciting time to be a member of the Radford family. Please know that, in choosing Radford University, each of you has taken the first step toward achieving a successful life filled with great promise and limitless accomplishment. As Highlanders, we are responsive, resilient and real. Look no further than Radford University’s Code of Ethics to fully understand the responsibility that comes with being a Highlander. As a campus, we embody the principles of respect; honesty and integrity; communication; stewardship; excellence; and responsibility and accountability. These principles are clearly defined in our Code of Ethics and are evident in our daily actions and scholarly discussions.

Above all else, Radford University is committed to providing an engaging, inclusive and supportive experience for all Highlanders, while bolstering our regional and national economies in order to meet the growing workforce needs. And, one thing is clear: Radford University is poised to achieve unprecedented heights of excellence and success! Our history of tradition, spirit of innovation and reputation for quality continue to attract students, faculty and staff to Radford University. To the entire Radford family, please accept my warmest wishes for a meaningful and memorable Fall 2018 semester. GO HIGHLANDERS!

With Highlander Pride,



Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D.
President
 @BrianOHemphill