Media coverage of Radford University’s planned merger with Jefferson College of Health Sciences
Radford University announced on Jan. 18 plans for a potential merger with the Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke. The announcement was covered by media outlets across Virginia, including:
The Roanoke Times
Jefferson College to merge with RU, creating combined health education program
Carilion Clinic’s Jefferson College of Health Sciences will become part of Radford University under a plan announced Thursday.
The merger of Jefferson into Radford’s Waldron College of Health and Human Services is expected to take up to two years to complete, as leaders of the three entities determine how to combine the private college with the public university, which programs to keep, expand or create, and the types of housing and other services the students will require. Read more.
The Roanoke Times
Editorial: Radford-Jefferson College merger shows Roanoke is the future
“Roanoke is the future.” How often do we hear that? And yet here we are: That’s exactly Radford University President Brian Hemphill had to say in describing Thursday’s announcement that Carilion’s Jefferson College of Health Sciences will be merging into Radford’s programs.
The full implications of this may not be clear for another decade, but it’s clear enough that this is one of those out-of-the-blue announcements that rearranges our economic landscape. We’ve long been accustomed to such announcements bringing bad news that one bearing such good news is somewhat difficult to comprehend. Let’s walk through what this means.
We have to begin with the spectacular growth of one of Roanoke’s most unheralded and unappreciated institutions — the Jefferson College of Health Sciences. Read more.
WDBJ Channel 7
Jefferson College of Health Sciences to merge with Radford University
According to school officials from Carilion Clinic, Jefferson College of Health Sciences, and Radford University, Jefferson College intends to merge with Radford University.
“Radford University and Jefferson College have a robust history of collaboration, and these two great institutions are now working toward an even stronger partnership,” said Dr. Brian O. Hemphill, president of Radford University. “This endeavor benefits the students, faculty, staff, alumni, supporters and communities of both institutions, along with the Commonwealth of Virginia and the entire region.”
Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop, president of Jefferson College, says the schools are combining to "create something even bigger for the entire Commonwealth." Bishop also says the merge will "enhance the quality of health care education and research better than [Jefferson College] could do individually."
Radford University officials say they intend to welcome Jefferson College primarily into its Waldron College of Health and Human Services. Read more.
WSET Channel 13
Jefferson College and Radford University announce the two will merge
Carilion Clinic, the Jefferson College of Health Sciences, and Radford University announced that they intend to merge Jefferson College into the Radford University family of colleges and departments.
Carilion Clinic currently owns and operates Jefferson College.
"Both schools are approaching this potential merger from positions of institutional excellence and financial strength. We’re combining forces to create something even bigger and better for the entire Commonwealth," said Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop, president of Jefferson College. "We believe that together, we can enhance the quality of health care education and research better than we could individually." Read more.
WSLS Channel 10
Jefferson College to merge with Radford University
Radford University announced Thursday that it intends to merge the Jefferson College of Health Sciences into its family of colleges and departments. Read more.
WFXR Channel 21/27
Carilion Clinic announces merger of Jefferson College with Radford University
Officials from Carilion Clinic, Jefferson College of Health and Sciences and Radford University announce they're merging Jefferson College into Radford University. Read more.
Virginia Business
Jefferson College of Health Sciences plans to merge with Radford University
The Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke intends to merge with Radford University. Roanoke-based Carilion Clinic currently owns and operates Jefferson College, which has about 1,150 students.
The health sciences school offers 25 degree options on the graduate, bachelor and associate levels, as well as certificate and professional and continuing education programs. It has about 70 full-time faculty members.
The merger is expected to create the second-largest nursing program in Virginia. Read more.
Radford University Tartan
University Announces Merger with Jefferson College
Radford University announced on Thursday that the university would be merging with Roanoke-based Jefferson College of Health Sciences. Radford and Jefferson have both had a long time partnership with Carilion Clinic, which is where the idea to merge the two schools came to be. Officials say this potential merger will create the second largest nursing program in Virginia. Read more.
WVTF Radio
Jefferson College Of Health Sciences To Merge Into Radford University System
A Roanoke-based training program for medical professionals will be merged into the Radford University system. Radford, Jefferson College of Health Sciences and Carilion Clinic announced the merger Thursday. Carilion owns and operates Jefferson College.
Radford President Brian Hemphill says the merger will open new opportunities for both the 1,400 students in Radford’s College of Health and Human Services and the 1,200 Jefferson College students. "We’ve had a long history of offering courses in health and human services in Radford and Roanoke," Hemphill said. What you will likely see at the close of this particular merger is some expansion and growth here in the Roanoke area."
Carilion, Jefferson College and Radford University are already co-locating some programs in the Roanoke Community Hospital building.
Jefferson College president Nathaniel Bishop says the two schools have already been working together since 2011 in a Doctor of Physical Therapy program. "It helped to promote interaction between those students and students in our college and have them working collaboratively," Bishop said. Read more.
WFIR Radio 960 AM
Jefferson College, Radford U. will hash out merger details
Jefferson College of Health Sciences in downtown Roanoke will become part of Radford University. Those merger plans were formally announced today. The Carilion-owned college and Radford expect to take up to two years to complete the process, one that will combine a private college with a public university. The two schools have a long history of collaboration dating back about three decades. Current Jefferson College president N.L. Bishop looks forward to leading the new joint venture. Read more.
Martinsville Bulletin
Jefferson College to merge with RU, creating Roanoke-based health sciences program
Carilion Clinic’s Jefferson College of Health Sciences will become part of Radford University under a merger plan announced Thursday.
Faculty, students, alumni and community leaders were informed of the plans during meetings, phone calls and emails throughout the morning. The merger of Jefferson into Radford’s Waldron College of Health Sciences is expected to take up to two years to complete as leaders of the three entities determine how to combine the private college with the public university, which programs to keep, expand or create, and the types of housing and other services the students will require. Read more.