Open Forums inform 2020-2030 Master Plan activities

To gather input for the Master Plan 2020-2030, Director of Facilities Planning and Construction Michael Biscotte hosted a series of Open Forums Oct. 9-11. 

Nearly 100 students, faculty and staff attended the five forums that were part of the discovery and data collection phase of a 20-month planning project that will inform and support the university’s comprehensive strategic plan, titled “Embracing the Tradition and Envisioning the Future.”

“It is important we engage the university community. The forums yielded a lot of ideas and beneficial conversations,” Biscotte said. “That touched on a wide variety of campus areas of interest.”

At one forum, conversations included suggestions for more bike trails, a campus research center, coordination with the City of Radford on recreation and student service-related opportunities and insight into the proposed upcoming capital project, the Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity (CAIC).

“The Master Plan should take a wide broad-stroke look, but must include flexibility to solve problems and take advantage of opportunities that arise along the way,” Biscotte said.

The Master Plan will be the result of the work by the Master Planning Committee and the Executive Steering Committee that will assess and provide recommendations about use, renovation and addition to the almost three million square feet of space on property currently owned by the university or the Radford University Foundation. The plan will harmonize existing building usage, potential new buildings, open spaces, utilities, and circulation systems such as transportation and parking while supporting Radford’s objectives of student retention and success, enrollment growth, and philanthropic giving and alumni engagement among others.