Virginia Senate committee brings two-day budget summit, statewide spotlight to Radford University

Radford University became the temporary center of Virginia’s budget conversation Nov. 20-21 as the Virginia Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee held its annual retreat in Kyle Hall on the main campus. 

The two-day meeting, titled “Fiscal Issues Facing the Commonwealth,” brought the full Senate of Virginia, Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger, Lt. Governor-elect and committee member Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, General Assembly budget staff, policy experts and lobbyists to campus. Over the course of the retreat, they examined the U.S. and Virginia economic outlooks, revenue projections and policy pressures in K-12 education, Medicaid, public safety and higher education. 

“Our students will remember this for years. You have given them a meaningful glimpse into public service, civic leadership and the really hard work of governing,” President Bret Danilowicz said during a reception. “Radford University is rising, and your partnership makes that possible.” 

The Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee holds this retreat in a different region of the state each year. This year’s decision to come to Radford marked the first time the gathering has been held on Radford University’s campus. 

Planning began last spring after committee staff reached out to explore the opportunity of the university hosting the meeting. The event created a rare opportunity for senators, many visiting Radford for the first time, to see the campus, experience its facilities and meet the students and faculty who call it home. 

Over two days, senators and staff worked through a dense agenda that included: 

• State and national economic outlooks, with economists outlining national trends, labor market shifts and factors that influence state revenues. 
• Virginia’s revenue and budget outlook, with staff briefings on how much money the commonwealth expects to have available in the next biennium. 
• Policy sessions focused on public education trends, Medicaid utilization and costs, mandatory budget drivers and emerging issues in higher education.

Together, the presentations painted a clear picture of the fiscal landscape ahead, one that will shape decisions affecting every region of Virginia, including the New River Valley. 

For Radford, the summit was as much about people as it was about presentations. The retreat turned Kyle Hall into a living classroom for both students and visitors. 

Student ambassadors helped manage logistics, greet guests and guide senators and staff around campus, offering a hospitable and student-centered introduction to Radford.  

Members of the campus community had opportunities to observe the proceedings. An overflow room allowed faculty, staff and students to watch portions of the meeting, and several classes visited to hear discussions of revenue forecasts, public education trends and higher education issues firsthand. For many students, it was a chance to see the policy process unfold in real time, rather than just reading about it in textbooks. 

Radford University Police partnered closely with Capitol Police to safely host senators and staff, all while maintaining an environment that remained accessible. 

The President’s Office hosted a reception in honor of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee for all senators, other government officials and university leaders, giving lawmakers a chance to meet students, hear their stories and see Radford’s facilities up close. 

Held on campus, the reception brought together senators, university leadership, faculty and students in an informal setting. Senators listened as students discussed their paths to Radford, their academic interests and their career goals. Conversations ranged from the fiscal challenges outlined earlier in the day to the ways Radford graduates are helping meet workforce needs in areas such as teaching, healthcare, business, cybersecurity and the arts. 

The Radford University Pipes and Drums helped set the tone during the reception, and a student guitarist provided music, underscoring the creative talent of Highlanders. 

Governor-elect Spanberger also visited Radford as part of the retreat, participating in part of the session and taking part in a Senate meet-and-greet. 

“I look forward to working with all of you and look forward to learning from so many of you,” Spanberger said to the senators. “I know very well that making sure I always engage with legislators is a path towards success. I hope to have a very strong relationship engaged with all of you and to make sure that I am attuned to the priorities of your constituents across the commonwealth.”  

Across both days, presenters emphasized the complex forces shaping Virginia’s fiscal future. Economic forecasts highlighted slower growth and changing job patterns, including concerns about the mix of high-wage and lower-wage jobs. Policy briefings detailed pressures in K-12 education and Medicaid, as well as the costs associated with maintaining core services and investing in key priorities. 

Higher education was a recurring theme. Senators heard that Virginia’s public colleges and universities continue to deliver strong returns for students and communities, even as institutions work through enrollment shifts and evolving workforce demands. 

Sen. Louise Lucas, the committee’s chair, set the tone in her opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of understanding the fiscal realities facing the commonwealth while also investing in the people and institutions that move Virginia forward. 
“I am excited to be here at Radford and bring this annual tradition of the Senate to Radford University for the very first time,” Lucas said at the beginning of the meeting. “I want to thank the university and President Danilowicz for graciously hosting us. This meeting is crucial to inform our senators on the principal outlook and give time to prepare for the upcoming session.”  

Welcoming the committee to campus gave senators a closer view of how Radford students learn, live and prepare to serve. It allowed university leaders to share Radford’s story directly with some of the state’s most influential decision-makers and to demonstrate how the university contributes to economic mobility and opportunity across Virginia.