December 20, 2024

Salome Cook, “Partridge”
Salome Cook is a junior studio art major at Radford University. Salome conducts research in the field of ornithology that culminates in scientific illustrations. This piece is a combination of her love for birds and passion for mixed media. “Partridge” uses watercolor, gauche and fabric.

Radford University has several record-breaking stats in 2024 including most visitors to main campus, highest enrollment of nursing students, largest ever fall applications and admitted transfers, largest Honors class (since application was required), highest retention (new freshmen fall-to-fall) since 2016, most new and total degree-seeking graduate students enrolled, and highest year-over-year percentage growth of new undergraduate students.

With Radford University’s Winter Commencement ceremonies complete and winter break quickly approaching, it’s a great time to reflect on our recent celebrations. Click on the links below to read stories and watch videos about the ceremonies and our amazing graduates.

2024 Winter Commencement Recap
Dec. 13 and 14

Amiya Williams
College of Visual and Performing Arts

McKenzie Perkins
College of
Nursing

C.J. Garland
College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences

Ashlee Owens
Davis College of Business and Economics

Frank Fleming
Waldron College of Health and Human Services

Michael Ziegenfus
Artis College of Science and Technology

Will Wohlford
College of Education and Human Development

The Office of Marketing and Communication will make some updates to the Lytho request forms and processes as well as enhance our offerings in the new year in an effort to improve the quality of deliverables and service we provide to our clients.

As part of this effort, we will eliminate the Rush Request option in Lytho on Monday, Jan. 13, and will ask clients to submit their requests with longer lead times in advance of their final deadline. (We will send a reminder about this in the Jan. 10 issue of this newsletter.) This will give us more time to fulfill all requests with high-quality deliverables. In 2024, 22% of the nearly 700 Lytho requests we received were Rush Requests. This means that approximately 1 in 5 requests asked for deliverables to be turned around in less than three weeks (many asking for one-week turnaround or less). These Rush Requests require us to divert attention and resources away from other requests already in our work queue.

Following is a good rule of thumb to apply: When a project or event requiring marketing and/or communication support hits your calendar, please be sure it “hits our calendar.” You can do this by submitting a request for support at least three weeks before the final deadline. Large, complex project or event requests requiring planning meetings and multiple deliverables should be submitted with even more lead time.

Thank you for your partnership in these efforts to improve our work for you. 

On Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, the Radford University community will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through community service, sponsored and organized by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. Students and employees can register for the MLK Day of Service on RU Involved. The first 300 volunteers will receive free t-shirts.

Volunteers may select the morning shift (8 a.m.-noon), the afternoon shift (noon-4 p.m.) or an all-day shift that may span part of the morning and afternoon shifts.

Service locations include Radford, Blacksburg/Christiansburg, Pulaski and Roanoke.

In addition, University Libraries will offer a free camp at McConnell Library for elementary-aged children on Monday, Jan. 20, from 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m., as part of the university's events. Children can be registered for the camp online or by calling 540-831-5688. There will be a parent/guardian release form to complete after registration. Space is limited.

Activities include programming by students in the Schoolhouse Living-Learning Community for future teachers, a trip to the Planetarium and more. This one-day camp is sponsored by University Libraries, the Schoolhouse Living-Learning Community, the Radford University Planetarium, the Center for Diversity and Inclusion and others.

The Office of Student Recreation and Wellness is announcing the hours for the Peter Hall Gym during the upcoming winter break.

To support the university community with viable resources, the Radford University Office of Accounting Services will offer Chrome River Travel Training and Food and Beverage Policy Training in January.

The January training sessions will be:

To attend a session, e-mail travel@radford.edu with the subject line “Training” in the body of the e-mail, indicate if you would like to attend the Chrome River Travel Training session or the Food and Beverage Policy Training session.

You may also indicate in the e-mail that you would like to attend both of these sessions.

Each Zoom session is limited to 20 participants. Once your e-mail request is approved, you will receive a link to attend the requested session.

Accounting Services will also offer training for Chrome River Approvers during the Our Turn Session on Wednesday, Jan. 15.  Registration for the Approver training is through the Our Turn link.

The Radford University Office of Career and Talent Development is in need of new and gently used suits, pants, blazers, dress shirts, blouses, skirts, dresses, belts and ties for its Career Closet. The Career Closet provides students access to free professional attire for interviews, career fairs, networking events and other career-oriented activities and occasions. The goal of the program is to help students feel prepared, professional and comfortable when making a first impression.

Used clothing should be dry-cleaned or pre-washed, ready-to-wear, and appropriate for interviews, networking events and other career opportunities.

The Career Closet also accepts monetary gifts that will be used to purchase clothing for the closet. Donations can be dropped off in Russell Hall, third floor, Monday-Friday, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monetary gifts can be made online.

Please let your students know that they are invited to stop by the Career Closet, located on the third floor of Russell Hall, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., to try on and keep professional attire and accessories. No appointment necessary.

The Office of Undergraduate Research & Scholarship (OURS) is pleased to announce dates for the 34th Student Engagement Forum. Ideas for discipline or course-based sessions are welcome, and OURS will help plan those sessions as requested. Oral presentations, poster sessions, visual arts exhibitions, e-portfolios, panels, performing arts presentations and other ideas are invited from all disciplines. Presentations accepted at other conferences are also welcome. Please note the dates below to ensure timely submission of your projects. 

Posters will primarily be presented on Tuesday, April 29 and oral presentations will be on Wednesday, April 30. 

As the year winds down, we want to extend our warmest wishes for a joyful and restful winter break. May this season bring you peace and happiness, as well as plenty of time to recharge after a hard year’s work. Thank you for all you do, and we look forward to seeing you in the spring. Happy holidays!