February 7, 2025

The overall success rate of undergraduates who were retained for spring 2025 or graduated after fall 2024 is 94%, the highest since 2018.

Radford University students were joined by President Bret Danilowicz and First Lady Kay Danilowicz, Board of Visitors members and university administrators for Advocacy Day 2025 in Richmond on Wednesday, Jan. 29, and Thursday, Jan. 30.

Students were given the opportunity to speak with Virginia General Assembly members, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and other state officials about Radford University’s distinctive experience and legislative priorities for the university.

The trip also provided students with valuable networking opportunities with alumni, staff members of elected officials and professionals associated with state governance. Advocacy Day, in its 25^th year, is one of the longest-running experiences of its kind among Virginia public universities.

Radford University will conduct separate tests of its Radford Alert emergency notification system on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, on the main campus and Roanoke locations. Tests will occur between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Students and employees will receive notifications based on their campus affiliation(s); those individuals traveling between campuses may receive multiple alerts for the different locations. Please see the RU Announce communication for more details.

Don’t forget that Fall 2025 Graduation Applications are due by Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Students who are actively registered and have at least 86 credits will have the opportunity to apply for graduation through OneCampus by searching “Apply to Graduate” and completing the application. Please encourage your students to apply.

Radford University Vice President for Enrollment Management and Strategic Communications Dannette Gomez Beane invites the campus community to the “Enrollment Forum: Starting the Long Term Strategic Enrollment Planning (SEP) Process” on Wednesday, Feb. 19, from 3-4 p.m. via Zoom.

Strategic enrollment planning is a key component of Radford University’s success. This recorded session will include a welcome from Radford University President Bret Danilowicz and a framing of our path forward. The goal of this time together is to review the past, present and future of enrollment of students at Radford University. 

The Office of Marketing and Communication plans to develop self-serve templates that can be used by employees across campus to meet some of their communication needs. The templates will reflect new branding elements with designated spaces for people to add their own copy and visual elements, including images and graphics.

As a reminder, we would like to request your feedback via a short survey to help guide our decision-making on this effort. The survey asks questions about several topics, including what types of templates would be most useful to you and the best software platforms to create templates for ease of use. It will take five minutes to complete.

Thank you for providing your opinion. Please respond to the survey by Friday, Feb. 14. 

The Office of Marketing and Communication will take headshot photos in Roanoke for any employees who need one for the website directory, as well as for returning employees who would like a more current photo for the directory.

Ten-minute slots are available on the following dates:

Photos will be taken in the third floor board room at Radford University Carilion, 101 Elm Ave. The board room is in the Administration Suite just off the third-floor lobby to the right of the Information Desk. Look for signs in the lobby and the Administration Suite that will direct you to the right place on your date/time. 

Rachel Santos and Roberto Santos will present, “Cracking the Code of Crime in Everyday Life” in the next installment of the Provost’s Speaker Series on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. on the Artis Center Main Stage.

As co-directors of the Radford University Center for Police Practice, Policy and Research, they will examine the importance of understanding the patterns, behaviors and opportunities for crime in our daily lives.

Roberto Santos

Rachel Santos

The Provost’s Speaker Series draws upon the expertise and experience of Radford University’s faculty members to make their research and perspectives accessible and relevant to a wide audience. The program will feature a question-and-answer session and a post-event social with light refreshments provided. The event is free and open to the university community and the general public. No registration is required.

The Radford University First Generation Center is seeking faculty and staff who are first-generation or who are interested in supporting our first-gen students. If you are a first-generation college graduate and willing to be listed in the First Generation Center’s public directory, complete a registration form.

Not first-gen, but still want to support first-gen students? The First Gen Center is also hoping to build a network of allies. All faculty and staff who register with the center will receive a welcome packet with information on how to advocate for and support first-gen students, as well as a complimentary “First Gen” or “I’m a Fan of First Gen” sticker and other goodies to display in your office.

The Radford University College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) will be hosting several upcoming events this month. Mark your calendars for these great performances coming to Radford.

Dayl Burnett

Faculty are encouraged to consider the Selu Conservancy for appropriate research and creative works projects. Currently, faculty members Karen Powers, Steve McBride and Sarah Foltz all have active research projects at Selu, and Stockton Maxwell, Chet Bhatta, Matt Close, faculty emeritus Bob Sheehy and many others have also utilized the conservancy.

College of Visual and Performing Arts Artist in Residence Leslie Smith, Charlie Brouwer and many others have also used Selu for creative works.

Join the inaugural Big Plant–Radford to kick off your spring planting at Veteran’s Field in Bisset Park in Radford on:

Native plants, specifically trees and shrubs, are critical to our local ecosystems, providing food and habitat to pollinators and wildlife, cleansing water and air, and lowering ground temperatures.

With the historic flooding of 2024 at Bisset Park and across Southwest Virginia, we recognize the need to invest in the local riparian buffer zones, ecosystems, education, physical wellness and the overall health of the planet.

This community planting event will offer all ages and abilities an opportunity to get their hands in the soil, interacting with native plants and neighbors, while also getting the chance to learn from local growers. Participants will also be given the option to take home their own native plants for free.

The New River Conservancy (NRC) primarily funds this event, but it is also a joint partnership between NRC, the Virginia Department of Forestry, Nursery Natives, the City of Radford, Radford Parks and Recreation, Radford Beautification and the Municipal Forestry Commission.

Are you interested in helping students to think and act productively to save the planet and our communities? Are your students (and you) anxious about wicked problems like climate change? Do you want to hear about how to regain hope and cultivate community for solving problems?

Join Wicked Initiatives, the Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning (CITL) and the Office of Sustainability for this special reading group on William Throop’s “Flourishing in the Age of Climate Change.” Participants will read this short book over three meetings, with the author zooming in for the last discussion. The meetings will be on the following Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m. each day: March 20, April 3 and April 17.

Participants will need to commit to attending at least two meetings to claim a free copy of the book. The meetings will be in person in CITL and available via Zoom. All faculty, staff and students are welcome. For those with class until after noon those days, arriving late is OK.

Contact Executive Director of Faculty Development Heather Keith at hkeith1@radford.edu for more information.

As part of Radford University’s partnership with the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, all Radford University students, faculty and staff are automatically members of the Taubman Museum. Here are some of the events coming up this month at the Taubman.

The Center for Career and Talent Development is hosting two upcoming events in February and March to help students prepare for their careers. Let your students know about these events and encourage them to attend.

Did you know that both the McConnell and RUC libraries have collections of new and popular DVDs available for checkout for a period of 28 days?

You can find a wide selection of Academy Award winning films and popular TV shows available on McConnell Library’s fourth floor in front of the Harvey Center for Learning and Writing. RUC patrons can find popular DVDs available across from the circulation desk. You can find DVDs of TV shows such as “Abbott Elementary,” “Doctor Who,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “The Good Place” and more. Our collections also include films from DC Comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well as animated films from Disney, Pixar and Studio Ghibli.

You can browse the University Libraries’ DVD collection anytime online.

In addition, McConnell Library has a CD music collection. This collection covers a wide variety of genres, including folk/Americana. From traditional bluegrass to contemporary folk, you will find artists such as Amythyst Kiah, Rhiannon Giddens, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle and Béla Fleck who have shaped the Appalachian music scene. Browse these as well as other popular and classic CDs on the fourth floor of McConnell Library.

Radford University’s Office of Human Resources will host the following training opportunities for employees in February, March and April. Some sessions will be provided via Zoom and some in person. See full details on these upcoming events, including registration links, on the Human Resources Training and Development page on the website. 

Don’t forget about Radford University’s new learning platform, Udemy Business. Full-time employees can access the platform through their OneCampus accounts. Search for Udemy and select the tile to log in. Select the black bar to log in through Radford University’s single sign-on.

Udemy Business fun fact: 19.24% of all learning by Radford University employees in the Udemy platform has been on Python Network Programming.

Did you know that there’s a newsletter for the Radford University College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)? You can keep up with all the performances and exhibitions happening at Radford University, most of which are free. 

The Radford University Office of Student Recreation and Wellness will host Spartan DEKA Strong on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 8 a.m.-noon at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, 200 Jefferson Street, Radford.

This event is a new challenge designed to test, gamify and celebrate participants’ fitness. Spartan DEKA STRONG consists of 10 functional training zones with no running, including 30 alternating ram reverse lunges, a 500-meter row, 20 box steps/jump overs, 25 med ball sit-ups, a 500-meter ski, a 100-meter farmer’s carry, 25-calorie air bike, 20 dead ball shoulder overs, a 100-meter sled push/pull and 20 ram burpees.

Participants will receive a T-shirt, a DEKA STRONG mark and get their results on the DEKA global leaderboard. Limited spots available.

The Radford University’s Office of Human Resources will offer training and office hours in-person and via Zoom for the new PageUp performance management system. Please note that training sessions will be specific to your role in the system (employee, supervisor or reviewer) and will be based on your role classification (classified or AP).

Office hours are for those who have participated in a training session but have questions about the process and/or system after launch. Drop in anytime during the time allotted and be prepared to share your screen.

For all the latest training opportunities, visit the Training and Development webpage.

Academic Technologies is offering training opportunities this month designed to enhance your skills and knowledge in utilizing the latest educational tools and technologies. Whether you’re looking to integrate new software or improve your current skills and techniques, there’s something for everyone. All sessions are in Walker Hall 275 on the main campus, with the option to join remotely.

Highlanders, even our mascot knows the importance of rest and relaxation. Take a cue from this cozy moment in the greenhouse—make time to recharge, refresh and find your own hammock (or favorite spot) to unwind. You've earned it.