January 16, 2026

Radford University is one of three campuses being recognized by the Virginia Higher Education Substance Use Advisory Committee (VHESUAC) for advancing education, prevention, recovery and intervention efforts related to student substance use through the implementation of statewide initiatives outlined in the VHESUAC Strategic Plan.

As part of the 2020–2030 Master Plan, Buchanan House is scheduled for demolition this month. This special-purpose house was built in 1959 as a training house for home economics students. It later served as a residence for the university president and his family and then as a facility for visiting VIPs. It also housed various administrative offices, including the supplemental instruction program, the National Collegiate Honors Council and the Appalachian Regional Studies Center, before being decommissioned due to the need for extensive environmental and structural improvements.

The building was named in honor of Jane Buchanan, a niece of Col. William Preston, wife of the pioneer surveyor John Floyd and mother of John B. Floyd, governor of Virginia from 1830-1834.

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OURS) is hosting the continuation of the “OURS: Research Ready Series,” a regular faculty-and-student support seminar series. All seminars are open to Radford University students and employees.

The first event will be about “Preparing a Successful Student SURF Grant” and will be offered both via Zoom and in person at McConnell Library 231 (the CITL ilab) on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 2 p.m. Those participating on Zoom can go to https://radford.zoom.us/j/91054731270 and use the password OURS.

In the session, you will learn how to be paid to conduct research this summer, as well as the ins and outs of crafting a competitive SURF grant application. Find out from the program directors how to define your research goals and write a winning proposal.

The Acting Company is touring a new, comedic stage adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, and it is coming to the Bondurant Auditorium at Radford University on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the University Performance Series.

Written by Nikki Massoud and directed by Devin Brain, “Great Expectations” offers a fast-paced, heartfelt take on Pip’s coming-of-age journey with high-society twists, mysterious benefactors and Dickensian charm.

The university has posted HR-PO-1408 Supplemental Pay Policy and HR-PO-1409 Teaching and Supplemental Pay for Administrative and Professional Faculty and Classified Staff in order to comply with federal regulations, better align our practices with those at similar institutions and provide a more uniform approach to supplemental pay and teaching assignments for AP Faculty.

The policies were developed in consultation with AP Faculty Senate along with the Radford University Office of Academic Affairs leadership team and the Office of the Provost.

Are you interested in working with your students on constructive dialogue and collaborating across differences? Heather Keith, the director of the Highlander Center for Character and Public Impact at Radford University, can help you discover how you can use the Constructive Dialogue Institute’s Perspectives program in your course. It’s free for all employees and students.

Radford University’s Office of Academic Advising will host the first annual University Advising Workshop on Friday, Feb. 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Kyle Hall 340.

This workshop is designed for all faculty and professional advisors at Radford University. Based on feedback from the fall 2024 faculty advisor survey, this grant-funded workshop was created to provide all advisors with updates and training from campus partners on university technologies, policies, processes/procedures and general education curriculum, ensuring consistent academic support to all undergraduate students.

The deadline to sign up for this event is Friday, Jan. 30.

The Radford University Office of Undergraduate Research (OURS) is now inviting proposals from all students in all disciplines for the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. All currently enrolled, degree-seeking undergraduate students who will graduate after the fall 2026 semester are eligible to apply. Awards are for a $6,000 stipend to the student recipient, a $1,500 stipend to the faculty mentor and a small supply budget.

Applications must be completed and submitted by midnight on Wednesday, Feb. 11. 

The expectation is that students will work under a faculty mentor to complete the proposed project for 30 hours a week for 10 weeks during the summer. The faculty mentor should help plan the project, assist with proposal development and actively participate in the implementation of a student’s project. Bi-weekly professional development meetings will be held virtually to support and celebrate the participating students.

Students are encouraged to make an appointment or visit the OURS office during normal business hours in Whitt Hall 118 on the main campus for guidance and direction on their proposal drafts. For more information on the program and the proposal process, contact OURS at ours@radford.edu or 540-831-7203.

Radford University’s Department of Academic Technologies is offering training opportunities on the following topics in January. Training is open to employees and students. All sessions are in Walker Hall 275 on the main campus, with the option to join remotely. Click on a link below to learn more and register for the training.

The spring 2026 arts calendar is out with cover artwork by senior Jude Jungmann.

The concept is based on the Weeping Yoshino Tree in the middle of campus. Copies are available in the dean’s office in Artis Center 303.

The calendar lists all of the great events that will be hosted by the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) this semester, including shows, exhibitions and other arts-related events. You can also find up-to-date information on events on the CVPA calendar webpage.

Did you assign a research project to your students, or do you work with students who have talked about a class research project? Did they use library materials, services and/or support? If so, encourage them to submit their project for the Winesett Awards for Library Research. Class projects completed from spring 2025 through fall 2025, as well as in-process projects from spring 2026, are eligible.

The Winesett Awards, hosted by University Libraries, recognize creative and original library research by Radford University students. Over $5,000 will be awarded in three divisions: lower (freshmen/sophomores), upper (juniors/seniors) and graduate. 

Applications are due by Monday, March 30, at 11:59 p.m.

For more information, contact instruction librarians Tony Pepper or Barbara Tait.

Interested candidates are encouraged to track their research process for current projects to help with their application.

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OURS) has announced the dates for the 35^th Student Engagement Forum, Tuesday-Wednesday, April 21-22.

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.

Save the dates below to ensure timely project submissions. 

Posters will primarily be available on Tuesday, with oral presentations on Wednesday.

OURS looks forward to working with the Highlander community to create this exceptional opportunity for students to share their scholarly and creative contributions.

For more information, visit the OURS office in Whitt Hall 118 on the main campus or call 540-831-7203.

The Highlander Center for Character and Public Impact will host the following events this spring for the Radford University community.

The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) is hosting three new art exhibits, which open the week of Jan. 20.

The Tyler and Covington galleries are open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Hours for the Artis Center 302 gallery hours are yet to be determined for the semester – check the CVPA website for updates.

The Roanoker magazine recently dropped its annual list of “40 Under 40,” highlighting exceptional professionals from around the area who have not yet spent a full 14,600 days on Earth, and the bulk of them are tricenarians – that is, people who are between the ages of 30 and 39.

The list of our distinguished alumni includes:

Maiya Ashby ’09
Director of communications for the Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative and its subsidiary Bee Online Advantage

Lindsay Collins ’08, D.N.P. ’19
Vice president of medicine and oncology for Carilion Clinic’s acute care services

Katie Conner ’09
Senior destination development manager for the Virginia Tourism Corporation

Tyler Lee M.H.A. ’21
Private banking officer at Ridge View Bank in Rocky Mount, VA

Hunter Simpson ‘21
Dentist at Hunting Hills
Family Dentistry

Ethan Sweeney ’21
Deputy and Behavioral Case Manager and Re-Entry Coordinator with Roanoke County Sheriff’s Office

That’s just one of the items in our “Highlanders in the News” story on the website. Check out the full article for more examples of how our Highlanders are using their education to do extraordinary things and are highlighted in local, regional, national and international news media.