May 3, 2024

Radford University congratulates all our spring graduates who are receiving degrees at the 2024 Spring Commencement Ceremonies! We look forward to celebrating your hard work and achievements this evening and tomorrow. Special thanks to all the faculty and staff who helped our graduates along the way, as well as to the many employees who are working tirelessly to prepare for our commencement ceremonies.

The Radford University Undergraduate Commencement at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, will continue as planned on Moffett Lawn. The forecast is calling for scattered showers with temperatures in the low 60s. If you are planning to attend the ceremony, please be sure to dress appropriately for the chance of rain and cooler temperatures. We will continue to monitor the forecast and provide any necessary updates.

Stay up to date with the latest announcements about our commencement ceremonies and recognition events, including weather alerts, on the Spring Commencement page on the Radford University website.

As part of a presidential initiative to support Radford University’s commitment to access and affordability, wages for all student workers will be raised to a minimum of $15 per hour, effective Aug. 25.

This is a commitment to both attract and retain students by helping them offset their cost of attendance and to provide valuable and rewarding professional experiences that will help them prepare for their careers.

We encourage all units to plan for this change accordingly to ensure that student employment opportunities can be accommodated at the new rate within your current budget. In cases where that is not possible, please consult with your unit’s leadership and the budget office where necessary.

If you employ student workers, here’s how you can help us:

From May 28-31 and June 3-5, the Center for Career and Talent Development will provide training sessions for supervisors who will be posting campus jobs to Handshake for student employment at Radford. Staff from the center will be available to craft job descriptions that include the NACE competencies. A link to sign up for the training sessions will be sent to student employers soon.

If you need access to Handshake or have questions about how to use the system, please contact Debbie Fenderson at dfenderson@radford.edu.

President Bret Danilowicz has named Vice President for Economic Development and Corporate Education Angela Joyner and Professor of History Sharon Roger Hepburn as co-chairs of Radford University’s Strategic Plan Development Committee.

The comprehensive six-year plan, scheduled to begin in January 2026, will position the university for long-term success leading up to its 125th anniversary in 2035.

Joyner joined Radford University in 2016 and has served as interim chief of staff, special advisor to the president on partnerships and executive director of the Center for Career and Talent Development. She also led the university’s recent re-branding process. Roger Hepburn, in her 29th year as a professor at Radford, has chaired the Department of History since 2007 and was named a Dalton Eminent Scholar in 2022. Her academic specialties include African American history, the Civil War and Digital Archives. Roger Hepburn’s current research is reflected in her latest book, “Private No More: The Civil War Letters of Private John Lovejoy Murray,” published in March 2023.

The committee will seek participation from the entire university community during the development of the strategic plan. Recommendations for members of the committee will be sought by vice presidents, senate presidents and the Student Government Association this summer.

During the summer, an external facilitator will be identified to support the university’s strategic planning process.

A full strategic plan committee will be announced and charged in September 2024.

Angela Joyner, Ph.D.

Sharon Roger Hepburn, Ph.D.

Radford University’s Information Technology Services (IT) is pleased to announce that after a competitive process, the department has selected Ricoh as the new brand for multi-function copiers, scanners and printers. IT will be working throughout the summer to plan the transition process, with device rollout and replacement of Xerox devices beginning in July.

Departments will have the opportunity to review the new devices in mid-May and select the model that best fits their needs and available budget. The IT team has worked diligently to keep costs as close as possible to the current pricing to minimize any impact on departmental budgets. Department contacts will receive an e-mail with detailed information soon.

As a reminder, open enrollment for benefit changes will be held May 1-15, with any changes starting on July 1, 2024. During this period, you have the chance to elect or modify your health plan, adjust family members’ coverage and sign up for a health or dependent care Flex Spending Account (FSA).

If you’re satisfied with your current plan or don’t need to participate in an FSA, no action is required. However, don’t forget about the Premium Rewards incentive, which helps you save on your monthly health insurance premiums for both COVA and Aetna plans.

If you need assistance, contact Human Resources at 540-831-5008 or via e-mail at benefits@radford.edu. 

Join us in shouting out congrats and good luck to all our #RadGrads who are poised to conquer new heights and leave an indelible mark on the world!

Just a heads up that our wonderful cartoonist Jacob will be on summer break, so CONNECTED Cartoons will pause during this time.