May 9, 2025

Radford University has 1,398 graduates walking the stage this weekend at our Spring Commencement ceremonies. Some fun facts about our Spring graduates are:

Radford University’s Spring Commencement ceremonies begin today and continue through tomorrow. Click on the links below to read stories and watch videos about some of our amazing graduates.

Lauren Griffin
^{Artis College of Science and Technology}

Natalie Preston
^{College of Nursing}

Brent and Reece Mabry
^{Davis College of Business and Economics}

Resa Mattson
^{College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences}

Leah Ellis
^{College of Education and Human Development}

Donald Tinsley and Brandon Williams
^{Waldron College of Health and Human Services}

Ian Epperly
^{College of Visual and Performing Arts}

Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
^{The incoming class of '25 photographed in 2021}

Radford University will implement the commonwealth’s approved 3% salary increase effective June 10 for eligible faculty and staff, as outlined in Chapter 725 of the 2025 Virginia Acts of Assembly. For 11- and 12-month positions, the increase will appear in the July 1 paycheck; for 9- or 10-month positions, it will appear in the Aug. 29 paycheck. Adjunct instructional pay structure will also increase by 3% beginning in fall 2025.

A one-time bonus of 1.5% of the May 25 base salary has also been approved for eligible employees meeting additional criteria. The bonus will be paid on June 16 for 11- and 12-month employees and Aug.29 for 9- and 10-month positions.

For full eligibility requirements and implementation details, please refer to the official guidance memo on the DHRM website.

This year, the annual Open Enrollment guide, “Spotlight on Benefits,” will be provided electronically and will not be mailed to home addresses. Once available, the guide will be emailed directly to you and posted on the Radford University Human Resources Benefits and Wellness webpage.

All relevant details will also be accessible on the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) 2025-26 Open Enrollment site.

The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) invites the Highlander community to participate in the Zoom session “Open Course Materials: A Part of the Solution” on Tuesday, May 13, from 1-2 p.m. This session, presented by Dan Farhat from the Radford University Department of Economics and Alyssa Archer from McConnell Library, provides an introduction for anyone wanting to learn more about Open Educational Resources [OER].

Instructors and faculty can earn a $200 stipend for initially attending this session and then reviewing a textbook in the Open Textbook Library by mid-August. Sign up via CITL’s Our Turn Registration Portal, linked below.

While you’re there, you can sign up for CITL’s in-person “The Net Is Not Neutral: Generative AI Edition,” with Radford librarians Barbara Tait and Alyssa Archer on Wednesday, May 14, from 3-4:30 p.m.

All faculty and staff are invited to participate in a summer book club hosted by the School of Writing, Language and Literature in the College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences. The club will read and discuss the illustrated novel “Trampoline” by Robert Gipe.

Book club meetings will be facilitated by April Asbury from the School of Writing, Language and Literature. Gipe will be visiting Radford in July as part of the Highland Summer Conference, a five-day writing workshop with readings and musical performances.

Meetings will be held in person at McConnell Library on the following dates:

The first 15 people to sign up will get a FREE print copy of the book if they commit to attending two meetings. Sign up by Friday, May 16, using this online form. Light refreshments will be served.

Access to the eBook version of the novel is free to all Radford University students, staff and faculty, courtesy of Radford University Libraries, regardless of participation in the book club.

Radford University Libraries hosted the Winesett Awards for Library Research Ceremony on Friday, April 18. These awards recognize creative and original library research completed by Radford University students during the academic year. Prizes are awarded every spring to the students whose submissions illustrate exemplary use of resources through Radford University Libraries, as well as the development of information literacy skills.

At the ceremony, six students were presented with $750 awards: Forest Berry and Trinity Roberts (lower level); Matthew Gary and Stefani Rodriguez (upper division); and Kati Batten and Michelle Lynn King (graduate level).

Eight finalists received $100 prizes: Nina Aidam, Nicholas Beach, Sharon Carroll, Courtney Cline, Madison Drees, Natalie May, Madison Rader and Tiannah Shifflet.

Congratulations from the entire Highlander community to the winners, finalists and all of the students who applied.

University Libraries would like to recognize Keith Gentry from the Department of Occupational Therapy, this year’s library champion, and to the judging panel: Alyssa Archer (co-chair, University Libraries), Erica Looney (University Libraries), Michael Marberry (School of Writing, Language, and Literature in the College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences), Sung Eun Park (Department of Art) and Barbara Tait (co-chair, University Libraries).

The Radford University Department of Human Resources reminds supervisors that they are required to complete certain processes in a timely and effective manner prior to an employee’s separation date in order to ease the transition and safeguard the university.

Depending on the type of employee, a personnel action may be required to complete the separation. For all full-time employee and 1500-hour wage employee separations, supervisors must complete a separation EPAF (Electronic Personnel Action Form) as soon as possible after notice of the employee’s separation is received and no later than the separation date. More information on employee separations is available via Human Resources’ EPAF Frequently Asked Questions.

The completion and certification of a separation checklist are required for all employee separations to ensure all final processes are completed by the employee for payroll purposes, to collect university-owned property and to ensure that system access is updated. Supervisors must complete a separation checklist prior to the employee’s departure. Please see the separation checklist for student employees and all other employees in addition to employee separation procedures.

Commencement is finally here, Highlanders! We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all of our graduates. Thank you, faculty and staff, for the dedication, guidance and support you've provided throughout their journey. Your commitment has helped them reach this important milestone, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Let’s celebrate their success together!