October 2, 2026

Mark your calendars for these upcoming opportunities and scroll down to read more about them in this issue of CONNECTED.

The Radford University Police Department has the highest national credential for a police department through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

Only 4% of all law enforcement agencies in the United States have achieved this accreditation.

Ready to sharpen your communication skills, work more effectively with Marketing and Communication (Marcom) or become a stronger advocate for Radford University? Registration is now open for the new Communication Champions Program.

Open to all employees, the program consists of five core courses and several advanced courses, each lasting 45 minutes. Marcom will offer three core courses this fall focused on practical communication skills you can put to work right away. 

Topics include understanding Radford’s brand and identity, working effectively with Marcom and Lytho (our project management system) and creating better on-brand designs.

Complete four core courses and select two additional electives to earn a Communication Champions certificate – and gain the knowledge and tools to communicate with greater confidence and consistency.

The HUB at Radford University will host October’s Radford Chamber of Commerce Business Over Breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 8-9 a.m. at The HUB, 1000 E. Main St. in Radford.

The event will feature breakfast and networking with local businesses. To participate, please email Nichole Hair to register.

The Highlander Bookstore will host Graduation Fairs for students participating in Winter Commencement:

Please let your graduating students know about these details.

Regalia will be available for students to purchase in-store or to order online by visiting the Winter Commencement webpage and clicking the “purchase regalia” online link through Friday, Nov. 13. After this date, student graduation regalia can be purchased at the Radford campus bookstore location up through the day of graduation.

Faculty can purchase or rent regalia by visiting the Winter Commencement website and completing the faculty regalia online registration order form through Tuesday, Nov. 18. This is a hard deadline, as faculty regalia requirements are specific to individual faculty disciplines.

In addition to regalia and related item vendors, the Wednesday, Oct. 14 fair will host the Office of Alumni Relations, the Center for Career and Talent Development, the Office of Graduate Affairs and University Advancement.

Graduate program directors, coordinators and support staff are invited to join Radford University’s Office of Graduate Admissions for an upcoming workshop focused on graduate enrollment trends, an overview of our team and how we support programs, and priorities for the upcoming admission cycle.

The session will take place on Friday, Oct. 16, from 3-4:30 p.m. in Heth Hall 043. It will provide space for shared conversation and feedback on how we can strengthen communication, collaboration and support for graduate enrollment across the University.

The session agenda will include discussion about:

Faculty Development will host an information session about Radford 101 for AP faculty, with time for questions and answers, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, from noon to 1 p.m. in McConnell 270 (iLab).

This informal lunch session will provide the opportunity to learn more about the design of Radford 101, the new first-year seminar course. Topics covered will include:

Bring your lunch, your questions and your curiosity. Participants will explore the answers together and talk through questions, concerns and possibilities with other AP faculty.

The session will also be offered via Zoom.  

Ghazala Hashmi, lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, explored social and political commentary in Appalachian fiction in a Sept. 23 lecture at Radford University. The event drew nearly 200 attendees, and a video is available online.

Hashmi focused on two works by the novelist Sharyn McCrumb: “The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter” and “She Walks These Hills.” While the communities depicted are insular and often neglected or exploited by broader government and economic interests, the characters also show resilience through community, shared cultural knowledge and an enduring sense of place and community.

The event also featured commentary from Courtney Watson, a professor in the Department of English at Radford University, and from Sharyn McCrumb herself. McCrumb described her characters as caught in many ways between life and death, traveling on different journeys – all inhabiting and moving through a region that itself is contradictory and rests between different regions and lifestyles.

Hashmi’s lecture was one of a series she is presenting at colleges and universities around the state, examining different works of literature and how they reflect different messages and perspectives on government and society. During her visit, Hashmi also held a discussion with a group of Radford University student leaders. She also toured facilities in the College of Nursing and the Davis College of Business and Economics.

The Division of Finance and Administration at Radford University is providing some tips for Radford employees traveling this fall. Please keep these tips in mind as you book your trips and head to your destinations.

As airlines reduce or adjust flights in response to higher fuel prices, travelers may see fewer flight options and potentially higher fares. Travelers are encouraged to book domestic flights approximately 60 days in advance when possible.

In addition, a new U.S. Department of Transportation rule takes effect Oct. 19, changing how certain flight delays and cancellations are classified and what assistance airlines may be required to provide. Planning and monitoring your itinerary can help minimize the impact of schedule changes and disruptions.

All Radford University employees, offices and departments are invited to participate in 2026’s Trick or Treat Trail on Thursday, Oct. 29, organized by the Radford Chamber of Commerce. Businesses along Main Street in Radford will hand out candy or other treats to local children. Participants are invited to set up in the gravel lot on East Main St. across from The HUB to hand out goodies. Sign-ups are required to ensure there will be tables for everyone during the event.

For more info and to sign up by Thursday, Oct. 15, contact Sharon Webb.

The Radford University Office of Human Resources invites all employees to the annual Employee Benefits Fair on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center on main campus in Radford. The fair will feature various vendors and provide important information about upcoming benefits. Flu shots and other vaccinations will also be available.

Employees covered by COVA health insurance can receive a flu shot at no cost by presenting their insurance card. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore next year’s benefits.

Transportation will be provided for Roanoke-based employees. The survey linked below is intended to get a head count for fair attendance and to assess transportation needs. Please respond to the survey by the end of business on Friday, Oct. 9.

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, the PageUp applicant tracking system will receive an upgrade allowing approvers to send a job card or position description request back to a prior originator/approver in the workflow if changes need to be reapproved/clarified. With this upgrade, you as an approver can now send back an action without having to use the “Decline” button and the originator having to restart the approval workflow. This upgrade also includes a “View Approval History” link that displays the approval history for that request, including any re-approval actions.

Currently, this upgrade is limited to job card and position description approvals only – the offer card approval process is not affected and remains the same.

More information is available in the “Approving a PD” and “Approving a Job/Requisition” sections of the PageUp end user training manual, accessible under “Applicant Tracking Documentation” on the PageUp Resources webpage.

Radford University’s Office of Substance and Violence Education Support Services (SAVES) and the Highlander HOPE program will host “The Next Chapter” on Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Kyle Hall 340 on the main campus in Radford. Doors open at 8 a.m.

The event will feature an inspiring gathering of expert voices, powerful stories and meaningful conversations about recovery, resilience and the possibilities that emerge when we come together.

“The Next Chapter” will feature ESPN broadcaster Lauren Sisler, whose personal story of loss, addiction and resilience offers a powerful reminder that we are not defined by the circumstances we inherit, and Stephen Loyd, a physician and nationally recognized voice in recovery whose professional expertise and personal journey bring depth to the conversation about substance use, healing and lasting change.

Registration is required and can be completed online.

Stephen Loyd

Lauren Sisler

Radford University’s Department of Academic Technologies is offering several training opportunities in October. Training is open to all 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.

Radford University’s Office of Accounts Payable is pleased to announce that registration is now open to employees for our October Emburse (Chrome River) Travel Training and Food and Beverage Policy Training. These trainings provide an overview of current policies, procedures, documentation requirements, and best practices to help ensure compliance with University and Commonwealth guidelines.

The October training sessions will be:

To attend a session, email travel@radford.edu with the subject line “Training.” In the body of the email, indicate if you would like to attend the Emburse (Chrome River) Travel Training session or the Food and Beverage Policy Training. You may also indicate in the email that you would like to attend both sessions.

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

Please note that while the regularly scheduled monthly training sessions will continue to cover the current policy requirements, additional training sessions will be offered later this month to review recently approved changes to the Travel and Food and Beverage policies. These sessions will focus specifically on the policy updates, implementation timelines and any changes to processes or documentation requirements. Additional information regarding the updated policy training, including registration details and session dates, will be shared once finalized.

University Libraries’ McConnell Library, like many other academic libraries, has departments like Research Services, Collection and Technical Services and Archives and Special Collections. At smaller libraries like the RUC Library, these functions may not be in separate departments, but the work is the same.

One of the most public-facing library departments is Access Services, which focuses on areas like:

Interested in learning more? A Framework for Access Services Librarianship presents the June 2026 revision, approved by the Association of College and Research Libraries Board of Directors.

Find out how Radford students, faculty and staff are finding their place and shaping tomorrow – together.

Your degree, your way: The Respiratory Therapy Degree Advancement Track at Radford University

Radford University builds Virginia’s largest public transfer network, redefining access to four-year degrees

Geology student explores global temperature history on French chalk cliffs

Lt. Gov. Hashmi examines Appalachian literature and culture in lecture

College of Nursing to offer post-professional certificate in nursing education beginning in spring 2027

Highlander Highlights: Week of Sept. 21, 2026