July 24, 2026

It's a great time to do some summer cleaning ahead of the start of the fall 2026 semester. As you tidy up offices and other work spaces, please note that paper products, cardboard, cans, glass bottles/jars and accepted plastic containers (#1, #2 and #5) are recyclable and can be placed in existing recycling bins across campus.

In addition, this October will mark the third anniversary of Radford University's new brand rollout, and all areas of the university should strive to remove any remaining inventory items that feature old branding. 

Items like T-shirts, lanyards, vinyl banners, tablecloths, pens, electronics and mixed-material promotional items may require special handling or disposal. For those types of items, contact the Radford University Office of Sustainability before placing materials in recycling bins. For more information, contact Neal Thompson at lthompson@radford.edu or 540-831-7207.

Radford University will host a booth and welcome Highlanders at two upcoming Salem RidgeYak games in August. We are excited to be part of the action and invite employees, alumni and their loved ones to join us for America’s national pastime.

Radford is proud to support these meaningful nights celebrating the outdoors, as well as honoring our military communities and families.

The Salem RidgeYaks are offering discounted tickets to Radford University employees and alumni, so stop by to say hello, grab some Radford swag and enjoy a night at the ballpark.

The Perkins & Will design team will be onsite at Radford University Carilion in Roanoke from Tuesday-Thursday, July 28-30, as planning continues for the new Academic Health Sciences Building in Roanoke. At this stage of the project, the design team is translating stakeholder input to inform the initial layout and space needs.

While onsite this month, the team will host another workshop to gather more information. This workshop will help shape the spaces that will support teaching, collaboration and student success. Discussions will focus on:

The workshop will bring together stakeholders from across disciplines to discuss current practices, identify opportunities for innovation and provide input to help inform the building’s design. Stakeholders will receive more information via email soon.  

Employees can purchase annual parking permits beginning Saturday, Aug. 1. The permits are $185 and will be valid from Aug. 15, 2026, through Aug. 14, 2027. Permits are virtual and are based on the license plate information for your vehicle. 

University parking lots on the main campus in Radford are marked with color-coded signage that identifies parking designations for students and employees. Please park in the lot associated with your designation. For more information regarding lot designations, visit the Office of Parking Services in Heth Hall, call 540-831-6361 or email parking@radford.edu.

Please note these new parking regulations for this academic year:

The IRS has increased the standard mileage reimbursement rate from $0.725 to $0.76. The full IRS rate will be reimbursed for the use of personal vehicles during official university business travel up to 250 miles per day. For trips exceeding 250 miles per day, the entire mileage for that day will be reimbursed at a decreased rate of $0.235 per mile.

The new IRS mileage rate has been updated in Emburse (Chrome River), the university’s travel management system.

Please review Radford University’s Travel Policy for additional travel information.

The Network for Undergraduate Research in Virginia (NURVa) Conference is an opportunity for undergraduate students in all disciplines to present their research and creative inquiry at a statewide conference. This year, it will be on the main campus of Radford University on Saturday, Oct. 31. Conference registration is $30 and includes breakfast and lunch.

The Radford University Office of Undergraduate Research (OURS) would like to encourage you to let your undergraduate students know about this opportunity. NURVa invites submissions from undergraduates in all disciplines in the categories of oral presentation, poster or performance.

Students should submit abstracts of less than 750 words and a statement of support from a faculty member via the NURVa Conference submission form by Tuesday, Sept. 15.

Radford University Department of Theatre and Cinema alumni, faculty and students are contributing to “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, running through Aug. 2 at Mill Mountain Theatre in Roanoke.

Featured members of the Radford community include:

The production highlights the ongoing involvement of Radford University theatre artists in professional productions throughout the region.

Radford University’s Office of Accounts Payable will offer Emburse (Chrome River) Travel Training and Food and Beverage Policy Training in August for employees.

The August 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.

Radford’s University Libraries now has access to additional JSTOR collections. Discover why JSTOR is one of our most popular databases for peer-reviewed and primary source academic research.

The new collections now available are:

Radford University’s partner in travel booking, DGI Travel, has provided some tips for Radford employees traveling this summer. Please keep these tips in mind as you book your trips and head to your destinations.

The annual Radford Art Show runs from Friday, July 24, through Sunday, Aug. 9, bringing a variety of wonderful works from regional artists. You can see the show at the Tyler Gallery, at 214 Tyler Ave. in Radford during regular business hours, Wednesday-Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. All exhibitions are free and open to the public, featuring 3D and 2D works in a variety of styles, subjects and mediums.

An opening reception will be held on Saturday, July 25, from 1-4 p.m. at the Tyler Gallery. Refreshments will be served, and it is a great way to meet artists and see their work.

This event is sponsored by Radford University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, the City of Radford and the Mary Draper Ingles Festival.

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 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, as well as employee separation procedures.

McConnell Library in Radford and the Radford University Carilion Library in Roanoke will both be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 5, for staff development. The Highlander community is encouraged to visit University Libraries online during this time.

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

Radford summer camps make STEM learning a blast

Learning directly from the people who know: Radford University co-hosts Governor’s Summer Residential School for Medicine and Health Sciences in Roanoke

Spanberger appoints Stacey Brayboy to Radford University Board of Visitors

Longstanding partnership expands access to speech-language services across Southwest Virginia

Radford University receives SCHEV grant to boost retention, graduation for Pell-eligible students

Radford University expands affordable pathway to teacher licensure

Linked by LinkedIn – to a job with Amazon

Radford receives state grant to expand teacher apprenticeship programs

Highlanders in the News: Week of July 6, 2026