Fall Convocation Address August 23, 1996 |
| Good Afternoon. I welcome you to this eighty-sixth year of Radford University's (RU's) service and leadership as an institution of higher learning. My welcome especially extends to newly appointed members of the faculty and staff ... please stand so that we can all greet you properly .... Thank you. As always, I am delighted that the University's Student Government Association (SGA) officials have joined us on this occasion. These ladies and gentlemen are the duly elected resentatives and leaders of our student body. I am very proud of you and look forward to working with you during this year. I would also like to thank representatives from the news media and our many other friends who are in attendance here today. Your interest and support does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Today, I take pleasure in publicly introducing one of our newest colleagues, Dr. Ann Ferren. As you know, she began her duties as RU's Vice President for Academic Affairs on July lst. Since then, she has been working diligently and reaffirming my belief that she brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to her new role as our University's Chief Academic Officer. Dr. Ferren succeeds Dr. Charles Owens who made a valuable contribution to Radford University during his seven (7) years of service, both as Vice President and Interim President. Like Dr. Owens, she will assume the role of Acting President in my absence from campus. In the future, the Vice President for Academic Affairs will preside at this Fall Convocation and, in keeping with tradition, the President will deliver the Convocation Address. However, at the risk of extending today's program somewhat longer than scheduled, I feel that this year you should hear from the University's new instructional leader. Therefore, I have taken the liberty to suspend protocol by asking her to share the podium with me and to address you this afternoon. Following her presentation, I will make a final statement and then adjourn to the Heth Hall Ballroom for an informal reception. You are all cordially invited. At this time, please join me in welcoming Dr. Ann Ferren. Thank you Dr. Ferren for your very timely and substantive presentation. I look forward with enthusiasm to a productive and rewarding association with you here at Radford this year and in the coming years. "Quality is never an accident; it's always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution; it is the reward that comes from working for the common good." As I pause to reflect on my first year as your president, I take this opportunity to thank you for the helpfulness and friendship you have extended me and my wife Bea. We have both tried so hard to fit in and to be accepted as members of the University family. In that regard, we owe a debt of gratitude to you, because we realize that without you, our adjustment to a new community would have been far more difficult, and 1995 would have been far less pleasant. I must also thank you, our faculty, staff and student leaders, who have labored so diligently ... so harmoniously for the common good, and for the advancement of Radford University. In my Inaugural Response last September, I stated that any progressive organization must make a conscious decision to strive for excellence, rather than tolerate mediocrity. You have convinced me that this University is committed to the pursuit of excellence. That's why I chose as our theme, for this year and for the foreseeable future, these words: "A shared commitment to excellence." Radford's quest for excellence through the fulfillment of its mission is a cause that commands our full commitment and concerted effort. One's determination to better oneself is laudable; one's pledge to the welfare of another is more admirable still; but one's commitment to a cause that is more far-reaching and more enduring than either, epitomizes the dignity and nobility of the human spirit. Based on careful study of Radford University's historical strengths, its substantial growth and development, and its aspirations for continued, significant advancement, the University established a set of eight (8) priorities, which have guided its work throughout the 1995-96 academic year: (1)increasing student enrollment, progression, and graduation;
At the meeting of the Board of Visitors next week, I will present an annual report which chronicles the University's progress during the past year. For now, with your indulgence, I will comment briefly on some of its accomplishments relative to several of these priority areas and assure you that further improvements are anticipated in this academic year. Increasing student enrollment, progression, and graduation Except for 1991-92, the University has experienced an enrollment decline in the nineties. This is the result of a demographic trend which is expected to reverse within the next two years. Although this declining student headcount extends into the current year, the University is determined to remain in compliance with its existing admissions policies and to maintain its high academic standards, while expanding and perfecting its programs of student recruitment and retention. Radford University is committed to increasing our enrollment, and programs are underway to recruit, admit, and retain qualified students. Recruitment activities garnered a seventeen (17) percent increase in non-resident applications and a twenty-one (21) percent overall increase in freshman applications for the 1 996-7 academic year. Under the leadership of our new Director of Admissions, Mr. David Kraus, admissions efforts will be strategic in both traditional and non-traditional ways. Strategies will include direct mailing and phone contacts, contact with guidance counselors, off-campus recruiting activities, and efforts to bring students and their parents to campus. The University's admissions application has been placed on the World Wide Web, enabling prospective students to apply via the Internet. This has resulted in information requests from 385 students and applications from 128 students for the Fall Semester. Modifications have also been made in the area of Financial Aid aimed at providing better service and more timely information for students--earlier estimates of financial aid offerings and a more rapid system of the actual packaging and awarding of financial aid. The University offered "Room scholarships," which waived the housing fees for qualified students resulting in financial support for over 100 students and an increase in out-of-state applications, particularly in the Army ROTC. Radford University's comprehensive academic support programs
ensure that all admitted students are supported academically as they transition from home
and high school to the University. These include:
We have entered into beneficial partnerships with community
colleges aimed at developing an informal consortium designed to channel more community
college graduates to Radford for baccalaureate study. To facilitate this, I visited the
campuses of ten (10) Western Virginia community colleges and Radford University hosted a
meeting of the Presidents of these community colleges and the Chancellor of the Virginia
Community College System. These community colleges will become "feeder schools"
for Radford University, creating a seamless transition which allows their graduates to
pursue a baccalaureate degree completion program at our University. Enhancing the quality of student life and stimulating social development As I have said so often, students are Radford's highest priority, and we are a student-centered university. We endeavor to provide a campus environment so conducive to both learning and personal growth that our graduates will pursue careers and lifestyles that add value to their immediate and extended communities. Career Services data indicates that 68.7 percent of 1995 Radford graduates, found employment and 26.3 percent entered graduate school. The combined 95 percent placement rate represents the highest in Radford's recent history. The welfare of our student body is of paramount importance and the University continues to provide services designed to ensure a safe and healthy community in which to live and learn. As the Student Health Center completes its first year as a privatized operation under the direction of Collegiate Health Care, the response both from students in terms of improved quality of health care and from the University in terms of cost containment has been very positive. Because two students died last year in alcohol related incidents, Radford established a campus-wide Substance Abuse Task Force to aggressively address the issues of substance and alcohol abuse. Cultural awareness is a key element in the learning process. Our on-campus arts activities enhance campus and community life and transform the learning experience into a broader, richer undertaking. Radford has a high-profile, accessible and affordable fine arts series that includes faculty and student exhibits, as well as performances by world-class entertainers and artists. Examples include the kick-off of Doc Severinsen's "Doc in Dixie" southern tour last March, and the remarks and exhibit by internationally renowned artists Audrey Flack and Dorothy Gillespie. Athletics at Radford University affords every student an opportunity to participate, whether as a spectator or a player. The Lady Highlander Basketball Team won its seventh consecutive Big South Conference championship. As they advanced to the NCAA Tournament, they received national media attention on ESPN, and in USA Today. The Lady Highlanders lost in the first round of the Tournament to the University of Tennessee, the eventual NCAA Champion. A nationwide search for a New Athletic Director was conducted when Dr. Charles Taylor, Radford University's outstanding athletic director for 22 years, returned to full-time teaching. Mr. Greig Denny, A.ssociate Director of Athletics at Radford University, was selected to succeed Dr. Taylor. Radford University's student-centered approach emphasizes extra-curricular activities as a vital aspect of a well-rounded education. Some 6,500 students participate in University-sponsored clubs and organizations. Active leadership and service in such organizations complement their academic experiences and build character. Improvements to the University's internal governance system provide increased opportunities for student involvement in University decision making. The SGA led a successful campaign to designate the Scottish
Highlander as the university's official mascot. The mascot will make its debut during this
year's Homecoming celebration. New outfits for the Rockers Dance Team, the cheerleaders,
and pep band added to our school spirit. Strengthening existing academic programs and promoting scholarship Radford University has a tradition of instructional excellence as faculty, staff, and students contribute to one another's success. A top priority continues to be maintaining strong academic programs and providing the necessary support to enable them to flourish. The past year has seen changes in the area of Academic Affairs that have sharpened our ability to provide the resources necessary to achieve the University's goals and mission and to better meet the challenges that lay ahead. State mandates required colleges and universities to implement academic restructuring to reduce program duplication and provide a quality education at a reduced cost. Restructuring at Radford has been a continuous process over the past two years involving faculty, deans, vice presidents, and the President in planning, drafting and revising the University's plan. While the plan's action steps will be completed by the year 2003, progress toward achieving those goals has already been made, including:
The Southern Association of College and Schools (SACS) requires that its accredited institutions of higher education have a general education curriculum requirement demonstrating graduates are competent in reading, writing, oral communication, fundamental mathematical skills, and the basic use of computers. Radford had a general education requirement but not one which allowed it to assess the effectiveness of the program or the improvement of student learning. The General Education Council and Faculty Senate were asked to develop a process for general education review which was clearly articulated, defensible measurable. It must also be recognized by faculty and students as an important and valuable component of the baccalaureate program. The resulting plan is being submitted to the Board of Visitors for approval and, while some areas require further articulation, the concept of providing undergraduates with a basis for lifelong learning forms the foundation for further development. In 1996, the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV) and the Secretary of Education required colleges and universities to have an approved post-tenure review policy in place for faculty salary increases in December of 1996 to take effect. RU's Post Tenure Review Policy, developed by the Faculty Senate and the University Administration, will be submitted for approval first to the Radford University Board of Visitors and then to the State Council of Higher Education and the Secretary of Education. It contains:
Throughout the 1995-96 academic year, information regarding
the planning process was gathered and a revised draft of this plan was distributed to
Radford University administrators. The completed plan, which irrevocably links The
University Mission, The University Vision, and The Strategic Plan, will be presented to
the Board of Visitors for adoption at the February 1997 meeting. Expanding the curriculum to include innovative academic programs and activities As Radford approaches the millennium, it recognizes that it cannot remain within the bounds of its own campus and meet the needs of its students. It must reach out to students, communities and opportunities that relate to the world in which its graduates must learn, work and live productively. Since 1988, Radford University and Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) have worked cooperatively to bring higher education to the Roanoke Valley. A special partnership has been designed which offers Radford University baccalaureate courses on the Virginia Western campus. Programs currently include Corporate and Professional Communication, Public Relations, Nursing, Media Studies, Social Work, Criminal Justice, Organizational Management, and Accounting. The 1996 General Assembly Session provided funding for two Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degrees in Accounting and Organizational Management. Interest in these courses has been strong and, based on their success, the University will offer at least 15 baccalaureate degree programs in Roanoke by 1997. Radford University and four other senior state supported institutions of higher education offer a number of courses in the Roanoke Valley ranging from programs leading to baccalaureate and masters degrees at two primary sites in the Roanoke Valley -- the Virginia Western Community College campus and the Roanoke Valley Graduate Center in downtown Roanoke. For two years, Roanoke business and government leaders and members of the higher education community have talked about creating a higher education center in downtown Roanoke, and in 1996 the General Assembly appropriated $250,000 in planning money to determine the feasibility of this concept. The Roanoke Higher Education Center represents a dynamic outreach opportunity for Radford University and we have been working cooperatively with the Roanoke Valley over the past year to assist in its development. Because of Radford University's commitment to serving western Virginia, State Senator Bo Trumbo and House of Delegates member Tommy Baker introduced legislation adding Radford University to the institutions participating in the Southwest Virginia Center for Higher Education in Abingdon. This Center, in which five institutions participate, provides undergraduate and graduate coursework to some 350 students. Radford University will offer degrees in Counselor Education, Social Work, Nursing, and Criminal Justice. The 1995 General Assembly Session provided additional general fund support which the University used to establish a Business Assistance Center as a first step in demonstrating the University's commitment to promoting and assisting economic development in Southwest Virginia. Through this newly created Center, students learn to compete in the international business arena by connecting university programs with specific, identified regional needs in economic development. Over the past year, the Business Assistance Center has successfully attracted a number of grants to fund the development of programs for small businesses in Virginia. Three innovative new academic programs which are in high
employment demand will be offered this year:
Upgrading and maintaining Physical resources and facilities Radford's beautiful campus is one of the main reasons students choose to attend the University. Improving facilities and preserving the beauty of campus while keeping it functional remains a high priority. In response to bi-partisan legislative support, the 1996 General Assembly and Governor Allen approved funding for the design and construction of a new $7.5 million 63,000 square foot academic facility for the Waldron College of Nursing and Health Services. The College is presently housed in six different buildings across the Radford University campus and the new building will remedy these space deficiencies by bringing the College's programs under one roof. A contract for the design of the building will be awarded this month, construction will begin in January of 1998, and the total project is slated for completion in July of 1999. The Higher Education Bond Act of 1992 provided $4.7 million in funding for the design and construction of a building to be used as an International Education Building. The design phase of this project has been completed and bids for construction were opened on June 28, 1996. The building will provide classrooms, language laboratories, offices for international student programs, foreign language faculty, and business assistance programs. Completion of the building is scheduled for December 1997. In 1992, funding was provided for the construction of an
addition to Preston Hall. This space, completed in January of 1996 was named Martin
Hall after Dr. Charles Knox Martin, Jr., Radford University's third President. It
provides offices for the President and Vice Presidents, and the Admissions, Registrars and
Financial Aid Offices, as well as meeting space for the Board of Visitors. Significant improvements have been made to existing facilities including McGuffey Hall, the Allen Building, the Boiler Plant Rehabilitation, an Upgrade to the Primary Electrical Distribution System, and Fire Safety Improvements to Currie Hall. Upon realizing a significant enrollment increase, the University will proceed with the design phases of capital improvements and major additions to Heth Hall and the Dedmon Center. A 1994 General Assembly measure, the Workforce Transition Act,
permitted state agencies to offer qualified employees a one-time retirement incentive
designed to downsize the state workforce. In August 1995, the Board of Visitors approved
allowing teaching and administrative faculty to take advantage of the WTA and a total of
49 personnel retired. The University will begin realizing the salary savings within two
years and, as new hires are made, faculty can be deployed more effectively. Increasing financial support through fundraising and conservation of resources Private financial support is critical to the university's ability to attract and retain good students and facilitate their education through quality instruction and modern technology, and first-class facilities. Radford is fortunate in having a strong nucleus of alumni and friends who deeply care about the institution. Their generous support of the University-whether through financial support or the intangible gifts of energy, expertise and enthusiasm--enables Radford to flourish. The Council for Advancement and Support of Education recognized the Radford University Foundation, Inc., for overall fund-raising improvement. Radford was one of only four comprehensive institutions in the nation to receive the CASE award. The 1995 fund raising campaign was the second best in school history, raising more than $2,900,000. For the first time, the Radford University Foundation's total assets surpassed $10 million this year. The Foundation has retained the firm of Witzleban and Associates to conduct a feasibility study in preparation for launching Radford University's first capital fund campaign, aimed primarily at building the endowment. The annual fund was supported by 5,305 contributors donating $849,786 - an increase of 10.4 percent over the previous year. Expectancies from wills, trusts, annuities, and life insurance increased to $6,500,000. University faculty were awarded 76 grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts totaling $1,400,000 and grant submissions by the university community were increased by ten percent (10%) over the preceding year. The university has implemented a number of innovative programs
which enable it to save and conserve University resources. These programs include the
University's
Enhancing internal and external relations As Radford seeks to refine and expand its mission, its success depends on its ability to garner support from and provide services to diverse constituencies both within and outside the University. These include Radford alumni, the media, the community, state and federal legislators as well as our faculty, staff and students. As we have reached out to these constituencies, the response has been consistently positive, interested and enthusiastic. Radford alumni are particularly active in assisting their alma mater's endeavors. They not only assist in fund- and friend-raising, they offer valuable and enthusiastic support in recruiting and recommending students who will benefit from the Radford experience. The University's Public Relations Office received 22 awards for excellence in media relations publications during this year, including a Gold Medal for the overall publications program - the second highest award in the nation from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. The office promotes Radford University by providing many diverse audiences with timely, relevant and extensive information about the University. Mr. Charles King, who resigned his position of Vice President for Business Affairs effective July 1, contributed five (5) years of valuable service during his tenure at Radford University. He is succeeded on an interim basis by Mrs. Mary Lou Merkt, the University's former Assistant Vice President for Finance, who brings a high level of competence and integrity to that critically important office. Mrs. Betsy Little, having served with exceptional skill and diligence as interim Executive Assistant to the President last year, retired on July 1. I decided to reconfigure the President's Office staff to include Assistants to the President for Internal and External Affairs. This means that the President's Cabinet, which in previous years was all male, now has four women and three men-all of whom were selected on the basis on their outstanding professional qualifications. With this, the President's Cabinet establishes a precedent of gender equity among the appointments of senior University officials. In the words of Golda Meir, a founder of the Republic of Israel and its fourth prime minister, "Whether women are better than men I cannot say--but I can say they are certainly no worse." I feel confident that this newly assembled, more integrated President's Cabinet will serve you and the University with loyalty and dedication. Mrs. Caroline S. McTeer was selected for the position of Assistant to the President for Internal Affairs, effective June 16, 1996. Ms. McTeer is continuing Mrs. Little's efforts to streamline and ensure a more viable, inclusive University Governance System. Proposed changes will reduce the levels and paperwork required for university decisions and increase opportunities for access and participation while reducing outmoded committee structures, and improve information and communication. Ms. Charlotte M. Hawes was reassigned to the position of Assistant to the President for External Affairs effective July 1, 1996. Ms. Hawes was formerly Director of Corporate and Government Relations and helped direct our state legislative efforts. As Assistant to the President, she will continue to work in the areas of corporate and government relations. In order to cultivate support from the government community, my staff and I have made a concerted effort to visit and host both state and federal representatives. In 1996-97, these activities will increase in frequency as we use the off-budget year to build strong relationships with those who make key funding and policy decisions so vital to Radford's interest. We are also continuing a dialogue with leaders form local government, business and industry regarding Radford University's role and responsibility as one of the community's primary educational, cultural and economic resources. We will also continue our efforts to increase corporate
involvement at the University through unique business/university collaborations like the
RUBI program through which corporations assist with student employment and internship
opportunities, visiting executive programs, visiting professorships, technical assistance
and equipment donations. In order to lay the foundation for this initiative, aimed at
building support from the private sector, my staff and I have hosted campus visits by
representatives from several major corporations and groups of civic leaders from Roanoke. Obviously, this is not an exhaustive report; yet, it reflects
some of the progress resulting from the commitment of many people ... faculty, staff,
students, alumni and friends working together. In Conclusion Last year was indeed a period of transition and adjustment for us here at Radford University. As we contemplate the current and future trends and issues that affect public higher education, it is obvious that our institution faces an immense challenge. It is, however, in times of real and critical institutional change that the fine spirit of mutual helpfulness of the University family comes clearly to the fore and enables us--as has been the situation on many occasions in our nearly full century of service--to meet the challenge and, in fact, emerge from the experiences even clearer in our purpose and firmer in our resolve. We are vital, integral parts of a vibrant institution which
faces its responsibilities and opportunities with optimism and courage. We're a team-- |