Fall Convocation Address
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| Thank you Dr. Ferren for convening the University's Fall convocation, and for your kind words of introduction. I join with the Vice President for Academic Affairs in offering a hearty welcome to all of you .... those who are returning from the summer, along with our colleagues who are new members of the RU Family. These greetings extend, of course, to our student aovemment leaders as well as our good friends from the community, the Tartan, and other representatives of the mass media. Returning from the summer months, which seemed to be on "fast forward", I'm reminded of the teacher who asked one of her students a question, expecting that his reply would be "reading, writing and arithmetic." She asked him to name the three things he liked best about school. His immediate response was "June, July and August." That notwithstanding, I can begin my remarks by declaring, unequivocally, that the 1997-98 academic year at RU was a success .... from the splendor of the Capital Campaign Kick-off Gala last October to our first-ever appearance in the NCAA Basketball Tournament in March, the year was one of excitement, productivity and triumph. We enjoyed notable progress relative to each of the eight priorities that establishes a context for our University's strategic plan. These priorities remain at the top of our agenda and continue to guide our endeavors: 1. Increasing student enrollment, progression and graduation In addressing these priorities, the diligent efforts of the entire RU family have focused on the planning and implementation of practical strategies that are steadily elevating the University to higher levels of attainment. As we move ahead into the new academic year, let's pause and acknowledge how far we have already come. 1. Increasing student enrollment, progression and graduation Providing access to a high quality education for a growing, diversified student clientele remains at the core of RU's strategic plan. Three years ago the RU campus community set about the task of developing a plan to increase enrollment. At the same time, it planned to ensure that those students selected for admission could meet the University's rigorous academic requirements. For the 1997-98 school term, the University exceeded its projected enrollment of new freshmen, new transfer students, and new graduate students. These new student enrollments showed a 17.2 percent increase over that of the preceding year and contributed to the first increase in total student enrollment since the 1993-94 academic year. These enrollment projections were exceeded without sacrificing admission standards. In fact, the entering class last fall was the best academically prepared class of new freshmen in years, based on their SAT Scores and Grade Point Averages. The acceptance rate of students applying to the University has declined over the last three years, yet each entering class has been larger than the previous one. At PU, maximizing student learning is at least as important as student recruitment. For the fourth consecutive year, student retention rates have improved markedly. Freshmen to sophomore retention rates are at 75 percent, the highest since 1990. This student retention level extends well above that of RU's benchmark institutions and the national average for public comprehensive universities. 2. Enhancing the quality of student life and stimulating social development Students are RU's highest priority and most potent asset. Through a wide range of extra-curricular activities they become informed, active participants in the culture and world in which they live. In a 1997 survey of recent graduates, more than 97.6 percent of those polled indicated their overall experiences at RU were very satisfactory. Central to this finding is the University's commitment to providing students with stimulating, relevant, timely learning experiences both in and outside the classroom. No project received more attention in 1997-98 than the delineation of RU's position on the prevention of student alcohol abuse. A thorough examination of policies and practices was dictated by the national trend toward binge drinking among college students. While RU's existing policies were sound and appropriate, additional measures were taken to prevent substance abuse. For example, monetary fines and a parental notification system were invoked. Students, faculty, staff and alumni continued to foster school pride and spirit. School spirit rose to an all-time high with the unprecedented success of the men's basketball team. A winning basket in the final second of the Big South Conference championship game led to the University's appearance in the NCAA Division I Post-season Tournament. This exciting climax to another victorious basketball season attracted unprecedented state, regional and national attention. Employment surveys conducted annually by the University's Career Services Center consistently show that over 93 percent of RU graduates find employment in their chosen profession or enter graduate or professional school within six months after earning their degree. The Center continued to expand the scope of its services by offering career counseling and job placement opportunities for students at the freshman through the senior levels. This comprehensive approach was evidenced in the four job fairs held over the course of the year. Each event attracted approximately 400 students. 3. Strengthening existing academic programs and promoting scholarship Since its founding almost nine decades ago, RU has earned a reputation for excellence in a number of academic disciplines. Today, its 112 undergraduate and 40 graduate programs afford students an opportunity to work with some of the most dedicated and highly accomplished professors in their fields. In January, state officials announced that RU had earned distinction as one of the top three performers in a special evaluation of institutional effectiveness at the Commonwealth's fourteen public universities. This evaluation, using a variety of performance measures, was based on comparisons with their respective peer institutions from throughout the country. Academic program review and national accreditation remain priorities at RU. The College of Business and Economics received reaffirmation of accreditation for its baccalaureate and master's degree programs in business from the Board of Directors of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The University's faculty continued to receive honors and recognition during the academic year. For instance, Dr. Marilyn Graham became a Fulbright Scholar, joining the ranks of a number of RU faculty who have earned this distinction in previous years. During the spring, Dr. Graham conducted teacher-training courses on classroom behavior management and social skills development in Budapest, Hungary. Dr. Chester "Skip" Watts was named one of 11 outstanding professors for 1998 by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. He is the fourth RU professor to be honored since Virginia established the faculty recognition program in 1986 for private and public colleges. 4. Expanding the curriculum to provide innovative academic programs and activities The University is creating a paradigm which identifies Centers of Excellence throughout its five undergraduate colleges and the College of Graduate and Extended Education. The recent establishment of an Honors Academy for both artistically and academically talented students represents a major accomplishment. Expanding an already solid honors program, the Academy opened this fall and affords the University's top students a wider range of exciting new learning experiences. During the 1997-98 session of the Virginia General Assembly, the University received an appropriation of $200,000 for its Nexus Project. This Project offers opportunities for experiential learning, career decision making, and voluntary service to the broader community. While a number of RU's academic departments already offer internships, this new emphasis stimulates students to become more extensively involved in career exploration and practical, reality-based learning experiences. 5. Upgrading and maintaining physical resources and facilities RU takes pride in the rare beauty of its campus and its
central During the past year, 33 renovation and landscaping projects were completed. Among these projects is the construction of the new 36,200 square foot International Education Building. Its classrooms are retrofitted with state-of-the-art educational technology. This building will accommodate, in close proximity, a cadre of departments that are leading PU's efforts to internationalize the curriculum through carefully designed inter-disciplinary programs. The faculty and staff in the Waldron College of Health and Human Services are engaged with architects in finalizing the design of Waldron Hall. Construction is scheduled for completion in the summer of year 2000. As the University's largest academic facility, this building will provide 64,000 square feet of instructional space for the Waldron College's nursing, allied health and social work programs. The University is also working cooperatively with Padford officials in city government on land acquisition that will extend the eastern boundary of the University's property. This expansion allows for improved access roads, less traffic congestion, a new and more attractive entrance to the campus, and eventually the development of a pedestrian plaza and amphitheatre. Another exciting construction project is the new Track and Field complex which will be located on land adjacent to the Dedmon Center. This project, which is also scheduled for completion by the year 2000, includes an olympic-size track, a soccer field, a stadium, and locker room facilities. It is anticipated that these additions will greatly enhance the University's intercollegiate and intramural sports programs, as well as its ability to serve the community through recreational activities. 6. Ensuring careful fiscal planning and thorough, efficient management RU's continued advancement toward objectives set forth in its strategic plan is, in large measure, a function of maximizing cost effectiveness through the restructuring and reallocation of available resources, while emphasizing quality assurance and accountability. For the ninth consecutive year, PU met the demanding Standards for Financial Management in Virginia, indicating a continuing record of fiscal integrity and efficient management. In addition, a comprehensive resource allocation program was implemented with all campus constituencies involved in the strategic planning, budgeting and evaluation process. This approach continues to ensure thorough and efficient management. Furthermore, it is an important key to PU's accountability and proven success as a cost-effective, progressive organization. For example, the Library's participation in the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) continued to increase electronic information services while reducing costs. This year the library realized a savings of $21,760 through the cancellation of locally-funded services and resources that were available through VIVA. 7. Increasing financial support through fundraising and conservation of resources Gifts and grants are essential to the University's efforts to attract and retain talented and academically superior students and to enhance their learning experiences. Annual giving during the past year was the most successful in RU's history, with private gifts totaling $3.8 million, an 18 percent increase over the preceding year. Over 300 scholarships were awarded by the RU Foundation. At the same time, the Foundation's support of academic programs increased, and its assets grew substantially to $20 million in 1998, as compared to $8 million in 1995. Efforts to extend the early success of the University's first
Capital Campaign drove fundraising initiatives for the year. The public phase of the
Campaign, which will culminate in the year 2000, was launched with a Kick-Off Gala
attended by 440 guests at the Dedmon Center last October. The RU Foundation has already
raised three- The Arts Society raised more than $140,000, endowed five new scholarships, and awarded a total of 45 scholarships to outstanding students. The faculty/staff campaign finished the year with the highest number of contributors and dollars ever raised. A total of 246 faculty and staff contributed $82,856. As compared with the preceding year, this amount represents a 30 percent increase in the number of donors and a 32 percent increase in their annual gift. Savoring the NCAA post-season tournament appearance of the men's basketball team, the Athletic Association posted another superb year with 566 donors contributing $321,686. The Parents Campaign Fund, which supports John Preston McConnell Library projects, received gifts totaling $53,580 from 923 donors, a 21 percent increase over 1996. Clearly, the faculty, staff, alumni, and friends (including the parents of PU students) have proven themselves invaluable to its cause, lending expertise and financial assistance to nearly every facet of the University's educational program. During the past Fiscal year RU was awarded 76 grants, contracts and in-kind services totaling $2.7 million. This amount represents a 33% increase over that of the preceding year. An already successful year of grantsmanship was further enhanced through another more recent notification of a significant grant award under Title III of the Higher Education Act. This multi-year grant of $1.7 million will fund an ambitious plan to improve professional programs offered in the Health Sciences. Another provision of the Title III grant assists in building the University's endowment. Over the five year period of the grant, $338,000 will be available to add to the University's endowment. The University is required to raise one dollar to match each two dollars provided by the grant. Accordingly, the matching component of this federal grant will further the University's advancement toward its capital campaign goal. RU is certainly grateful to Congressman Rick Boucher for his valuable assistance in these endeavors. 8. Enhancing internal and external relations. In discussions about the building of successful partnerships, RU is invariably cited as an exemplary model. A precedent-setting partnership was entered with Total Action Against Poverty (TAP), the region's community action committee. RU and TAP will work together to prepare grant proposals, provide staff training, and offer internships in more than 30 different public service projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life throughout the region. The Second Annual Highlanders Festival also grew and prospered with an estimated 6,000 people attending the events in downtown Radford and on the campus. This festival illustrates the remarkable partnership that exists between the City of Radford and the University. This annual celebration is scheduled in conjunction with RU's Founders Day Observance and Homecoming Weekend. It attracts alumni and tourists from communities throughout Virginia and the surrounding states. A rewarding, memorable academic year at RU culminated with the conferring of degrees upon approximately I000 graduating seniors at spring commencement with over 12,000 relatives and friends in attendance. An inspiring commencement address was delivered by the Commonwealth's Attorney General, Mark L. Earley, who very appropriately referred to RU as a "jewel" among the nation's comprehensive public universities. His presence on campus, along with periodic visits by numerous other state and federal government offlcials, has heightened the level of awareness and appreciation for this University's outstanding educational program. ....... In Conclusion Each year, the need and demand for a broader range of scholastic and employment opportunities in Southwest Virginia grow larger. The Commonwealth's most affirmative answer is reflected in the educational programs of exceptional quality offered by RU. In the coming year, a vigorous concerted effort will be devoted to fine-tuning and extending the implementation of our University's substantial current work. Moreover, a special emphasis will be directed toward advancing a dozen new initiatives associated with Centers of Excellence presented in the strategic plan: I. Designing new advanced professional degree programs in allied health These new initiatives are not at all unfamiliar to most of you, but certainly their implementation will require resources, cooperation, and self-determination. That brings me to my final point... perseverance! We have the opportunity, the expertise, the energy and the willpower to succeed. My confidence in you is complete, and I know that we can do this if we remain focused, steadfast and vigilant! So, let's stay the course and don't quit! Our dreams are not impossible .... our efforts are not futile .... our obstacles are not insurmountable .... and our adversaries are not infallible, if we don't quit! If critics try to clip our wings and bring us down, let's not react in fear or anger .... our most cogent, meaningful, eloquent response is to succeed in spite of them! Let's succeed by soaring higher than we've ever flown before! Fly with knowledge and skill! Fly with enthusiasm and zeal! Fly with courage and conviction! Fly with compassion and good will! And don't quit'! |