Funding for New College of Information Sciences and Technology

As part of a special economic development initiative, Governor James Gilmore has recommended that RU receive $5.4 million: $3 million to establish a College of Information Sciences and Technology and more than $2 million to create a Technology Training Center.

The new College will consolidate existing information technology degree programs and develop new majors, such as a graduate program in technology management and new undergraduate majors in software engineering, engineering technology and office information systems. The College will also increase the number of management information systems and computer science graduates, develop a new information technology minor, strengthen the core curriculum, and ensure technology competence for all graduates.

The Technology Training Center will continuously retrain faculty and staff, create a "fast track" certificate program for in-demand technology skills and form partnerships with private service providers to become an Authorized Training and Testing Center for Microsoft, Novell, Oracle and other certificate programs.

These two programs represent promising, though challenging, opportunities for RU to strengthen its role in educating students for the new Information Age and the 21^st Century. Technology skills will give students the tools they need to succeed in today's economy and in Southwest Virginia. I anticipate that RU will become a leader in producing highly skilled graduates who will help alleviate the workforce crisis in information technology.

I spoke to the Virginia Tobacco Commission on January 11, 2000. In my remarks I commended Governor Gilmore for his sensitivity and responsiveness through his recommended revitalization plan and thanked the Commission for its consideration of our proposal. I conveyed to the Commission that in its recent history, no other academic program proposed by RU has offered greater relevance, greater timeliness, or greater promise for Southwest Virginia. It is my hope that the Commission will approve the use of tobacco settlement funds in support of these technology education programs which are so essential to the long-term economic revitalization of our Commonwealth’s tobacco-growing regions.  

President Serves on Board of Student Conservation Association

Several months ago, I notified you of my election to the Board of Directors of the Student Conservation Association (SCA), a national organization of outdoor education and volunteerism. Currently, the SCA annually places more than 2,500 high school and college students in hands-on service positions, providing more than one million hours of conservation service in forests, refuges and urban areas across the country. The SCA is a dynamic, multi-faceted organization whose goals are compatible with the goals of Radford University’s initiatives in environmental education, including our Selu Conservancy and Distinguished Lecturer Program in Environmental Arts and Sciences. Furthermore, I believe that my involvement with SCA will help Radford University, Southwest Virginia and SCA move forward in our efforts toward the study and preservation of our natural resources.

I was pleased that Vice President for Urban Programs Flip Hagood, Director of Resources Programming Wally Elton, and Director of Student Recruitment Geoff Carter visited RU on December 11. They met with faculty and staff to explore opportunities for a cooperative agreement with our University. That evening, they attended an exciting JMU/RU Men's Basketball game, which our Highlanders won by a close margin.  

Virginia Secretary of Education Addresses Graduates at Winter Commencement

Virginia’s Secretary of Education Wilbert Bryant addressed our University’s graduates at its Winter Commencement on December 18, at the Dedmon Center. During the Commencement exercises, the Secretary was presented the Heritage Award, one of RU’s most prestigious meritorious awards. The Secretary was accompanied by his wife, Emily, during the Graduation Ceremony and at a dinner in their honor on the eve of Commencement. Degrees were conferred upon 535 graduates at the event. We were pleased that several members of the Board of Visitors participated in the Commencement activities.

It is my pleasure to inform you that the Honorable John H. Hager, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, will be delivering the keynote address for the University’s Spring Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 6, 2000. I hope that you will be able to join us in welcoming him to our campus on this important occasion.

Press Conference Announcing Mobile Health Clinic Unit

For the first time in its history, RU was included in the U.S. government’s annual budget appropriations bill when the Congress enacted legislation, sponsored by Representative Rick Boucher. Mr. Boucher was on our University’s campus January 28, 2000 to conduct a press conference at which he announced the $300,000 Federal appropriation to enable the University to purchase a specially designed Mobile Health Clinic equipped with state-of-the-art computer technology, including diagnostic telemedicine equipment.

In the proposed mobile clinic program, students will receive instruction and practical experience in providing a variety of client-focused services such as:

(a) speech and hearing therapy; (b) nursing assessment; (c) therapeutic recreation; (d) food and nutrition therapy; and (e) psychological counseling.  

Waldron College Advisory Council

In keeping with RU’s strong commitment to the preparation of qualified health care professionals, a team of health care providers from Southwest Virginia has been assembled to serve on the Waldron College’s Advisory Council. The purpose of the Advisory Council is to offer its experience and knowledge in developing community-based healthcare programs, particularly as they relate to the construction of a major new facility and interdisciplinary clinic for the College of Health and Human Services. I am impressed with the Council’s level of expertise and commitment. Anne Glass, a gerontology specialist in strategic development at Carilion, chairs the group.

RU Signs Internship Agreement with U.S. Census Bureau

RU has entered a mutually beneficial agreement with the Census Bureau that will provide a variety of student internships. These paid and unpaid internships are available in such areas as economic research, data collection and data analysis. According to Mr. Ron Brown, the Census Bureau’s Team leader for the Commonwealth of Virginia, this agreement is the first of its kind in the region and the nation’s first partnership between the Census Bureau and a university.  

RU President and Staff Meet with Ambassador of Sierra Leone

Last month, I, along with several members of the RU faculty and staff, were privileged to join Mr. Luther Dickens and his wife, Helen, for a luncheon with His Excellency John Ernest Leigh, the Ambassador to the United States from Sierra Leone, Africa. The Ambassador was meeting with Mr. Dickens, CEO of ThermaSteel Corporation, to develop a business relationship. Having traveled to Sierra Leone in 1986, I was pleased to welcome the Ambassador to RU and have an opportunity to speak with him about our University. Ambassador Leigh expressed an interest in returning to Radford in the near future to explore the possibility of a bi-lateral relationship between RU and a developing institution in Sierra Leone.  

The new student enrollment for Spring 2000 is 252 (230 transfer students and 22 first-time freshmen), which is almost identical to that of last year. These students were selected from an applicant pool of 591. Sixty-seven percent of the applicants were enrolled.

The Admissions staff is currently reviewing applications for Fall 2000. As of January 18, 2000, applications in the database totaled 3609. This figure is an increase over applicant pools for Fall 1999 and Fall 1998 for the comparable period.

Recruitment activities continue with additional visits to all Virginia Community Colleges and faculty phonathons for admitted students, as well as those who have made fee deposits. Radford Nights and additional counselor breakfasts are also scheduled for Northern Virginia and Tidewater areas.

Big South Conference Executive Committee Meeting at RU

The Chief Executive Officers and Directors of Athletics from each member institution of the Big South Conference assembled at RU on November 15, 1999. The members met to discuss the effects that recently proposed NCAA legislation could have on the Conference. These officials agreed that the Big South Conference must position itself to become more competitive in Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball in order to retain its automatic bid to the NCAA Division I post-season tournament. To reach that goal, the Presidents decided that no more than two non-Division I opponents could be played in a given season in either men’s or women’s basketball. Each institution was also asked to submit a strategic plan for improving its basketball programs at the March meeting in Asheville.

Discussion also included expansion options for the conference and appropriate criteria for potential new members, the plans for the Big South Tournament to be held in Asheville in March, and the process for reviewing the bids for the Big South Tournaments for 2001 and 2002. As Chairman of the Tournament Committee, I have convened several meetings with the presidents and athletic directors of member institutions to prepare bid specifications, advertisements for bids, and the process for selecting the successful bid and awarding the contract.

Big South Tournament Bid

RU and the City of Roanoke have submitted a joint bid to host the 2001-2002 Big South Basketball Tournament. I, along with Vice President for Student Affairs Norleen Pomerantz, Athletic Director Grieg Denny, and other staff, have met with Mayor Bowers and his associates on several occasions to discuss specifications for this bid.

Bids were due to the Big South Conference office on January 31, 2000. All prospective hosts will have an opportunity to make a presentation to the Executive Committee of the conference when they meet at this year's basketball tournament on March 3. A final decision will be announced on March 6, 2000.

Mayor Bowers and many other Roanoke officials have indicated a strong interest in bringing Division I basketball to the Roanoke Valley. The Championship game of the tournament would be televised on ESPN or ESPN2. The tournament would include both the men's and women's championship and would be held in the Roanoke Civic Center.

Intercollegiate Athletics Update

As of February 1, the Highlanders basketball team held a Big South Conference record of 6-0, which equals the best start in RU’s history. The team has a two-game lead in the Conference, and dating back to last season, it has won 14 consecutive league games…a Conference record. Following its 85-66 win over Liberty University on Saturday, January 29 the team posted a 12-7 record overall. Also, our Lady Highlanders moved to a 5-1 record in Conference play with their 56-51 win over Liberty, giving them a one-game lead in the Conference. Both teams will be top contenders at the Big South Tournament March 2-4 in Asheville, North Carolina.

In other competition, the Women’s Soccer and Volleyball teams won the Big South Conference regular play in their respective sports. The Men’s Soccer team won the Big South Conference tournament and advanced to the NCAA tournament. In Track and Field, the Highlander Women’s Relay team broke the record in the mile relay by 10 seconds at the East Tennessee State University Invitational meet.

Professors Participate in Outreach Services

RU is continuing its commitment to public service through educational outreach programs. Margaret Bassett, associate professor of nursing, is the only Virginian, among 16 people nationwide, selected to participate in the SHARE Institute and Fellowship Program. Dr. Bassett’s project is designed to incorporate school health information services through RU’s George M. Harvey Information Resource Center, which will be located in the new Waldron College of Health and Human services building, scheduled for completion in August 2000. One of Dr. Bassett’s goals is to tailor this information resource center to effectively serve the needs of those involved in school health in our region of Virginia.

RU also continues to extend its focus beyond the Commonwealth. Michael VanLue, a speech-language pathologist and assistant professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Speech Disorders, is representing RU in the Philippines. He will participate in Operation Smile medical mission for about two weeks in Kalibo, serving on a medical team which offers 150 free corrective surgeries to those with cleft lips and cleft palates. His role on this medical mission will include assessing surgery candidates, screening patients for speech, language, hearing disorders and related problems, and providing follow-up education and rehabilitation.

The University was diligent and thorough in the preparation of its management information systems and utilities systems for the Year 2000 (Y2K). These considerable efforts were rewarded on January 1, 2000 when the century date change proved uneventful and RU’s business and physical plant operations experienced a smooth transition into the new millennium.

As a contingency measure for any possible problems during the year 2000 rollover period, predetermined reports were prepared for mission-critical computer systems so that the University could exercise contingency plans if needed. In the early morning of January 1, 2000 approximately 45 members of the staff were on duty to test the University's information systems, including HVAC, elevators, security and fire prevention systems, which use embedded technologies. Again, thanks to careful preparation and monitoring, all systems were functioning properly.

As required, RU submitted Y2K status reports to the Century Date Change Initiative (CDCI) Project Office in the days leading up to and following the century date change. CDCI has mandated that exception reports continue through February 27 (RU has had no exceptional conditions to report), and that daily reporting will resume February 28 through March 1 to test systems for the leap year. Our tests indicate that changes to accommodate the leap year are in place, but personnel will be vigilant throughout the next few months for any problems that may be Y2K related.

Capital Campaign

The University has completed its first-ever Capital Campaign, "Investing in Lifetimes." Most of you will recall that the Board of Visitors approved a recommendation that the University implement a capital campaign at its meeting on November 11, 1996. At the Campaign Kickoff Gala on October 10, 1997 I announced that the University had raised $14.5 million in leadership support during the silent phase toward a Capital Campaign goal of $21 million.

I am pleased to report to you that the University has surpassed the $21 million goal. The University is still totaling the gifts and auditing the pledge commitments, but I can assure you that the campaign total will exceed $26 million.

A full report on the campaign, including results by fund raising priority and how the funds are already enhancing the University is currently being compiled. This report, along with the names of all contributors to this special initiative will be distributed to the entire RU constituency this spring. A special event to recognize campaign volunteers and benefactors is also being planned for homecoming weekend. Meanwhile, on behalf of the University, I wish to thank and commend the tri-chairs (Mr. Frank Armstrong, Mrs. Mary Ann Hovis, and Mrs. Barbara Turk) for their leadership, which made this Campaign such a huge success.

The College of Education and Human Development has been awarded by the U. S. Department of Education a Furthering Utilization of Technology Usage for Regional Educators (FUTURE) Grant in the amount of $400,000 over three years. The grant is designed to implement full-scale improvements in the University’s teacher education program, to develop teachers who are proficient in the professional and educational uses of technology and to effectively integrate technology into teaching and learning. Dr. Jeradi Cohen was the author of the proposal and will serve as director of the project.

Our University recently received $65,000 through the Bell Atlantic Distance Learning Grants Program. This grant will fund the purchase of equipment to expand the distance education programs between the RU campus and its Roanoke campus site. This equipment will provide expanded training opportunities for faculty, staff, students and distance learning partners in education and workforce development. Director of Distance Education Dennie Templeton, is responsible for securing this grant and implementing the project.

A second grant of $10,000 has been received from the Bell Atlantic Foundation for RU’s Distinguished Lecturer Series in Environmental Studies. Funding will be used to bring a distinguished leader in environmental studies to our campus for a program that will enhance the extensive work being done on campus and through RU’s Selu Conservancy in the area of environmental studies. The program will be coordinated by Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Ivan Liss and the Selu Steering Committee.

Radford University Policy Manual

The University Policy Manual is a compilation of policies approved by the RU Board of Visitors and those mandated by federal or state legislation. The Manual reflects the combined efforts of faculty and staff, and it is intended to serve as a reference document for the President and Board of Visitors. It is a living document, periodically expanded and updated so that it consistently represents the current status of institutional policies. This reference document was prepared by the University’s Director of Personnel Margie Kark in consultation with the President’s Office.

Campus Facilities Master Plan

The University can take pride in the fine progress of several of its capital projects. The construction of Waldron Hall continues on schedule and I expect the building to be available for classes in the Fall 2000 semester. At its meeting last May, members of the Board of Visitors broke ground for this superb building. Now, just nine months later, the exterior of the building is completed and interior work is underway. The new Track and Field will be completed this spring, while the expected completion date of the Stadium is Spring 2001. And, the Selu Environmental Science Center and Observatory is being constructed with the grant from the Kresge Foundation. Although slowed due to delays in receiving building materials, progress continues and this facility will be completed in several months.

The University is negotiating the acquisition of certain city streets in real estate proceedings with the City of Radford. These properties will improve safety for pedestrian and vehicular traffic, allow the creation of greenways and plazas adjacent to Cook and Waldron Halls, and lead to improved parking in the next two years.

I have authorized the firm of Boynton, Rothschild, and Rowland from Richmond, Virginia, to provide technical and environmental advice as the University proceeds with the implementation of its Campus Facilities Master Plan over the next five years.