PRESIDENT'S QUARTERLY REPORT May 5, 2000 RU Completes First Ever Capital Campaign I wish to begin my report for the spring quarter by heralding the huge success of our University’s first ever Capital Fund Campaign and applauding those whose hard work and generous donations made it all possible. This unprecedented endeavor could not have succeeded without the effective stewardship and hard work of these University Advancement officers: Charles Wood, Jerry Hutchens, Debbie Brown, Jenny Doud, Laura Turk, Tom Lillard, and Jan Clarke. This major fund raising project has been supported by thousands of contributions from alumni, friends, faculty/staff, students, corporations and foundations and reinforced by a significant campaign challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation. Radford University’s (RU) first Capital Campaign Investing in Lifetimes surpassed its $21 million goal with final contributions and commitments totaling $26,674,481. This pioneering effort was chaired by Board members Barbara Turk and Frank Armstrong, along with RU alumna Mary Ann Hovis. During the campaign period 1994-1999, Foundation assets increased from $7.3 million to $25.2 million. More than $12 million was disbursed in support of scholarships and other University initiatives during the same period. A total of $3.6 million in outstanding pledges to the Campaign will be recovered over the next three years. Moreover, $1,745,000 in deferred gifts is anticipated in the future through estate plans established during the Campaign. The Society of 1910, which recognizes benefactors who have included RU in their estate plans, increased from 47 to 110 members. New endowments created during the campaign total 96 and range in size from $10,000 to $2 million. Although the full impact of the Campaign will not be realized until the
receipt of campaign pledges is complete and new endowments begin to fund scholarships and
programs, the Campaign’s success is already enabling the University to exceed many of
its expectations. State Funding of RU Budget Initiatives In preparation for the 2000 General Assembly Session, visits
began last summer to key legislators across the state. The meetings and correspondence
which continued throughout the session contributed to RU’s success in securing funds
for a number of its budget amendments. I am pleased to report a summary of legislative
actions, which shape RU’s operating and capital budgets for the 2000-2002 biennium. I hope you share my enthusiasm for the opportunities before us. I am
grateful to you, members of the Board of Visitors, for your solid support and effective
advocacy for RU prior to and during the recent legislative session, and I look forward
with optimism to our continued combined efforts on behalf of our University. Big South Conference Basketball Tournament The 1999-2000 men's and women's basketball seasons came to a
close at the Big South Conference (BSC) Basketball Championships in Asheville, North
Carolina. The RU men's team entered the tournament hampered by injuries to several key
players, and those injuries proved to be insurmountable as RU lost in the semifinals to
UNC Asheville. The Highlanders ended the season with an 18-10 record and their second
regular season BSC Championship title. Jason Williams was named to the first team All-BSC
team and earned BSC Player of the Year recognition, while Ryan Charles was also named to
the first team All-BSC squad, as well as All-BSC academic team. The RU women's team was also hindered by injuries to key players at
tournament time. A late season injury to first team All-BSC guard Catrice Horton proved to
be very significant as the Lady Highlanders' season came to a close with a quarterfinal
tournament loss to Charleston Southern University. Jennifer Grant was named the BSC
Scholar Athlete of the Year in women's basketball. RU and Roanoke Partner to Land Big South Basketball Tournament RU and the City of Roanoke will host the Big South Conference
(BSC) Basketball Tournament Championships, for the first time, in 2001 and 2002. The 2001
Tournament will be held in the Roanoke Civic Center from Feb. 28-March 3, 2001. The BSC
Executive Committee, comprised of the chief executive officers of the Conference’s
respective member institutions, awarded RU/Roanoke the winning bid at their annual meeting
at the BSC Basketball Tournament in Asheville, North Carolina. Roanoke was one of four cities, along with Rock Hill, South Carolina;
Lynchburg, Virginia; and Asheville, North Carolina, to bid for the Tournament. RU faculty,
staff, students and alumni were joined by City officials, business leaders, and the BSC
Commissioner, Kyle Kallander, for a well-attended reception and media conference to
announce the location of this major event. As co-hosts, RU and Roanoke will boost the
economy of our region, generate additional revenue for RU’s athletic program, raise
the level of visibility for the University and the City, showcase NCAA Division I
basketball in Roanoke, and further expand the RU/Roanoke partnership. Millennium Event and Reception for Student Leaders at Hickory Hill Bea and I were pleased to host a Millennium Celebration for all
faculty, staff and their family members on January 12, 2000 at the Dedmon Center. The
event was held prior to the Lady Highlander Basketball game against High Point College,
North Carolina. We were pleased also to host the international students, SGA, Quest
Assistants, University 100 Assistants, Admissions representatives, and RU Ambassadors for
a reception at Hickory Hill on April 18, 2000. We believe that these activities serve to
enhance morale and solidarity within the campus community. University Forums: Campus Facilities Master Plan, Experiential
Learning, and Study Abroad In keeping with RU's efforts to share information and promote dialogue among all constituencies, several well-attended University Forums were conducted during the Spring Semester. On February 2, 2000 a forum was held on Experiential Learning and Study Abroad. Various Internship and Study Abroad opportunities were discussed. On March 22, 2000 I participated in the University's Capital Master Plan Update forum wherein Mr. David Burdette and Mr. David Armstrong reviewed plans for the expansion of our University’s buildings, beautification of its grounds and up-grading of its infrastructure and utilities system. Robert Safford--Executive in Residence Our University was pleased to host Mr. Robert Safford, an officer and member of the Board of Directors for Primerica, a subsidiary of Citigroup, the world’s largest financial services enterprise, as the Spring 2000 Executive-in-Residence. He is responsible for 600 offices, 16,000 employees and 3.5 billion dollars in assets. Prior to his work at Primerica Mr. Safford founded the Alexander Hamilton Life Insurance Company and became a millionaire at 28 years of age. He occupies a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. He spoke to several groups of faculty and students on "How to Motivate Yourself and Lead Others." My wife, Bea, and I hosted a dinner for Mr. Safford and his wife, Barbara, in conjunction with the annual meeting of our Business/Industry Council. He was an invaluable resource to our faculty and students and I am confident that his years of experience as a corporate executive along with his newly developed interest in RU will make him an effective advocate for our University in the future. He has invited me to visit him this summer at his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to discuss plans for developing this relationship. Robert Whisonant Earns Outstanding Faculty Award Once again I am privileged to announce that an RU professor has been recognized for his contributions toward academic excellence by the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia (SCHEV). Geology Professor Robert Whisonant has received the Commonwealth’s highest honor for faculty at Virginia’s public and private colleges and universities at a ceremony with Governor Gilmore on March 2, 2000. The Outstanding Faculty Award is presented by SCHEV each year to professors for "their demonstrated excellence in teaching, research and public service." In his 29 years of service at RU, Dr. Whisonant chaired the Department of Geology for 15 years and established the program as a national leader in curriculum design incorporating applied geology. Dr. Whisonant’s research has reached national audiences. Currently he is heading a group of professors and students using NASA remote sensing technology in a detailed archeological study at Saltville in Southwest Virginia. News of this study made national headlines as the group began uncovering finds important to reconstructing the Civil War history of the town. Dr. Whisonant is also participating in the development of a series of CD-ROMs, which enable high school students to explore the geology of the Commonwealth. He joins five previous RU faculty members as winners of the prestigious Outstanding Faculty Award since its inception in 1987. College Partnership Program and Meeting with Superintendent of Fairfax County Schools I was pleased to address attendees at the College Partnership Program (CPP) for the Fairfax County School Board on March 15, 2000. Speaking to an assembly of more than 425 School Board members, educators, parents, and students, I expressed my continued support for the Program and the Summer Academy which is held at RU. The level of student participation will increase by 100% since last summer. This summer’s program will serve over 300 high school students. On February 17 I had a very productive meeting with Dr. Daniel Domenech, Superintendent of Fairfax County Schools, and Mr. Robert Frye, Chairman of the School System’s Board of Education. We discussed various matters including the new programs and buildings at Radford, and the many outstanding RU alumni who are employed by the Fairfax County school system. Dr. Domenech expressed his appreciation, on behalf of the entire school system, for Radford's exceptional efforts with the College Partnership Program. He specifically noted the fact that many student participants in this summer program have been influenced to apply for admission to RU upon graduation from high school. He also accepted my invitation to visit our campus this summer to observe the Program in action and to plan for its further expansion. Meeting with East Tennessee State University Officials On Wednesday, March 22 of this year, I was pleased to welcome Dr. Paul Stanton, President of East Tennessee State University (ETSU) along with the Dean of the Medical School, the Provost for Academic Affairs, and several other administrative officers to our campus. I extended an invitation to Dr. Stanton and his staff to visit our University to explore opportunities for collaboration between ETSU and RU in the areas of medical research, public service, inter-institutional programs in allied health, and professional outreach programs to meet rural health needs. Based on this very productive first meeting, and our recognition of similarities in our respective institutional missions, I am convinced that it will prove mutually beneficial for ETSU and RU to embark upon several carefully selected collaborative initiatives. Early this summer, representatives from our University will be visiting ETSU for further planning of these opportunities to begin working together. We will identify additional ways in which to collaborate as these projects develop. Centennial Committee Convened One of our objectives is to continue building school spirit, pride and unity in the University community by celebrating our institution's rich heritage and continuing, significant progress. An important historical milestone, the Centennial Anniversary of its founding, will occur in 2010. To begin preparations for an appropriate Centennial Observance, I have appointed a 21-member Centennial Committee consisting of faculty, staff, alumni, students and Radford City residents. At my request, Vice President for University Advancement Charles Wood has agreed to chair the Committee and Mrs. Lucille Austin has consented to serve as its Honorary Chair. On May 20, 2000 I will join Mrs. Austin, along with her family and many friends for the celebration of her 100th birthday. Since birth, she has resided in the white frame house on Tyler Avenue, across the street from the University. Indeed, she has not only observed, from close range, the growth of RU since its founding, she has been one of its most potent allies and loyal advocates. In addition to her willingness to provide an oral history, based on her first hand observation of RU’s emergence, she and her family have offered to share many rare photographs of the institution in its formative years. At the Committee's initial meeting on March 31, 2000, I asked the newly
appointed members to begin preparing for the Centennial Celebration. To that end, I
specified a number of institutional enhancement activities which should be advanced to
distinguish and showcase RU as well as various traditions which should be reclaimed and
celebrated. I am pleased to acknowledge the newly elected Faculty Senate officers. The new President is Dr. Christine Hermann; Vice President, Dr. Russell Gregory; Secretary, Dr. Marty Aylesworth; and At-Large members are Dr. Marilyn Meador and Dr. Jim Lollar. I congratulate these new officers and look forward to working closely and cooperatively with them in the coming year. Likewise, I wish to commend and thank Dr. Nora Reilly, the Faculty Senate’s immediate past President, other immediate past officers of the Executive Council, and all faculty members for their constructive effort and valuable service to the University this year.
Student Government Association (SGA) officers have been elected by the student body. Larry "Jason" Miller, was elected President; Katherine Biglin, Executive Vice President; Levar Cole, Legislative Vice President; and Robin Dillon, Administrative Vice President. I wish each of these very able student leaders a full measure of success as they embark upon their respective tenures as SGA officers. I look forward to working with them as they endeavor to extend the SGA’s role as a vital, effective organization representing all RU students. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend and thank the incumbent officers for their diligent and dedicated service during the 1999-2000 academic year. They have managed conflict with restraint and channeled it in constructive ways. Through diligent positive leadership, they also introduced or advanced several projects such as boosting student attendance at RU sports events and co-sponsorship of University Forums. They also met with state legislators to seek support for our University’s budget appropriations request. Virginia Lieutenant Governor John Hager will address more than 1400 students of the class of 2000 during the 87th Commencement Exercises tomorrow on the Quadrangle of Moffett Hall. The Honorable John Hager is a graduate of Purdue University and earned his MBA Degree from Harvard University. He served in the United States Army and Army Reserve, rising to the rank of Captain. Lieutenant Governor Hager started his business career loading boxcars in 1961 and quickly rose within the ranks of American Tobacco Company to Executive Vice President. Despite a near-death encounter upon contracting polio, he returned to work and became Senior Vice President of Leaf and Specialty Products for the parent company. His election to the second highest office in state government proves that courage and perseverance in the face of daunting obstacles leads to victory, whether in an election, one’s professional career, or his personal life.
I have accepted an invitation to deliver the Commencement Address next week at Dabney Lancaster Community College. During the past several months, I have been privileged to represent RU in a range of venues through a variety of other professional and civic activities, which include the following:
March 9 Met with RU Foundation Board of Directors
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