University Convocation 2024 highlights a future of growth

Radford University held its annual university convocation on Aug. 23, kicking off the fall 2024 semester with President Bret Danilowicz providing positive news about enrollment and celebrating a long list of university and individual successes from the past year.

"If there's anything you should take away from today, know that you work at a university that is doing some amazing things," the president said to those gathered inside Bondurant Auditorium.

Among those accomplishments was a report from the Virginia Board of Nursing that 229 Radford graduates sat for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam, more than any other university in Virginia, public or private.

"Radford is doing more to produce highly skilled nurses and enhance the quality of life for the residents of our region and state," Danilowicz said.

Other notables highlighted in the president's speech included word of Radford being recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge; the university's achievement of Gold Status among Military Friendly Schools and Military Spouse Friendly Schools; and the strong academic success of the university's student-athletes.

Transitioning into the good news about Radford's enrollment boost for the fall semester, Danilowicz said that it is "through these examples and many more not mentioned, prospective students are learning in a more meaningful way about the Radford experience.

"High school seniors and guidance counselors have noticed," the president continued. "Students are coming to us from across the commonwealth, and especially from our nearby school districts, in greater numbers. Growing even faster are our military veterans and military dependents, freshman students starting over the age of 22 and first-generation students."

The final numbers are not in, the president said, but the Radford campus will have almost 400 additional in-person students for the fall semester. Total university growth includes an additional 336 students above the 2023 fall census totals, meaning Radford is exceeding its enrollment goal by 120%.

Gains in notable demographics include:

• 122 military veterans and dependents of armed services members;
• 239 Hispanic and Latinx students;
• 30% growth in nursing students, who will experience the first full year of the new College of Nursing;
• 62 new students from the City of Radford, including 24 from Radford High School - a 166% increase over 2023; and
• 795 transfer students

"This is the largest year-over-year growth in university history," Danilowicz said. "And we are welcoming the largest group of new students to Radford University since 2019."

A longstanding convocation tradition is announcing winners of the Radford University Faculty Awards, which celebrate outstanding achievement among faculty members. Nominations are made by members of the Radford University community, and the award recipients are recommended to the Faculty Awards Committee president.

This year, Faculty Senate President and Associate Professor of Biology Matt Close announced the 2023-24 faculty award recipients.

The most prestigious honor bestowed to a deserving faculty member is the Donald N. Dedmon Distinguished Teaching Professor Award, named in honor of the university's fourth president. Nominees must have an outstanding record of teaching at Radford, be professionally active in their discipline and be recognized by colleagues and students as thoroughly knowledgeable in the subject matter and current scholarship of their teaching discipline.

The recipient of the 2024 Dedmon award is Professor of Art Carlee Bradbury.

Additional award recipients were:

• Anna Lee Stewart Award for Contributions to Faculty Development: Paige Tan, professor of political science.
• Award for Administrative and Professional Excellence: Renee Huth, director of Clinical Education at Radford University Carilion (RUC).
• Distinguished Creative Scholar Award: Christine Small, associate dean of the Artis College of Science and Technology and professor of biology.
• Distinguished Service Award: Geoffrey Pollick, assistant professor of philosophy and religion.
• Distinguished Faculty Advising Award: Judy Smith, physician assistant professor at RUC.

Danilowicz later announced the launching of the We Are Radford Employee Recognition Program, a monthly honor that recognizes "someone whose daily interactions with students and colleagues represent the best of the Radford University experience," the president explained.

The inaugural winner is Cindy Whitehead, office manager for the School of Social Work in Waldron College of Health and Human Services.

Danilowicz updated the convocation gathering about the progress toward revamping the Radford.edu website, which is expected to be completed in early 2025, and two new Radford University vanity license plates recently authorized by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

"I do have to report that the plate TARTAN is still spoken for," Danilowicz joked. "But I can't wait to see how you all get creative with your new vanity plates."

Additionally, the president provided updates on Together - The Campaign for Radford University, which is only the third fundraising campaign in university history.

"At the end of its public reporting last December, Together raised $95.6 million, exceeding the previous two campaigns combined," Danilowicz said. "In addition, 160 new scholarships have already been created thanks to the Together campaign. And that's before we reveal the final totals in October, when we will celebrate together. Thank you for rising to the occasion and contributing to this remarkable student-focused campaign."

At the campaign's conclusion, Danilowicz noted, the university "will shift to a new campaign that will support our Division I athletic programs, for which we will share details soon."

After the president and others put a wrap on convocation, faculty and staff filed out of the auditorium, making way for students who are new to the university this fall.

Throughout the brief convocation, new students heard from a handful of guests, including Danilowicz, men's basketball coach Darris Nichols and Radford Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Bethany Usher.

"We are really excited to meet you and have you here," the provost said to the enthusiastic crowd.

At Radford, Usher explained, you are going to build "fabulous relationships," and "we want you to know you're going to get to know your faculty really closely."

Those teachers and mentors will be "the people that you're going to turn to for support," Usher continued. "They're going to be there to write your letters of recommendation and help you find your experiential learning opportunities, whether you're doing research or finding your place in your practicums or in your classrooms or in the hospitals or in offices. They're going to be the ones here helping you do all of that work. And we're really looking forward to watching you and supporting you as you're developing."

Following convocation, students and families joined Radford faculty and staff for the traditional aerial class photo on Moffett Lawn.

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