Radford University

History

The State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Radford was founded in Radford as a women's college in 1910. In 1924, the school was renamed the State Teachers College at Radford, with the primary intent of training teachers in the Appalachian region. In 1943, as part of the state's consolidation movement, the college merged with the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in nearby Blacksburg, serving as the women's campus for the then-predominately male land-grant college. The merger was dissolved in 1964, and Radford College became coeducational in 1972. Following a period of sustained and significant growth, Radford College was granted university status in 1979. In 2008, the Virginia General Assembly authorized three doctoral programs at Radford University, and the first doctoral degrees were awarded in 2011.

Presidents

Radford University's current president is Bret S. Danilowicz, who took this role on July 1, 2022. The university's administration is overseen by a 15-member board, whose members are appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth and serve four-year terms. Each year, the board also selects a student and a faculty member to serve as advisory representatives.

List of presidents:

• John Preston McConnell, 1911–1937
• David Wilbur Peters, 1938–1951
• Charles Knox Martin Jr., 1952–1972, Chancellor, 1972–73, President Emeritus
• Donald Newton Dedmon, 1972–1994
• Douglas Covington, 1995–2005, President Emeritus
• Penelope Ward Kyle, 2005–2016, President Emeritus
• Brian Hemphill, 2016-2021
• Carolyn Ringer Lepre, (interim) 2021-2022
• Bret S. Danilowicz, 2022–present

Academics

Radford University's undergraduate programs emphasize the liberal arts, business, sciences, and teacher education. The graduate and undergraduate programs in business administration offered by the College of Business and Economics at Radford University are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

The university has a student/faculty ratio of 14:1 with an average class size of 19.

More than 80 percent of faculty members hold doctorates or other terminal degrees (M.F.A., M.B.A., Ph.D., J.D., etc.) in their fields. Special programs include Study Abroad, Honors Academy, RU Connections freshmen living/learning communities, internships, co-ops, practical and service learning, Army ROTC, leading to commissions in the U.S. Army, and undergraduate research opportunities.

Radford University and Northern Virginia Community College signed a Guaranteed Transfer Partnership Agreement on August 28, 2017.

Undergraduate and graduate colleges

The university is organized into seven undergraduate colleges and schools, and one graduate college:

• College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences
• Davis College of Business and Economics
• College of Education and Human Development
• Waldron College of Health and Human Services
• Artis College of Science and Technology
• College of Visual and Performing Arts
• College of Nursing
• College of Graduate Studies and Research

The College of Graduate Studies and Research offers eighteen-degree programs in fields such as art, business, communication, counseling, criminal justice, education, English, music, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, and social work. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia has authorized three doctoral programs at Radford in counseling psychology, physical therapy, and nursing practice. The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program in Counseling Psychology admitted its first students in the fall of 2008. The doctorate in physical therapy program began in the summer of 2009. The first Doctor of Nursing Practice students began their studies in an online program in the fall of 2010.

Campus and community

Radford University is an 211 acre campus located in a residential area of Radford, Virginia. The town is located in the Virginia Highlands, between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains at a double bend in the New River. Nearly all of the 31 administrative, academic, student services, and residence halls, some built in a red-brick Georgian style, are located on a main lawn and two quadrangles and a pedestrian thoroughfare in a 76 acre area, while a large adjoining area along the New River separated from the main campus by U.S. Route 11 and the Norfolk Southern railroad holds the university's athletic facilities, student parking lots, and student apartments. The university opened a new COBE building (College of Business and Economics) in 2012. In 2014 a New Student Fitness Center opened. A new Center for Sciences opened during the spring semester of 2016. The following fall semester, the new CHBS (College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences) Building opened its doors. As of 2016, nearly all dorms at Radford have been renovated. Renovations are currently ongoing for several buildings on campus. Radford is located on exits 105 and 109 of Interstate 81, with accessibility to nearby I-77.

Bordering the Little River, and about five miles from campus, is the Selu Conservancy, a 376 acre reserve, observatory, retreat, and conference center owned by the University Foundation.

Radford University is also home to the Radford University Planetarium, a permanent planetarium with a 55-seat theater (front facing) with a 10-meter dome, two central floor-mounted 2k projectors running the Digistar 7 planetarium software. The planetarium is primarily operated by work-study students and is maintained by the Physics Department. Shows run by the students and professors are free for attendees. Yearly attendance is approximately 6,000.

Student life

Around 3,800 of Radford's students live on campus in 15 residence halls.

Radford University has more than 250 student clubs and organizations. These range from service and honors organizations to performing arts and intramural sports. Radford is also home to Highlander Student Media (RUHSM), with a variety of student media organizations, such as The Tartan (student-run newspaper), Radio Free Radford, The Beehive (yearbook/magazine), Exit 109 (literary magazine), ROC-TV, a.k.a. "Radford On Camera" (student TV station), and Whim (online magazine)

Radford also has a variety of Greek life fraternities and sororities. More than 17 religious organizations are part of the Radford University Campus Ministers' Association (RUCMA). They hold religious events, masses, and ceremonies throughout the academic year.

Athletics

Main article: Radford Highlanders

The university's teams are known as the Highlanders (in honor of the region's Scots-Irish heritage) and compete in the Big South Conference. Radford offers 16 NCAA varsity sports for men and women. The Radford men's basketball team won the Big South Conference tournament in 1998, 2009, and 2018. Radford also won the Big South Conference Men's Tennis Championship in 2007, 2008, and 2009 as well as the Big South Softball Championship in 2009.

The Radford baseball team has won the Big South Conference Championship in 2015, and 2017. In 2015, they defeated the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina with a walk-off single by Hunter Higgerson. The team finished with a final record of 45–16. The team was selected to compete in the Nashville Regional where they went 2–2, with wins against Lipscomb University and Indiana University, before losing to the 2015 National Runner-up Vanderbilt University, in the Regional Finals.

The Radford men's rugby club team won the Division II National Championship in 2003 and 2008.

Student athletes have exclusive use of the Dedmon Center, a recreational and convocation complex that opened in 1981. The Dedmon Center features a 1/6-mile indoor jogging track, a weight-training room, locker rooms, and several team rooms. The main arena features a basketball floor and a secondary volleyball arena for intercollegiate competition with four recreational courts for basketball or volleyball. Adjoining facilities include intramural soccer, football, softball fields, and intercollegiate fields and courts for baseball, softball, field hockey, and tennis. The Patrick D. Cupp Stadium adds an intercollegiate soccer, lacrosse, and track and field complex.

Notable alumni

• Lynne Agee (born 1948) – women's college basketball coach with 600+ wins
• Belinda C. Anderson – 11th president of Virginia Union University
• Frank Beamer (born 1946) – college football coach
• Eddie Butler (born 1991) – professional baseball player
• Kiera Cass (born 1981) – author
• Javonte Green (born 1993) – professional basketball player
• Spencer Horwitz (born 1997) – professional baseball player
• Randal J. Kirk (born 1954) – founder of New River Pharmaceuticals and CEO of Intrexon
• Scott Long – human rights activist
• Marylynn Magar – politician
• Nick Mayhugh – track & field gold medalist at the 2020 Summer Paralympics
• Jayma Mays – actress and singer
• Ryan Meisinger (born 1994) – professional baseball player
• Artsiom Parakhouski (born 1987) – professional baseball player
• Politicks – rock band
• Steve Robinson – college basketball coach
• Marty Smith (born 1976) – television sports reporter
• Joseph Yost (born 1986) – politician
• Tal Bayer (born 1970) – Rugby coach and musician

Notes

References

References

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2. (February 12, 2025). "U.S. and Canadian 2024 NCSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2024 Endowment Market Value, Change in Market Value from FY23 to FY24, and FY24 Endowment Market Values Per Full-time Equivalent Student". National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO).
3. "Doctor of Psychology". Radford University.
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8. "Radford, NOVA sign landmark agreement {{!}} Radford University".
9. "Graduate Programs and Degrees {{!}} College of Graduate Studies and Research {{!}} Radford University".
10. "Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree". Radford University.
11. "History of COBE | College of Business & Economics | Radford University". Radford.edu.
12. Selu Conservancy. "Home | Selu Conservancy | Radford University". Radford.edu.
13. "College Scorecard: Radford University". [[United States Department of Education]].
14. (July 7, 2015). "Radford University dorms rank among the best". Radford University.
15. "The Tartan". Radford University.
16. "Radio Free Radford". Radford University.
17. "Exit 109". Radford University.
18. "Lynne Agee - 2009-10 - Women's Basketball".
19. Robertson, Gary. (2004-05-26). "VUU names first female president". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
20. (February 2, 2008). "Radford University's Randal J. Kirk Receives Prestigious State Award". Radford University Office of University Relations.
21. "North Carolina Official Athletic Site".
22. "Get ready to experience Marty Smith's America – ESPN Video". ESPN.com.