RADFORD -- Radford University’s Board of Visitors approved a $154.4 million operating budget for fiscal year 2008, adopted a 10-year strategic plan and took several other notable actions during its recent meeting on campus.

The $154.4 budget represents a $6.1 million increase, or four percent, over the previous fiscal year.

About 63 percent of the budget, or $93.1 million, will be spent within the Educational and General budget for instruction, academic support, libraries, public service, student services, institutional support and operation and maintenance of the physical plant.

The strategic plan, titled “7-17,” charts a course for RU to become one of the top 50 masters universities in the nation. {See related story here.}

The board re-elected R.J. Kirk ‘76 as Rector and elected Thomas Fraim ‘87 as Vice Rector. The board also welcomed faculty representative Dr. James Lollar and student representative Regis McKoy.

Updates on various new graduate programs in development were presented. Proposals for a doctorate in Pharmacy and a doctorate in Physical Therapy currently are being reviewed by The State Council for Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV.)  RU plans to submit a plan for a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy to SCHEV soon and is exploring development of a doctorate in optometry. RU’s first doctoral program, a doctorate in psychology, admits its first class in fall 2008.

The board also learned that 50 new faculty members, representing 25 states and five countries, have joined RU this year.

The Student Government Association announced its allocation of $160,000 in planning monies to support various capital projects. The SGA allocated $75,000 for a new student fitness and wellness center, $75,000 for an expansion of the Bonnie Hurlburt Student Center, and $10,000 for a parking garage.

Other capital projects RU will seek state approval for include signature academic buildings for the College of Business and Economics and the College of Science and Technology, a new graduate and professional center and three residence halls. It was also announced that the Dedmon Center will be closed immediately after the upcoming basketball season for installation of a new roof, an air-conditioning system and for other repairs.

In other business, the Board:

• approved a Code of Ethics to comply with Commonwealth of Virginia standards. The RU code focuses on respect, honesty and integrity, communication, stewardship, excellence and responsibility and accountability;
• approved revised debt management guidelines and procedures;
• approved a resolution of support for Virginia Tech in the aftermath of April 16;
• scheduled its next meeting for Nov. 1-2, 2007. Quarterly meetings in 2008 will be held January 29-30, April 23-24, September 3-4 and November 12-13.