At the Radford University Board of Visitors meeting on Friday, Mar. 20, university leadership presented plans to partner with key organizations to expand access to medical, mental and dental health services in Southwest and Southside Virginia.
University President Bret Danilowicz described progress toward establishing a Center for Rural Health, in collaboration with regional healthcare organizations, foundations and businesses.
“We foresee that it will help communities across Southwest and Southside Virginia shape and sustain their own health and well-being,” he said.
The university is forming a Partner Council, which will first study regional health disparities and then develop action plans to address them. To help meet those needs, Radford will involve its students in nursing and health professions more directly with work-based education in rural settings.
“In all this, we’ll ensure that these efforts complement – not compete with – the work of hospital systems and community health organizations,” Danilowicz noted.
He added that the Partner Council will further extend the outreach and impact of the center’s work, involving its own individual community networks and resources to broaden its impact.
Strategic Plan
The board also heard updates on initial work to implement and track progress on the university’s 2026-2031 strategic plan, Shaping Tomorrow – Together. Online dashboards have been established to provide transparency for progress on the specific objectives and strategies contained within the plan.
In addition, the board approved a motion of appreciation for Angela Joyner and Sharon Rogers Hepburn, who co-chaired the committee that developed the plan.
Key highlights
Danilowicz announced various notable achievements and measures of the university’s progress, including the following:
Total student enrollment in the spring 2026 term is nearly 7,400 – an increase of about 7% over spring 2024.
Students from Virginia account for 92% of enrollment.
Over 92% of 2025 graduates were employed or continuing their education within six months.
Overall undergraduate fall-to-spring retention and graduation grew to 95%, continuing a five-year upward trend.
The university will launch the New River Valley Governor’s School in the Arts and Humanities in fall 2026.
Joel Newman for Radford University
