Radford University Radford University , located in Radford in the U . S . state of Virginia , is one of the state ' s eight doctoral - degree granting public universities . Originally founded in 1910 , Radford offers comprehensive curricula for undergraduates in more than 100 fields , and graduate programs including the M . F . A . , M . B . A . and specialized doctoral program s in health - related professions . Academics . Radford ' s undergraduate programs emphasize the liberal arts , business , 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 AACSB International — The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business . Radford is among the 9 percent of the world ' s ( top 10 % in the United States ) business schools that have achieved business and / or accounting accreditation from AACSB . The university has a student / faculty ratio of 18 : 1 with an average class size of 34 . Graduate students teach less than 2 % of classes , so undergraduates work more closely with senior faculty than they might at a larger research university . The university is organized into six undergraduate colleges : Humanities and Behavioral Sciences , Business and Economics , Education and Human Development , Health and Human Services , Science and Technology , and Visual and Performing Arts . Within the colleges , some fields are designated as " Schools , " such as the School of Nursing and School of Social Work ( in the College of Health and Human Services ) and the School of Communication ( in the College of Humanities & Behavioral Sciences ) . The latter brings together former departments of media studies ( journalism , broadcasting , Web design and advertising ) and communication ( speech and public relations ) . The College of Graduate and Extended Education offers 19 degree programs in fields including 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 was scheduled to start in summer 2009 . The university said its first Doctor of Nursing Practice students would begin studies in an online format in the fall of 2010 . More than 80 percent of faculty members hold doctorates or other terminal degrees ( M . F . A . , etc . ) in their fields . Eight Radford professors have received Virginia ’ s highest honor for faculty since the inception of the state ’ s Outstanding Faculty Award in 1986 . One of them , Radford anthropology professor Donna Boyd , was named 2006 U . S . Professor of the Year for master ’ s level universities and colleges by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching . Since 1981 , nine Radford faculty members have been selected as Fulbright Scholars to teach or research in other countries . Special programs include Study Abroad , Honors Academy , RU Connections freshmen living / learning communities , internships , co - ops , practica and service learning , Army ROTC , leading to commission in the U . S . Army , undergraduate research opportunities . Radford was the first university in Virginia to integrate wireless technology campus wide . Nearly 93 percent of Radford graduates obtain employment or enroll in graduate school within 3 to 8 months of graduation from the university . In 2007 , the Radford University Board of Visitors approved the University ’ s Strategic Plan , dubbed " 7 - 17 , Forging a Bold New Future , " with a goal of establishing Radford as one of the top 50 master ' s degree granting universities in the nation by 2017 . The university was formerly home to the Appalachian Regional & Rural Studies Center , a leading institute in the field of Appalachian Studies . For three decades , Radford ' s Appalachian Studies program had emphasized the importance of preserving the cultural and environmental heritage of the southern Appalachians . In the fall of 2013 , the university administration ordered the closing of the Center , divesting the university of its long - held emphasis on regional heritage . Community and campus . Radford University is an 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 35 administrative , academic , student services , and residence halls , many built in a red - brick Georgian style , are located on three quadrangles and a new pedestrian thoroughfare in a area , while a large adjoining area along the New River holds a variety of the university ' s athletic facilities . The university ' s vision for the future is reflected in the recently open state - of - the - art COBE building ( College of Business and Economics ) . Construction is ongoing for a New Center for the Sciences Building , as well as a New Student Center , which will provide lockers and other facilities to the growing number of commuters who at the moment lack a place to rest or set down their belongings . 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 preserve and conference center owned by the University Foundation . Student life . 3 , 150 students live on campus in 15 residence halls . There are more than 200 clubs and organizations . Radford has events , performances , and lectures throughout the academic year including the unofficial , student led Quadfest . Radford also has a wide variety of Greek life that is increasing in popularity among the students . Among it are chapters such as Alpha Sigma Phi , Alpha Chi Rho , Alpha Sigma Alpha , Alpha Sigma Tau , Delta Chi , Delta Zeta , Kappa Delta Rho , Pi Lambda Phi , Phi Kappa Sigma , Phi Sigma Kappa , Phi Sigma Sigma , Sigma Kappa , Sigma Chi , Sigma Pi , Sigma Sigma Sigma , Theta Chi , Pi Kappa Phi , Zeta Tau Alpha , Alpha Phi Alpha , Alpha Sigma Phi , Alpha Kappa Alpha , Omega Psi Phi , Kappa Alpha Psi , Delta Sigma Theta , Phi Beta Sigma , Zeta Phi Beta , and Sigma Gamma Rho . RU ' s student run newspaper is called " The Tartan " . History . Radford was founded in 1910 as a women ' s college as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Radford . In 1924 the school was renamed the State Teachers College at Radford and began an evolution toward a true college . Its primary focus was on training teachers for the rural Appalachia n region nearby . In 1943 the college was renamed the Women ' s Division of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and merged into what is now known as the Virginia Tech which was away in Blacksburg , Virginia . As the 1960s began , Virginia began to desegregate its gender specific schools , and Virginia Tech began to admit women on its main campus . This led to a separation in 1964 and a renaming as Radford College . Over the next decade , the " finishing school " atmosphere of the college was dismantled . In 1972 the college became a co - ed institution and developed a graduate school . In 1979 Radford College became Radford University . Today , the school is a comprehensive state university . About 45 % of the students come from southwestern Virginia , 40 % from other parts of Virginia , and 15 % from out - of - state . Penelope W . Kyle , J . D . , M . B . A . , became Radford ' s sixth president June 1 , 2005 , after a career in business and state government . Athletics . The university ' s teams remain known as the Highlanders ( in honor of the region ' s Scots - Irish heritage ) and compete in the Big South Conference . Radford offers 19 NCAA varsity sports for men and women . The Radford men ' s basketball team won the Big South Conference tournament in 1998 and 2009 . 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 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 main basketball floor and a secondary volleyball arena for intercollegiate competition and four recreational courts for basketball or volleyball . Adjoining facilities include intramural soccer , football and softball fields , and intercollegiate fields and courts for baseball , softball , field hockey and tennis . The Patrick D . Cupp Stadium adds an intercollegiate soccer and track and field complex . Accolades . Radford was recognized in a national study as an " Institution of Excellence in the First College Year " for the breadth of quality of programs that assist students in their transition to college life . " U . S . News & World Report " has ranked Radford in its " Best Regional Universities in the South " list for 2014 . Radford University was also placed on the " Best of the Southeast " list by the " The Princeton Review " for the sixth straight year . " The Princeton Review " also placed RU on its " Best 294 Business Schools " and " Top 311 Green Colleges In The Nation " lists for 2013 . John Montgomery - Executive director of the Rams Club at UNC - Chapel Hill Administration . Radford University ' s current president is Penelope Ward Kyle , who has served in that role since 2005 . 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 on the Board .