Written by Kerith Rae
Radford has really been pushing to strengthen its academic reputation, and throughout Virginia, the University has become known for its nursing, psychology, and education programs. Radford is a small school, which allows for small class sizes of 20 to 40 students and personal relationships with professors. This is a huge strength, and many students say the personal relationships with their professors positively impacted their GPAs. Small class sizes also allow for more personal attention, in-class discussions, and in-depth coverage of the material. Professors make themselves very accessible to students through office hours, out-of-class appointments, or staying after class to answer questions.
There are some downsides to having such small class sizes. Professors are very aware when a student does not show up, and many enforce strict attendance policies. Participation in in-class discussions and in-class activities also can play a large factor in one's grades, so with small class sizes, it is very hard to slip through the cracks and remain unnoticed. The professors at Radford make students work hard for their grades. Depending on the amount of credit hours and classes taken, a student's workload can vary greatly. In general, the more credits taken, the harder the workload, but there really is nothing that cannot be completed in a timely manner. Once assignments are given, students should try to complete them on the same day, which will prevent the stressful feeling students get when they procrastinate. Radford University has been improving its reputation as a party school and is becoming known as a school with serious academic integrity.