MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Radford University President Penelope Kyle (left) applauds art professor Richard Bay (center) after he was presented the distinguished professor award Thursday.

RADFORD -- Most Radford University students didn't begin moving on campus until this morning, but the Highlanders' academic year officially kicked off Thursday afternoon with the annual fall convocation.

Provost Wil Stanton told the crowd of faculty and staff that progress isn't always pretty, what with all that construction equipment, fences and mud.

"And trailers," President Penelope Kyle added from the front row.

"Mobile classrooms," Stanton corrected.

"I'm from Galax," Kyle replied back with a laugh.

Progress was the theme as Kyle spoke of progress made and progress planned as Radford prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2010.

"We are an institution on the move," Kyle said, announcing that Radford is "on its way to becoming well-regarded in Richmond."

Gov. Tim Kaine has been to campus four times in less than three years, Kyle said. And members of the House of Delegates Appropriations Committee toured the campus last summer.

That attention helped Radford get $34.2 million toward a new building for the College of Business and Economics and $1.5 million to begin planning a College of Science and Technology building.

Kyle and Stanton touted progress toward a new core curriculum and the rugby team's national championship; better dining facilities and increased faculty travel allowances; a freshman class that may top 1,900 and undergraduate research projects; a new doctoral program beginning Monday and graduate programs in development.

"These graduate programs are going to create a whole new reputation for us here at Radford University," Kyle said.

One theme she returned to more than once was the importance of faculty to Radford's reputation and to Radford's progress toward its goals.

When graduates are asked what they liked about attending Radford, Kyle said, their most frequent response is their relationship with their professors.

"I recognize that our university is only as strong as its faculty," she said. "While students are our reason for existence, our faculty are our greatest asset."