Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University (ODU) is a public research university in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. It was established in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary. ODU awarded its first bachelor's degrees in 1956, became Old Dominion College in 1962, and attained university status in 1969. ODU offers a full range of degree programs and is one of the nation's largest providers of online distance learning courses. Old Dominion University derives its name from one of Virginia's state nicknames, "The Old Dominion," given to the state by King Charles II of England for remaining loyal to the crown during the English Civil War.

History
The foundations of Old Dominion University began in the minds of administrators and officials at the College of William and Mary in the first decades of the twentieth century. Notable among these men were Robert M. Hughes, a W&M Board of Visitors member from 1893–1917, and J.A.C. Chandler, the 18th president of that school. With the collective efforts of many, a two year branch division was established on March 13, 1930, and first held classes in September of that year with 206 students (125 men and 81 women). “The Division,” as it was affectionately called, started out in the old Larchmont School building and allowed people with less means to attend a school of higher education for two years. Tuition for the first year was 50 USD. The following September, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, more commonly known as Virginia Tech, began offering classes at “The Division,” expanding the number of courses taught.

Created in the first year of the Great Depression, the college benefited from federal funding as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. The Public Works Administration provided funds for the Administration Building, now Rollins Hall, and Foreman Field, named after A.H Foreman, an early proponent of the college. From these humble beginnings the college grew southward along Hampton Boulevard, turning an empty field into a sprawling campus. After completion at the Norfolk Division, students would move on to schools offering degrees or would seek careers locally. “The Division” began by educating teachers and engineers, evolving into a full four-year college, and gaining independence in 1962, becoming Old Dominion College. Considerable growth in enrollment, the expansion of research facilities and preparation for the addition of graduate programs led the Board to approve the name change to Old Dominion University in 1969. Since this time, the university has continued to grow and now has an enrollment of over 24,000 students.

Academics
As a comprehensive university, Old Dominion University offers and develops liberal arts, science, technology and professional programs. The University offers 70 bachelor's degrees in various fields and 60 master's and 35 doctoral degrees. ODU's TELETECHNET distance learning program is one of the nation's largest and accounts for nearly one third of student enrollment. ODU Distance Learning is affiliated with the Southern Regional Education Board's Electronic Campus. ODU is the only university in the US to offer MBA concentrations in Maritime, Transportation, and Port Logistics Management and has well-respected programs in Marine Science and Coastal Engineering.

Because Hampton Roads is a major international maritime and commerce center, the university has a special mission for the Commonwealth of Virginia in commerce, and in international affairs and cultures. With the principal marine and aerospace activities of the Commonwealth concentrated in Hampton Roads, the university has a significant commitment to science, engineering and technology, specifically in marine science, aerospace and other fields of major importance to the region. Many departments conduct cooperative research with NASA. Due to its location in a large metropolitan area, Old Dominion University places particular emphasis on urban issues, including education and health care, and on fine and performing arts.

College of Arts and Letters
This college maintains 13 departments, which offer degrees in the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. The departments include Art, Communications, English, Theatre Arts, Foreign Languages & Literature, International Studies, Music, History, Philosophy and Religious Studies, Sociology and Criminal Justice, Political Science and Geography, and Women's Studies. Within the Theatre Arts Department, Film and Video Studies is offered. The Department of Communication and Theatre Arts offers two degree programs that meet the needs of most students interested in film and video studies. The Program in Communication offers BA/BS degrees with an concentration in Film Studies. Classes focus on the principles and aesthetics of Film History, Theory, Genre, and Criticism. The Program in Theatre Arts offers a BA degree in Theatre with an emphasis in Digital Film making. Classes focus on all the practical aspects of digital filmmaking. The Department of Music is housed in the Diehn Fine and Performing Arts building. Diehn is the home of the ODU Symphony Orchestra (ODUSO), Wind Ensemble, Concert Choir, Jazz Choir, Jazz Ensemble, Monarch Marching Band as well as other smaller ensembles like the Diehn String Quartet and Diehn Chorale. Students at ODU pursuing a degree in music have a choice of bachelor degrees in music performance, music education, music history, and music. The Diehn building also houses the Wilson G. Chandler Recital Hall, where performances of the Diehn Concert Series and student recitals are held. The head of the department is currently John Toomey. ODU offers several tracks of study within the English Department, including: literature, journalism, creative writing, linguistics, and professional writing

College of Business and Public Administration
This college offers graduate programs as well as Bachelor's degree programs in nine undergraduate majors, including Decision Sciences, Economics, Finance, Accounting, Insurance and Real Estate, International Business Management, Marketing, Information Technology, Urban Studies, and Public Administration as well as a new major, that of Maritime and Supply Chain Management.

In Summer 2010, a new Public Service minor was started with the motto, "The Minor that Matters."

Darden College of Education
Offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in six academic departments. Programs include: Educational Leadership and School Administration, Counseling, Human Services, Higher Education, Exercise Science, Athletic Training, Sport Management, Physical Education, Recreation and Tourism Studies, Early Childhood Education, Speech Pathology, Special Education, Fashion Merchandising, Instructional Design and Technology, Business and Industry Training, Community College Teaching, and Technology Education. The Darden College of Education also works in collaboration with other academic Colleges to prepare teachers in fields of secondary education, such as English Education and Biology Education, among others. Students complete a major in the field they wish to teach, in addition to Education coursework, practica, and student teaching.

Batten College of Engineering and Technology
Grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in 8 engineering disciplines, including Civil, Aerospace, Environmental, Electrical, Engineering Management, Computer, Mechanical, Systems, Biomedical Engineering and Engineering Technology and offers interesting concentrations, including Coastal Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Experimental Aeronautics, Laser and Plasma Engineering, Bioelectrics, Computational Engineering, and Ship Maintenance, Repair, and Operations. In 2010, the Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology will become the first college in the United States offering all degrees in the emerging discipline of Modeling and Simulation (B.S., M.E., M.S., D.Eng., Ph.D.).

College of Health Sciences
This college is composed of five health-related schools and grants Certificates, Bachelor's Degrees, Master's Degrees, and Doctoral Degrees. The schools include the Schools of Medical Laboratory and Radiation Sciences, Community and Environmental Health, Nursing, Physical Therapy and the Gene W. Hirschfeld School of Dental Hygiene.

College of Sciences
Offers degree programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Computer Science, Psychology, Mathematics, Physics, and Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. The department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences has developed an expertise in the specialty field of Ocean Margin and Coastal System Processes.

Libraries
The Old Dominion University Libraries are the Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, the F. Ludwig Diehn Composers Room, and the Elise N. Hofheimer Art Library. The libraries contain over 3 million items—books, government publications, journals and serials, microform, musical scores, recordings, and maps. In the fall of 2011, Perry Library opened up the learning commons on the first floor of the library. The learning commons contains over 30 new computers.

Distance Learning
Old Dominion University began offering Distance Learning courses in 1994 through TELETECHNET, a satellite delivery system. Today, ODU Distance Learning offers 60 undergraduate and graduate programs through video streaming, satellite, 2-way, web conferencing, and online delivery. Depending on the program, students may take classes online or by attending one of nearly 50 ODU partner locations in Virginia, Arizona, or Washington State. ODU also offers programs designed to be taken by military personnel on deployment.

The Career Management Center
The Career Management Center at Old Dominion University is a resource for students in finding and obtaining internships and jobs. Located in the Batten Arts and Letters building as well as the WEBB Center, the CMC as it known on campus, is a great place to get answers to questions about internships, jobs, resumes, and interviewing skills. Their open door policy allows students to walk in and speak one-on-one with an advisor. The advisors work with students to develop resumes and cover letters and to guide students through the job finding process. The center also frequently holds mini-seminars to aid students in preparing for job interviews and works with local employers at job fairs throughout the semester. For students interested in meeting with an advisor they can make appointments online, over the phone, or in person. There is also a live messaging option for quick questions and answers. Students can follow the CMC on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and Myspace.

ROTC program
The ODU Army ROTC battalion was established in September 1969 in the Darden College of Education. The first cadets were commissioned on July 4, 1971. As of spring of 2008, ODU has been recognized as having the sixth largest Army ROTC unit out of 262 programs found nationwide.

Its Navy ROTC program is run in conjunction with the neighboring campuses of Norfolk State University and Hampton University. The Hampton Roads Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps is one of the largest officer training battalions in the nation, consisting of over 250 Sailors, Marines, and Midshipmen, with an above average prior enlisted presence. Midshipmen are either Navy-option (Nurse-option included) or Marine-option, and unlike the prior-enlisted group must spend their summers either aboard ships or conducting field training. Sailors with prior enlisted experience are called officer candidates, or OCs. Marines with prior enlisted experience are called by their rank.

The battalion is organized into seven phonetic companies: Alpha, Bravo (designated for the Norfolk State unit), Charlie (designated for the Hampton University unit), Delta, Echo (designated for all freshmen midshipman), Foxtrot, and Mike (designated for Marine-option midshipman and prior-enlisted Marines).

The top battalion leadership staff is student-led and made up of a battalion Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, and either a Master Chief or Sergeant Major, depending on whether the student is Navy or a Marine. The seven companies are organized to reflect leadership to what the students have either experienced or will find upon entering the fleet. Leadership is not just given to the most senior student either—it's not uncommon for a sophomore to be a squad leader with upperclassmen as subordinates.

With HRNROTC's close proximity to Naval Station Norfolk and Marine Corps base Camp Allen, students have access to vast resources and training facilities inaccessible to most other NROTC battalions.

Student organizations
Old Dominion University recognizes 250 student organizations. These groups include professional organizations, honor societies, religious organizations, minority students, and groups for students with common interests and majors as well as a variety of traditional, multicultural, and professional sororities and fraternities. The Student Government Association has direct authority over student organizations.

Greek life
Old Dominion has a complex and diverse Greek system with fourteen fraternities and eleven sororities. There are also a wide variety of service fraternities active on campus.

Campus ministries
ODU students can join campus ministries which are coordinated by the University Chaplain's Association (UCA). Ministries include the United Methodist, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Presbyterian and Lutheran denominationally sponsored ministries. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship has a presence at ODU and are members of the UCA. Each of these churches has a campus ministry presence at ODU, as does Hillel, the Society for Jewish Students, and the Tidewater Islamic Center, which serves the Muslim community at ODU. The UCA and its constituent members are nationally recognized as one of the most effective campus ministry programs in the United States.

Media
Old Dominion University has a school newspaper called The Mace & Crown, and a student radio and TV station called WODU. WODU is broadcast online and across campus on a closed circuit channel (Chan. 51 on Monarch Vision). It has been live on-air since 1974.

Mace & Crown
The Mace & Crown is a newspaper published by and written for the students of Old Dominion once a week throughout each semester and once in the summer. Originally founded in 1930 as The High Hat, the paper became the Mace & Crown in 1961. The Mace & Crown is a primarily self-supporting newspaper, maintaining journalistic independence from the university. All views expressed in this collegiate paper are those of the authors, not of the University, Mace & Crown, or the editors. It is free of charge for all students, faculty and staff. It is distributed primarily among the main campus of Old Dominion on Hampton Roads in Norfolk, though it is also distributed to the Virginia Beach Higher Education Center and the Peninsula Center.

The Editorial Board of Directors are a paid staff with salaries varying according to position. Positions of the Editorial Board of Directors include: Editor in Chief, News Editor, Sports Editor, Arts & Entertainment Editor, Copy Editor, Photography Editor, Graphic Designer, IT Director, Advertising Director and Distribution Manager. The board is responsible for the daily operation of the newspaper and ensuring its weekly publication. The organization has a faculty adviser to assist when necessary.

The Mace & Crown is committed to the education and implementation of journalistic excellence, and strives to increase transparency by informing the student body of news, sports, and entertainment relevant or pertaining to Old Dominion University.

Athletics
Old Dominion's 18 athletic teams are known as the Monarchs (men) and Lady Monarchs (women) and compete in the Colonial Athletic Association. Old Dominion University athletic teams have captured 28 team national championships and four individual titles. The school's best-known sports team is the Lady Monarchs basketball team, which has won three national championships in 1979 (AIAW), 1980 (AIAW) and 1985 (NCAA). The Lady Monarchs also made it to the 1997 Women's NCAA Championship Game, losing to Tennessee. ODU athletic teams have won a further 28 national championships including 15 in men's and women's sailing and 9 in women's field hockey. The Lady Monarchs' nine national titles in field hockey are unprecedented in NCAA record books for most titles in that sport by the same school.

In addition, Old Dominion's athletic teams have captured 49 championships in the Colonial Athletic Association.

On March 2010, Dr. Wood Selig became the new athletic director. Previously, Dr. Selig was the athletic director at Western Kentucky. On May 17, 2012 Old Dominion announced it would move to Conference USA on July 1, 2013. The school's wrestling team will join the Mid-American Conference as an associate member, as C-USA does not sponsor wrestling.

ODU-VCU Rivalry
Virginia Commonwealth University is ODU's arch rival, mainly because of the similarities between the two schools. Both schools were founded by The College of William and Mary and both are urban research universities located just 90 miles apart. It is often called the best college basketball rivalry in the state of Virginia.

Men's Basketball


The Old Dominion University Monarchs (men's) basketball team have captured six CAA championship titles (1992, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2010, and 2011) since their conference admission in 1992, which is the most among all CAA schools. In 2007, they received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, when the team went 24-8 and finished 37th in RPI. That season included a notable 13-point win at 8th ranked Georgetown. Their most recent trip to the NCAA tournament was with an automatic bid after capturing the 2010 CAA title. During the NCAA tournament, the 11th seeded Monarchs managed a 1-point first-round upset over the 6th seeded Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

In 2002 ODU opened the Ted Constant Convocation Center for the 2002-2003 basketball season. "The Ted" has 8,600 fully cushioned seats, 16 luxury suites, and a state-of-the-art scoreboard. In addition to being used for home basketball games, the Constant Center hosts family-oriented events as well as concerts, lectures, and commencement ceremonies.

Women's Basketball
Old Dominion also holds an important place in the history of women's collegiate athletics, having awarded the first athletic scholarship to any woman in the state of Virginia for a varsity sport when Nancy Lieberman was awarded a scholarship to play women's basketball.

The Old Dominion University Lady Monarchs basketball team have won three National Championship titles. In 1979 and 1980, the Lady Monarchs were AIAW Champions. In 1985, they captured the NCAA Division I National Championship with a 70-65 win over the University of Georgia. In addition, the Lady Monarchs have captured five Sun Belt conference championship titles (1983, 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1990), and captured 17 CAA championship titles, winning every year since 1991-92.

Monarch Football
The history of football at ODU began with the Norfolk Division, which had a football team until 1941 known as the Norfolk Division Braves. The program dissolved due to a rule against freshman players and a 10,000 USD debt.

On June 14, 2005, its Board of Visitors approved by a 14-0 vote the creation of an NCAA Division I team, which began play on September 5, 2009.

On February 9, 2007, ODU's Athletic Director Jim Jarrett announced that Bobby Wilder, the associate head football coach at the University of Maine, would be the head football coach at Old Dominion University. The team signed its first class in 2008. As is the case with many new football programs, all players on the 2008 Monarchs football team were redshirted, and when added with the 2009 signing class and transfers from I-A schools, have formed the nucleus of the school's first football team. ODU competes as an FCS program (formerly I-AA), and was independent for two years before joining the Colonial Athletic Association for the 2011 season.

Foreman Field, formerly the field hockey and women's lacrosse teams' home venue, has been renovated to accommodate the new football program. Field Hockey and women's lacrosse teams have been relocated to the Powhatan Sports Complex.

The final record for Old Dominion's 2009 football program was 9-2, the best winning record ever for a first-year collegiate football program. Old Dominion's football program had continued success in 2010 finishing 8-3.

Rowing program
The ODU Rowing Club (ODURC) has been under the Recreational Sports department since 1985. The club is fully student-run and is funded largely by the student members of the club. ODURC has been very successful in recent years, as it has increased its membership. Adding outstanding volunteer coaches in recent years has raised the competitiveness of the team greatly, and the men's club won a national championship in May, 2008. Today, male and female rowers continue to compete as a club; in 2008 rowing also became a varsity sport for female students, and a full-time coach was hired for the new women's team. Within their first year at varsity level, the women's team placed at a national competition. The decision to elevate only the women's team to varsity status was made to keep ODU compliant with Title IX regulations, providing balance to the increased spending on men's athletics that a football program brought.

Cheerleading (Co-Ed)
Lead by head coach Dawn Adams Baidoo, the Old Dominion University cheer squad is a safe, professional and athletic program. Its energetic team consists of athletes who are also students. The cheer squad, along with the Old Dominion Dance Team, performs at all football home games as well as Men and Women's Basketball home games. Along with their practices, games, and other events, ODU cheerleaders are required to actively participate in all fundraising efforts under their Spirit Squad Program.

The Old Dominion Athletic Foundation (ODAF)
The Old Dominion Athletic Foundation (ODAF) is the official booster club for Old Dominion Athletics. the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation was previously known as the Big Blue Club, or the The Old Dominion University Intercollegiate Foundation. The change from those to ODAF occurred March 1, 2011. The Old Dominion Athletic Foundation has an 501-C-3 designation as a non-profit organization.

Monarch Maniacs
Monarch Maniacs is the student (undergraduates and graduates) group that supports all the athletic programs at Old Dominion University. The group is for students to show their school spirit and pride at all athletic events. The group is administered by the Office of Student Activities and Leadership. In order to become a member, there is a $20 membership fee and once paid, you receive benefits. All members receive a t-shirt, early entry to the football and basketball games, giveaways during the games, priority seating for selected away games, viewing parties and a membership card which allows discounts at sponsored vendors in Norfolk.

Recent growth
In recent years, Old Dominion University has undergone extensive growth. The swell of new construction was kicked off in 2001 with the building of the Ted Constant Convocation Center. This 8,600 seat arena has become the home of both men's and women's basketball, as well as a premiere venue for concerts and other performances. The "Ted" as it is affectionately called by students and alumni is the jewel of a $55 million 75 acre development known as The University Village. Expanding the campus eastward across Hampton Boulevard, the Village is a mix of student apartments, shops, and restaurants and has become a destination for both students and the community. In 2008 a new Spring Hill Suites hotel was completed along with the University's new bookstore.

Student housing has grown at ODU. The Quad, a collection of six new residential buildings &mdash; Ireland House (2006), Virginia House (2007), Scotland House (2008), France House (2009), England House (2009), Dominion House (2009) &mdash; and offices brings Old Dominion University closer to its goal of becoming a more residential university. Constructed alongside the Quad is the new student Recreation and Wellness Center. This new center is the heart of Old Dominion's healthy campus featuring a multi-level cardio/weight area, a three story climbing wall, three fitness studios, three gyms, a multi-purpose arena, an indoor swimming pool, three racquetball courts, an outdoor adventure center, a bike shop, and more. The center offers intramural and extramurals for the students and staff. ODU has expanded its sports facilities, recently completing the Folkes-Stevens Indoor Tennis Center and the Powhatan Sports Complex, a 48000 sqft facility that houses the intercollegiate athletic programs of field hockey, women's lacrosse, and football. Another football-related project was the renovation of Old Dominion University's historic Foreman Field for the sport's reintroduction in 2009.

The Perry Library Learning Commons
After months of renovation, the Perry Library first floor was transformed into The Learning Commons which welcomed students Fall 2011. The Learning Commons motto: Connect, Discover, Succeed encompasses the mission of the Learning Commons to student success. Jointly operated by the University Libraries, Office of Computing and Communications Services and Academic Enhancement, the dynamic and collaborative space is great for students to learn and engage with their peers.

The space offers collaborative rooms as well as equipment rentals that range from microphones to MacBook laptops. Because The Learning Commons is set up for students, all seating and desks are modular and movable to adapt for any student's learning needs. The space is loved and used by many. The Learning Commons is open 24 hours from Sunday to Thursday for students.

University Village
Established in 1995, the Real Estate Foundation has taken the lead in the development of the University Village, a mixed use development including retail, residential and office buildings. The results of its work are visible to all in the form of the University Village Apartments, restaurants, shops, the North Village Parking Garage, the Innovation Research Park, Marriott SpringHill Suites Hotel, and Campus Bookstore.

Central Radio controversy
According to Washington Post opinion columnist George Will, ODU's Real Estate Foundation is embroiling itself in a first-amendment controversy with a small business, Central Radio, in Norfolk. Rogers claims that the foundation is trying to seize the property of Central Radio by having the city use its eminent domain power. Central Radio has attempted to protest this taking with large signs on its property speaking to the abuse. The Real Estate Foundation complained to the city of a violation of the city sign ordinance, resulting in the sign being partially covered.

Maglev
In 1999 ODU agreed to work with American Maglev on a project to build a Maglev system on its campus. The project was conceived as a test of the technology and spans less than a mile in length. Originally offered to several other institutes of higher learning, including Virginia Tech, all of these institutes rejected it due to concerns regarding the projected cost and safety of such a system. At least one of these concerns has proven true, as the $14 million originally slated towards this project has proven inadequate. Groundbreaking was held in 2001 and the project was completed in 2002 although the technology was proved defective. The original lofty goal of connecting Hampton Roads with Washington, D.C. by the Jamestown 2007 celebration was not met, but hope remains for the Maglev train as it is now a research project for the College of Engineering. The research team's objectives are to develop and demonstrate technologies for low-cost Maglev transportation systems.

The Lavender Floor
Old Dominion University decided to provide a living-learning community for its LGBTQ students and their straight allies. Proposed by the University's Safe Space Committee (with support from the campus' LGBTQ student organization, ODU Out), the community's goal is to reduce homophobia, transphobia and heterosexism. Safe Space supported its proposal with survey data collected from currently enrolled students who expressed the need for more LGBTQ resources. On February 23, 2012 Old Dominion University decided that the Lavender Floor would be a healthy and beneficial contribution to campus life and announced the plans for the project. The University anticipates the Lavender Floor will result in increased retention rates, higher graduation rates, and even higher grade point averages among those who are actively engaged in the community. The housing will be located within an existing residence hall. Currently, 25 of 26 spaces in the community have been filled.