Old Dominion University
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Old Dominion University (ODU) is a university located in Norfolk, Virginia. It was established in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. ODU awarded its first bachelor's degrees in 1956 and became an independent institution in 1962.
The university was recently named one of the best colleges in the Southeast by The Princeton Review.
Academics
Old Dominion provides seven colleges for students to obtain a degree from any subject that interests them. There are more than 65 undergraduate programs available for students.
Nearly 80 percent of the student population is from Virginia. In 2004 it was estimated that around 1,000 students are from foreign countries. The average high school grade point average for an incoming student is a 3.2 and has scored an average of 1080 on the SAT. The transfer students enter the school with greater than a 2.2 transfer grade point average. Distance learning is a large portion of the student population, accounting for nearly a third of all students which are enrolled in the school. These distance learning courses are live classes which are presented in community colleges and military installations throughout the world. The average class size is around 30 students. The University has an Honors College where class sizes are less than 20 students.
Colleges
- [College of Arts and Letters]
- [College of Business and Public Administration]
- [Darden College of Education]
- [Batten College of Engineering and Technology]
- [College of Health Sciences]
- [Honors College]
- [College of Sciences]
E-Learning
Old Dominion University is one of the largest providers of distance learning degree programs in the country via its [TELETECHNET] initiative. The University serves 4,000 students at 50 sites in Virginia, Washington D.C., Arizona, Illinois, Washington, and Georgia. Thanks to a partnership with the Virginia Community College system, no Virginian is more than 50 miles (80 km) from an Old Dominion University site. More than 3,500 students have graduated from Old Dominion via distance learning, including Navy personnel who took classes while deployed around the world.Athletics
The Old Dominion University Lady Monarch's women's basketball team, have captured five Sun Belt conference championship titles (1983, 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1990).
The Old Dominion University Monarch's men's basketball team, have captured four CAA championship titles (1992, 1995, 1997 and 2005) since their conference admission in 1985, ranking second among past and present CAA schools.
In 2001 ODU opened the Ted Constant Convocation Center for the 2001-2002 basketball season. "The Ted" has 7,319 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 and lectures.
ODU has not had a football program since it was still a division of William and Mary, but on June 14, 2005, its Board of Visitors approved by a 14-0 vote the creation of a NCAA Division I-AA team. The team is expected to begin play in 2009.
Maglev project
In 1999 ODU agreed to work with American Maglev on a project to build a Maglev system on its campus. [link] 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, and the project has therefore frequently missed deadlines. The project broke ground in 2001 and still awaits completion. The original lofty goal of connecting Hampton Roads with Washington, D.C. by the Jamestown 2007 celebrations looks unlikely to be reached at this point.The maglev is not up and running yet.
ODU Real Estate Foundation
University Village, a $55 million private, mixed-use development of the nonprofit ODU Real Estate Foundation provides modern apartment living for 1000 students on the eastern border of the campus. The apartments opened for the 2003-2004 school year. Various restaurants and businesses have opened up in University Village, which began in 2005, and more retail, office, and apartment development is planned. In addition, negotiations were underway in the spring of 2005 for private development of a hotel and grocery store.Administration
- Dr. Roseann Runte, President
- Dr. Thomas Isenhour, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Robert L. Fenning, VP for Administration and Finance
- John R. Broderick, VP for Institutional Advancement
- Dr. Dana Burnett, Vice President for Student Services
- Cecelia T. Tucker, Assistant to the President for Community Relations
- Alonzo C. Brandon, Executive Director of Foundations
- John Heyl, Executive Director, Office of International Programs
- ReNeé S. Dunman, Assistant to the President and Director of Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action
- Capt F. Richard Whalen, USN (ret), Director of Military Activities
- Deane A. Hennett, CPA, CGFM, Director of Internal Audit
- Dr. Robert L. Ash, Interim VP for Research
Student life
Student organizations
Old Dominion University recognizes over 200 student organizations. There are student groups for students with similar majors, professional organizations, honor societies, religious organizations, minority students, and groups for students with common interests as well as a variety of traditional, multicultural, and professional sororities and fraternities.The [Office of Student Activities and Leadership] is in charge of matters relating to student activities on campus.
Campus ministries
ODU is nationally known for the strength of its campus ministries, which is co-ordinated by the University Chaplain's Association (UCA). The [United Methodist], Baptist, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Presbyterian and Lutheran. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and Chi Alpha Campus Ministries also have a presence at ODU and are members of the UCA. Each of these churches have 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.Prominent Faculty
- [G. William Whitehurst] - Kaufman Lecturer in Public Affairs and professor of political science and history. Served as U.S. Representative for the Second District of Virginia from 1968 to 1987. Also is the namesake for one of the dormitories at ODU on the Elizabeth River.
- Mounir Laroussi, Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, developed a "pencil" that shoots out a cold stream of plasma. This could be a very important development because it allows for the easy sterilization of equipment that is damaged by heat, or disinfection of wounds and removal of plaque on teeth. Featured on PhysicsWeb and Nature.com [citation 1][2]
Famous Alumni
- Anne Donovan, women's basketball player, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995; Gold medalist in the Summer Olympics in 1984 and 1988; and 1983 Naismith College Player of the Year. She is also a charter member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (1999). Played on the Lady Monarchs basketball team from 1979 to 1983. Served as a starter on the 1980 AIAW national championship team.
- Nancy Lieberman, women's basketball player, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996; Silver medalist in the 1976 Summer Olympics; and two-time (1979 and 1980) Wade Trophy recipient. She is also a charter member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (1999). Played on the Lady Monarchs basketball team from 1976 to 1980. Served as a starter on the 1979 and 1980 AIAW national championship teams.
- Tracy Claxton, women's basketball player, served as a starter on the 1985 NCAA tournament championship team, and MVP of the 1985 Women's Final Four. Played on the Lady Monarchs basketball team from 1981 to 1985.
- Adrienne Goodson, WNBA basketball player, member of the 1985 NCAA tournament championship team, two-time (1997 and 1998) All-Star of the now-defunct American Basketball League and one-time WNBA All-Star in 2002. Played on the Lady Monarchs basketball team from 1984 to 1988.
- Ticha Penicheiro, WNBA basketball player with the Sacramento Monarchs - 4-time WNBA All-Star, since her WNBA career began in 1998. She was on the 1999 All-WNBA First Team, and the 2001-2002 All-WNBA Second Team and led the WNBA in Assists per game (6 times) from 1998 to 2003. She is a member of the 2005 WNBA championship team; She is part of the 1997 NCAA Women's Final Four championship runner-up team, and a Wade Trophy recipient in 1998. Played on the Lady Monarchs basketball team from 1994 to 1998.
- Hamchetou Maiga, WNBA basketball player with the Sacramento Monarchs, since 2002. She is a member of the 2005 WNBA Championship team. Played on the Lady Monarchs basketball team from 1998 to 2002.
- Mery Andrade, former WNBA basketball player. She played five seasons in the WNBA, between 1999 and 2004. She is part of the 1997 NCAA Women's Final Four championship runner-up team. Played on the Lady Monarchs basketball team from 1995 to 1999.
- Nyree Roberts, former WNBA basketball player, and member of the 1998 Houston Comets championship team. She played two seasons in the WNBA, from 1998 to 1999. She is part of the 1997 NCAA Women's Final Four championship runner-up team. Played on the Lady Monarchs basketball team from 1994 to 1998.
- Clarisse Machanguana, former WNBA basketball player. She played four seasons in the WNBA, from 1999 to 2002. She is part of the 1997 NCAA Women's Final Four championship runner-up team. Played on the Lady Monarchs basketball team from 1993 to 1997.
- Dave Twardzik, former NBA basketball player - member of the 1977 Portland Trailblazers NBA championship team. He is Old Dominion's only player to win an NBA championship ring. Played on the men's basketball team from 1968 to 1972.
- Oliver Purnell, current Division I men's basketball coach at Clemson University. Played on the men's basketball team from 1971 to 1975, and won MVP for Old Dominion in their 1975 Division II championship run.
- Mark West, former NBA basketball player - NBA field goal percentage leader in the 1989-1990 season, while playing for the Phoenix Suns. He is a 17-year veteran of the NBA, from 1983 to 2000. Played on the men's basketball team from 1979 to 1983.
- Kenny Gattison, former NBA basketball player. He is a 10-year veteran of the NBA, playing nine seasons between 1986 and 1996. Played on the men's basketball team from 1982 to 1986.
- Chris Gatling, former NBA basketball player - Highest NBA draft pick from Old Dominion, at #16. One-time NBA All-Star in 1997. He is Old Dominion's only NBA All-Star game player. Played on the men's basketball team from 1987 to 1991.
- Petey Sessoms, former Euroleague basketball player. Played on the men's basketball team from 1991 to 1995.
- Odell Hodge, former Euroleague basketball player. Played on the men's basketball team from 1993 to 1997. He is one of only four Virginia Division I collegians to score over 2,000 career points and haul in over 1,000 career rebounds.
- Cal Bowdler, former NBA basketball player, for the Atlanta Hawks from 1999 to 2002 (three seasons). Second highest NBA draft pick from Old Dominion, at #17, in 1999. Played on the men's basketball team from 1995 to 1999.
- Michael Bloomfield, Space Shuttle and ISS Astronaut, graduated from ODU with a master's in engineering management in [1993].
- Justin Verlander, a right-handed pitcher for Major League Baseball's Detroit Tigers.
External links
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