Old Dominion University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Old Dominion University

Former names	Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary (1930–1962) Old Dominion College (1962–1969)
Type	Public research university
Established	March 13, 1930; 95 years ago (March 13, 1930)
Accreditation	SACS
Academic affiliations	CUMU SCHEV Sea-grant Space-grant
Endowment	$265.8 million (2020)
President	Brian Hemphill
Academic staff	867
Students	23,494
Undergraduates	16,678
Postgraduates	4,816
Location	Norfolk , Virginia , United States 36°53′12″N 76°18′19″W / 36.88654°N 76.30522°W / 36.88654; -76.30522
Campus	Midsize city, 251 acres (1.02 km2)
Other campuses	Hampton Portsmouth Virginia Beach
Newspaper	Mace & Crown
Colors	Monarch blue, silver, and Hudson blue
Nickname	Monarchs
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS – Sun Belt MAISA
Mascot	Big Blue

Old Dominion University (ODU) is a large public university in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. It's a place where students can do lots of research. The university started in 1930 as a two-year school called the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary.

In 1962, it became its own college, and by 1969, it was a full university. In 2023, over 23,000 students attended ODU. Its main campus covers about 250 acres.

ODU offers many different study programs, with 175 choices for undergraduate and graduate degrees. These programs are spread across seven colleges and three schools. The university's name, "Old Dominion," comes from a nickname for Virginia. This nickname was given by King Charles II because Virginia stayed loyal to him during the English Civil War. Today, Old Dominion University has about 165,000 former students living all over the world.

ODU is known as a "Doctoral University – Very high research activity" school. This means it does a lot of important research.

Discovering ODU's Past: A Look at Its History

Old Dominion University began in 1930 as a small branch of the College of William and Mary. Leaders like Robert M. Hughes and J. A. C. Chandler helped make this idea a reality. Joseph Healy started organizing classes in Norfolk in 1924. Thanks to their hard work, a two-year school was officially opened on March 13, 1930.

On September 12, 1930, the first classes were held with 206 students. They met in an old elementary school building. H. Edgar Timmerman became the first director of this new division.

Early Days and Growth

This new school, often called "The Division," made it easier for students with less money to get a higher education. The first year's tuition was only $50. Soon after, Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) also started offering classes there. This helped expand the types of courses available, especially for teachers and engineers.

The college grew during the Great Depression with help from President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal program. Federal money helped build important buildings like Rollins Hall and Foreman Field. The campus expanded, turning empty land into a busy university.

Becoming an Independent College

In 1932, Lewis Warrington Webb joined the faculty. He is often called "the Father of Old Dominion" because of his dedication. Webb worked hard to make the Norfolk Division an independent school. During World War II, he led a program that trained people for war-related jobs. This program helped the school stay open and even attracted many women to study subjects like aircraft repair.

In 1946, Webb became the Director. His dream came true in 1962 when the Norfolk Division became independent from William and Mary. It was then renamed Old Dominion College. Webb served as its first president until 1969.

Rollins Hall along the Williamsburg Lawn

Frank Batten, a newspaper publisher, became the first leader of Old Dominion College's advisory board in 1962. The College of Engineering is now named after him. In 1964, students started living on campus in dorms like Rogers Hall and Gresham Hall.

Achieving University Status

As more students enrolled and research grew, the school wanted to become a university. In 1969, Old Dominion College officially became Old Dominion University. This happened under President James L. Bugg Jr. During his time, the first doctoral programs (highest degrees) were started. He also brought back the Army ROTC program, which trains future military officers.

In the 1970s, under President Alfred B. Rollins Jr., ODU worked with other local organizations. The university also got more funding and improved services for students. In 1971, ODU even started its own police force.

Since then, the university has continued to grow. It now has over 24,000 students. The main campus in Norfolk has gotten much bigger. ODU also has other campuses in Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, and Hampton.

Leaders of Old Dominion University

The Jacobson House is where the university president lives on campus.

Learning at ODU: Academic Programs

Old Dominion University offers many different programs. These include studies in humanities, science, health, technology, engineering, business, arts, and education. Students can earn 73 different bachelor's degrees, 60 master's degrees, and 35 doctoral degrees.

Because Norfolk is a big port city, ODU focuses on business and international studies. It also has strong programs in marine science, aerospace, and engineering. Many departments work with NASA on research. ODU is one of the few universities that offers special business degrees in shipping and port management.

Getting into ODU

In 2024, Old Dominion University accepted most students who applied, about 95%. Students who got in had an average GPA of 3.3. Their average SAT score was 1170, or an average ACT score of 24.

University Accreditation

Old Dominion University is approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This means it can give out bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Many of its specific programs, like engineering and business, also have special approvals from other groups.

ODU's Colleges and Schools

ODU is made up of several colleges and schools, each focusing on different subjects.

College of Arts and Letters

This college offers programs in subjects like history, English, music, and social sciences.

College of Sciences

Here, students can study science topics across seven different departments.

Ellmer College of Health Sciences

This college has five schools that teach about health. These include dental hygiene, medical services, exercise science, speech-language pathology, and rehabilitation sciences.

A new Joint School of Public Health is being planned. Also, ODU joined with Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) on July 1, 2024. This created the Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University.

School of Data Science

In 2022, President Hemphill announced a new School of Data Science. This school offers programs for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Batten College of Engineering and Technology

This college offers engineering programs in six departments. In 2010, it became the first college in the U.S. to offer all degrees in Modeling and Simulation.

School of Cybersecurity

On October 1, 2020, ODU opened the School of Cybersecurity. It was the first of its kind in the country. It offers bachelor's and master's degrees in cybersecurity.

Strome College of Business

This college has programs in business, accounting, public service, and real estate. It has a special trading room with 24 Bloomberg terminals, which is one of the largest in the U.S. In 2014, the college was renamed after the Strome family, who donated $11 million.

In 2019, the Strome College of Business opened the Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship in downtown Norfolk. This center helps people with new business ideas.

Darden College of Education and Professional Studies

This college offers programs in education and other professional fields. It also helps prepare students to become teachers in subjects like English or biology.

Perry Honors College

The Honors College offers special classes and experiences for high-achieving students. This includes research projects and campus events.

ODU Global: Learning Online

Old Dominion University started offering online courses in 1994. Today, ODU Global offers over 100 online degree programs. ODU also works with the Virginia Community College System to provide services to online students. Many programs are designed for military personnel.

Research and Discovery at ODU

Old Dominion University's research teams get about $88 million each year for their projects. They work on over 400 projects supported by grants from groups like NSF and NIH. In 2021, ODU spent $73.6 million on research and development.

The university is known for its "Very high research activity."

Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center

Some of the research centers at ODU include:

• Center for Accelerator Science
• Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography
• Center for Telehealth Innovation, Education & Research (C-TIER)
• Dragas Center For Economic Analysis and Policy
• International Maritime, Ports, & Logistics Institute
• Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center (VMASC)

Center for Accelerator Science

This center works with the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. Its goal is to train scientists and engineers who will build the next generation of accelerators. These tools are used for many types of research and medical applications.

Center for Telehealth Innovation, Education & Research (C-TIER)

C-TIER helps create new ideas, education, and research in telehealth. Telehealth uses technology to provide healthcare from a distance.

Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy

This center studies the economy, population, transportation, and defense. It creates reports about the economy in Hampton Roads and Virginia.

International Maritime, Ports & Logistics Institute

This institute provides education and research in maritime, ports, and logistics management. In 2011, ODU was ranked eighth in the world for port research.

Virginia Modeling, Analysis & Simulation Center (VMASC)

VMASC is a research center that focuses on computer modeling, simulation, and visualization. It conducts about $10 million in research each year. The Hampton Roads area is a big hub for military and technology, making VMASC very important.

VMASC works on research in areas like transportation, homeland security, virtual environments, and medicine.

Exploring the ODU Campus

Norfolk Campus: The Main Hub

The main campus of Old Dominion University is in Norfolk. It's located between two rivers, the Elizabeth River and the Lafayette River. The campus is about 5 miles north of downtown Norfolk. It's surrounded by historic neighborhoods. The Norfolk campus has all the main programs, dorms, dining halls, and sports facilities.

Williamsburg Lawn

This is the oldest part of the campus. You'll find original buildings like Rollins Hall and Spong Hall here.

Kaufman Mall

Several important buildings are around Kaufman Mall. These include Constant Hall (for business), Dragas Hall (for arts and letters), Monarch Hall (for engineering and cybersecurity), Kaufman Hall (for engineering), and Webb Center (the student union).

Runte Quad

The Runte Quad has seven newer dorm buildings. Owens House, built in 2020, is designed for students studying cybersecurity, business, and STEM-H (science, technology, engineering, math, and health sciences). Next to the Quad are the Student Recreation Center, Student Health Center, and Broderick Dining Commons.

University Village

University Village

University Village is a modern area on campus with shops, homes, and offices. It includes the Ted Constant Convocation Center, student apartments, a hotel, bookstore, and art buildings.

Maglev History

The campus once had a maglev research project, which was a type of train that floats above its tracks. The tracks ran across campus but were taken down in 2023. A small part of the track still remains over Hampton Boulevard.

New Campus Facilities

ODU has added many new sports facilities. These include the Folkes-Stevens Indoor Tennis Center and the Powhatan Sports Complex. In 2017, the Mitchum Basketball Performance Center was built for the basketball teams. In 2019, the old Foreman Field was replaced with the new S.B. Ballard Stadium for football. Plans are also underway to renovate the Baseball Complex.

New academic buildings include Constant Hall and the Perry Library Student Success Center. In 2016, a new Education Building and the Broderick Dining Commons were opened. In 2022, plans started for a new Biology Building. A new Student Health & Wellness Center opened in 2023.

ODU Virginia Beach Campus

ODU has a campus in Virginia Beach. It offers many undergraduate and graduate programs. This campus has a Learning Commons for students and spaces for events. ODU is also expanding its Virginia Beach campus to Town Center.

ODU Tri-Cities Center

There's also a campus in Portsmouth, VA, called the ODU Tri-Cities Center. It offers classes and student services for people in Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Suffolk.

ODU Peninsula Center

Another campus is in Hampton, VA, known as the ODU Peninsula Center. It provides classes and services for students in Hampton, Newport News, and Williamsburg.

Student Life at ODU

Where Students Live

ODU has dorms for about 5,300 students across four areas on the Norfolk campus. All new students are guaranteed a place to live. About 77% of new students and 24% of all undergraduate students live in university housing. There's also a private apartment complex nearby for about 1,000 more students.

Fun and Fitness

The Student Recreation & Well-Being Center (SRWC) is a big fitness center on campus. It has a gym, swimming pool, running track, and courts for sports. There are also studios for group exercise and a climbing wall. Outside, there's a multi-purpose turf field.

The ODU Outdoor Adventure program lets students go on trips for hiking, mountain biking, camping, surfing, and more.

ROTC Programs

The ODU Army ROTC program started in 1969. It trains students to become officers in the Army. ODU's Army ROTC is one of the largest in the country. The Navy ROTC program works with nearby Norfolk State University and Hampton University. It's one of the biggest Navy officer training groups in the U.S.

Student Groups and Clubs

Old Dominion University has over 300 student organizations with more than 8,000 members. These groups include clubs for different interests, honor societies, religious groups, and fraternities and sororities. WODU is a student-run media studio that hosts radio shows, podcasts, and sports reports.

The university's Monarch Marching Band started in 2008 when the Old Dominion Monarchs football program began.

Campus Ministries

Students can join campus ministries through the University Chaplain's Association. These include groups for different Christian faiths, Jewish students, and Muslim students.

Greek Life

Old Dominion has thirteen fraternities and eleven sororities.

ODU's Reputation and Rankings

For 2024-2025, WSJ and College Pulse ranked Old Dominion among the top U.S. universities. US News & World Report also ranked ODU highly among U.S. and global universities.

Sports at ODU: The Monarchs

Old Dominion's 18 sports teams are called the Monarchs. They mostly compete in the NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference. The Monarchs have won 28 national championships as teams and four individual titles.

The Lady Monarchs basketball team is very famous. They won three national championships in 1979, 1980, and 1985. They also made it to the championship game in 1997. ODU teams have won 15 national championships in men's and women's sailing. The Lady Monarchs' field hockey team has won 9 national titles, which is the most in NCAA history.

ODU teams have also won many conference championships in different leagues. On July 1, 2022, ODU joined the Sun Belt Conference.

Notable People from ODU

Famous Faculty Members

• Robert L. Ash, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Ingo Heidbrink, Professor of History
• Luisa Igloria, a Filipina-American poet and former Poet Laureate of Virginia
• Mounir Laroussi, Electrical & Computer Engineering
• G. William Whitehurst, a former Congressman and Professor of History

Well-Known Alumni

• 

  Taylor Heinicke (NFL Player)

• 

  Kent Bazemore (NBA Player)

• 

  Anne Donovan (Basketball Hall of Famer)

• 

  Nancy Lieberman (Basketball Hall of Famer)

• 

  Justin Verlander (MLB Pitcher)

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  Jay Harris (ESPN Sportscaster)

• 

  Elizabeth Duke (Former Federal Reserve Governor)

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  Michael Bloomfield (Astronaut)

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  William J. Fallon (Admiral, US Navy)

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  Benjamin S. Griffin (General, US Army)

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  Oliver Purnell (Basketball Coach)

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  Dave Twardzik (NBA Player)

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  Jodi Rell (Former Governor of Connecticut)

• 

  Winsome Sears (Lieutenant Governor of Virginia)

See also

In Spanish: Universidad de Old Dominion para niños