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    Old Dominion University
    Old Dominion University
    Old Dominion University
    Ebook209 pages1 hour

    Old Dominion University

    By Steven Bookman, Jessica Ritchie and President John R. Broderick

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    The story of Old Dominion University began during one of the most uncertain times in American history. In 1930, as the country sank deeper into the Great Depression, the College of William and Mary opened a two-year extension school in nearby Norfolk, Virginia, to provide affordable, quality education to the community. Embracing its founding spirit of innovation, the school rapidly evolved into an independent, four-year college and adopted Virginia's nickname "Old Dominion." As the country transformed during the 1960s, so did the college, and by 1969, it had progressed into a dynamic public university. Now with over 250 academic programs, nine colleges, and approximately 25,000 students representing over 100 countries, Old Dominion University continues to pride itself on forward-thinking research, inclusiveness, and strategic partnerships.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArcadia Publishing
    Release dateSep 4, 2017
    ISBN9781439662366
    Old Dominion University
    Author

    Steven Bookman

    Steven Bookman is the university archivist at Old Dominion University Libraries and holds a master's degree in library science from the University of Maryland. Jessica Ritchie is the head of Special Collections and University Archives at Old Dominion University Libraries and holds a master's degree in library and information science from Florida State University. John R. Broderick has served the university for over 20 years, most recently as its president since 2008.

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      Book preview

      Old Dominion University - Steven Bookman

      Libraries.

      INTRODUCTION

      On September 12, 1930, the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary (W&M) opened its doors in the old Larchmont schoolhouse building on Hampton Boulevard. The Division, as it was affectionately called, offered an affordable, two-year option for students living in coastal Tidewater Virginia. The college and city leaders, who had been planning the division since the 1920s, hoped that their experiment would survive the dark economic times gripping the nation. Never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined what it would become.

      In 1933, as the country sank deeper into the Great Depression, Pres. Franklin Roosevelt enacted relief programs and agencies to help stabilize the economy. Part of Roosevelt’s New Deal included the Public Works Administration (PWA) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA), two large-scale public works construction projects. The Norfolk Division was among several schools of higher education to receive funding from these agencies, which it used to build a new Administration Building and athletics field named after A.H. Foreman, an early proponent of the division. The Administration Building contributed a library, additional classrooms, offices, and a swimming pool to the small campus.

      In the 1940s, having weathered the worst of the Great Depression, the Norfolk Division found itself embracing a new challenge of supporting the growing national war effort. By the time America officially entered the war in 1941, nearby Naval Station Norfolk had become the headquarters of the Atlantic Fleet. The division supported its naval neighbor by establishing a Defense and War Training Program, which made an invaluable contribution to the war effort and allowed the school to remain open during a time when many young men were serving their country. The program became one of the largest on the East Coast and, by the end of the war, had enrolled over 5,000 men and women.

      After the war ended, the nation underwent vast changes in culture, labor, and public policy. New initiatives, like the GI Bill passed in 1944, provided money for veterans to buy new homes and to attend college. Life at the Norfolk Division rapidly evolved along with the nation, and on August 29, 1953, the division approved its first four-year programs in nursing, teacher education, and business administration. By the end of the decade, another dozen programs had been added. In 1962, the division gained its independence and became Old Dominion College.

      Just as Old Dominion began establishing its identity as an independent, four-year college, the Swinging Sixties gave rise to new voices in American society. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 resulted in increased diversity on college campuses across the nation. In the fall of 1964, Old Dominion College welcomed Margaret Simmons, who became the first African American to receive a degree from Old Dominion, a master of arts in English in 1966. By the late 1960s, students were living on campus in dormitories, establishing Greek organizations, and protesting the Vietnam War. The college itself was also changing and, by the end of the decade, had dramatically increased the number of research facilities, academic programs, and athletics opportunities available to students. Research programs extended beyond the campus through Old Dominion’s Institute of Oceanography, which sent students and faculty on an expedition to Antarctica in 1965. The offering of graduate education was one of the most significant developments of the 1960s and led to the transition of Old Dominion College to Old Dominion University (ODU) in 1969.

      The next several decades saw continued growth, inclusiveness, and innovation at Old Dominion. New buildings and landmarks were added to the campus, including Perry Library, Koch Hall, and the beloved Monarch Fountain on Kaufman Mall. In the 1970s, several new student groups and organizations formed on campus, such as the Gay Alliance, Indian Students Alliance, and the state’s first stand-alone women’s center. Students also participated in the arts on campus by attending exhibitions at the University Gallery or performances by the Shakespeare Ensemble and Ebony Impact Gospel Choir.

      Officially crowned the Monarchs in 1961, Old Dominion’s athletics programs gave supporters many opportunities to cheer throughout the years. With mascot Big Blue, the lion on the sidelines, ODU’s basketball, soccer, field hockey, and sailing teams won several local and national championships. In 2009, football returned to the university, and in 2016, the program exceeded expectations by winning the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.

      In addition to creating a rich residential experience, Old Dominion established valuable partnerships in the Tidewater region and beyond. After having first experimented with televised classes in the 1950s, ODU launched its groundbreaking TELETECHNET program in 1994 to provide students at remote locations an Old Dominion education, which has since evolved into ODUOnline. The university then established the Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center (VMASC) in Suffolk, Virginia, as well as numerous other collaborations with NASA, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk State University, and the US Navy. In 2010, ODU launched its renowned Resilience Collaborative to battle sea level rise, an issue greatly affecting Norfolk and other coastal communities in Virginia.

      Of all the partnerships developed by Old Dominion over the years, perhaps the most significant is its relationship with the citizens of the Tidewater region. From the Lions Club Child Study Center of the 1960s to the Lambert’s Point Summer Program, Old Dominion has long supported childhood education and wellness. The university also takes seriously its role in supporting the local US military community, given that more than 25 percent of the Old Dominion student body has a direct connection with the military. Collaborating with alumni and private donors is important to ODU as well, most recently in supporting arts initiatives in the region. In 2015, ODU celebrated new building additions to its Arts District, and in 2016, it received a historic $35-million donation for constructing a new art museum.

      Looking back at 87 years of history, it is remarkable to see how Old Dominion transformed from a single schoolhouse into the dynamic research university of today. With nearly 25,000 students from 117 countries and throughout the United States, campus life has become a rich and engaging blend of nationalities, cultures, and life experiences. Entrepreneurism is built into the curriculum, and students are encouraged to focus on personal growth and learning through leadership, service, and social activities. Given ODU’s commitment to innovation, it is no surprise that ODU’s professors are leaders, thinkers, and doers in their fields. As many as 31 ODU faculty members have been named among the best in the Virginia, and recently, ODU professor of English Tim Seibles was named poet laureate of Virginia. Research programs at ODU are also thriving, largely due to partnerships with business, industry, government, and investment leaders. Today, ODU is recognized as a national leader in flood resilience planning

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