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 degree s 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 . Student life . 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 . Campus development . 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 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 — Ireland House ( 2006 ) , Virginia House ( 2007 ) , Scotland House ( 2008 ) , France House ( 2009 ) , England House ( 2009 ) , Dominion House ( 2009 ) — 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 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 .