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2009 Is Sure to Be a Year of Challenges and Success for ODU

Another new year is upon us and another semester begins at Old Dominion University! And while tough economic times will continue to present challenges, there is much to look forward to for the Monarchs!

We kicked off the new semester with good news in the area of parking: Garage E opened on 49th Street in front of Foreman Field, creating an additional 757 parking spaces. These spaces should help alleviate the frustration and jockeying for spaces of last semester.

The university also implemented additional programs to enhance campus safety, including some things that students suggested during a series of town hall meetings and feedback forms. The campus shuttle bus system will now service Highland Park and Lambert's Point neighborhoods and its operating hours were extended to 12:30 a.m. A Courtesy Van program has been reinstated to safely transport students to and from the larger campus vicinity in circumstances when walking to a shuttle bus stop or driving is not feasible or a student's safety is compromised.

The new recreation center is set to open in March with a rock wall, top-notch fitness equipment and - my favorite offering - an indoor track. I am planning to do a few of my noon-time jogs on the track, so perhaps some students or faculty and staff will join me. I reserve the right, however, to set the pace.

On a serious note, the university will, like other state agencies, experience another budget reduction this year. However, many administrators and staff members have worked diligently to ensure the cuts have minimal impact on our educational mission and service to students.

Gov. Timothy Kaine unveiled a 2009 budget proposal in December that would provide $2.1 million in continued state support for Old Dominion University's Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center, signifying the importance of modeling, simulation and visualization to the Hampton Roads economy and ODU's leadership role. We will be concentrating our efforts during this year's General Assembly session to ensure that funding, among other things, remains in the state's final budget.

I think it is fitting that 2009 marks the year of the ox on the Chinese calendar. In the Chinese zodiac, the ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. No doubt we have some challenges ahead, but the Old Dominion spirit has always been about fortitude and hard work. Our prosperity is more gratifying because of it.

Thank you for your commitment to Old Dominion and have a great semester!

This article was posted on: January 16, 2009