History of Old Dominion University in Timeline

Old Dominion University (ODU) is a public research university located in Norfolk, Virginia. Founded in 1930 as a division of the College of William & Mary, it gained independence in 1962 and university status in 1969. As of 2023, ODU has an enrollment of 23,494 students and its main campus spans 250 acres.

1917: Robert M. Hughes leaves Board of Visitors

In 1917 Robert M. Hughes, a member of the Board of Visitors of William and Mary since 1893, completed his service.

1924: Joseph Healy becomes director

In 1924 Joseph Healy became the director of the William and Mary extension in Norfolk and started organizing classes and finding locations for faculty and staff.

March 13, 1930: Establishment of Two-Year Branch Division

On March 13, 1930, a two-year branch division of the College of William and Mary was established in Norfolk.

September 3, 1930: H. Edgar Timmerman Appointed First Director

On September 3, 1930, H. Edgar Timmerman became the first director of the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary.

September 12, 1930: First Class Held

On September 12, 1930, the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary held its first class with 206 students in the old Larchmont School building.

1930: Establishment as Norfolk Division

In 1930, Old Dominion University was established as the two-year Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary.

1932: Lewis Warrington Webb Joins Faculty

In 1932, Lewis Warrington Webb joined the faculty as an instructor of engineering at the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary.

1940: Webb Becomes Director of Defense and War Training Program

From 1940 to 1944, Lewis Warrington Webb served as director of the Defense and War Training Program.

1942: Webb Appointed Assistant Director

In 1942, Lewis Warrington Webb was appointed assistant director of the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary.

1944: End of Webb's role as director of the Defense and War Training Program

Lewis Warrington Webb's role as director of the Defense and War Training Program, which he held from 1940, came to an end in 1944.

1946: Webb Appointed Director of the Norfolk Division

In 1946, Lewis Warrington Webb was appointed Director of the Norfolk Division.

1948: Army ROTC Program Created

In 1948, the Army ROTC program was created but later abandoned during the Korean War; it was later reestablished.

February 16, 1962: Dissolution of William and Mary System

On February 16, 1962, the William and Mary system was dissolved under General Assembly legislation signed by Governor Albertis S. Harrison.

May 27, 1962: Frank Batten Chosen as First Rector

On May 27, 1962, Frank Batten was chosen as the first rector of Old Dominion College.

1962: Became an independent college

In 1962, the school became an independent college.

1964: First Students Lived on Campus

In 1964, the first students lived on campus in dormitories Rogers Hall and Gresham Hall.

September 1969: Establishment of ODU Army ROTC Battalion

In September 1969, the ODU Army ROTC battalion was established in the Darden College of Education.

1969: Transition to Old Dominion University

In 1969, Old Dominion College transitioned to Old Dominion University under the leadership of President James L. Bugg Jr.

1969: Attained university status

In 1969, the school attained university status.

1969: Webb's Tenure as President Ends

Lewis Warrington Webb's tenure as the first president of Old Dominion College came to an end in 1969.

1970: End of Batten's Term as Rector

Frank Batten's term as the first rector of Old Dominion College ended in 1970.

July 4, 1971: First ROTC Cadets Commissioned

On July 4, 1971, the first cadets from the ODU Army ROTC battalion were commissioned.

1971: Establishment of University Police Force

In 1971, Old Dominion University established its own police force.

1977: Virginia General Assembly Passed the Campus Police Act

In 1977, the Virginia General Assembly passed the Campus Police Act, granting public campus police officers full law enforcement authority.

1979: Lady Monarchs Won National Championship (AIAW)

In 1979, the Lady Monarchs basketball team won a national championship in AIAW.

1980: Lady Monarchs Won National Championship (AIAW)

In 1980, the Lady Monarchs basketball team won a national championship in AIAW.

1980: Start of Period Ranked in Port Research

The university ranking in port research from the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) in Santiago Chile in October 2011 reviewed research starting in 1980.

1985: Lady Monarchs Won National Championship (NCAA)

In 1985, the Lady Monarchs basketball team won a national championship in NCAA.

1994: Began Offering Distance Learning Courses

In 1994, Old Dominion University began offering distance learning courses through Teletechnet, a satellite delivery system.

1995: Establishment of University Village

In 1995, the ODU Real Estate Foundation led the development of University Village.

1997: Lady Monarchs Made it to the NCAA Championship Game

In 1997, the Lady Monarchs basketball team made it to the Women's NCAA Championship Game, losing to Tennessee.

2004: College of Engineering Named After Frank Batten

In 2004, the College of Engineering was named in honor of Frank Batten.

2006: Construction of Ireland House

In 2006, Ireland House was constructed as part of the Runte Quad residential buildings.

2007: Construction of Virginia House

In 2007, Virginia House was constructed as part of the Runte Quad residential buildings.

2008: ODU Recognized as Having Sixth-Largest Army ROTC Unit

As of the spring of 2008, ODU has been recognized as having the sixth-largest Army ROTC unit out of 262 programs nationwide.

2008: Construction of Scotland House

In 2008, Scotland House was constructed as part of the Runte Quad residential buildings.

2008: Founding of the Monarch Marching Band

In the summer of 2008, the university's Monarch Marching Band (MMB) was founded in response to the formation of the Old Dominion Monarchs football program.

2009: Construction of France House, England House, and Dominion House

In 2009, France House, England House, and Dominion House were constructed as part of the Runte Quad residential buildings.

2009: End of Period Ranked in Port Research

The university ranking in port research from the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) in Santiago Chile in October 2011 reviewed research ending in 2009.

2010: First College Offering All Degrees in Modeling and Simulation

In 2010, the Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology became the first college in the United States offering all degrees in the emerging discipline of Modeling and Simulation.

October 2011: University Rankings in Port Research Announced

At the October 2011 Annual Meeting of the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), ODU was ranked eighth in the world in port research for the period 1980-2009.

May 17, 2012: Old Dominion Announces Move to C-USA

On May 17, 2012, Old Dominion University announced that it would move to Conference USA (C-USA) on July 1, 2013.

2012: Opening of the Lumsden Trading Room and Research Lab

In the fall of 2012, the Gregory A. Lumsden Trading Room and Research Lab (LTR) opened, equipped with 24 Bloomberg terminals.

July 1, 2013: ODU Moves to C-USA

On July 1, 2013, Old Dominion University officially moved to Conference USA (C-USA). Also in 2013, the Wrestling team became an associate of the Mid-American Conference, and the field hockey team joined the reconfigured Big East Conference.

2014: Renaming of College of Business

In 2014, the College of Business and Public Administration was renamed the Strome College of Business after a donation from the Strome family.

2014: Women's Lacrosse and Rowing Team Changes

In 2014, the women's lacrosse team spent the season as an independent before joining the Atlantic Sun Conference, and the women's rowing team joined the Big 12 Conference in 2014-15 after the Big 12 effectively took over C-USA rowing.

2015: Men's Swimming and Diving Team Joins CCSA

In 2015-16 season, the men's swimming and diving team joined the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (later renamed the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association).

2016: Opening of the New Education Building and Broderick Dining Commons

In 2016, the new Education Building was opened, as well as a new 45,000 square foot student dining facility, named Broderick Dining Commons.

2017: Construction of Mitchum Basketball Performance Center

In 2017, the Mitchum Basketball Performance Center, a practice facility for the ODU basketball teams, was built as an addition to the Ted Constant Convocation Center (Chartway Arena).

June 2018: First Female Professor of Military Science

In June 2018, Major Promotable Rhana S. Kurdi became the first female Professor of Military Science at ODU.

2019: Replacement of Foreman Field with SB Ballard Stadium

In 2019, Old Dominion University's historic Foreman Field was torn down and replaced with the new football stadium, SB Ballard Stadium.

2019: Opening of the Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

In 2019, the Strome College of Business opened the Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (IIE) in downtown Norfolk.

October 1, 2020: Launch of the School of Cybersecurity

On October 1, 2020, Old Dominion University launched the School of Cybersecurity.

2020: ODU Drops Wrestling

In 2020, Old Dominion University dropped its wrestling program.

2020: Construction of Owens House

In 2020, Owens House was constructed on the Runte Quad, designed to integrate living and learning with a focus on cybersecurity, entrepreneurial, and STEM-H students.

2021: Research and Development Spending

According to the National Science Foundation, in 2021, Old Dominion University spent $73.6 million on research and development.

2021: Planning and Fundraising for Baseball Complex Renovation

In 2021, planning and fundraising began for the $20 million renovation of the Baseball Complex.

July 1, 2022: ODU Joins Sun Belt Conference

On July 1, 2022, Old Dominion University joined the Sun Belt Conference.

2022: Initiation of Plans for New Biology Building and ODU Police Building

In 2022, the university initiated plans to build a new Biology Building and to renovate the ODU Inn into the new ODU Police Building.

2022: Announcement of New School of Data Science

In his 2022 State of the University Address, President Hemphill announced plans for the establishment of a new School of Data Science at Old Dominion University.

2023: Expansion of Virginia Beach Campus to Town Center

In 2023, ODU is expanding its Virginia Beach campus to Town Center.

2023: Enrollment and Campus Size

In 2023, Old Dominion University had an enrollment of 23,494 students, and its main campus covered 250 acres.

2023: Demolition of Maglev Research Project Guideway

In 2023, the guideway for the maglev research project, which was never fully functional, was demolished.

2023: Opening of the New Student Health & Wellness Center

In 2023, the new Student Health & Wellness Center will open, attached to the Student Recreation Center, along the Runte Quad.

July 1, 2024: Merger with Eastern Virginia Medical School

On July 1, 2024, ODU merged with Eastern Virginia Medical School, forming the Macon and Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, with EVMS becoming the medical school component.

2024: WSJ/College Pulse Ranking

For 2024-2025, WSJ/College Pulse ranked Old Dominion #501-600 out of U.S. universities.

2024: Undergraduate Admissions Statistics

In 2024, Old Dominion University accepted 95.1% of undergraduate applicants with admitted students having an average 3.3 GPA, 1170 SAT score, or 24 ACT score.

2025: WSJ/College Pulse Ranking