Board members, legislators break ground for new building

Six area legislators joined the Board of Visitors on campus for a Dec. 14 groundbreaking event.

Ceremonial shovels turned the dirt at the site of the future Engineering and Computational Sciences Building, which will be constructed between Webb Center and the Oceanography and Physics Building.

The $12.8 million facility, a four-story structure that will bring the university's programs and support services in aerospace engineering, math and computer sciences under one roof, is expected to open in late 2003.

In other matters, the board approved a proposal to change the current master's program in physical therapy to a doctoral program. The move, described in a College of Health Sciences document as "a logical step to ensure that graduates will have the required knowledge, skills and abilities to deliver physical therapy services to meet not only today's needs, but the needs of the population in the future," reflects the physical therapist's role today as an independent practitioner.

The DPT program would begin in summer 2002 and produce its first graduates in spring 2005.

U.S. News & World report currently ranks Old Dominion's MPT program as 28th best in the nation out of 191 accredited programs.

The board also approved one emeritus appointment and two awards of tenure. John Heinbockel, who taught at Old Dominion 34 years, was awarded the title Professor Emeritus of Mathematics and Statistics. Tenure was granted to Kent E. Carpenter and William J. Resetarits Jr., both from the biological sciences department, effective with the spring 2002 semester.

The board approved several administrative appointments, including:

-Michele S. Spires as director of the Northern Virginia Center;

-Robert C. Powers as director of Asynchronous Engineering Programs in the Department of Engineering Management;

-September C. Sanderlin as associate director of human resources for organization development;

-Robert L. Norman as director of the Peninsula Higher Education Center;

-Lisa M. Murray as director of corporate and foundation relations;

-Lisa N. Davenport as major gifts officer for the College of Business and Public Administration;

-R. Kevin Marbury as director of recreational sports; and

-Michael G. Holt as exit exam coordinator in the Writing Center.

In other action, the board approved a name change for the Department of Exercise Science, Physical Education and Recreation to the Department of Exercise Science, Sport, Physical Education and Recreation, effective July 1.