newsandnotes
Two ceremonies planned for May 10 commencement Old Dominion’s spring commencement will feature two ceremonies at the Ted Constant Convocation Center on May 10 – the first for graduates of the colleges of Arts and Letters, Education and Health Sciences, and the second for graduates of the colleges of Business and Public Administration, Engineering and Technology, and Sciences. Speakers for the two programs had not been announced by press time. The first ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. and the second at 3 p.m. This new format is a departure from past spring commencements, which featured one main ceremony at Foreman Field, weather permitting, followed by individual college ceremonies, where graduates were recognized individually. “We investigated a number of other schools our size and within the state, and found that while their formats varied, all were concerned more for what the graduates wanted: to be recognized individually, to have as many people as possible see them honored and to reduce the time it takes to do so,” said Maggi Curry-Williams, chair of the Commencement Coordinating Committee. “We believe we will accomplish all of these desires by having two ceremonies at the Constant Center.” Approximately 2,000 graduates are expected to take part in the ceremonies, and each will have the opportunity to cross the stage during the program. As was the case at the December commencement, which took place at the Constant Center for the first time, no individual college ceremonies will be held after the main program. However, the student achievement award for each college will be announced at the exercises, and the Kaufman Prize winner will be recognized, Curry-Williams noted. Faculty who plan to take part in the first ceremony should report to the East Lobby (back lobby) by 8 a.m.; those taking part in the second program should gather in the East Lobby by 2 p.m. Faculty who plan to attend commencement are asked to notify their college representative:
“I believe the past belongs to some schools, but the future is ours. Thanks to Mr. Batten, the future is very bright indeed, and today is only the beginning.” Runte announced that Old Dominion plans to hire 13 pre-eminent professors, including two next year. In keeping with the criteria for how the money should be used – most of it for science and technology – nine of the professors will come from the fields of science and engineering, plus one each from arts and letters, business and public administration, education and health sciences. According to Batten’s stipulation, Runte has indicated that 75 percent of the gift is to be used to establish endowed faculty chairs, with the remaining 25 percent to endow faculty research. Runte said it is her hope that the gift will help Old Dominion reach a new level: a ranking among the nation’s top 100 colleges and universities. “Our ship has started to come in,” she said. “We’re going to make more ships come in to the dock very soon.” Batten, the founder of Landmark Communications and rector of Old Dominion’s first Board of Visitors, announced his gift March 11. His financial support to the university over the past five decades has earned him the distinction as the university’s most significant and enduring contributor. Back to top Ties to war felt within university community BY STEVE DANIEL From the broadcast of M.B.A. classes to Navy ships in the Persian Gulf to the deployment of students, employees, spouses and relatives, Old Dominion University clearly has had a stake in Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to Dick Whalen, director of military activities, it’s hard to say exactly how many members of the university community were called up for the war effort. But with 27 percent of the student body having ties to the military, as well as the ties among faculty and staff, the number of ODU’s extended family who have been involved is undoubtedly significant. Glenda Humphreys, director of human resources, reports that her office was officially notified by two employees from the Office of Computing and Communications Services and one from the Office of Public Safety that they were being called away. Also, Whalen notes that six Army ROTC students who are also in the National Guard were called to service last month. In her letter to the campus community on March 27, President Roseann Runte recalled Army Reservist Keith Underwood, a systems support analyst from OCCS, stopping by her office to say goodbye. “He was noble and courageous and expressed his feeling of responsibility to his nation.” Whalen said Underwood is attached to a Chinook helicopter unit that will be helping out in the aftermath of the war. Some spouses of employees also are serving in Iraq. Clair Dorsey, who works part time as the College of Engineering and Technology’s community liaison officer, said her husband is a Navy corpsman reservist assigned to a Marine infantry unit. The last letter she received from him arrived two days before the war started, although she did get a surprise indirect message via e-mail on April 7. “One of his buddies was able to go where there was e-mail access, and he e-mailed a friend, who in turn e-mailed me. Basically, he said he missed us and was safe, which was wonderful to hear,” Dorsey exclaimed. Dorsey, who has two young children at home, added that she is grateful to be working, since it has allowed her to take her mind off of the situation in Iraq. “It’s good for me to be doing something constructive.” Juliet Schweiter, an assistant women’s basketball coach, also has a husband in Iraq. A Marine, he has been away from home since August. But as a communicator with his unit, he’s been able to stay in touch by e-mail every two or three days. “The hardest part is that he’s been gone so long,” Schweiter said. “But I’m lucky, I don’t have a 4-year-old asking every day when daddy’s coming home.” For the past few weeks, Patricia Strait has been teaching her M.B.A. distance learning classes to 75 sailors and officers aboard six Navy ships in the Persian Gulf, including the aircraft carriers Harry S. Truman and Theodore Roosevelt. It requires her to be at the Gornto TELETECHNET Center four hours each Saturday and Sunday. “This is a unique service to our armed forces overseas,” Whalen said, adding that it’s something that has brought “a bit of sanity” to those who have been engaged in the war effort. Once the situation in Iraq is stabilized, Old Dominion may be able to offer its satellite broadcast capabilities to allow spouses to watch promotion ceremonies aboard ships and perhaps even to beam live video of families from the Gornto Center, Whalen said. Whalen noted that another 855 students, three-quarters of whom are currently at sea, are taking ODU classes toward a master’s degree in engineering management via CD-ROM courses. Among these students are the captain and executive officer of the Roosevelt. Back to top Director of SCHEV to speak here April 24 Phyllis Palmiero, executive director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, will address the ODU chapter of the American Association of University Professors from 12:30-1:30 April 24 in the Burgess Room of the Batten Arts and Letters Building. Her talk is titled, “What’s Down the Road for Universities in the State of Virginia?” All faculty and administrators are invited to attend. Back to top
Porter, who has conducted extensive research on driver behavior, will speak on “Survive the Drive: Dodge the Recklessness Threatening You Daily.” The luncheon is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Hampton/Newport News Room of Webb Center. The program will include the installation of 2003-04 HACE officers and presentation of the organization’s Staff Member and Rookie of the Year awards. (Nominations for the awards will be accepted through April 23. Forms are available at www.odu.edu/HACE. The cost of the luncheon is $15 for new HACE members ($10 for lunch plus $5 membership dues); $13 for current members ($8 for lunch plus $5 membership renewal); or $10 for lunch only. Checks, made out to HACE, should be sent by May 13 to Judy Smith, treasurer, in 219 Koch Hall. Back to top BOV meets April 11; tuition tops agenda The Board of Visitors will meet at 1:15 p.m. April 11 in the Webb Center Board Room. Tuition and fees for 2003-04 are among the agenda items to be considered. The meeting of the full board will be preceded by a tuition presentation before a joint meeting of the Academic and Research Advancement and Administration and Finance committees from 9-10 a.m. in the Board Room. These committees will hold their individual meetings from 10 a.m. to noon in the Rectors Room and the Board Room, respectively. The Institutional Advancement and Student Advancement committees met on April 10. Back to top Jefferson Lab plans open house for April 26 The Department of Energy’s Jefferson Lab in Newport News, where a number of ODU physics faculty conduct their research, will have a “Science Is Cool” open house from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 26. In addition to a section of the accelerator, visitors will be able to enter two of the lab’s experimental halls, the free-electron laser facility, the computer center and the accelerator assembly area, where components for Jefferson Lab’s accelerator and DOE’s new Spallation Neutron Source are assembled and tested. The lab’s tech transfer endeavors into medical imaging will also be on display. In addition to highlighting the latest physics research and technology developments underway at the lab, the event will include a variety of hands-on, science education-oriented activities. Free parking will be available at Canon Virginia, located at 12000 Canon Boulevard in the Oyster Point section of Newport News. Free shuttle buses will transport visitors to and from the lab. For more information and directions visit www.jlab.org/openhouse. Back to top Ron Johnson recognized for platelet donations Ronald E. Johnson, associate professor of ocean, earth and atmospheric sciences, was featured in the winter 2003 edition of Arm in Arm, a quarterly publication for American Red Cross platelet donors. The story credited him for his 150th donation, which he made on Sept. 17. Johnson has been donating platelets since 1978, when he first learned about the process while donating blood. By the 1980s, he was donating platelets almost every month. “It makes me feel good to know that I can do something so easy to help out someone in need,” said Johnson, who also encourages students and colleagues to donate. Platelets are the clotting factor in blood and are used extensively in the treatment of cancer, aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia, transplant surgeries and other serious illnesses. While the donor relaxes, whole blood is drawn from one arm and channeled through a machine which collects the platelets. The plasma and red cells are returned through the other arm. The entire process takes about two hours. To schedule a platelet donation or for more information call 623-4880. Back to top “Lines of Literacy” seminars offered April 15-16 The English department and its Writers in Community program are sponsoring a series of literacy-related seminars, “The Lines of Literacy: Connecting Minds and Hearts Through Writing and Reading,” April 15-16. The Writers in Community program works to encourage creativity and self-expression by raising awareness of the critical nature of literacy skills. The program sends volunteer M.F.A. students in the creative writing program into Hampton Roads communities to share their skills by connecting minds and hearts through writing and reading. The schedule includes the following:
For more information call 683-4311. Back to top
Zakic’s allegorical paintings are stunning in the tradition of old master technical expertise while they simultaneously mine philosophical concerns. Back to top
Various activities are planned, including an inflatable basketball game and the presentation of academic achievement awards to student-athletes during activity hour. Back to top
The institute allows faculty members the opportunity to discuss college teaching and learning in depth with colleagues. The cost is $700 and covers lectures, demonstrations, workshops, individual consultations and five days’ room and board. Faculty for the institute include former ODU professor Conrad Festa, senior vice president for academic affairs at the College of Charleston; Robert Hanny, professor of education at William and Mary, and Lawrence Dotolo, president of the Virginia Tidewater Consortium. Applications are due May 27. For more information or to register call 683-3183. Back to top
As many as 35 students will be selected to begin studies this summer in the Ph.D. program in community college leadership, which will graduate its first class in 2004. “The need for senior administrators in community colleges across the country is great and increasing every year,” said Dennis Gregory, assistant professor of educational leadership and counseling and the doctoral program coordinator. “Many of the leaders of both the faculty and administration began with the (community college) system when it started in the late ’60s and early ’70s. Many are reaching retirement age and will need to be replaced. This is particularly true since community colleges are taking on an increasingly important role throughout the country.” More than 34.6 percent of community college faculty and administrators are likely to retire or leave the system within the next three years, according to The National Center of Educational Statistics. Forty-five percent of current community college presidents plan to retire by 2007, and the average age of senior community college administrators has increased by two years since 1984, according to an American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) researcher. The AACC also has recognized the leadership succession crisis in community colleges, affirming that the leadership pipeline is “drying up” because potential community college leaders who come from the senior faculty and administrative ranks are “aging out” and are also planning to retire. Virginia requires an effective community college system if it is to continue to increase its ability to attract investments in the new economy – business services, communications and other technology-based jobs – and to enable its current businesses and industries to grow and prosper., according to Gregory. In the 16-state Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), only four states (Arkansas, Maryland, North Carolina and Texas) have doctoral degree programs in community college leadership. More than 3 million students are enrolled in community colleges in the 16 SREB states. The Virginia community college system reported an unduplicated headcount of 224,215 students enrolled in its 23 community colleges in 2000-01. Students who leave employment at their institutions for one or more years to study full time in the new ODU doctoral program will take nine credits per semester on campus and will be employed by the university as 20-hour-per-week graduate assistants for 10 months per year. They may also be eligible for summer employment. At least three graduate assistantships per year are planned. Back to top
Donations may be designated to a particular area or program, and unrestricted gifts will be used wherever the need is greatest. Last year, 667 members of the campus community contributed more than $124,000. Employees who donate $100 or more will automatically be entered in a drawing for a reserved parking space for one year. Those designating $100 or more to the Big Blue Club will also be entered in a raffle for two basketball season tickets (men’s or women’s). To be eligible for the drawings, gifts must be made by April 22. The easiest way to give is via payroll deduction, according to campaign co-chairs Alice McAdory and Ron Tola. Deductions begin July 1. A gift of $100, for example, would mean a deduction of $4.17, based on 24 pay periods, or $5 based on 20 pay periods. Deductions for a $500 donation would be either $20.83 or $25, respectively. Pledge cards are available from the following campaign coordinators:
A tree will be planted in her memory by the Oceanography and Physics Building pond, and a bench with an engraved plaque will be placed next to the tree. Checks, payable to ODU Foundations, should be sent to Glenda Humphreys, HRD director. Donors will receive an acknowledgement letter and Lacey’s family will be notified of each gift. A university employee for more than 24 years, Lacey is survived by her daughter, Michelle Massie; sons, Charles Lacey, David Lacey and Chris Lacey; sisters, Diane Brown, Shirley Britt, Yvonne Harden and Vicki Haskins; brothers, William Britt, Richard Britt and Andrew Britt; and 10 grandchildren. Two of her sisters are ODU employees: Shirley Britt in housing services and Diane Brown in student health services. Back to top
Old Dominion University Libraries and the arts festival also are sponsoring an exhibition of Glass’ work. Available for public viewing in the Diehn Composers Room through May 27 and titled, “Philip Glass: A Synthesis of Music and Film,” the exhibit emphasizes his composition of film scores and includes posters, sound recordings and the scores themselves. “The Hours” (2002), “Naqoyqatsi” (2002), “Dracula” (1999) and “The Truman Show” (1998) are some of Glass’ more recent film works. A Web page that serves as a gateway to his official Web site is available online at www.lib.odu.edu/aboutlib/spccol/music/DCRexhibitsindex.htm. The lecture is made possible by the Virginia Arts Festival and a generous grant from the F. Ludwig Diehn Music Fund of the Norfolk Foundation. For more information about the exhibit call Anna Gordon at 683-4175. For more information about the lecture call the Virginia Arts Festival at 282-2800.
The movie will be shown at the Roper Theatre in downtown Norfolk at 7 p.m. Composer Phillip Glass and his ensemble will be on hand to play the updated score he wrote for the film. Tickets are usually $40, but the university has obtained a special price of $5, dependent on attendance of a minimum of 200. In addition, two Granby Street restaurants will offer specials to ODU customers that night: a free martini or 25 percent off the food bill at the Blue Hippo, and a free buffet , including beef and shrimp, at the Time Lounge. Employees should register and prepay for tickets in the President’s Office by April 25.
A recognition banquet is scheduled for April 24 in Webb Center. The evening begins with a cash bar reception at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and program at 6:30. The cost is $15 for Pride members, $25 for the general public and $10 for children 10 and under. Tickets may be purchased by calling 683-5484. Fans can also join head coach Wendy Larry, players and assistant coaches at the Wachovia Securities Lady Monarch Pride Golf Tournament April 30 at Bide-A-Wee Golf Course. The best ball-format event includes 18 holes of golf, an awards banquet and auction. ESPN radio’s Tony Mercurio will broadcast from the course, and Coach Larry will play one hole with each foursome. The registration fee, which covers green fees, cart, driving range balls, dinner and beverages is $100 per person. Non-golfers can attend the awards banquet and auction for $20. The tournament will begin with registration at 11:30 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The banquet, awards program and auction begin at 6 p.m. For more information or to register call Mark Benson at 683-5696.
Hamm, the president and CEO of E.L. Hamm and Associates Inc. of Virginia Beach, received the award at the Urban League’s annual Whitney M. Young Jr. Dinner March 21. The award is named for Old Dominion’s sixth president, who led the university from 1990 to 2001. While in office, Koch was an active board member of the Urban League and established partnerships that continue to help children and adults in the African American community. He is currently the Board of Visitors professor of economics.
The generically named Graduate Studies Newsletter debuted on the Web March 27, and those who suggest a name for it by 5 p.m. April 11 will be entered into a contest for a $50 Fellini’s gift certificate. The winner will be announced April 18. Contest entries should be sent to jsanchez@odu.edu. Part of an ongoing effort to maximize communication among graduate students, faculty and administrators, the quarterly newsletter will feature items about graduate faculty and student achievement in research, the classroom and lab, and extracurricular activities. The address is www.odu.edu/ao/affairs/graduatestudies/gsn/gsn.
To schedule a 45-minute interactive presentation or a consultation, contact Mark Blagen, health education coordinator, at 683-5117 or mblagen@odu.edu.
The Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies Work and Professional Studies concentration, which was offered for the first time last fall at Old Dominion, examines how workers relate to one another, how they develop professionally over time and how psychologically satisfied they are in the world of work. “Work and labor is something that will occupy us for a greater part of our lives,” said Lucien Lombardo, program coordinator for Individualized Interdisciplinary Studies (IIDS) and professor of sociology and criminal justice. “Seeing how such disciplines as psychology, sociology, political science, economics, art, literature and philosophy relate to work, and learning what these different disciplines have to contribute to our understanding of work, is a fascinating experience.” The program allows students to look at work as an ongoing research project, blending the knowledge of liberal arts coursework with courses that focus on the expansion of professional skills. Students study issues related to adults as they move up in their careers, transition from one career to another, re-enter the workforce or go into the workforce for the first time. By examining the meaning of work, returning students are able to increase the knowledge and skills needed to improve their own work life. Seventy-five students are currently enrolled in the program. “It’s a diverse group of folks, ranging in age from 25 to 55,” said Mary Beth Lakin, director of Weekend College and Experiential Learning and acting program coordinator for IIDS. “They bring with them rich educational and work backgrounds. Students come from the fields of insurance, public relations, health care, marketing, human resources, art and writing, just to name a few.” Several returning students have lauded the program’s ability to incorporate their life and work experience into the curriculum while providing flexible scheduling at several campuses. “The one thing I have always wanted to do was to return to college and finish my degree,” said Theresa Singer, human resources recruiter for Sentara Healthcare in Williamsburg. “The classwork complements my human resources background and all the liberal arts classes I took 20 years ago,” she said. Jeanne Brody, director of community markets for Amerigroup Corp. in Virginia Beach, also appreciates the program. “I walked away from that first encounter with the program and Mary Beth Lakin with such excitement, because I knew that my experience and training were valued.... The course times were flexible enough to fit into my work schedule, and I felt like somebody really cared that I wanted to come back to school.” In addition to being offered locally in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Hampton and at Tidewater Community College in Portsmouth, the program is also taught at ODU’s Northern Virginia Center. “Work and Professional Studies is particularly attractive in this region where workforce development initiatives and strategies are increasingly critical for economic sustainability, growth and development,” notes Michele Spires, director of the Northern Virginia Center. Chuck Miller, a rural mail carrier in Northern Virginia who is enrolled in the program, said, “This unique major brings so many real-world issues from different disciplines, which can be applied in the everyday work world. I now look at my work place through a new perspective, and believe that I can make a difference because of what I am learning in this program.” The program’s first graduate, Susan Brice, will receive her diploma in May. The next information session for the program is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. April 15 in the Richmond Room of Webb Center. For registration information call Bill Barker at 683-4316. Back to top
“We will be looking into common issues that come up between condominium owners, planned-unit development associations and others that act as shadow governments dictating everything from the size of your fence to color of your front door,” said John Lombard, director of the center. The grant comes from the state Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) real estate board. DPOR regulates 31 occupations and professions through 18 boards of practitioners appointed by the governor. The real estate board regulates businesses and individuals representing others in real property transactions. Lombard and Pam Gibson, assistant professor of urban studies and public administration, authored the grant. Over the next year they will research organizational and operational issues by conducting surveys and focus groups of the CIC community in Hampton Roads and western Virginia. “Very little is known about this form of shadow governance and this work will contribute greatly to our understanding,” said Lombard. The center will develop a Web site based on survey results featuring statewide listings of residential condominium, cooperative and property owners’ associations; links to local, state and regional resources by topic; and CIC organization Web addresses. The center’s long-term goal is to establish a series of workshops with constituent groups to discuss common issues. Back to top
The concert will include works by Zograbyan, Tigran Mansurian, Andrey Kasparov, Nerses Shnorali, Mezrob Mashtotz Yervand Yerkanyan, Alicia Terzian and Aram Khachaturian. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door. Zograbyan is a renowned Armenian composer whose musical language is thoroughly interwoven with the musical tradition of his native Armenia. He is recognized as the most prominent Armenian composer of today. His work has been commissioned and performed by such celebrated groups as the Kronos Quartet and Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble, among many others. He is published and performed internationally on a regular basis. Creo, founded in 1998 by pianist Kasparov, an ODU assistant professor of music, includes mezzo-soprano Lisa Relaford Coston, clarinetist F. Gerard Errante, pianist Oksana Lutsyshyn and percussionist David Walker. Directed by Kasparov, the group performs a repertoire that consists mainly of works composed after 1945. Tickets for the performance are $15 for general admission; $10 for Old Dominion faculty and staff, senior citizens and non-ODU students; and $5 for ODU students with ID. Tickets may be purchased at the Arts and Letters Box Office in the atrium of the Diehn Center, or by calling 683-5305. Back to top
These five “cleverly absurd” pieces provide an arena for student directors Chris Bernhardt, Vera Hendricks, Matt Manning, Scott Quirk and Mike Uchmanowicz to explore acute personal and societal issues. One-acts from David Ives, Harold Pinter, Eugene Ionesco, Tad Mosel and Harvey Fierstein offer alternate perceptions of our not-so-lucid realities. The Spring Performance Festival will run April 18-19 and 23-27. All performances begin at 8 p.m. (except the April 27, show, which begins at 2:30 p.m.). For ticket prices call 683-5305. In addition to the Spring Performance Festival, the University Theatre and the M.F.A. Playwriting Program will present two nights of staged readings April 21 and 22. They are free and open to the public. “Touching Aurora” by Stacy Isom and “Avante Garde” by Carl Hott provide a fresh, new look at the struggles of modern-day Americans. Guest director Jon Schumacher, who is the artistic director of New York’s Singularity Company, will explore the words and meanings of these two plays. The readings will take place in the Stables Theatre at 8 p.m. both nights. For more information call Stephen Murphy at 683-6519. Back to top
In all, 18,815 undergraduate and graduate students across the country, including 34 from Old Dominion, entered the online contest. More than 4,700 books were recommended. ”With the U.S. at war with Iraq, the results of this year’s scholarship program are extremely timely for our political leaders,” noted Theresa Smith of BestBookBuys.com. The top 10 most recommended books were:
“The list of books reflects the seriousness with which the students undertook in advising our leaders what they should read,” Smith added. Stephanie McCullough, a student at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, N.M., was selected as the overall winner for her essay recommending Aristotle’s “The Politics.” McCullough wrote in her essay, “A statesman cannot act efficiently without a clear idea of how and to what end a government should function. Before he can decide in material terms of how to dispose of revenue, relate to other states, or whether to levy a tax, he must understand all the underlying issues. ‘The Politics’ holds the achievement of this understanding as its aim.” Among the books recommended by Old Dominion students were:
Gatlin, who earned a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1988 and will receive an M.S.Ed. this spring, said he entered the contest because it presented a subject he has thought about quite a bit. He wrote his essay on Sun Tzu’s classic “The Art of War.” Written in China more than 2,000 years ago, it is regarded as the first known study of the planning and conduct of military operations. “My main thrust is Sun Tzu’s point (as I see it) that the object of ‘fortifying’ a nation (or any given population) is not for war, but, rather, one of peace,” said Gatlin, who recently enrolled in ODU’s M.F.A. program in creative writing. “In other words, a nation must be organized and defended in such a manner that she would appear impregnable, and that attacking her (or any of her concerns) would seem as folly to a would-be aggressor.” Gatlin said his essay also discussed the book’s “practical application to any structure or organization that desires success.”
Partnerships are no longer an ideal for colleges and universities, according to a new book co-edited by Lawrence Dotolo of the Virginia Tidewater Consortium of Higher Education (VTCHE). In today’s fragile economy, they’re essential. In “New Directions for Higher Education, Leveraging Resources Through Partnerships” (Jossey-Bass, 2002), Dotolo and co-editor John B. Noftsinger Jr. of James Madison University detail the benefits and give examples of partnerships between colleges and universities in the form of chapters written by the member institutions of the Association for Consortium Leadership (ACL), of which Dotolo is executive director and Noftsinger, its vice president. The book is the 120th issue of the Jossey-Bass series, “New Directions for Higher Education.” Dotolo also co-edited a 1999 book in the series, “New Directions for Higher Education, Best Practices in Higher Education Consortia: How Institutions Can Work Together.” Examples of consortial collaboration include economic development projects where institutions work with city governments; institutions working together for sharing program expenses for international students; and joint or group purchasing of items such as high-tech equipment. Security, another hot-button issue on which institutions can collaborate, is also addressed in the book. “It’s idea-sharing and promoting what we believe in in the consortium,” Dotolo said. “It’s really popular in groups thinking about working together. Especially in tough economic times, it makes good sense for the institutions to cut costs and not duplicate services so much.” Because Dotolo has been with the Virginia Tidewater Consortium since 1975 and holds office with the ACL and its 65 consortia, representing 1,200 colleges and university members, the VTCHE has become a trusted source of information for other consortia and non-allied institutions that are interested in collaboration. “We’re one of the better known consortia in the U.S.,” Dotolo said. “These books have helped a lot. ”
Because of the great success and outstanding participation of employees in the tuition assistance programs during the fall and spring semesters, funds for summer 2003 are limited. The seniority provision of the university policies will continue to be invoked. Spouses and dependents of faculty who will be away from campus this summer are advised to submit tuition assistance forms as soon as possible. The tuition assistance program policies may be viewed at the Department of Human Resources’ Benefits Web page, www.odu.edu/af/humanresources/benefits. Information, applications and related forms may be obtained from the Forms page at www.odu.edu/af/humanresources/indformspage/edaidforms.htm. The Portal Report: Complexity of portal project calls for realistic expectations By Ann Reid Tatman, Acting Director of Administrative Services One of biggest mistakes one can make is to promise the world and then not be able to deliver. How does the Portal Leadership Team communicate the long-term vision of the ODU portal, yet not disappoint the university community in the short-term? How does the team generate interest and enthusiasm for the potential of this project and still convey realistic expectations? Establishing realistic expectations is important for all projects, but especially when the project is as large, highly visible, and transformational as a portal. When users understand the challenges of developing a portal and accept realistic milestones, everyone feels good about the result, even if the project experiences a number of changes and challenges. When expectations are not managed well, even a project that delivers might be seen as falling short of expectations. All those involved need a realistic picture of what they will receive and when they can reasonably expect to receive it. Communicating on a regular basis is how the team plans to facilitate a realistic understanding of the project goals and objectives. The portal project is a complex one and, no matter how well it is executed, unforeseen issues will inevitably arise. A successful portal truly becomes a community hub. The Portal Team is dedicated to keeping two-way communication flowing to all parts of the campus and not glossing over any details or problems. Later this spring, a project Web site will be launched enabling the campus community to understand the portal’s functionality, schedule and ongoing development. There are the obvious reasons as to why equipment acquisitions take time, hardware fails, software has bugs and human beings make mistakes. Added to that mix is the process of identifying the campus-specific requirements as well as obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities to accomplish the task successfully. Portal technology is a new arena for all participants, including our IT professionals. Portal and other Web technologies are so deceiving. Today, just a few simple clicks can accomplish intricate transactions. Users might infer simplicity in construction from simplicity in appearance; however, behind a portal lies a complex system of elements of transaction processing that transcends the order of magnitude we know in static Web sites. Determining our requirements is a process of discovery. As tempting as technology is, it takes time to understand and implement technology in a way that works for the users. Sometimes technology is approached purely from an “install” point of view, where users are expected to adapt to it rather than the other way around. Implementing technology without a firm understanding of the needs of the community can create more problems than solutions. Our goal is to inform and include the campus community in the process. Those of us directly involved in the project are actively seeking input. The challenge for the Portal Leadership Team is to strike the right balance between technology and user acceptance. By the end of the first phase of the project, the university community should see a solid foundation that will support the promise of a technology platform for putting more power in the hands of the user, increasing productivity and effectiveness, and opening up this “portal to new worlds.” The simple truth is that building a portal that meets the ever-changing needs of our community is work – difficult work – it just doesn’t happen on its own. Back to top
– “Malvern Firm’s Software Brings Space Data to Life” “A lot of expenditures are things that are not valuable to the civilian economy. It’s not like building highways or educating students or investing in hospitals.” (James V. Koch, Board of Visitors Professor of Economics and President Emeritus) – “Not All Wars Are Good for Economy” “Parents aren’t just parents, but role models for how to behave. Children are there taking notes, whether they look like they are or not.” (Thomas Socha, associate professor of communication) – “How Parents Should Talk with Children About Impending War” “The adjustments a team might make here are very small, but at 200 mph, it makes a big difference: These races are won in hundredths of a second. These guys define ‘splitting the hair.’” (Drew Landman, chief engineer at ODU’s Langley Full Scale Tunnel, in a story about NASCAR teams that test their race cars in the wind tunnel) – “The Science of Speed” “If you just add up William and Mary’s 23 and ODU’s 14 SCHEV Award recipients, it means faculty from those two institutions have accounted for almost one-fifth of all the outstanding faculty awards presented since 1987.” (John R. Broderick, vice president for institutional advancement, in an op-ed piece) – “Local Colleges Can Boast of Award-winning Faculty” “What we need is more papers, business papers, from this period. A lot of this material is still around people’s houses – even old ledgers are helpful.” (Harold Wilson, associate professor of history, in a story about his book “Confederate Industry”) – “Confederate Industry: Yes, There Was Such a Thing” “Had we managed to come back and win that game, the arena would have needed repairs. The crowd would have blown the roof off.” (Blaine Taylor, men’s basketball coach, on his team’s heartbreaking three-point loss to VCU before a crowd of 8,413 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center) – “Constant Center a Big Draw with Little Growing Pains” “With the around-the-clock coverage of events and actual footage of war, parents are encouraged to monitor how much children are watching TV and explain that the United States is there in an effort to make the world a better place for everyone.” (Anthony J. Bradford, professional counselor with Counseling Services, during a broadcast providing information to the public on how to cope with stress while family members, friends and acquaintances are in Iraq and neighboring locations) – WWHV and WWBR radio stations, March 28
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