A Strategic Plan For 2030 and Beyond
Universities across the country are being called upon to reimagine engineering education and to prepare a new and diverse engineering workforce with deep technical and professional skillsets to address the large, complex technical and societal challenges of today and tomorrow.
This calls for an integrated approach to traditional teaching, research, and service mission with an emphasis on advancing the state of engineering knowledge and practice. The faculty and staff of the Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology are enthusiastically dedicated to providing the highest quality educational experience for our students and to leading sponsored research with lasting, positive impact. To accomplish this, we simultaneously respect the history and heritage of the engineering profession and engineering education at ODU with a purposeful focus on the future, including the preparation of today's students to be valued members and leaders of the engineering profession and researchers that will lead our profession and society forward to a bright future.
Focus on the Future: A Strategic Plan for 2030 and Beyond is intended to define a positive trajectory for the Batten College with specific goals, objectives, and actions to advance the College through the fourth decade of 21st century. Stated differently, while the Batten College will celebrate the future accomplishments of our faculty, staff, and student and achievement of strategic goals, the true success of this plan will be the creation of a positive momentum that will define the Batten College as a leader in innovative engineering education and impactful research in the near future and beyond.
Appreciating Our History
Engineering education at Old Dominion University can be traced back to 1930 when the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary was founded. In partnership with Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now known as Virginia Tech), students could complete the first two years of their engineering studies and then transfer to VPI to complete their baccalaureate degree.
In 1962, the institution was granted independence as Old Dominion College. This included the establishment of a new School of Engineering. Kaufman Hall, constructed to house the new engineering program, was dedicated in 1965. The initial degree programs offered by the new School of Engineering received full ABET accreditation in 1967. Old Dominion College transitioned to Old Dominion University in 1969, which was the result of adding graduate degree programs. The School of Engineering became the first school at ODU to offer a doctoral degree in 1972.
In 1986, as part of a comprehensive reorganization of ODU, the School of Engineering became the College of Engineering & Technology. Then in 2003, as part of a $32 million gift from Frank Batten, the college was renamed the Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology. As part of the 50th anniversary celebration commemorating the establishment of the School of Engineering, the University held a groundbreaking ceremony for the 50,000 square-foot Engineering Systems Building (ESB), which opened in 2014.
The Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology owes its future to the vision and dedication of the many faculty, staff, students, benefactors, and other supporters who created the foundation on which we look to build on today. As we look to the future and envision all we can be, including all our future students can be, we recognize and respect that we stand on the shoulders of the many giants who went before us.
Our Commitment
We place a high level of importance on having a collegial, welcoming, empowering, dynamic, ethical, and professional learning and work environment for our students, staff, and faculty that supports both individual goals and the shared goal of advancing the College's mission, reputation, and recognition.
Our University
We embrace being a part of Old Dominion University and support its important role as a diverse, comprehensive, community-engaged, entrepreneurial, minority-serving, military-serving, R1-designated research institution.
Our Students
We are committed to the success of our undergraduate and graduate students and to preparing them for lasting and rewarding careers through relationship-rich, future-focused curricula, including integration of emerging technologies, state-of-the-art learning environments, and robust experiential learning opportunities.
Our Scholarship
We are dedicated to leading and engaging students at all levels in inquiry-based, innovative research with high social and economic impact at the local, regional, national, and globallevels, and to sharing the knowledge gained through our research for the betterment of society and our profession.
Strategic Plan
Our Vision
The Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology will be a nationally recognized leader in future-focused, student-centered engineering and engineering technology education, research, and innovation that ethically and equitably contributes to the sustainable economic and societal prosperity of the Hampton Roads region, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world.
The Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology owes its future to the vision and dedication of the many faculty, staff, students, benefactors, and other supporters who created the foundation on which we look to build on today. As we look to the future and envision all we can be, including all our future students can be, we recognize and respect that we stand on the shoulders of the many giants who went before us.
Our Mission
The Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology serves its students, the engineering profession, the Hampton Roads region, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world ethically and equitably through innovative and impactful research and future-focused educational programs that prepare the next generation of engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders.
Strategic Goals and Objectives
The following strategic goals and objectives have been established with the purpose of guiding the Batten College to 2030 and beyond. The goals and objectives are consistent with our core values and will support our effort to fulfill our mission and achieve our vision.
We will provide high-quality, future-focused educational and experiential learning opportunities to an increasing number of diverse, career-ready Batten College bachelors, masters, and doctoral students, who as graduates will be known for their technical knowledge, professional skills, high ethical standards, and intercultural awareness.
We will increase and sustain the Batten College's success in securing external funding for, engaging students in, and disseminating results of innovative research that advances the state of knowledge and has high social and economic impact in our local, regional, national, and global communities and on our profession.
We will foster a welcoming, inclusive, and collaborative culture that supports the recognition of the Batten College as a community dedicated to excellence and scholarship in engineering education, research, and innovation.
We will be recognized for our unwavering commitment to and success in recruiting, developing, retaining, and supporting an outstanding and diverse faculty and staff who are dedicated to fulfilling the mission and vision of the Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology.
We will provide high-quality, future-focused educational and experiential learning opportunities to an increasing number of diverse, career-ready Batten College bachelors, masters, and doctoral students, who as graduates will be known for their technical knowledge, professional skills, high ethical standards, and intercultural awareness.
We will increase and sustain the Batten College's success in securing external funding for, engaging students in, and disseminating results of innovative research that advances the state of knowledge and has high social and economic impact in our local, regional, national, and global communities and on our profession.
We will foster a welcoming, inclusive, and collaborative culture that supports the recognition of the Batten College as a community dedicated to excellence and scholarship in engineering education, research, and innovation.
We will be recognized for our unwavering commitment to and success in recruiting, developing, retaining, and supporting an outstanding and diverse faculty and staff who are dedicated to fulfilling the mission and vision of the Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology.
Full Document
Download a copy of the full document of Focus on the Future: A Strategic Plan For 2030 and Beyond