Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:
As we officially begin the 2026-2027 academic year at Old Dominion University, I am honored to extend a warm Monarch welcome to our new and returning students, faculty, and staff. Whether you are stepping onto campus for the very first time or returning to continue your journey, each academic year brings new opportunities, fresh perspectives, and renewed energy for the Monarch Nation.
At the heart of our University's caring community is the growing success made possible by Forward-Focused: Digital Transformation, which has fundamentally reshaped how we teach, learn, and operate. This fall, you will have the opportunity to experience more technology-enhanced classrooms and see our construction and renovation projects become a reality resulting in greater levels of engagement and excitement. By both enriching and modernizing our physical and online learning environments, we have successfully laid the essential foundation and built the necessary momentum to reach unprecedented heights in terms of enrollment. At the same time, we are retaining more students as we focus on individual and collective success.
While finalized enrollment numbers will be shared in the coming weeks, I am pleased to offer an exciting preview that demonstrates our University’s strong leadership in the face of declining enrollments nationwide as a direct result of the demographic cliff. We are proud to serve as home to an increased number of students both on campus and online, which is made possible through a significant increase in our freshman class, a growing number of transfer students, and increased enrollment across our advanced degree offerings. Most notably, the academic profile of our incoming students has continued to rise, alongside a lower admission rate, which is a clear reflection of the growing prestige of the Monarch experience and the true value of an Old Dominion University degree.
This momentum is further elevated by our continued commitment to cutting-edge academic and research innovation, highlighted by the launch of our new Ph.D. in Cybersecurity, the first of its kind in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Offered through our nationally recognized School of Cybersecurity, which has now marked a decade of operation and impact, this pioneering doctoral degree will train the next generation of researchers, scholars, and industry leaders to tackle complex challenges and shape the future of emerging technologies. Additionally, the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies is now offering a Ph.D. in Education with a concentration in Interdisciplinary Studies to support a growing population of adult learners with existing leadership experience.
Our collaborative and enhanced efforts around academics and research do not end there. Old Dominion University is honored to now be home to the Joan P. Brock Institute for Nutrition Science and Health, which has enabled a defined focus on not only nutrition, but also lifestyle medicine, in addition to the recently established National Security Institute for accelerated solutions that strengthen security, resilience, and operational readiness by connecting external partnerships with interdisciplinary expertise and talent from across the University. These are just a few examples of how our University continues to provide cutting-edge opportunities in classrooms, laboratories, and communities with real-world impacts!
To support our steady academic growth and maintain our forward-focused momentum and progress, the University continues to make strategic investments in our campus and our region. Demonstrating strategic planning and clear vision, the University has embarked on two self-supporting efforts, in partnership with the Real Estate Foundation, to purchase Proximity, a large residential housing complex located along West 39th Street, and Riverfront Golf Club, a public golf course located in nearby Suffolk. The course, receiving "5 Stars" from Golf Digest and being ranked #6 in the Commonwealth of Virginia by Golfweek, will provide a competitive and world-class environment for our men’s and women’s golf programs rivaling the best in the Sun Belt Conference. These forward-thinking acquisitions reflect a deep commitment to enhancing our campus environment, supporting overall quality of life in Hampton Roads, and strengthening long-term partnerships and positive impacts both locally and regionally.
As we look toward this promising future, we also carry forward the critical lessons, endless strength, and solemn memory of March 12, 2026. This tragedy tested our community, but the resilience and unity displayed reminded us of our true character. In response, we are implementing safety enhancements, including physical security upgrades, expanded electronic locks, streamlined alert protocols, additional Threat Assessment staffing, and the establishment of a unified Public Safety Building with a state-of-the-art 911 call center, to ensure an even more secure environment. Most importantly, we remain forever indebted for the incredible bravery and courage displayed on that day by Lt. Col. Brandon A. Shah and the cadets. We also acknowledge the emergency responders, as well as our faculty, staff, and students, who experienced this tragedy firsthand and were further impacted by the painful aftermath. I encourage our caring community to join us on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM by the Rollins Hall Courtyard for a special event honoring Lt. Col. Shah. Together, we will forever etch his distinguished name and remarkable legacy onto our campus.
In welcoming our Centennial Class, the Class of 2030, we thoughtfully reflect on the past, but we also embrace the achievements that will make our future possible – a bold and promising future that we will create and define together. Thank you for your commitment, dedication, engagement, and passion in making Old Dominion University an extraordinary place to grow, learn, live, teach, and work. I wish each and every one of you an inspiring and rewarding, as well as a safe and successful, 2026-2027 academic year!
With Monarch Pride,
Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D.
President