NEW PENINSULA CENTER TO OPEN THIS WEEKEND

Old Dominion's Peninsula Higher Education Center will move into the new Peninsula Workforce Development Center in time for fall 2001 semester classes.

The Old Dominion center will occupy the entire second floor of the new facility at 600 Butler Farm Road in Hampton, which is located less than a mile from the site of the current center. Fall classes start Aug. 25.

The Peninsula Center was established in 1987 as a graduate engineering center, but has expanded over the years to meet growing demands for other higher education programs. The center currently offers 20 undergraduate degree completion programs (junior/senior level) and 24 graduate degree programs.

In addition to offering traditional classrooms, many courses are taught via state-of-the-art interactive video technology, such as TELETECHNET and virtual classrooms. A number of graduate certificate programs as well as noncredit continuing education and professional development programs are also available.

The student population has more than doubled over the past three years and now encompasses some 3,000 enrollments per year. Bob Norman, acting director of the Peninsula Center, said he and his staff eagerly await the move.

"We have outgrown our current facility, and are looking forward to opening the new center. More room, updated facilities, new technology -- all will enable us to better serve the Peninsula," Norman said.

The new center will feature 24 classrooms -- many of them equipped with interactive video technology and mediation equipment -- plus computer labs, seminar rooms and a 65-seat auditorium.

For corporate or government users, the center also offers an executive conference room and a business center, where work space can be rented.

Because most of the university's classes at the center are held in the evening and weekends, many of the classrooms, seminar rooms and the auditorium are available for corporate and government users during the day.

For more information, visit the Peninsula Center Web site at http://web.odu.edu/peninsula.