ODU Makes Gains in National R&D Rankings
The latest research and development (R&D) expenditures data released by the National Science Foundation (NSF) show that Old Dominion University attained Top 100 rankings in 18 academic areas and made overall gains in several funding categories in fiscal 2010.
Mohammad A. Karim, the ODU vice president for research, said the university moved up eight positions in fiscal 2010 to 103 in R&D expenditures among the nation's public universities. In the past six years, ODU has gained 28 positions in this category. Among public and private institutions, ODU moved up 10 positions to 145; it was at 181 six years earlier.
ODU gained six positions to 55 in total R&D spending among universities without a medical school. Six years ago in this category, ODU stood at 71.
"On behalf of the entire administration, Dr. Karim and I send our congratulations to all faculty, staff and administrators who contributed to these excellent results," wrote Provost Carol Simpson in a note to the faculty.
"Improvement in research expenditure ranking, while not the only - or even the main - part of ODU's mission, does send a very strong message about the quality of ODU's faculty and the overall educational experience that students receive at ODU. Among other important uses, these research funds help to support our undergraduate and graduate research programs, which in turn assist our students in becoming successful professionals," Simpson wrote.
The university's fiscal 2010 rankings in NSF expenditures moved up two positions to 129, placing ODU behind only Virginia Tech (37), U.Va. (64) and William and Mary (121) among Virginia institutions.
Top 100 academic categories in total R&D expenditures at ODU are business/management (18), civil engineering (74), chemistry (97), economics (69), education (20), electrical engineering (39), engineering (88), environmental science (93), humanities (34), mathematics (71), mechanical engineering (27), non-science/non-engineering (37), oceanography (34), physics (100), political science (88), psychology (92), social science (69), and visual and performing arts (8).
Karim also noted that the university's total medical science expenditures moved up 17 positions to 140.
ODU's total expenditures rank of 103 among public universities places it behind only Virginia Tech (29), U.Va. (49) and VCU (69) in Virginia. Positions for other state schools in this category include: George Mason (110), William and Mary (131), Virginia State (250) and Norfolk State (264).