ODU president leaving

Roseann Runte, president at my alma mater Old Dominion University since 2001, is leaving for a similar position at Carleton University in Ottowa. In her email this afternoon, Runte pointed out all that has been accomplished during her tenure. The entire email is below the fold.

Runte has been a tremendous asset to ODU and the Hampton Roads community. Our loss of her will be deeply felt. I wish her every success in her new position, which will take effect July 1. It will not be easy to fill her shoes.

January 8, 2008

Dear Members of the Old Dominion University Community,

Seven years ago we undertook a voyage. Together, we dreamed of the university of the future, of what Old Dominion could be and of how our vision could become a reality. We were fortunate indeed to be able to build on the accomplishments of our predecessors who had laid the foundations for our strong academic programs and created a blueprint for the University Village.

After many focus groups, questionnaires, town-hall meetings, and written contributions from every office, department and college, we were able to develop a campus Master Plan, a strategic plan and a capital campaign program which were coordinated to support the vision that underpinned every submission: a vision of excellence. Indeed, we adopted the mantra: “whatever we do at Old Dominion, we do first class!” We then rolled up our sleeves and formed an energetic and vibrant team who managed to garner support for the bond referendum, resulting in over $80 million in capital construction for the university. We also raised well over $100 million in the capital campaign (increasing the endowment from $70 million to approximately $187 million). We then sought additional funds from the private sector. In all over $400 million will have been spent on construction projects. We built or renovated the Constant Convocation Center, Constant Hall, the Engineering and Computational Sciences – E.V. Williams Building, the new Science Building, the first building in Innovation Research Park, the Bookstore, the Art Gallery, the Orchid Conservatory, three parking garages, the University Village Apartments and shops, Batten Arts and Letters, the College of Health Sciences Building and the University Theatre, the hotel, the Tennis Center, the Athletic Administration building, the soccer center, Virginia House, Ireland House, the Tri-Cities Center and VMASC. Currently in progress are four more residences, Diehn II, Hughes (now Dragas) Hall, Health and Physical Education, the football stadium and facilities, including another parking garage, as well as the second Research Building. If the new bond passes in the fall, there will be funds for a number of additional projects benefitting nearly every college.

We worked to increase the base funding for the university which has risen from 65 percent to 92 percent. This enabled us to increase faculty and staff salaries and to create additional faculty positions. We were able to provide additional funds for student scholarships and financial aid and we were able to support the growth of our library collections and reduce the size of English composition classes to 19. We also worked to obtain federal and state support for specific initiatives including modeling and simulation, bio-electrics, the wind tunnel, alternative energy (biomass fuel) and special projects in education.

Focusing on research, we attempted to create not only a culture in which research was valued but one where support for research, particularly interdisciplinary research, was available. The annual research fair has grown to include all the universities and colleges in the region and annual research expenditures have grown from $24 million to $65 million. In addition, the high-speed internet (Lambda rail) connection with its network among Old Dominion, Jefferson Lab, VMASC, the Joint Forces Command, NASA and the College of William and Mary, offers researchers unique opportunities for collaboration. Funds were raised for endowed chairs in every college, starting with Frank Batten’s splendid lead gift which also enabled us to provide seed money for approximately six interdisciplinary research teams. We increased our NSF ranking from 189 to 118 and moved up a category in the US News ratings.

Faculty members worked to create 7 new Ph.D. programs and a number of undergraduate degrees as well. We were able to add nearly $3 million to the annual budget in support of these initiatives and our graduate students. Distance learning adopted an asynchronous approach and has a national reputation for its cutting-edge work. Over 90 percent of the classrooms on campus are now fully mediated and new computer labs have been created in BAL, Webb Center, the Library and Constant Hall. Despite a rocky start, the Virginia Beach campus is flourishing with over 3,000 students enrolled. Overall, enrollment grew both in size and quality. Last year we had over 18,500 applications which is an increase of over 400 percent! This is due to the fine work of the Enrollment Management Committee and Admissions and to our universal commitment to the cogent and clear messages of the elegant and attractive materials produced in the “Modern Minds” campaign.

Old Dominion has also reached out and accepted responsibility in the community to assist others. Community Care Day and the Relay for Life have become part of our culture. We have created the Community Development Corporation to assist in housing, economic development, after-school programs, and health and safety programs for the local community. To the flourishing Literary Festival, we added a highly-successful film festival in collaboration with the City of Norfolk. We also developed relationships with the Chrysler Museum, the Virginia Arts Festival, Norfolk Botanical Gardens, and the Virginia Stage Company, as well as the schools and school boards of the region and businesses whose interests we share. Indeed, a recent economic development report shows the significant impact of modeling and simulation on the region.

We have grown to be a more residential campus, a more beautiful location, a more spirited university. We adopted a number of traditions including Illumination, the Graduation Walk over the seal, Cultural Explosion and Homecoming. When more than 8,000 fans greet our athletes in the Ted, the energy is palpable. I am very proud of the way we all care about our university and all the members of the community. I know that school spirit will continue to grow as football becomes part of our lives and provides one more link between the university and Hampton Roads. Along with football will come women’s crew, softball and volleyball. These teams will also add to the options available to our students.

Our dreams were not always undisturbed. As a true “portal to new worlds,” we have been troubled by global events but we have weathered all the storms together. We have faced a hurricane, budget cuts and 9-11, to name a few of the events which tested our resolve and our ability to work together as a community. We shared international concerns over the tsunami. We participated in the Walk for Freedom, organized by the ROTC, in honor of fallen comrades in the Middle East.

We also learned that research projects do not always come to fruition on schedule. However, we learned that patience, hard and intelligent work, and resolve can conquer problems, even lifting and moving the Maglev. I understand that there will soon be some good news for our colleagues working on this project and so I congratulate them.

Seven years of dreams and accomplishments have flown by at the speed of light. I know that the next seven will be just as exciting and fruitful, for the future belongs to Old Dominion. There comes, however, a tide in the affairs of men (and women), to paraphrase Shakespeare, which must be taken in the voyage of life. This is a time for parting, a well-made parting when we can smile with pleasure at the shared voyage and accomplishments, the moments of trial and jubilation, our well-earned friendships. I would like to thank the Rector, the members of the Board of Visitors, the Vice-Presidents, Deans, faculty, staff, students and alumni for all you have done and will continue to do for Old Dominion University. It has been a true pleasure and a privilege to work with you on the ambitious program on which we embarked and toward which we have made enormous progress.

I have decided to accept the Presidency of Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada on July 1, 2008. It is indeed a great honor to be invited to lead Canada’s capital university. We still have six months together to complete many projects and to prepare the way for new leadership at Old Dominion University. I will work closely with the Rector and the Board to ensure an efficient selection process for a successor and an appropriate transition. I undertake to leave everything shipshape and ready for the next leg of your voyage to the future.

Sincerely yours,

Roseann Runte
President

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