University of Norfolk

[NSUREDD]

What will NSU and ODU look like in twenty years? The reason that I am asking is to see what opinion that you guys have in the direction of the two schools. Years ago before Dr. H.B. Wilson became president of NSU there was lots of talk of merging the two schools. That talk was repeated when Dr. McDemmond stated in a speech that she did not want to be president of ODU east.

Many of the programs are duplicated between both schools except for tech. The State of Virginia issued a report not to long ago asking why are two state supported schools five miles apart offering many of the same classes. Although ODU has more offerings I do not believe that one has to leave ODU and go to NSU because the program is not located at ODU. As a undergrad I took classes at both schools all the way up thru my senior year.

Knowing that NSU is a HBCU (Historically Black College or University) and that it was started because of the racism of the time, Blacks not being allowed to attend schools like ODU (Norfolk Division of William and Mary), it seems now that anyone can attend either school that together it will present a stronger University.

Independently both schools have strong and weak points, neither of the schools has big time money. Hampton University endowment is larger than ODUs and NSUs combined (Virginia Business Magazine list of Virginia College Endowments).

I am not trying to push one view over the other, I just would like to know what you think.

[NSUREDD]

Also, NSU use to have a open admission program, which ended in 1996, that use to allow many persons into the University with the hopes that that person would be able to take advantage of the opportunity and complete the courses of study. Today many students can attended either school right out of high school. I have never had a problem getting any of my college bond students addmission to NSU or ODU and those who were rejected by ODU were also rejected from NSU.

Should we maintain both? Just asking for opinions.

[occasio]

Also, NSU use to have a open admission program, which ended in 1996, that use to allow many persons into the University with the hopes that that person would be able to take advantage of the opportunity and complete the courses of study. Today many students can attended either school right out of high school. I have never had a problem getting any of my college bond students addmission to NSU or ODU and those who were rejected by ODU were also rejected from NSU.

Should we maintain both? Just asking for opinions.

[NSUREDD]

I forgot about EVMS, sorry, but you are right. Is that State supported?

[vaguynny]

It seems like most popular cities have a college campus near the downtown. College areas really seem to make an area trendy and hip. NYC has NYU and Copper Union which generates the east and west village and DC has Geo.town and GWU which helps Geo.town. I really hope that development of downtown plaza area will try to connect NSU with downtown Norfolk. It seems like NSU is starting to build towards downtown with the Rise Center, now its downtowns turn to start to build towards NSU. Can you imagine downtown going from Ghent to the Campostella Bridge

[PeninsulaKiddo]

It seems like most popular cities have a college campus near the downtown. College areas really seem to make an area trendy and hip. NYC has NYU and Copper Union which generates the east and west village and DC has Geo.town and GWU which helps Geo.town. I really hope that development of downtown plaza area will try to connect NSU with downtown Norfolk. It seems like NSU is starting to build towards downtown with the Rise Center, now its downtowns turn to start to build towards NSU. Can you imagine downtown going from Ghent to the Campostella Bridge

[rusthebuss]

I really think that ODU and EVMS need to merge. I think it would benefit the area. EVMS has alot of potential to grow and be something. With them merged it could increase the schools budget

[cpeakesqr]

ODU has a program that guarantees admittance to EVMS once you've graduated with a B.S in Biology. It's called the B.S./ M.D. program, or something like that, but they could definitely expand on it.

[NSUREDD]

I keep seeing that ODU is becoming a "big player", what will we define as "big player"?

It is not near the top in endowment.

In student enrollment it has over 20,000, out of that number how many of them have actually been on campus?

It was not on the list of top research institutions in te US. I believe that Va. Tech just made the list.

I am not saying that ODU is not growing but, what will we define as "big player"

If all three were combined it will have many more resources. All three are state supported.

[JPN0731]

What would be nice would be to focus more attention on specific programs at one campus and use the opened space for a more diverse range of programs at all campuses that are lacking at both. Although I do not think that we will see the two (or three) schools merged into one, I do think that they should be much more integrated.

It would be much better if there was also a NSU-ODU direct shuttle program that would take students quickly from one campus to another without having to stress over parking. That 5 miles is very long in a car when parking is a consideration at either campus. When I say direct shuttle, I mean campus to campus and not 20 stops along the way either.

I am really hoping that NSU has to expand more in the future because from the freeway, it is a more high density campus. A few more towers would look nice.

[occasio]

There is a shuttle system between the two schools.

ODU is transitioning from a commuter university to a residential campus.

[NSUREDD]

How much of a transitioning from a commuter to a residential campus? ODU still has the majority of its students driving to campus.

[urbanlife]

in theory it is almost impossible for a school like ODU to become a residential school because of its location in a big city. My college in downtown Portland is a commuter school, even though a large number of students only live a few blocks away, but they live off campus, like me.

Really, I think there needs to be a better focus on housing and apartment living in that area and get away from some of the horrible rundown housing that surrounds the campus.

I would really love to see Norfolk State be better connected to the downtown fabric, I think that would be very beneficial for the school.