THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 23, 1996 TAG: 9608230049
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PHILIP WALZER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 55 lines
Old Dominion University's president told faculty members Thursday that they must embrace new ways of teaching because the standard 50-minute lecture no longer is the only means of education.
``The lesson is that those who fail to adjust to changing realities will suffer,'' President James V. Koch said during his back-to-school address. ``.
Higher education, he said, ``is gradually changing from a time-based exercise where students in a given class usually advance lock step.'' Now, more students are seeking ``to move at their own pace and seek out the times, places and learning approaches that best suit their needs.''
Koch cited Teletechnet - Old Dominion's distance-learning program, which sends classes electronically across Virginia - as an example of a new mode of education.
``We teach students where they are and when they are available, and we do so at a price that is competitive,'' Koch told more than 400 faculty and staff members. ``. . . We must flexibly utilize technology to provide students with more options and more paths to learning.''
In previous back-to-school talks, Koch sometimes struck a somber note because of looming state budget cuts. But earlier this year, legislators approved more than $400 million in new funding for education and construction at Virginia colleges. ODU faculty will also get a 5 percent raise.
It was, he said, ``the best legislative year in the university's history.'' Other highlights cited by Koch for the 1995-96 year:
The largest enrollment in ODU's history - slightly more than 17,000.
The most money raised in private donations - $5.9 million.
The university's first Rhodes scholar, Samantha Salvia, former co-captain of the field hockey team.
Salvia's performance, Koch said, reflected the proper balance ODU places between athletics and academics.
``On several occasions,'' he said, ``I have watched with approval as Monarch coaches have refused to play star athletes who were academically eligible, but lax in their classroom attendance.''
In his 35-minute speech, Koch also outlined new initiatives for the coming school year. ODU will initiate 40 ``learning communities,'' grouping together small clusters of students with similar academic interests.
``The students will take the same courses together, participate in extracurricular activities as a group and be mentored by a faculty member,'' Koch said. ``. . . We hope to generate greater identity with the university, a sense of friendship and belonging and, of course, superior academic performance.''
ODU will also expand its Teletechnet program to seven more sites in Virginia - six community colleges and the State Library Building in Richmond. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
``The lesson is that those who fail to adjust to changing realities
will suffer,'' ODU President James V. Koch said. by CNB