Forward-Focused Digital Transformation:
Paving the Way for Innovation at Old Dominion University
In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, the need for bold leadership is more critical than ever. Institutions face unprecedented demographic, financial, and workforce pressures, with little indication that those challenges will ease.
Old Dominion University (ODU) has chosen to confront these realities directly, rather than retreating with caution. The University has embraced a Forward-Focused Digital Transformation strategy which recognizes that measured risk, decisive leadership, and sustained investment are now prerequisites for institutional resilience.
This work is not a collection of isolated technology projects. It is a comprehensive institutional strategy designed to enhance educational delivery, strengthen research productivity, modernize infrastructure, and ensure students graduate prepared for a rapidly changing workforce.
Transformation at this scale is challenging, and meaningful change rarely occurs without resistance, difficult decisions, or sustained commitment. But leadership requires the courage to move forward even when the path is complex. ODU’s approach demonstrates how embracing change—rather than managing decline—can position public research universities for long-term growth and relevance.
Key Areas of Digital Transformation
ODU is advancing digital transformation through several interdependent areas that enhance learning, research, operations, and student outcomes. These include purpose-built online education, data intelligence and governance, AI-enabled student support, research innovation, workforce-aligned experiential learning, and secure, modern digital infrastructure.
Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., President, Old Dominion University
Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., President, Old Dominion University
Redesigning Learning for Adult Learners
Education Dynamics’ 2026 Landscape of Higher Education Report emphasizes that institutions must take innovative approaches that meet students where they are. At ODU, the ability to evolve is deeply embedded in our institutional DNA.
More than forty years ago, we began delivering education beyond the traditional campus by using satellite technology to beam courses to US Navy ships at sea. That early commitment to access laid the foundation for what has become one of the most established and continuously evolving online education enterprises in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Today, that legacy continues through a cohesive, high-quality online learning ecosystem built on a single, institutionally supported learning management system. Rather than expanding disconnected platforms or outsourcing online operations, ODU has prioritized instructional quality, intentional design, and scalable support structures that ensure consistency and rigor across online programs.
Leveraging decades of learning, refinement, and success, we recently shifted all online courses to an eight-week asynchronous structure. The growing adult learner market typically seeks faster pathways to degree completion due to career-oriented goals and personal commitments, and ODU’s accelerated asynchronous online format provides flexible pathways to degree completion while maintaining the standards of a Carnegie Research 1 (R1) public research university.
This shift underscores the University's commitment to addressing students’ changing expectations. From satellites to digital platforms, ODU has consistently refined how education is delivered to meet the evolving needs of adult learners, military-connected students, and working professionals.
Data Intelligence, Analytics and Governance
ODU's use of data analytics reflects a commitment to not only innovation, but also institutional responsibility. Central to this effort is the Office of Data Intelligence and Analytics (DIA), which serves as the University’s hub for data-driven decision-making and governance.
According to EDUCAUSE, institutions that effectively leverage data analytics can improve student retention and success rates with predictive modeling and personalized interventions. DIA leverages data to create personalized learning experiences, optimize outcomes, and employ predictive analytics to identify at-risk students early for targeted interventions.
DIA’s approach ensures data integrity, consistency, security, and responsible utilization across all functions. By fostering a culture of data literacy and trust, the office empowers leaders, faculty, and staff to make informed decisions that improve student success, operational efficiency, and strategic planning.
Key Areas of Digital Transformation
ODU is advancing digital transformation through several interdependent areas that enhance learning, research, operations, and student outcomes. These include purpose-built online education, data intelligence and governance, AI-enabled student support, research innovation, workforce-aligned experiential learning, and secure, modern digital infrastructure.
Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., President, Old Dominion University
Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., President, Old Dominion University
Redesigning Learning for Adult Learners
Education Dynamics’ 2026 Landscape of Higher Education Report emphasizes that institutions must take innovative approaches that meet students where they are. At ODU, the ability to evolve is deeply embedded in our institutional DNA.
More than forty years ago, we began delivering education beyond the traditional campus by using satellite technology to beam courses to US Navy ships at sea. That early commitment to access laid the foundation for what has become one of the most established and continuously evolving online education enterprises in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Today, that legacy continues through a cohesive, high-quality online learning ecosystem built on a single, institutionally supported learning management system. Rather than expanding disconnected platforms or outsourcing online operations, ODU has prioritized instructional quality, intentional design, and scalable support structures that ensure consistency and rigor across online programs.
Leveraging decades of learning, refinement, and success, we recently shifted all online courses to an eight-week asynchronous structure. The growing adult learner market typically seeks faster pathways to degree completion due to career-oriented goals and personal commitments, and ODU’s accelerated asynchronous online format provides flexible pathways to degree completion while maintaining the standards of a Carnegie Research 1 (R1) public research university.
This shift underscores the University's commitment to addressing students’ changing expectations. From satellites to digital platforms, ODU has consistently refined how education is delivered to meet the evolving needs of adult learners, military-connected students, and working professionals.
Data Intelligence, Analytics and Governance
ODU's use of data analytics reflects a commitment to not only innovation, but also institutional responsibility. Central to this effort is the Office of Data Intelligence and Analytics (DIA), which serves as the University’s hub for data-driven decision-making and governance.
According to EDUCAUSE, institutions that effectively leverage data analytics can improve student retention and success rates with predictive modeling and personalized interventions. DIA leverages data to create personalized learning experiences, optimize outcomes, and employ predictive analytics to identify at-risk students early for targeted interventions.
DIA’s approach ensures data integrity, consistency, security, and responsible utilization across all functions. By fostering a culture of data literacy and trust, the office empowers leaders, faculty, and staff to make informed decisions that improve student success, operational efficiency, and strategic planning.
AI-Driven Student Support
The implementation of AI-driven technologies at ODU showcases a strategic leap forward in student support. AI-powered academic advising and course assistants provide personalized guidance, real-time assistance, and scalable support to enhance the student experience. Industry reports, such as those from Gartner, indicate that AI in educational settings can decrease administrative workload by up to 25%, allowing more time for direct high-impact student engagement.
ODU deploys these tools thoughtfully, emphasizing ethical utilization, transparency, and augmentation rather than replacement of human expertise. Through this implementation, ODU has improved operational efficiency and user experience, a testament to the transformative power of embracing innovative solutions rather than adhering to potentially limiting traditional methods.
Enhancing Research Productivity Through Innovation and Partnership
Research excellence remains central to ODU’s mission as a public R1 institution. According to a report by McKinsey, adopting AI and data technologies for research can significantly boost productivity and innovation, yielding higher potential for transformative impact. ODU is at the forefront of integrating AI into research through MonarchSphere, a first-of-its-kind AI incubator created in partnership with Google Public Sector.
Powered by Google Cloud, MonarchSphere provides cutting-edge computational resources that support interdisciplinary research, advanced analytics, and scalable innovation. Its capabilities enable faculty and students to tackle complex problems and real-world challenges for higher education, business, and industry. Techniques such as advanced data analytics and compute power, as well as deep learning and automated reasoning, facilitate the exploration of large datasets and lead to new insights and breakthroughs.
This bold partnership aligns with our approach to propelling growth through out-of-the-box innovation. By aligning academic research with industry-grade tools, the University strengthens its research enterprise while preparing students to operate in a technology-driven professional environment.
Career-Integrated Learning: Internships and Industry Credentials
Digital transformation must ultimately translate into meaningful outcomes for students. Through the Monarch Internship and Co-Op Office, ODU has committed to ensuring that every student graduates with applied learning experience. ODU also embeds Google Career Certificates into the curriculum to ensure graduates have an industry-recognized credential upon graduation.
This integration of academic learning, workforce experience, and certification reflects ODU’s commitment to aligning education with employer expectations. Graduates leave not only with degrees, but with tangible skills, credentials, and experience that position them for success in a competitive labor market.
Strategic Investments in Digital Infrastructure
Over the next three years, ODU is investing nearly $30 million to modernize digital infrastructure, including the renovation of 180 classrooms and study spaces. This commitment focuses on integrating immersive learning tools that create dynamic, interactive educational settings. ODU’s modernized learning environments are designed to ensure students benefit from state-of-the-art resources that align with future job market demands.
ODU’s investment also extends to the infrastructure needed to support these advanced technologies, from cybersecurity and secure research to network modernization and resilient operations. As stated in a study by EAB, strategic investments in digital infrastructure are crucial for maintaining competitive academic environments and preparing students for rapidly evolving technological demands. Together, these efforts reinforce the University's commitment to creating a future-ready campus that supports innovation, enhances learning, and strengthens institutional resilience.
Looking Ahead
ODU’s Forward-Focused Digital Transformation initiative illustrates how institutions can respond decisively to the shifting higher education landscape. Transformation of this scale requires difficult decisions, sustained commitment, and the ability to navigate resistance with transparency and resolve. At ODU, leadership means acknowledging these challenges, while remaining focused on the institution’s long-term mission and responsibility to students, the Commonwealth, and society.
This custom content is sponsored by Old Dominion University and developed by Inside Higher Ed's sponsored content team. The editorial staff of Inside Higher Ed had no role in its creation.
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