Old Dominion University

Students

Of the 18,000 students enrolled at Old Dominion, about 53 percent live out of state and the remainder are Virginia residents. Although Old Dominion for many years was known as a commuter school, that has changed as the university has experienced growth. The campus is now home to 12 different residence halls for freshman and upper class students, and it owns and operate three different apartment complexes in the neighborhoods surrounding the Norfolk campus.

First-year students are usually placed in one of five residence halls:

• England House, a 156-student residence of double rooms that share bathrooms with its own kitchen, study lounges, a laundry room and community room;
• Gresham, a complex of two three-story residence halls that house a total of 423 students who live in double rooms set up as suites. Gresham also features study lounges, laundry rooms, and late-night eateries;
• Rogers, a two-building complex that accommodates 437 students in suites with double rooms and shared baths. Rogers features study lounges and laundry rooms, and Rogers Main serves freshmen who are enrolled in the Old Dominion First-year Experience Program;
• Scotland House, a three-story residence hall with room for 270 students, all of whom live in double rooms with a shared bathroom. Scotland House also has a kitchen, study lounges and laundry rooms for residents;
• and Whitehurst Hall, a large, six-story coed residence that is home to about 594 freshmen, in suites with double rooms and shared bathrooms. Whitehurst also has study lounges, kitchens, and late-night eateries.

While there is plenty of housing for upper class students, it is at a premium because of the size of the university. So upper class students find themselves at the mercy of a lottery system, which rates students based on a formula that considers their academic standing, involvement in the school community, home residence, and need.

The Old Dominion campus is entirely wireless, including all classrooms.

More than 250 student organizations will keep any newcomer to Old Dominion busy, with a number of academic clubs, a debating club, LBGT organizations, international student organizations, political groups, religious groups, a speakers forum, and a number of performance and arts groups.

Dining at Old Dominion provides students with everything from Starbucks to bakeries to BBQ. There are 16 places to eat on campus, including the Rogers Dining Hall, which offers an all-you-care-to-eat buffet, made-to-order entrees and sandwiches, a soup and salad bar, and vegetarian and vegan entrees. The Waves Cafe, located in the Virginia Beach Higher Education Center, provides grilled fare like burgers, hot dogs, french fries, and mozzarella sticks. At the Webb University Center, the main campus gathering place, you can eat at Grille Works, Chick-fil-A, Quiznos, Pizza Hut and Pan Geos, a wrap and salad place. Whitehurst Hall, the largest freshman dorm on campus, has its own all-you-can-eat dining hall, Legends.

The Lion’s Den at the Webb University Center features a pool hall/game room, with ping-pong and foosball tables, as well as arcade games. The Student Activities Council also sponsors ODU After Dark, a night of free games and free food, which lasts from 8 p.m. until midnight. Student organizations also hold dances and other events that give students a chance to meet and socialize. ODU even has its own makeshift beach on the edge of campus. Whitehurst beach has a gazebo, grills and a dock, volleyball courts, and sand.

At the end of each school year, the Student Activities Council sponsors “Campus Chaos,” a day of fun and games that culminates with a series of concerts.

Old Dominion’s Ted Constant Convocation Center also hosts entertainment with top-name bands throughout the year.