Old Dominion University plans to expand eight-week asynchronous instruction in fall 2026, a change at the center of a dispute between President Brian O. Hemphill’s administration and the Faculty Senate. ODUGlobal says courses in its undergraduate, master’s and certificate programs will use that format starting this fall, according to the university’s online course information.
Faculty opposition and the Board’s response
On March 10, 2026, the Faculty Senate passed a no-confidence resolution with 85% of voting senators in support, according to the Senate. The Board of Visitors said the vote would not change the university’s direction and reaffirmed its support for Hemphill.
The Senate Executive Committee later criticized the Board’s decision to extend Hemphill’s contract through 2032, noting that his existing agreement was due to run through 2030. WHRO reported that the extension came despite the Senate vote and that the Board cited university growth in research, philanthropy, enrollment and regional engagement in explaining its support for Hemphill.
The initiative and competing assessments
The Faculty Senate has raised concerns about the initiative’s effect on instruction and faculty participation in decisions. A Senate survey about the plan received 558 faculty responses, representing a 43% response rate, according to the Senate. The American Association of University Professors also wrote to Hemphill on January 13, 2026, about shared governance and academic freedom, as recorded by the Senate.
ODU has pointed to institutional gains in support of its broader direction. WHRO reported that annual giving rose from about $35 million before Hemphill’s arrival to more than $100 million in the most recent year. The Board has also cited the university’s Research 1 designation in 2021, a capital campaign that exceeded its $500 million goal ahead of schedule, and a doubling of research and development expenditures since the designation.
Implementation and enrollment
The Virginian-Pilot reported that nearly 900 eight-week courses were available in the fall and that more than 500 instructors took part in preparing the rollout. ODU’s figures put enrollment at about 24,000 students, including more than 7,000 taking only online courses and thousands more combining online and in-person study; the university said enrollment was still rising in early October.
The Board has signaled that it intends to continue Hemphill’s strategic direction despite the Senate’s opposition. The dispute now centers on whether the university’s course changes and broader plans can proceed while addressing faculty concerns about the role of shared governance.
