Teaching Beyond the Template – Entry #2

In the “A Case for Different Cans: Learning Offline While Clicking Online” section, Rod Graham argues that even within standardized or “canned” online courses, meaningful learning can still be fostered by intentionally incorporating offline, real-world engagement. Rather than relying solely on click-through, screen-based activities, Graham emphasizes assignments that require students to interact with their physical environments—using their bodies, senses, and social contexts.

oduaaup.org

Teaching Beyond the Template – Entry #1

Dear AAUPers: This post is introducing a new series entitled Teaching Beyond the Template. The series is designed to collect and share practical strategies on three issues that many faculty members are confronting: the potential loss of quality when courses are reduced from 16 weeks to 8 weeks, the ways student use of AI can diminish the learning process, and the dehumanization that can accompany standardized or “canned” online instruction.

oduaaup.org

A Message from VA-AAUP Prez Tim Gibson: “Raise the Roof” at the Town Hall on Saturday, the 28th

Dear Virginia AAUP members, The Virginia General Assembly is currently considering a collective bargaining bill (SB378) that would include ALL higher ed workers, including faculty, graduate students, staff, and wage workers. SB378 has passed the Senate and has now been referred to the House Labor and Commerce Committee (chaired by Delegate Jeion Ward). We must seize this moment. That's why VA-AAUP has joined a statewide labor coalition to mobilize public support for SB378.

oduaaup.org

ICYMI – ODU AAUP in the News (again)

On February 4th, WAVY 10 ran a follow-up news story on faculty and AAUP pushback against FFDTI. A summary of the story: Old Dominion University's "Forward Focused Digital Transformation Initiative," which involves AI integration and compressing 16-week online courses into eight weeks by fall, is facing staff backlash. A survey revealed most professors feel the transition is rushed and have low confidence in leadership's planning.

oduaaup.org

Tracking AI -replaced jobs in Virginia: How will AI affect ODU’s workforce?

Guest Post, ODU-AAUP ally How will AI affect academic labor, especially given its rapid integration into areas of research, teaching, and learning here at ODU? Michael Feggans97th DistrictD - City of Virginia Beach Virginia Beach Delegate Michael Feggins has proposed a bill requiring state agencies, starting in 2028, to report how many jobs “are eliminated, left vacant, altered or newly created each year because of AI.” …

oduaaup.org

Can’t make sense of the “Accelerated Course Conversions Roadmap”? ODU-AAUP “partners” with Chat-GPT to offer translation services.

Dear ODU-AAUP Colleagues: I thought you might be interested to see one of the documents recently shared by DTT about the FFDTI (Accelerated Course Conversions Roadmap), along with how ChatGPT translated the document into plain English.  ODU FFDTI roadmap-accelerated-coursesDownload Even ChatGPT - famously loathe to offer criticism - referred to the original document as a "very dense institutional roadmap." At any rate, ChatGPT very quickly translated what was to me a completely incomprehensible original document into something an ordinary educated human (like me) could comprehend. 

oduaaup.org

Questions continue to be asked about FFDTI: This time by the Chroncile

This morning (February 2, 2026), The Chronicle of Higher Education published a story on the rapid changes unfolding at our university, titled “Can a University Transform Itself This Fast?” This is essential reading for anyone concerned about ODU’s direction and the pace at which these decisions are being made. The Chronicle’s interest suggests that our faculty concerns are not only valid, but serious enough to raise red flags beyond our campus.

oduaaup.org

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJanuary 21, 2026 ODU Faculty Senate Executive Committee responds to WAVY 10 report on Forward Focused Digital Transformation Initiative NORFOLK, VA — The Old Dominion University (ODU) Faculty Senate Executive Committee is issuing this response following the January 20, 2026, WAVY 10 news report regarding faculty concerns over the university’s Forward Focused Digital Transformation Initiative (FFDTI). While the faculty remains steadfastly supportive of innovation and necessary digital evolution, we must address critical failures in shared governance and the significant risks posed by the current implementation plan.

oduaaup.org

January Member Meeting

ODU-AAUP is ready to leverage the momentum gained from last semester and the recent WAVY-10 story. A meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, January 22, 3:00 – 4:30pm: This is a meeting for current dues paying members, and people whose memberships may have lapsed in the current year but are committed to renewing. Renew This break from our usual practice is because of what is on the agenda!

oduaaup.org

From WAVY 10 – ‘ODU professors raise concerns about AI initiative’

With a recent news story from Hampton Road's #1 TV website WAVY-10, concerned faculty at Old Dominion University have brought some media attention to their struggle. The story reports significant faculty alarm over the administration's Forward Focused Initiative - a push toward an AI-driven, eight-week online course model. Since the start of the Fall 2025 semester, faculty have voiced displeasure over not being meaningfully consulted.

oduaaup.org

What your colleagues think of FFDTI

Dear AAUPers and allies: Our Faculty Senate survey gathered 558 responses, a response rate of roughly 43%. For those familiar with survey research, this is exceptionally high—far above typical rates for faculty surveys. This point matters. Senior administrators have at times suggested that only a small group of faculty are voicing concerns about the FFDTI and that these voices are not representative of ODU faculty as a whole.

oduaaup.org

AAUP National Responds to ODU President

"The particular authority and primary responsibility of the faculty in the decision-making processes of the academic institution in these areas derive from its special competence in the educational sphere. It follows from this proposition that the faculty should play an active and meaningful role in the development as well as in the revision of institutionalpolicy in those areas in which the faculty has primary responsibility."

oduaaup.org

An Open Letter from Former Civil Rights Division Employees

On the 68th anniversary of the Civil Rights Division, former employees share an open letter decrying the near-destruction of the division’s mission and expressing the hope to one day rebuild it.

open.substack.com

The New School faces identity crisis amid planned layoffs, reorganization

The storied leftist university faces a $48 million deficit.

gothamist.com

The Conservative Overhaul of the University of Texas Is Underway

nytimes.com