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

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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. They worry about the consequences of such a top-down, administrator-led one-size-fits all model. They argue that it will negatively impact the quality of instruction, and goes against long-standing principles of shared governance and academic freedom.

The administration has listened to faculty concerns, but has yet to announce any modifications to the initiative.

The WAVY-TV story highlights a survey of faculty conducted in December, spearheaded by ODU’s Faculty Senate (senior faculty elected to represent their colleagues).

The survey captured broad concern about the initiative. Strong majorities of respondents reported that the shift to eight-week online courses is rushed, inadequately supported, and potentially harmful to student learning.

WAVY-10 reached out to Isaac Kamola, Associate Professor of Political Science at Trinity College, and director of AAUP’s Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom:

“It sounds like a nightmare,” Kamola said. Adding, “Meeting the standards of academic freedom means any change to curriculum should be in the hands of faculty.”

(If the link to the news story changes, you can watch it here in ODU-AAUP’s archives)