Pros
University has many good programs, great professors, and excellent researchers. There are also many superb administrative professionals and support staff. ODU attracts many bright, achieving local students from local high schools. Also, has many excellent distance students from a variety of places in graduate programs. University is trying to grow and improve -- has added significant areas such as Student Success Center and College of Continuing Education and Professional Studies. Very good distance education infrastructure. Excellent university of individuals in the military, their spouses, and families. Great geographic location that is not far from the beach, close to NC, easy drive or train ride to DC, yet also close to the mountains to the west.
Cons
University has experienced a lot of faculty attrition. The level of attrition exceeds anything I have ever seen in higher-ranked universities where I have been employed. The number of tenured professors who have left in the ten years that I have been there is of great concern because this is just not common in quality institutions. Salaries are generally very low and raises almost nonexistent. If you come here be sure to negotiate the best salary possible. You won't see a raise for many years. University lacks identity and vision. It is trying to be everything to everyone--research-intensive university, metropolitan university, top in distance education, extensive residential undergraduate institution, extensive distance doctoral programs, to name a few. Much of this is done with little resourcing and comes on the backs of extensive faculty workloads. Administrators are by-and-large, very weak and lack vision, leadership, problem solving, and basic motivational skills. There are some very good administers who are all near retirement. There are many others who are just poor and the university has a hard time attracting and keeping high-quality administrators. They are also known for keeping poor administrators and loosing the good ones. In some colleges do not support tenured faculty without constant nudging from the faculty. This takes away from teaching and research. Research Foundation struggles to hire and retain staff making it difficult if you have research grants. There is a lot of crime in Norfolk and there has been an extensive amount of crime near campus.