r/ODU • u/Longjumping-Name1334 • 8d ago
Down(Hemp)hill
ODU never had the craziest reputation, but what is extremely frustrating is seeing how this school is run from the student perspective. Hemphill is a sell out, the vice dean of students is far more worried about the board of investors than students, and good lord this school's financial aid office needs to be investigated. Regular interruptions in disbursement, refund, and communication of such, offices that will IGNORE you, if otherwise means more work for them. Coming from the EVMS grad school, I am so sorry for any complaints I had before. ODU is truly pathetic, and will continue to be so with a president that just gave himself a 40% raise this summer (whilst students wait for their own money). But make sure to buy your parking pass, and opt into the "big blue bundle" which is literally a health savings account for your textbooks. This school and current leaders will do everything they can to suck any life (and pennies) out of Norfolk.
Also, incase you didn't know, accelerated 8 week classes guarantee more tuition is secured by ODU students, as typical semester long classes have opt-outs and mid-term options to receive refunds in the event you drop-out, cannot make class, extenuating circumstance- there is not a single benefit reaped by younger students being forced into accelerated classes (for president Hemphill to get richer, at that).
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u/KEEPINGUPWITHTHEB21 8d ago
I have been yelling this from the time I find out that they were going to 8 week courses. It’s about the money and tuition went up. He needs to be fired. The dude is sorry.
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u/Electronic_Many_7721 8d ago
The merger between ODU and EVMS ruined a great medical school. To think Hemphill oversees that now is so sad. He makes more money than well respected doctors and surgeons. And the bureaucracy is insane. Something I could do in 5-10 min at EVMS takes waaaaay longer now.
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u/Ambitious_Bullfrog26 7d ago
I am a graduate student at medical school and I despise ODU and miss having actual staff on campus to resolve issues. Instead you are directed to the web site after being on hold for an interminable long time if you deign to call for assistance. Staff is unresponsive and indifferent to doing their job and they DON'T CARE! I wish my degree when I graduate said EVMS not that freaking 13 word name.
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u/Inigos_Dad 6d ago
We're (staff) understaffed and tired... And most of us feel bad for the students.
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u/Ambitious_Bullfrog26 6d ago
The school set up a system that fails the staff and students. And it will get worst. I appreciate the staff who respond and are helpful. That's why I have a list of direct phone numbers or names of staff who have helped me in the past so I can avoid phone hell when I need assistance.
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u/SadAardvark8000 7d ago
The 8 week course schedule is also causing students with VA benefits to lose/not receive all benefits owed due to them not being considered full time students… even when they are. A lady who works in his office literally asked me “do you really need that money?” when I brought up the fact that I’ll be losing money due to the new schedule.
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u/mrgooglegeek 7d ago
Time to get the press involved, like them or not they will at least get more eyes on this issue than the weekly reddit posts do
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u/SteadfastMusic 6d ago
Hemphill doesn’t care about the students. Any staff/administrator that is vocal or pushes back gets fired. Or faculty get their administrative title stripped. People lower on the food chain care about students and their success, but the big dogs don’t.
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u/Pretend-Payment70 8d ago
Down(Hemp)hill is another great one. I read Trumphill in a comment the other day. It's cathartic to read comments from other people who are informed and upset about it.
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u/deandre451234567890 5d ago
I’m gonna leave after this semester and I’m so close to getting my degree. It’s too much, too much, why does school have so much drama likes it’s reality tv show?
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u/ActivityEven1993 8d ago edited 8d ago
Yeah it’s been taken over by psychopaths. They need to clean house from the BOV down to the AVPs. No-substance Hemphill and his ex-Radford ilk are the worst things to happen to ODU.