EVMS and ODU sign new MOU
August 9, 2007
 NORFOLK—Top
administrators of Old Dominion University (ODU) and Eastern Virginia
Medical School (EVMS) signed a new
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
August 9 that will guide the development and implementation of joint
programs and degrees.
Under the agreement, EVMS and ODU will
establish a new Executive Committee to strengthen collaboration between
the two institutions.
Roseann Runte, Ph.D., president of ODU,
and Harry T. Lester, president of EVMS, signed the memorandum in a
ceremony at 3:30 p.m. in the Board of Visitors Conference Room at ODU's
Webb Center.
The document also was signed by the
provosts of the two institutions, Thomas L. Isenhour, Ph.D., of ODU, and
Gerald J. Pepe, Ph.D., of EVMS, who will head the new Executive
Committee. Isenhour is Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
for ODU. Pepe is Dean and Provost of EVMS.
"This is great news," Lester said.
"EVMS and ODU have worked together on various programs ever since EVMS
was founded. But it was always on an ad hoc, program by program basis.
By formally establishing joint goals and creating an ongoing Executive
Committee, the new MOU provides the organizational framework for a true
partnership."
"This is an umbrella agreement that
establishes general goals," Runte said. "With our signatures today, our
two distinct institutions pledge to be singularly committed to
excellence in fields where our cooperation is possible. We pledge to
share hopes and dreams and to realize programmatic cooperation to serve
better Hampton Roads and the Commonwealth."
Leadership at both institutions
confirmed that the goal is partnership, not merger. The institutions
already collaborate on joint programs and research in biomedical
sciences, public health, clinical psychology, ophthalmic technology, and
medical modeling and simulation. They also have an early acceptance
program that guarantees admission to the EVMS M.D. program for
high-performing students at ODU.
The Executive Committee will meet at
least once every two months to administer the goals set forth in the MOU.
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