Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, July 3, 1990                   TAG: 9007030508
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Medium

NEW ODU PRESIDENT TO BE A LISTENER

Having been president for less than 48 hours, James Koch said he was more interested in learning about the area, the school and the perceptions of the community before offering a plan for the school.

"Old Dominion is doing some very fine things but it's not often recognized," he said at a news conference. "I think that's part of my job - to bring that recognition to the school."

While declining to offer any specifics, Koch outlined a series of principles for the school. The first is that academic quality should be the school's main concern. With that, he said, the school should maintain its connection with the community.

"The underlying principle is we should be responsive to the community. We should provide responsive leadership," he said.

Koch also would like to expand the school's emphasis on "things international. We should be the school in Virginia involved in international study and understanding."

The new president said the school should reach out to the minority communities in the area.

Koch, 48, takes over for interim president William Spong. Spong, a former legislator, has been praised for his cordial relationship with the General Assembly and his ability to get the university funding.

"William Spong has done an excellent job getting the university back on track," Koch said. "He has offered to help me in some of these matters."

Koch said his style was "to be patient, to listen and learn."

He came to the university from the University of Montana, where he had been president since 1986.