Major building programs, often multi-unit, are underway on nearly every campus. Institutions are investing in community development projects near campus, including housing, commercial space, and community services, even schools. Distance learning competition is accelerating, especially for part-time adult students. Technological enhancement of regular campus courses is rapidly developing. New interdisciplinary programs are being added, especially to link liberal and professional studies and to enhance existing core programs.
Experiments are underway to improve faculty governance and work structures.
On line benchmarking for academic effectiveness and financial viability is evolving rapidly. Differentiation of New American colleges and universities is gaining ground in the higher education marketplace. The name change reflects Drury's recent evolution from liberal arts college to comprehensive institution with the addition of graduate and professional programs, including ANAC's only school of architecture. Support for the project has been secured through a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts . The project is organized into three working groups who are seeking to develop models of faculty work that improve alignment between faculty and their institutional mission while improving faculty effectiveness and satisfaction.