Right after I graduated Otterbein, we changed from being a college to a University*. The different departments organized in to schools. Overall, there's some grumbling about that, but it seems to have been for the better, since we're able to attract more continuing studies students for things like advanced nursing degrees- the school has a great nursing program.
We also changed presidents a few years ago, with our longtime president retiring. He was responsible for building way more campus housing, which was needed to refocus Otterbein as a residential school. There were extensive rennovations on the science building, which were desperately needed. When I was a student, it was like a blast from the past. It was just not aging and keeping up with the times. So the building got bigger windows, efficiencies, better connectivity, better lab space for nursing and science, etc. Art and music separated in to two different buildings, which was for the best because there was not nearly enough space for both programs, and the music program is highly rated. The equestrian department got a new barn and new arena facilities, which again, were needed to meet the incoming students for that program, and provide better facilities for competition and training.
At homecoming this year, they announced a new campaign:
http://otterbein.edu/stand/campaign-priorities.aspx that has a threefold focus. I'm seriously glad that one of those is affordability and access. Otterbein isn't and wasn't a cheap school to attend, but the amount of aid they gave/give helps many students afford a private liberal arts school. I was concerned when I heard the announcement that we'd be doing a campaign, but when I saw the priorities, I'm OK with it.
Overall, there's been tremendous growth on campus. More students, more degree programs, etc. And it seems to be working well. From what I hear, the facilities are meeting the current students needs with some space for the future. It doesn't feel like "we're getting rid of our image and trying to be this new school" it feels like we're trying to play to our strengths and do a little better?
So I don't know. At my campus, that's pretty old, I feel like the improvements are needed, just to be on par with where we should be- no one wants to live in a cinder block barracks dorm anymore, and there's only so long you can expect a building built in the 40s to keep up. On ward and up ward?
*Actually, that should say "BACK to a university". We went from University to College then back to University.