In 2023, Drury marks 150th year, creates engineering, social work programs

In September, Drury University will mark the start of its 150th year.

President Tim Cloyd said the private liberal arts institution is planning now for how to celebrate the milestone and the contributions of the campus, and its students, since 1873.

"We're going to be celebrating that in the fall and ringing the commemorative bell, similar to the one they rung years ago when they opened classes at Drury," Cloyd said. "We're looking forward to that. We've got a lot of events planned."

A publication, a pictorial history of the Drury campus, is also expected this year.

In an interview with the News-Leader, Cloyd provided an update to ongoing efforts and what is on tap for the upcoming year.

Fundraising campaign continues

In late October, with much fanfare, Drury completed the C.H. "Chub" O’Reilly Enterprise Center and Breech School of Business Administration and Judy Thompson Executive Conference Center. It opens in January.

The project was the crowning jewel in a successful multi-year fundraising campaign. Cloyd said: "We surpassed the $73 million mark."

The five-year second phase of the campaign is kicking off but the university is not ready to disclose the goal, in part, due to how inflation may impact capital projects.

"There are a lot of priorities but No. 1 is a new student life center," he said. Others include student scholarships, academic programs and "heritage buildings."

Cloyd, in the middle of his seventh year as president, said the older structures on campus need to be renovated or refreshed and that includes addressing any deferred maintenance.

A gift is making it possible for Drury to renovate Claire Thompson Hall.

Keep growing freshman class

In August, Drury welcomed its largest freshman class in the history of the campus. Cloyd said the institution plans to build on that momentum.

"There is a demographic shift coming with the percentage of kids coming out of high school going down, starting in 2026," Cloyd said. "We want to have the right programs in place."

The fall 2022 uptick came at a time when many higher education institutions, especially private campuses, are struggling with admissions.

"We're running ahead of last year on applications and admissions and deposits," he said.

Cloyd said a quick return to in-person instruction, with ample testing, was critical to keeping students during the pandemic, but the highly disruptive period took a toll.

"We're really working hard to help students overcome social anxiety to help them reconnect, because there's such a longing and hunger to get back out there, but they're not sure how to do it," he said.

Offer physician assistant program

The university is launching its first health-related master's program, in physician assistant studies, this year. Plans for it were announced in 2021.

Physician assistants, or PAs, diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications and can serve as a patient's main health care provider.

Drury has long offered undergraduate pre-health programs, and graduates often apply to medical school.

The 27-month program will include a 12-month phase with classroom and laboratory instruction in medical science, clinical medicine and research. During the clinical phase, students have supervised rotations in hospitals, clinics and other medical settings.

More:Drury to offer scholarships to cover cost of dual credit courses

Create engineering program

Cloyd said demand for science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, majors has been growing on campus. The engineering program will be new.

The university plans to spend 2023 hiring a director for the engineering program and developing the curriculum so it can start in 2024.

"We are creating our own program," he said.

Explore health care graduate programs

Drury is looking at a range of programs that can help meet the workforce needs of the region.

"We have approval to move forward with a social work program," Cloyd said, noting the institution is still finalizing when it will start. "We are going to focus that on addiction and medical social work because we have a dearth of therapists, particularly in addiction, in this region of the country."

Open campus facilities to community, beyond

The university has Annah Crow as executive director of event operations, a new position, to oversee bookings at the different venues on campus. The effort will be called "On Drury Lane."

Cloyd said Crow will market the spaces on campus, including access to the new Judy Thompson Executive Conference Center.

"We have the goal of really attracting the community to come to Drury and to enjoy the spaces that we enjoy every day," Cloyd said. "There's a lot of opportunity here for whatever, whether it's a conference or a wedding or a meeting."

Ramp up diversity, equity, inclusion

Cloyd said under Rosalyn Thomas, associate dean of diversity and inclusion, the university will host "Courageous Conversations" on campus this year.

He said after a baseline assessment, the university decided to ramp up its efforts to better prepare its students to work and succeed in a global marketplace.

Faculty and staff will be expected to participate in the conversations about difficult topics and "be really honest with each other" in a civil way, Cloyd said.

"Drury is poised to be a space in which it feels comfortable and safe to ask and answer hard questions, and have courageous conversations because of the emphasis on kindness, integrity, treating people with dignity and decency," he said. "That means not shouting people down or calling people names or blacklisting people or canceling people."

Revitalize the Benton Avenue AME Church

The university's master plan calls for preserving and repurposing the historic Benton Avenue African Methodist Episcopal, or A.M.E., church.

Drury acquired the historic church at Benton Avenue and Central Street as well as adjacent property. The plans for that space have been developing.

The plan is expected to be unveiled in 2023.

Cloyd said the university has worked with the Black community, and neighbors, to conceptualize what will occur in that building.

A cornerstone will be placed in the spring marking the 100th anniversary of the church. The goal is to renovate the church and use it for, among other things, exhibitions.

Cloyd said the space will reflect the Civil Rights history of the area and celebrate prominent Black leaders.

The historic building will likely be the headquarters for a new program the university wants to start in museum studies, public history, curation, and preservation.

Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: In 2023, Drury marks 150th year, creates engineering program