In a world where everything seems to revolve around this week's mass of exams and papers or last week's football game, it's a notable occasion when college students congregate to fill Meharry Hall to discuss the events of the next 150 years.
But, as President Brian Casey noted Monday night in his State of the University address, "You can't just hope you'll be great - you have to plan for it."
Casey identified four major aspects of a successful university: a great faculty, a strong student body, a transformative experience for students and an inclusive campus.
"The only way a place like DePauw can work is if all of these four parts are there," Casey said.
It's easy to notice the conspicuous changes around campus - the trees planted in front of Beta Theta Pi fraternity that are part of the beginnings of a grand entrance to campus, the renovation of Emison Art Center and the new bookstore. However, as Casey pointed out, a beautiful campus is only one of the four aspects of a great university.
"It's the academic strength of a university that drives it forward," he told the assembled students.
Therefore, some of the big focuses of DePauw's development plan involve student life, faculty quality and student-faculty interactions.
One of the new buildings being planned is going to be centered in what is now the Hub. Entitled the Center for Student Engagement, it will expand the idea of Civic Global and Professional Opportunities to focus on internships, career services, Winter Term, pre-law and pre-med advising, service learning and Sophomore Institute.
It's this new addition to the campus that some students find the most exciting.
Junior Henry Johnston believes the building "will unite the campus" and "won't be an eyesore."
Casey believes that combining multiple aspects of student life and focusing on the gray area where academic life meets extracurricular student life is imperative. In particular, he would like to see a general improvement in students' drive and planning for life after DePauw.
"I've taught and been at a lot of esteemed universities, and I would put you all on par with any student at any of those other places, in terms of mental capacity. ... but there is not enough of a culture of ambition here at DePauw," Casey said.
Another cultural change Casey wants has to do with the academic atmosphere both inside and outside of class. He particularly would like to see more mutual learning between students.
"This is not IU - you go to classes in small units," Casey said. Students must educate other students. That's why the quality of the student body is so important."
Casey's focus on the quality of the students coming to DePauw has led to even more emphasis on scholarships to "get students here and keep them here."
Each year, DePauw gives out $47 million of scholarships with that goal in mind.
But the future of DePauw isn't just about student-to-student interactions.
"We don't provide enough opportunities for students and faculty to work together," Casey told the assembly. His proposition for changing this is through lengthening the time that each faculty member can spend with students outside of the classroom in office hours and doing research with students.
As far as greek life goes, Casey stated: "What I worry about are the external assumptions about a very greek campus. However, I think there's a lot of leadership opportunities in greek life."
When asked how he will know when he has accomplished all he set out to accomplish at DePauw, he says that he feels like his time here is only just beginning.
"I walk around the campus all day long and everything I see I want to make better. I love, love, love this job, and I know what this place can be."
And what exactly can DePauw be? Casey believes that as this pattern of renewal at DePauw continues.
"You will slowly but surely see DePauw moving up the ranks of the great liberal arts colleges," he said.
Alumni seem to believe that DePauw belongs high in these ranks already, as their most common comment to the president is: "We love this institution. Why don't more people know about it?"
Casey hopes this question will soon become obsolete.
Student Body President Sara Scully and Vice President Mark Fadel urged students to access the DePauw 2020 plans online to see the details of what's up and coming for DePauw and for themselves. Although the plan is long-term, current students can expect to see significant change in their time at DePauw.
"We saw even more than we expected," Fadel said.