It’s a new day at Quincy University. After facing a severe financial shortfall and uncertainty about its future in the winter of 2016-2017, the university has emerged to become a recognized economic anchor for Quincy and western Illinois, while adapting its academic programs to current societal and workforce trends. Many things have changed in 18 months. A new president, Phil Conover, left, was appointed. The university’s financial picture improved. Faculty, staff and students are optimistic, and express that optimism in the community. The new academic year began with more than 1,100 undergraduate and graduate students, including 349 freshmen and transfer students, an 11 percent increase in new students over the previous year, plus significant increases in graduate students. All are factors as Quincy University moves toward what Conover describes as “long-term sustainability.”