In 2015 the President and Board of UDTS launched the New Day Dawning Initiative at the seminary. This Initiative called for UDTS to step boldly into the future and revision theological education in the technologically networked character of the world North American, and the church. Combined with the Mission of the Seminary has come to expression in multiple Lilly Grant Proposal and grants received from Lilly.
As a result UDTS has re-envisioned theological education not as a 96-credit MDiv degree to thoroughly prepare candidates for whatever they encounter in the world and the life of the church after the complete their degree but as theological education ongoing throughout a life-time of ministry. In this new vision a 75-credit MDiv degree provides candidates for ministry with basic knowledge and skills at the beginning. But UDTS have continued to develop new innovate forms of theological education for pastors at other stages of ministry, including a new DMin program for mid-career pastors with individual spiritual direction and clergy coaching, among other new continuing education programs for pastors with MDiv degrees and a retooling of the CLP program for Presbyterian pastors without an MDiv degree who are serving congregations.