Small institutions are in a unique and perhaps necessary position to innovate as the field changes, resources falter, and the needs of the next generation of students and families become apparent and quite different from those supported by our historical structures and service modalities. This article examines the literature surrounding historical and innovative practices that higher education can explore to inform the future of student development practice. Additionally, the article explores new structural models and examines the efficacy of retaining the scaled down versions of the structures of large universities instead of creating new modalities that increase staff performance, provide better work/life harmony, create more efficient and effective services and functions, while increasing student engagement and connection.