As the belief that developing human capital is the best hedge against constricting budgets and uncertainty gains traction, initiatives at the U.S. Army War College reflect the Chief of Staff's vision of a top-level intellectual rebirth. The school assessed its academic program and has pursued improvement under the rubrics of faculty, curriculum, students, and integration. Odierno's ideal is officers capable of abstract strategic thinking, and faculty are being challenged to upgrade through scholarship vice being merely good teachers while students will be subjected to greater rigor than the old pass-fail system and will have a wider array of activities they can prioritize en route to holistic development. Further effort will center on encouraging closer teamwork among the college's component organizations.