The use of environmental scanning by three colleges at Northern Arizona University is discussed. The environment confronting each college is described, along with the process that was used to direct change to improve the efficient use of human and fiscal resources. The process involved: scanning the internal and external environments, establishing goals and a time frame, involving the maximum number of positive participants, building consensus within the unit and externally for the new direction, and implementing change. At the University, three colleges adapted in different ways to what would be viewed from central administration as a single environment. The College of Creative and Communication Arts is a unique organizational structure that includes personal and public communication, telecommunication, and journalism in a single academic unit. The College of Design and Technology is a new academic unit that evolved from the School of Applied Sciences when the environment shifted and the educational mission grew. The College's mission and organization was modified to blend technological areas with teacher education. The Center for Excellence in Education is designed to improve teacher education and the effectiveness of public schools. (SW)