The 2009 academic year in North America began with the greatest upheaval in world markets since the Great Depression. Colleges and universities throughout the world have witnessed the erosion of their endowments, rising financial aid needs, and the diminished capacity of community, state, and federal governments to underwrite our mission.
As we all respond to this massive disruption by retrenching, for some of us, the current financial crisis may present an unexpected opportunity. Amid unprecedented budget cuts, some colleges and universities will consider, propose, and make audacious changes that could not be made in more secure times. The program for this ECAR Symposium focused on the nature of disruption and adaptation and explored strategies for changing the cost structure of IT and positioning one's institution for renewal, evolution, and growth when the economy stabilizes.