In May 1985, the Chair of the Faculty appointed an ad hoc committee to explore the impact on education at MIT due to the shift of government support for scientific research and education from the civilian to the military sector. The committee was charged to "gather facts, organize them in a suitable fashion, and present them to the faculty for discussion".

This is the final report of MIT's Institute-wide Planning Task Force, which was charged with identifying opportunities for efficiency and cost reduction that do not sacrifice MIT's core mission. It represents a concerted, inclusive, sustained effort to strengthen MIT by improving operations; preserve MIT's financial stability; and enhance its global leadership in research and education.