Project ADAPT Timeline

1948: Harvard develops a mainframe-based electronic accounting system.

1993: The University's vice presidents meet and discuss data problems. They decide a new finance system may be needed.

Early 1994: The University begins the Administrative Data Project (ADP)--ADAPT's predecessor--which involves about 400 Harvard faculty and staff in a review of administrative data systems.

1995: The ADP team tests new prototypes throughout University.

1996: April: Provost Albert Carnesale announces that the system replacements will proceed under a new name, Project ADAPT. Assistant Provost for Information Technology Anne H. Margulies is to follow the project to completion.

June: Deb Mauger, formerly chief financial officer at Harvard Business School, is appointed director of the project; Oracle is selected to design the software; Elizabeth C. "Beppie" Huidekoper replaces Allen J. Proctor as the University's Vice President for Finance.

1997: Oracle consultants are replaced by Sapient; Peter J. Segall replaces Mauger.

July: Harvey V. Fineberg '67 becomes provost following Carnesale's departure to UCLA.

April 1998: Margulies leaves the University, and Susan S. Walsh is appointed acting assistant provost for information systems.

July 1, 1999: Project ADAPT goes online.

September 1999: Segall leaves the project and is replaced by Sara E. Oseasohn '74; Daniel D. Moriarty is appointed assistant provost for information technology and chief information officer for the University.

January 1, 2000: The University declares the Project ADAPT implementation process complete. University administrators plan for future implementation of the human resources component of system.

(Sources: Crimson archives, Harvard Gazette, Huidekoper)