Back when the web was new, colleges and universities were among the most enthusiastic early adopters. Faculty, staff, and students launched their own web sites to support research projects and educational activities using the innovative development tools of the day. A few even invented new technologies in their labs and dorm rooms. For example, Dries Buytaert, co-founder and CTO of Acquia, started the Drupal project in 2001 while a student at the University of Ghent.

But today, many colleges and universities are struggling to stay abreast of fast-changing web technologies. Many lack a contemporary IT infrastructure to manage content, and are unable to satisfy rising expectations from faculty, staff, and students. Without a modern environment, it is difficult to support web, mobile, and social channels, as well as build communities around areas of common interests. All too frequently, campus-wide IT organizations operate outdated server environments and cannot easily deliver innovative digital experiences.