This collection of essays examines the capacity of governance, administration, and faculty to manage highly stressful change. The premise is that by observing institutions under duress, one can better understand their resilience and ability to handle major issues. The essays likely explore various case studies and theoretical frameworks related to institutional adaptation and survival in the face of significant challenges. The authors aim to provide insights into the mechanisms that enable or hinder an institution's response to crisis.

The collection is framed around the premise that understanding institutional resilience requires examining how governance, administration, and faculty respond to highly stressful change. The essays likely offer a critical look at the capacities and limitations of these structures when confronted with major issues. The focus on 'stressful change' suggests an exploration of crisis management and adaptation within academic and administrative contexts. The work appears to be aimed at those interested in the practical and theoretical aspects of institutional survival and effectiveness.