Higher Education institutions are mandated by law to engage in business continuity and disaster recovery planning (BC/DRP). Rarely are such organizations successful in completion of such planning due to inherent complexities associated with assessing business and technical drivers, risk, cost, and recovery tests typically demanded by such engagements. Costs for the above contained within staff and services are often ignored by senior management in favor of other business needs. Risk associated with disaster is assumed with potentially dangerous consequences to an institution's data and reputation. This presentation will introduce learners to the core concepts of BC/DRP. Topics to be discussed are inclusive of the BC/DRP continuum, business impact analysis, preparing the disaster recovery portion of the plan, oracle and systems best practice for data protection and resiliency, various models of DR deployment, BC/DRP in association with the Information Assurance Framework, and alignment of the BC/DRP with Institutional mission and objectives. The experience of Southern University System as related to its recently completed certified BC/DRP will be shared, as will service offerings of SunGard Higher Education with respect to assisting the University in such planning. A starter kit of documents will be provided to assist learners in starting their own BC/DRP.