[TUHS] Fwd: Preserving the Legacy of USENIX ATC

[Clem Cole via TUHS]

FYI

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Casey Henderson-Ross <casey.henderson at usenix.org>
Date: Tue, Oct 14, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Subject: Preserving the Legacy of USENIX ATC
To: Clement T Cole <clemc at ccc.com>


Read on for important update on the ATC name.
[image: USENIX, the Advanced Computing Systems Association]
<https://s.usenix.org/acton/ct/2452/s-0538-2510:0/Bct/l-sf-cl-7018Y000001FkGVQA0-109de/l-sf-cl-7018Y000001FkGVQA0-109de:713/ct0_0/1/lu?sid=TV2%3A6DJ6I34qS>

Hello,

The USENIX Annual Technical Conference (ATC) was a cornerstone of the
USENIX community and a central gathering point for systems researchers and
practitioners for fifty years. It provided a unique opportunity to blend
deep scientific research with practical systems work. USENIX ATC was more
than a venue for publishing research, and embodied the core ideals of
USENIX itself.

The decision to end the conference followed decades of experimentation to
revitalize it, including a final effort to co-locate it with OSDI. As
detailed in our earlier statement
<https://s.usenix.org/acton/ct/2452/s-0538-2510:0/Bct/l-sf-cl-7018Y000001FkGVQA0-109de/l-sf-cl-7018Y000001FkGVQA0-109de:713/ct1_0/1/lu?sid=TV2%3A6DJ6I34qS>,
USENIX ATC's evolution mirrored the maturing of the systems field, with
many topics once housed primarily within USENIX ATC or other general
systems conferences now served by specialized USENIX conferences. At the
same time, SOSP and OSDI—two general systems conferences typically viewed
as more prestigious—are now annual offerings, after long histories of being
offered biennially.

Over time, USENIX ATC declined to the point where, in 2024:

   - Only 165 people attended, where once we had over a thousand
   - 52 percent of those attendees were accepted authors
   - 91 percent of those authors required support from USENIX grant and
   discount programs to attend
   - In aggregate, there was only 28 percent attendance of registered
   attendees in the USENIX ATC conference sessions

Given the experience this created for both presenters and attendees, the
USENIX ATC Steering Committee and the USENIX Board of Directors concluded
that, while there was still a strong and growing demand to *publish*
research, a generalist North American-based practical systems *conference*
of USENIX ATC's stature was no longer viable under the ideals that USENIX
is committed to upholding, such as open access. As a result, we decided to
discontinue USENIX ATC and incorporate a portion of its research topics
with a practical bias into other USENIX conferences.

Meanwhile, following the announcement of the final USENIX ATC conference,
discussions emerged within the larger systems research community about
launching a new conference with a similar focus. While these efforts
developed independently of the USENIX Board, the request from ACM SIGOPS to
reuse the "ATC" name prompted us to reengage with the broader USENIX ATC
community to listen to their perspectives.

Unsurprisingly, there was universal agreement with needing a venue to
publish research. Some emphasized the value of the "ATC" name as a symbolic
asset in establishing the new conference. Others expressed concern that
using the name without maintaining its defining values could dilute its
meaning or create confusion. Still others questioned whether a conference
was still the right model going forward.

These conversations affirmed both the legacy of USENIX ATC and the
responsibility that comes with invoking it. The USENIX Board gave serious
thought to how best to respond to the differing needs and desires of our
community.

As part of that deliberation, members of the USENIX Board and USENIX ATC
Steering Committee welcomed the opportunity to meet with ACM SIGOPS
leadership to share the financial and organizational realities of
sustaining a conference grounded in the values of USENIX ATC. We wanted any
organization considering a similar event to be aware of the conditions that
caused us to bring the conference to a close.

We recognize that other organizations may work under different constraints.
And while USENIX does not hold a trademark or copyright on "ATC" or "Annual
Technical Conference" and cannot prevent others from using the name, we
believe doing so carries a responsibility. Any future event that seeks to
adopt the "ATC" name should stand for more than just its technical focus.
It should reflect a commitment to the ideals that made USENIX ATC a
trusted, community-driven conference for five decades, including:

   - A high-quality, impartial peer review process that values technical
   depth and practical systems impact
   - Full free and open access to all recorded and published content, with
   no publication or subscription fees for individuals or organizations
   - Financial support for authors to reduce barriers to participation
   - A strong, enforced code of conduct that ensures an inclusive and
   respectful environment

We believe that direct involvement from a significant portion of past
USENIX ATC Steering Committee members and strong support from any
organization who chooses to use the ATC name would help maintain continuity
and uphold these shared ideals.

As an organization, USENIX is proud of what USENIX ATC stood for and of the
passionate community that sustained it for so long. We also remain
committed to supporting systems researchers through our ongoing and future
conferences.
[image: Casey Henderson headshot]

Best Regards,
Casey Henderson-Ross
Executive Director
USENIX Association

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