Although the University is already prepared for Y2K, a recent survey of 1,300 colleges and universities by the U.S Department of Education found that nearly 40 percent are not yet Y2K compliant in mission critical systems.
During the first week of October, 1,300 colleges and universities were randomly interviewed in a telephone survey, which released the survey's results last week.
U.S. Department of Education Spokesman Jim Bradshaw said a significant number of schools appear to be unfinished with their mission critical testing less than two months away from the New Year.
In an extreme scenario, everything from student data, telephone, heating and security systems and financial records could be corrupted, Bradshaw said.
"This leads us to believe there could be problems come January 1," he said. "This is why we're trying to raise public awareness."
Although these figures indicate significant progress compared to surveys taken in May, when only 30 percent of institutions said their mission critical systems were compliant, Bradshaw said a fair amount of work remains to be done by many schools.
"We're recommending that schools make this is a priority and address this as soon as possible, because there is a dwindling amount of time," he said.
The survey also found that only 73 percent of schools had completed contingency planning and 88 percent said they would have them in place by the New Year.
In addition, the survey found that only 70 percent of schools have all student services ready. However, 96 percent said they definitely would have student services ready in time.
Only 62 percent said heating, security, telecommunications and other infrastructure components were ready and only 85 percent felt they would be compliant as of Jan. 1.
But while some schools are struggling to ready for Y2K, the University is one of the institutions that has made the Department of Education's honor roll list of compliant universities. The honor roll commends schools whose financial aid systems are compliant.
Chip German, director of policy and planning at the Office of Information and Technology, attributed the University's performance to careful attention to detail.
He said the University has been working on this project for a long time and finished its mission critical testing in July.
"We've had good people who have done good work," German said.
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