Westmont Magazine Byting Back at the Millennium Bug

When  the computers on campus change over to January 1, 2000, all will be well. Westmont is taking every step necessary to prevent disruptions from the millennium bug, or the inability of some systems to understand the date 2000. Information technology staff have developed a Y2K plan, and most of the work it specifies will be completed this summer.

Barry Cunningham, director of information technology, chairs a committee monitoring campus compliance with Y2K standards. Members include Libby Aspen, administrative applications specialist, Ron Cronk, vice president for administration and finance, Art Dobreski, director of physical plant, Troy Harris, director of procurement and auxiliary services, and John Rodkey, associate director of information technology. This group has identified five steps to take in preparing the campus for the new millennium.

The first task, completed last winter, required an assessment of campus computers. A total of 134 failed to comply with Y2K standards. The voice-mail system, telephone switchboard, network, Unix servers, and all other computers do conform.

Step two, replacing the non-compliant computers, has already begun. The new machines should all be in place by September.

The next move is providing information about the Y2K situation through the Web site (www.westmont.edu), memos, and e-mails. During the fourth step, the committee will develop a contingency plan to deal with unanticipated situations. Hopefully, there will be no need for the final task: responding to problems after the first of the year.

“As our team has completed more than 60 percent of their work, we have plenty of time to finish,” Barry says. “We will be ready well before January 1, 2000.”