As the clock ticks towards January 1, 2000, the world is rushing to fix potential computer problems related to the so-called "Y2K bug." However, here at Pomona College, those in charge preparing computer systems for the turn of the millennium report that they are nearly finished ensuring that our systems are Y2K compliant.

The Y2K Bug stems from hardware and software designed in the 1960s and 70s. To reduce costs, programmers used six-digit databases rather than eight-digit databases. Creating further problems, the software was not designed to operate in the following century. Over time, programmers continued to use this format thus intensifying the problem. Thus, when the millennium hits, non-compliant systems may start producing incorrect data or even experience complete failure.

To combat any potential technical difficulties here at Pomona, Vice President and Treasurer Carlene Miller formed a Y2K explanatory group in the summer of ’98 to develop a complete action plan. According to Miller, the group had three main short-term goals: 1) creating an inventory of the systems that must be Y2K-compliant; 2) Assessing the status of Y2K compliance for each of the systems; 3) Developing a strategy for ensuring Y2K compliance across the College, and a safety plan in case of unexpected failure on January 1, 2000.

"We cannot afford to have our systems down. That’s why it was so important to get our systems tested and updated," Director of Information Technologies Terris Wolff said.

During the following months, the school contacted several outside vendors that provide services to the College. According to Miller, all "mission critical suppliers," including utility vendors such as Southern California Edison and The Gas Company, have reported to be 100% Y2K compliant. The systems defined as mission critical are customer call centers, digital meters, billing systems, communication computer infrastructure, and transmission and distribution systems and equipment.

This past summer, the committee arranged to start testing the College’s computing systems. To do this, the systems were disconnected from the outside world and January 1, 2000 was simulated on the machines. "The test indicated that, with a few minor exceptions that have now been corrected, we are Y2K compliant," Miller confirmed.

One of the problems encountered pertains to the library’s network operating system. According to Kimberly Mosshart, Head of Information Technologies for the Five-College Libraries, Microsoft Service Pack 4 had to be installed on library computers to update them for Y2K compliancy. The library has also been contacting its more than 90 different service providers to confirm their Y2K preparedness. So far, confirmation of compliancy has been reached from most service providers, including the library’s main service providers, Ovid and Blais.

"We are in pretty good shape," Mosshart said. "However, if something happens to an old machine, I guess I wouldn’t be that surprised. But, if we have a problem we will just follow our current policy. It’s a pretty systematic way of solving problems."

A problem yet to be solved concerns the ID-card readers; according to Wolff, they are still not Y2K compliant. Currently, patches (a fix for a technical glitch) are being tested across the five campuses and will be added to the readers as soon as possible.

Wolff doesn’t anticipate any large-scale problems because most of the College’s computers are relatively new which means that they are guaranteed to be Y2K compliant. Over this past summer, more than 60 administrative computers were replaced. In the coming year, there are plans to add an additional 60 or so new computers. In the meantime, Wolff says that there will still be some faculty members with outdated computers that may be affected by the Y2K bug. However, he says that this will not create many problems because only those who do a lot of work with date manipulation and numbers will be affected.

The only thing standing in the way of a smooth transition into the new millennium could be electricity difficulties, Wolff says. Because the College has no way of preventing brownout situations, it is taking some extra precautionary actions. The current plans have the school shutting down its computer systems over the New Year’s weekend. According to Wolff, this will help protect the computers.

Although quite extensive, much of the project to update the College’s systems falls within our existing budget. However, some additional costs will have to be used to update the card readers and faculty computers.

"We have spent within our budget on just about everything except on the administrative side, which is crucial that we having working properly," Wolff said. "But overall, we are very well prepared. All administrative computers and networks are tested and in good shape."