Y2K Compliant Status of the University's Administrative Systems
We are pleased to let you know that all administrative systems developed/maintained by the Information Management Unit have been Y2K compliant since mid-July, 1999. By "compliant", we mean that the systems have been gone through assessment, modification (if necessary), extensive testing, and put back into the production environment.

Y2K contingency plans for the following mission-critical administrative systems have also been arranged with the respective user departments:

- Admissions System
- Student Records and Assessment Systems
- New Funding Model System
- General Accounting System
- Student Accounts System
- Payroll System
- Superannuation System
- Personnel System
- Alumni System
As a result, we are confident that our administrative systems will experience a smooth transition into the new millennium.

Visit http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/y2k for the latest information.

Financial Databases Update
Two new financial databases are now available on the Data Library and Academic Applications Software Server (Theory). They are
i. the Insiders Trades database provided by FIRST CALL Insider Research and
ii. the US Government Bills, Notes, and Bonds database provided by Center for Research in Security Prices, CRSP.

FIRST CALL Insider Research has been tracking insider transactions since 1986. They receive insider transaction information directly from the Securities and Exchange Commission in the form of the original filing. Their in-house library maintains processed copies of all the original filings.

The Center for Research in Security Prices (CRSP) maintains a collection of standard and derived security data available from the NYSE, AMEX and Nasdaq Stock Market. CRSP is a research centre of the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business. Their US Government Bills, Notes and Bonds Database contains historical data spanning from December 1961 to 1998 and includes daily records of more than 1.5 Million price observations on 3,244 Government securities.

Also, the financial database Compustat1998 has been updated with Compustat1999. Read http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/csc/compenv/datalib/databases.html for details.

Learning Technology Training Series - Web-based Teaching using WebCT
We are pleased at the high level of interest in the WebCT seminars which are now full. Similar seminars will be held again in early October for those who were unable to attend, and for other staff who may be interested in this aspect of learning technology. Also, we have designed several web-based courses to allow staff to learn about various learning technology tools over the web at their own pace. Details will be announced in the coming issue of CSC/ITSU Digest.

Departments Invited to Use UNIX-Based Workstation Tendering Document
To facilitate departments in purchasing UNIX-based workstations, CSC/ITSU has been carrying out UNIX-based workstation tendering exercises on a half-yearly basis. A new UNIX-based workstation tender has recently been completed and approved by the Tender Board. The tender specifies, among other things, the services, warranty, technical support, delivery date, price and the training offered. Departmental workstation users can make use of this tender information to assist in the purchase of any items included in the tender. Please contact the CSC/ITSU Workstation Support Team (2609 8823 or 2609 8832) for more information.

Briefing Meeting for LAN Administrators - August 18
The next briefing meeting for LAN Administrators will be held on August 18. At this meeting, we will update our colleagues about Y2K matters, campus-wide anti-virus program, security issues and digital certificates. Invitation letters will be sent to all LAN Administrators in early August. Any LAN administrator who has not received our invitation is requested to contact us as soon as possible.