Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
12/21/99
Contacts:
Willem Bakker, Iowa Manufacturing Extension Partnership,
(515) 965-7122, bakker@iastate.edu
Del Marks, Extension Communication Systems, (515)
294-9807
24-Hour Y2K Help Offered to Iowa Business and Industry
AMES, Iowa -- A Y2K emergency response team has been established at Iowa State University by the Iowa Manufacturing Extension Partnership (IMEP) to help businesses and industries solve computer problems that may be related to year 2000.
The response team consisting of 10 ISU graduate students in computer-related fields is taking phone calls 24 hours a day now through Jan. 15 on a toll free phone line: 1-800-332-3247. The service is intended to help Iowa business and industry operators determine if hardware and software is Y2K ready and to prepare for any Y2K contingencies, including developing plans to deal with problems that may occur, according to Willem Bakker, director of IMEP.
In addition to the 24-hour team on the ISU campus, IMEP has 15 account managers based at community colleges around the state who can assist in planning for Y2K concerns. Bakker said the hot line response team will refer callers to area account managers if assistance is needed that cannot be provided by phone.
Members of the emergency response team were recruited from the ISU graduate college and were chosen for their knowledge of Y2K issues. The team is directed by Max Gunzburger, professor and chairman of the mathematics department at ISU.
IMEP also has developed a brochure offering suggestions on how to assess potential Y2K problems and where to get help. The IMEP information for businesses and industries is available through the ISU web site at www.y2k.iastate.edu/#IMEPInfo.
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Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.