The program was successful, administrators say, but identified two further problems.

The first is the need to replace the University's core financial systems--its general ledger and accounts payable systems, for example. Proctor says these endeavors "move you from the $10 million range to the $30-$40 million range, which means it's a much higher hurdle in terms of payoff viability."

The second problem was the need for a University network infrastructure, which would be a movement against tradition. Now, the ADP is undertaking the mammoth task of achieving standardization throughout the University.

Right now, the ADP is focusing largely on those two problems, Proctor says.

Administrators are reluctant to predict a date for when a new system will be implemented.

Proctor says the soonest implementation could begin would be July, 1997, which would mean a completion date around the year 2000.

Administrators are also reluctant to peg a cost on the project, but they say that it will largely pay for itself. "We know that if we simplify our work, eliminate duplication, provide people with information they need,... we'll hopefully save money at the same time," Martgulies says, "What started out as a project to fix the data...has evolved into a project into making our work more efficient and simpler and streamlined."

Jonathan N. Axelrod contributed to this report.