Punctual WKU students may find they’re running a little late due to clocks running on outdated systems. And the cost to fix the 60-year-old technology may be more than it’s worth.

Several buildings across campus have at least a few hall clocks that do not work properly, with the Environmental Sciences and Technology Building and the Academic Complex being two of many that are out of order.

Jim Hopwood, security service technician in the electronics shop, said the network runs on old signal generators that were installed in the 1950s.

The old clock system was not made for use with the new high voltage switch gear, causing the clocks to be off time or not work, he said.

“It is possible to make it compatible, but it costs too much,” Hopwood said.

He said alternative corrections would cost anywhere from around $150,000 to $400,000 to put into place, and WKU has not wanted to spend that much.

Most people have the time readily available by other means, such as phones and watches, so it has not been a priority for WKU to update the system, Hopwood said.

Hopwood said there has been some discussion about taking the clocks down in the future, but for now they will remain in place.