The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - Ohio colleges say they are ready to comply with the federal government's new student-tracking system, which requires colleges to keep the government electronically updated about the status of foreign students.

To help with homeland security, the government had asked colleges to supply detailed records on foreign students by Friday.

The tracking system called SEVIS - Student and Exchange Visitor Information System - requires colleges to report students' academic majors and employment as well as other personal information.

Ohio State spent $100,000 this year to comply with the new student-tracking system.

Ohio State has about 5,500 foreign students and visiting scholars, one of the top 10 nationwide for the most international students.

"It was a huge undertaking," said John Greisberger, director of OSU's Office of International Education.