New Phone System to be Implemented May through July 2008 for Most Faculty and Staff
The University is implementing a new, state-of-the-art telephone system to replace most existing phones and voice-mail. This system, known as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), uses new digital desktop phone equipment and a network connection instead of the standard telephone jack for local and long distance phone calls. Immediate benefits include timely billing, no charge to departments for most in-house moves and changes, and no charges to departments for voice-mail setups or resets. The system's advanced technology positions the University to easily add new features as they become available.
If your telephone is going to be replaced, your current telephone number will not change. Some phones will not change over to the VoIP system, including lines for facsimile machines and certain emergency communication lines in such locations as the Police Department and the Facilities Department.
Already here for some faculty and staff
The new system is already in place in several areas of the University, notably including the North building at the College of Graduate and Professional Studies, some portions of CGPS's South building, Centre Court, and the temporary modular buildings housing Admissions offices, Financial Aid offices and the Bookstore on the Fredericksburg campus. Nearly all current users have reported an easy transition from the old system and high satisfaction with the new one.
What you'll see soon
For those users whose phones will be replaced, technical staff began distributing the new phones to your locations in May. You will not begin receiving calls on the new phones until your individual number is specifically scheduled for changeover from the Verizon system to the new University system- see-the schedule for that in the section labeled "Changeover Schedule for University Buildings" (below).
Here's what faculty and staff getting new phones will need to know
- New phones (which will bear the manufacturer label of "Cisco") will be delivered to your existing offices in May or June, but old phones will not be removed at that time. UMW technical staff will hook the new phone up to the network at delivery or soon thereafter--do not disconnect the phone.
- Some time during the day of the changeover, your Verizon-based telephone will stop working and you'll begin receiving calls placed to your number on your new phone equipment.
- After the changeover for your number is complete, you can configure your new voice-mail box. See instructions below on how to do that.
- When your number is moved from the Verizon system to the University's VOIP system on the changeover day, your current voice-mail box will stop receiving messages. Generally, for your current voice-mail, you have been dialing either 654-2700 or
372-7801
to retrieve your messages.
- If you dial 372-7801 (the access number for a Verizon-based voice mail system) to check your voice mail, you will lose access to this Voice Mail number as of the date of conversion, and any messages residing on that system will be inaccessible to you. We recommend that you check your messages and clear out your Voice-Mail box before the changeover date.
- If you dial 654-2700 (the access number for the "old" University-based voice mail system) to check your voice mail, your access to this Voice Mail number will be available until September 1. However, because of the age of this system, we recommend that you check your messages and clear out your Voice-Mail box before the changeover date as well.
- After the changeover, you will access your new voice-mail box while away from your office phone by simply dialing your own number (see more detailed instructions below). Don't forget--after the changeover, any new phone messages for you will only be in your new voice-mail box. See below for the link to instructions on configuring your new voice-mail box.
Schedule for University Buildings
Conversion 1 Combs 5/12/2008 Conversion 2 George Washington 6/19/2008 Brompton 6/19/2008 Conversion 3 Fairfax 6/24/2008 Marye 6/24/2008 Ridderhof 6/24/2008 Trinkle 6/24/2008 Tyler 6/24/2008 Woodard 6/24/2008 Conversion 4 AEC (not converting Kalnon Inn) 7/1/2008 Monroe 7/1/2008 Simpson 7/1/2008 Conversion 5 duPont 7/8/2008 Melchers 7/8/2008 Mercer 7/8/2008 Pollard 7/8/2008 Seacobeck 7/8/2008 Conversion 6 Chandler 7/15/2008 Goolrick 7/15/2008 Tennis Center 7/15/2008 Jepson 7/15/2008 Conversion 7 Physical Plant 7/22/2008 CGPS South 7/22/2008 Brent 7/22/2008 Belmont Not Converting James Monroe Museum Not Converting Residence Halls Not Converting Apartments Not Converting 1206 College Avenue 7/22/2008
Faculty who leave the University for the summer before their changeoverS take place
Clearly, many faculty on less-than-12-month contracts may leave their University offices for the summer before the changeover takes place, and some staff may be on vacation at the time of the changeover. Such faculty and staff should pay close attention to the schedule above. Late in the day of the scheduled changeover for his or her building or sometime soon thereafter, the faculty or staff member should remotely set up the new voice-mail box by following the instructions linked below.
Instructions on setting up and accessing your new voice-mail box
Click here for instructions on:
- setting up your voice-mail from your University phone.
- setting up your voice-mail from another phone.
- accessing your voice mail box from your University phone and from other phones.
- general usage instructions for your new phone.
How do I get help for problems with my new phone service?
Call or e-mail the University's Help Desk at helpdesk@umw.edu or (540) 654-2255.