TO:                 Telephone Coordinators

FROM:           ITC – Telephone Services

DATE:            October 5, 2007

RE:                  Telephone Coordinators Newsletter – October 2007

 

Index Number Changes

 

If you have any changes of index numbers for your long distance, line charges, or voicemail charges, please inform us.  Simply email Chris Bauer at cbauer@montana.edu and provide the following information:

 

  1. Phone number
  2. What index number charges are currently being charged to
  3. What index number you want the charges to be billed to
  4. What charges do you want changed – e.g. long distance, line charge, voicemail, credit card calls

 

If you have any questions, please let Chris know by calling her at extension 1010 or emailing her at cbauer@montana.edu.

 

Telephone Coordinators Training

 

Every year, ITC-Telephone Services provides a morning training session for all departmental Telephone Coordinators. The time is coming around shortly to sign up for this and we will let you know when and where we will be providing this training.

 

Telephone Coordinator training has been occurring for several years now and we believe it has helped not only you, but us as well, because we have been able to meet you individually and provide you the correct ways of being the liaison between us and your department. Having a Telephone Coordinator in each department truly increases both your efficiency and ours, and we are then able to provide you service in a timely manner.

 

Whether you are a new Telephone Coordinator or have been for years, this training is very beneficial to all. If you are looking at transferring your duties to another staff member, you are both more than welcome to attend. We greatly appreciate the work you do and we know that adding these responsibilities to your already-busy work schedule is burdensome. We hope that in providing you training, we can reduce the effort required, and give you the tools and resources that will help you provide us the information needed to provide the service your department requests.

 

We will keep you posted on the dates for this training and we welcome all that want to attend.

 

Telephone Directories

 

In the month of October, we will be receiving two telephone directories. One will be the Yellowstone Country telephone directory. This is the directory that the majority on campus agreed to receive, in addition to the Dex Media directory. Last year, this directory had the bobcat on the front. Silvia Harrington will be sending out the details on the delivery date for these.

 

The other directory that will be delivered is the campus directory provided by ITC-Telephone Services. These directories will be delivered via Mail Services, so I ask that we be patient in the delivery process. We greatly appreciate Bulk Mail Services assisting us with the delivery of these directories and it can take up to a week and a half to get these all delivered on campus. If you do not receive the exact amount you believe you had requested, please notify Silvia Harrington (sharrington@montana.edu) and indicate the number you received and the number needed. Any additional directories will be sent after the delivery process is complete. If you are a large department and had a large number ordered, please wait a few days before requesting additional books, as Bulk Mail may have been able to only deliver one box at a time. Delivery of these directories should begin within the first week of October.

 

Requests and Repairs

 

As we move into the Fall semester, we find a busy time of year for projects and phone requests begins. We would like to remind you of some simple telephone policies and procedures.

 

For telephone repairs, please call x2813 to report repairs or problems. Please do not complete a Telephone & Network Service Request (TNSR), as this is used strictly for telephone requests such as moves, adds, and changes. Please do not directly call or email Vicky, our technician. These problems need to be reported to our office directly so we can provide you the best service possible in a timely manner. Vicky is not always readily available and though repairs always are done first, they must come through the main Telephone Services office. Telephone Services may also be able to troubleshoot your problem or even solve it without even having Vicky involved.

 

As departments move and expand, we are aware that telephone and network needs may change. Please keep in mind that if you are moving or adding modular furniture, you are responsible in notifying ITC of these changes or additions. As modular furniture becomes even more popular on campus, there are some simple things to remember. If you are using furniture with a bottom panel at the wall, and it covers a telephone or data jack, we will need to get to the jack prior to the furniture panel being installed. If the panel is installed and we are not able to get to the jack, we will ask that you have the panel or furniture moved so we can access the jack properly. Simply complete your Telephone & Network Service Request (TNSR) and include the information about the furniture panel. If you are not sure of the date the furniture is being installed or moved, please state that you will notify us as soon as you know (24-hour notice is appreciated). Continue to complete the TNSR and then you can call us when you’re ready. This lets us know we have something to do and are prepared for your call.

 

If you are moving to a different building or need more jacks installed, please contact Cindy Tirrell at x2882 or ctirrell@montana.edu. She will be able to review the location, provide you an estimate and give you an estimated time of when it may be done. We are busy with large projects on campus, so if you are planning ahead for projects during the holiday break, please submit these requests immediately, so they can be scheduled in.

 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding telephone moves or additions, please contact Chris at cbauer@montana.edu or x1010.

 

Changes in Management

 

This year, ITC-Telephone Services experienced some changes in management, due to the retirement of Pat Simmons. Telephone Services and Communication Wiring were combined to form Communication Services, and were incorporated into Network Systems and Operations under NSO Director Tom Morrison.

 

David Zeter, who was the Telephone Services Supervisor previously, is now the Communication Services Manager, overseeing both areas of service.

 

David can be reached at x4671, or email at dzeter@montana.edu. Tom may be reached at x5069 and his email is tpm@montana.edu.

 

Mobile Communications Device Information

 

As many of you are aware, MSU implemented a Mobile Communications Device policy in July 2006. This policy may be viewed online at http://www.montana.edu/.

 

On a quarterly basis, Chris Bauer sends you a departmental listing of all devices still paid by MSU. These are only devices that are through the State contracts with Verizon Wireless and Alltel Wireless.

 

If you have questions on the policy, the procedures to transfer to a personal account or to receive an exception, please contact Chris at x1010 or email her at cbauer@montana.edu.