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St. Cloud State University
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Campus changes to '308'
After brief disruptions in telephone service, campus phone system offers one exchange, voice mail for all
By Cory Fechtelkotter
Published:
Thursday, June 19, 2003
Media Credit: Adam Masloski
Curt Hickorytech deals with the mass of wires in the basement of Stewart Hall as part of the installation process of SCSU�s new telephone system. Installation is taking place across campus June 13 through July 1. Once the system is fully up and running, all campus telephone numbers will have one exchange prefix, 308, and each number, including those in the residence halls, will feature voice mail.
Media Credit: Adam Masloski
Scott Swanson, left, and Curt Goltz work on the new phone system that is currently being installed on campus.
Making a call to or from campus will be a little different from now on, thanks to SCSU's ongoing transition to a new phone system.
The transition, which began June 13, is expected to be completed by July 1.
There are many changes, but they are not expected to be much of a hassle for students and staff.
The most notable difference will be the switch to a universal exchange of 308 for all numbers on campus, as opposed to the eight different prefixes previously used, such as 255, 202, 654 and 534.
Included in this change is the nearby St. Cloud Technical College.
The change is also a financial boon; the new telephone plan will save SCSU $600,000 over the next five years.
The previous service provider, InterTechnologies Group, is being replaced by Hickory Tech Enterprise Solutions, a Mankato based company. InterTechnologies Group had been SCSU's service provider for the past 18 years.
There are a few more added benefits to the switch, including an on-site technician for the next four years and voice mail service for every phone.
While the new telephone system is being installed, certain buildings' phone service will be unavailable for up to four hours. Those who already had voice mail on a campus phone will also lose all messages, greetings and personal information on their voice mail when their phones are converted to the new system.
After the conversion, all inter-campus calls can be made by dialing 8 followed by the last four digits of the number. Phone numbers with the old exchanges will continue to work for one year, but it is recommended that students and staff begin using the new system immediately, so they have a chance to get used to it.
Campus-wide, the last four digits of most numbers will remain unchanged, with a few exceptions.
All residence hall numbers, however, will keep the same last four digits.
"Residence hall rooms will be only on 308," said Randy Evans, director of instructional technology and co-chair of the telephone project. "But, if you lived in a res hall last year, the last four digits should be the same."
More information is currently available on the telephone service update Web site, but it is directed largely at SCSU staff.
"There is no student information at this time on this site," Evans said. "There will be some separate documentation that will be just for students. As part of their informational packets they'll have information about how they go about requesting and setting up there voice mails. But they'll be able to see all the features and stuff like that."
Student reactions to the switch have been largely positive, despite the temporary difficulties caused by the transition.
"I think it's great that were changing the telephones," said sophomore Lori Gosline. "It'll be great to have voice mail."
ON THE INTERNET
Information about SCSU's new telephone service, including instructions for using the system's features, is online at http://www.stcloudstate.edu/telephoneservices/.
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