Frequently Asked Questions for Students

Home ITS Services Telephone Services Services for Students Frequently Asked Questions for Students

Q: Do I need to sign up for telephone service?
A: No, telephone service is already established in every residential room. When you arrive on campus, all you need to do is plug in your telephone.

Q: Will my roommate and I have separate telephone lines?
A: In a double room, there is one telephone line (and one active telephone jack) that is shared between the two roommates. In a room with three or more residents, there are two telephone lines and two active telephone jacks. Before buying a telephone to bring with you, you may wish to find out if your roommate already has one.

Q: How will I find out my phone number?
A: If you will be living on campus during the academic year (September through June),
you should receive your telephone number from the Housing or Residential Life
office at the college where you will live. You may receive your telephone number in the mail, or it may be given to you with your key and other move in materials. If you have lost your telephone number, you should ask your roommate if he or she knows it.

Q: How do I call off campus?
A: See Dialing Instructions for information on making all types of telephone calls. You must use a calling card to make long distance calls.

Q: Can I set up long distance service with a long distance carrier?
A: No other company is able to provide the ability for you to make long distance calls without using a calling card.

Q: Will I have voicemail?
A: Voicemail is provided to all campus rooms during the academic year. There is one voicemail box per telephone line. Roommates sharing a telephone line share a voicemail box as well. See Voicemail for instructions on setting up and using your voicemail box.

Q: What is my voicemail passcode?
A: Your temporary voicemail passcode is the last four digits of your telephone number. If this passcode does not work, it is possible that your roommate has already selected a new passcode. If you have changed your passcode and forgotten it, first see if your roommate knows it. If not, you may request that we reset your passcode.

Q:Why Can't I Use an Answering Machine Instead of or In Addition to Voicemail?
A: Answering machines will not function properly on a telephone line connected to voicemail. Your unanswered calls would sometimes be picked up by the answering machine, and other times by voicemail. Therefore, we not recommend or support the use of answering machines. If you are using a combination answering machine/telephone, it is recommended that you turn off the answering machine function.

Q: Which jack do I plug my telephone into?
A: Most residential rooms have plates with multiple outlets. Ethernet jacks are usually orange and are always on the top of the plate, while telephone jacks are usually beige and are always on the bottom of the wall plate. You should have received a telephone jack number along with your telephone number. Make sure that you plug your telephone into the jack with this number, as that will be the jack on which your telephone will work.

Q: What if I have problems with my telephone line?
A: See Trouble Reporting for a list of common telephone problems and solutions. To report a problem with your telephone line, call ext. 9-3111.