Computing
and Information Services

If you are an employee of Vassar College, you likely have a fancy looking telephone sitting next to your computer.  Here's all you need to know about it and who you should contact if there's a problem with it.

telecom@vassar.edu
(845) 437-7014

If your extension does not have a mailbox, call the Telecommunications Office ext. 7014 or email your request to telecom@vassar.edu and request the telephone technician put a mailbox on your extension. (Please allow 2 days).

Ext. 4800 is the Voice Mailbox extension on Campus.  You will dial ext. 4800 & the voice will say "Welcome Mailbox", please enter your pass code. Your pass code to initially enter your Voice Mailbox will be 1234. You will then record a Pass code, Greeting & Name. Please make sure you go through the entire tutorial. You must press the (9) key to lock-in your information.

To Voicemail After 4 Rings

Pick up the receiver and hit star *4, 4800 and hang-up. The star *4 forwarding simply means that your phone will ring (4) times before forwarding into Voice Mail, or, if your line is busy it will immediately forward into Voice Mail and your caller will receive your greeting.

To cancel, pick-up receiver, press the # then 4 and hang-up.

Direct To Voicemail

Pickup the receiver & hit star *7 4800 & hang up. Your call will go directly to Voice Mail and you will not have the option of picking-up the calls.

To cancel, pick-up receiver, press the # then 7 and hang-up.

NOTE: Whatever forwarding option you choose must be canceled out before setting up another option. If you don't have forwarding to voicemail set-up, your phone will just ring.

To access voicemail from your campus phone:

Dial 4800,  and enter your pass code.

To access voicemail from another on-campus location:

Dial your extension, during your greeting hit the *star key, then enter your pass code.

To access voicemail from off-campus:

Dial your extension number with proper area code and exchange. When the call rolls over to voice mail, press the *star key and you will be prompted for your access code.

Transfer a call directly to a mailbox

Pick up the receiver, hit transfer button, dial 4800, when you hear recording dial *star, then the extension number you want to transfer to. When you hear the greeting you may hang up, the outside caller will go directly to that mailbox.

Note

If you transfer a call to another extension and end up in a voicemail box instead of returning to the original caller, do not hit the transfer key, Just hit the # key on your phone four times. This will automatically return you to the original party. If you do not release the voice mail call, the phone system will think it is a 3 way call and you may record your entire conversation on the target voicemail box.

To send a message to another mailbox:

Enter your Voice Mailbox as usual, then press (6) to make your message. Now you will enter the mailbox ext. of the person you are sending the message to. Note if you dial incorrectly (hear wrong name), press the (3) key & the (9) key to cancel the message. Now record your message (following the beep). After you have finished making your recording you can

• press 2 to APPEND to your recording
• press 3 to DISCARD your message & re-record
• press 7 to REVIEW your recording
• press 6 to activate message addressing options
• press 9 to SAVE the recording and EXIT

Again, you can use your playback controls that allow you to pause and you can press any key to resume. Your message will NOT be sent until you press 9 to exit.

Note: While listening to your messages you have the option to fast forward by hitting #, or rewind by hitting the *star key. If you chose to by-pass a mailbox greeting and leave a message, hit the (3) key.

Message Addressing Options

After you have recorded your message to be sent you have several options that allow you to address the message. You can mark a message private or request a receipt of your message.

If you choose to mark a message private, your message can not be sent to anyone else in the system. If you request a receipt of your message, the next time you enter your mailbox you will be told the time and date that person heard your message.

To Mark Your Addressing Options:

Enter your mailbox as usual, make, give or answer a message. Then press 6 to access message addressing options: Now you may choose (1) or more of the following options:

• press 2 to activate receipt, press 2 again to deactivate receipt.
• press 7 to mark private, press 7 again to cancel private.
• press 9 to send your recording & EXIT.

Distribution Lists:

Each mailbox in the system can make 9 lists with 250 mailboxes on it. This enables you to record a message once, and send that message to everyone's mailbox on that list.

How to Create Lists:

1. press 8 for USER options
2. press 5 to create LIST
3. enter the list number (0l 09)
4. press 6 to name your list
5. record a list name
6. press 9 to save the list
7. press 2 to ADD member to the list
8. enter the mailbox number of the person to be added. Repeat for each name to be added.
9. Press 9 to save your entries and EXIT to the MAIN MENU.

To Change User Options (Pass code, greeting, name):

In order to change your pass code, greeting, or name you must first dial 4800. At the prompt enter your pass code. Hit the number (8) key. The voice will say "to change your pass code press the "P" key, to change your greeting press the "G" key & to change your name press the "N" key. Make sure you press the (9) key each & every time you modify any information within your mailbox. The number (9) key is your exit key & locks in all new information.

Messages Saved on the System:

Messages NOT played will remain for 18 days (432 hours) after which they will be deleted. Messages PLAYED & SAVED will remain for 4 days (96 hours) after which they will be deleted.

Power Surges and Outages

In the event of a power outage or surge, the forwarding into Voice Mail may be canceled. These are unfortunate & unforeseeable events. You must check your mailbox to ensure that the forwarding to the 4800 ext. is working properly.

Switching your voicemail box:

If you have changed your extension and need to access the voicemail box, you must first notify the Telecom Office ext. 7014 and make a request to change the existing pass code. You may then modify the mailbox by using the (8) key for user options. You must press (9) to lock-in each change.