Telecommunications Guide for Students

Phones

Dormitory Telephone Service

One telephone line is provided in each dorm room and activated before your arrival. In most rooms students will share a telephone line. There is no charge for receiving incoming calls. or placing calls to Vassar locations with a 4-digit extension. Off-campus local calls, and calls to Toll-free numbers, are free. Long distance and international calls must be made using a Calling Card. Calling Cards are available for purchase in the Campus Bookstore.

Directory

A printed student telephone directory is published after classes begin. Information contained in the directory includes campus address and phone, as well as your home address and phone. As this information is considered public directory information, the switchboard operator can release it to outside callers. If you wish to have your information excluded from this directory, please notify the Office of the Registrar by the end of the second week of classes.

Vassar has an automated voice attendant, which can automatically connect you to other students and departments by just saying a name or department. This attendant is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week and can be reached by dialing from any campus phone. You can also find telephone information by using Askbanner, Vassar's online directory.Please be aware that few students use a standard phone in their room, so even though the extension exists, you may not be able to reach the student if they haven't installed a phone.

Your Telephone

845-451-####
Students are responsible for providing a telephone and/or answering machine. Plug your telephone into the jack labeled with an orange sticker or a 'V'. All student telephone numbers begin with the prefix 451 and the local area code is 845. If you cannot locate your telephone number on your wall jack, call extension 5460 from the phone in your room and ask the attendant to tell you the number from which you are calling.

Any standard phone will work, however wireless phones must be 5.8GHz or higher.  Do not purchase any cordless phone running at 2.4GHz, or else wireless service in your dormitory room will be disrupted. Plug your telephone into the jack labeled with a 4-digit extension and/or the letter V (voice). Do not plug your telephone into any jack labeled with a D, as these jacks are used for Data Network connections only.  Not all answering machines are compatible with the Vassar College phone system.  Before purchasing or bringing in an answering machine to hookup on campus, please contact the Telecommunications department about answering machine requirements and what works best with our current telephone system.

Telephone Restrictions

Telephone numbers provided by Vassar College remain the property of the college at all times. NO products or services are to be billed to Vassar telephone numbers at anytime. This restriction includes, but is not limited to Collect, Third Party Billed, 900/976/540/970 exchange numbers and any call to a telephone number that results in a charge being levied to the college that has not been authorized in advance.

Dorm Dialing Instructions

On-campus
Dial the 4 digit extension

On-campus Operator
Dial 0, reach speech directory, dial 0 or say 'Operator' after the tone. (To skip the speech directory instructions, press '*')

Off-campus Local Calls
Dial 9 + 7 digits.

Long Distance Calls
Calling Card Required.

Directory Assistance
Dial 9 + 555-1212
Calling Card Required.

International Calls
Calling Card Required.

Calling Cards
Dial 9 + 1 + toll free number.

Standard Dorm Line Features

3 Way Calling: Allows you to conference yourself with two other people, either on or off campus (calling charges incurred).

  1. Dial the first party's telephone number.
  2. With the first party on-line, press the “flash” button or hookswitch briefly. This places the first call on hold.
  3. Dial the second party's telephone number.
  4. With the second party on-line, press the “flash” button or hookswitch briefly and all parties should be connected.
Call Forwarding: Allows you to forward all of your calls to another extension on campus until you return to your room and cancel this feature.
  1. Listen for dial tone and dial *7.
  2. Listen for interrupted dial tone. Dial desired extension number. All incoming calls will be forwarded to the extension you entered.
  3. To cancel call forwarding:  Listen for dial tone and dial #7. Calls will now ring at your telephone.

Call Transfer:  This feature allows a call to be transferred to another extension.

  1. With first party on the line, press the “flash” button or hookswitch for one second. Listen for dial tone.
  2. Dial desired extension.
  3. When called party answers, announce transfer.
  4. Hang up. Call will be transferred to called extension automatically.

Repairs

The Vassar Telecommunications Office is responsible for the maintenance of the telephone line up to and including the jack on the wall. Any equipment connected to the jack is the responsibility of the student.

telecom@vassar.edu
(845) 437-7014

Troubleshooting

If you have trouble with your phone connection, check the following items before contacting the CIS Help Desk:

  1. Make sure the telephone is connected to the jack labeled with the extension number or a “V”.
  2. Unplug ALL equipment connected to the jack and plug in a different telephone.
  3. If the phone/answering machine is malfunctioning, return it to the store where it was purchased or follow the warranty instructions.
  4. If the problem persists, submit a telephone repair request via email to telecom@vassar.edu or by phone at x7224. Most repairs can be completed within two business days.