Introduction

Information Technology (IT) is committed to providing the best possible telecommunications solutions for its campus customers. Towards that end, IT is currently restructuring the entire campus communications network to improve efficiency and performance.

The long-term strategy includes a two-year implementation of Voice-over IP (VoIP) telephony system across campus, upgrading the telecommunications infrastructure, and provide additional technology/services as they become available.

Voice-over IP Telephony

Voice-over IP is a revolutionary technology whereby communications is run over the same Ethernet port as a computer, incorporating both computing and telephony on the same line. This means voice communications are digitized, resulting in a clearer, more stable communication. In addition, VoIP can be integrated with Unity messaging, allowing voicemail messages to be delivered through your Exchange mailbox as well as through your IP phone. VoIP also features conference calling, call forwarding, and call parking (retrieving a call for you from another VoIP telephone).

Over the next two years, IT will be providing VoIP service to the majority of campus. Outlying areas such as the experimental mine will not be eligible for service, but every building on the main campus will be VoIP enabled. As each building becomes VoIP enabled, IT will provide each building with VoIP telephones and provide the faculty/staff in each building with training on how to use the new telephone system.

Telecommunications Infrastructure

The university telecommunications infrastructure is antiquated and in need of upgrading to modern 21st century technology. This restructuring will include redundancy in the network so that if one part of the network becomes unavailable due to maintenance or hardware failure, the telecommunications network will still function. The goal is to create a stable and easily maintainable campus telecommunications network that can adapt to changing technology.