Telecommunications Information

Dialing Instructions

On Campus: To dial another phone on campus, dial the four-digit extension of the person you wish to reach.

International Dialing: To dial an international call, dial 9 (pause) 011 + country code + city code + telephone number (wait 30 seconds for prompt), then dial long distance access code.

Local Dialing: To dial a local call, dial 9 (pause) telephone number.

Long Distance Dialing: To dial a long distance call, dial 9 (pause) 1 + area code + telephone number (pause), long distance access code.

Toll-Free Dialing: To dial a toll-free call, dial 9 (pause) 1 + area code + telephone number (pause), long distance access code. Although your long distance code is required, there is no charge for toll-free call.

Voicemail Instructions

To receive voicemail:

• Your message-waiting light will blink when you have a message.
• Dial 7766 from your extension. The system will then prompt you to enter your password.
• Enter the password you chose when you activated your voicemail account, followed by the pound sign.
• The system will advise you of how many new messages you have.
• The system will then prompt you to press 2 to get messages.
• For each new message, the system will give the name of the caller, the time and date the call came in, the length of the message, and the extension from which the call came. Press 0 to listen to each message.
• After each message, press *D to delete it or press # to skip to the next message. If you skip to the next message, the previous message will not have been deleted and will stay in your mailbox. Messages that are 10 days old are automatically deleted by the system.
• When you are finished getting your messages, hang up.

To Login from Another Extension or Off Campus and Get Your Messages:

• From another party's extension, dial 7766 and press *# when connected. (Note: If the other party does not have a voicemail account, you will only need to press #, not *#. Hall phones are an example.)
• From off campus, dial 442-7766 and press # when asked if you have a mailbox on this system.
• The system will then prompt you for your mailbox number. Enter your extension.
• The system will then prompt you to enter your password. Enter the password you chose when you activated your voicemail account, followed by the pound sign.
• The system will advise you of how many new messages you have.
• The system will then prompt you to press 2 to get messages. Press 2.
• For each new message, the system will give the name of the caller, the time and date the call came in, the length of the message, and the extension from which the call came. Press 0 to listen to each message.
• After each message, press *D to delete it or press # to skip to the next message. If you skip to the next message, the previous message will not have been deleted and will stay in your mailbox. Messages that are 10 days old are automatically deleted by the system.
• When you are finished getting your messages, hang up.

To Record a Personal Greeting:

• Login to your voicemail account.
• The system will then prompt you to press 3 to Administer Personal Greetings. Your Personal Greeting is what callers will hear if you do not answer your phone. Press 3.
• The system will then prompt you to press 1 to record a greeting.
• The system will then prompt you to press 1 for Personal Greeting.
• The system will then prompt you to record your greeting at the tone. When you are finished recording, press # to approve or 1 to edit your message.
• To approve your greeting for all calls, press #2. To re-record, press 1. To listen to your recorded greeting, press 1, 2, then 3. If you wish to delete your greeting and record it again, press #2. 
• Hang up. Your personal greeting has been recorded and activated.

Troubleshooting

Your Extension: Your campus extension is the last four digits of your telephone number. A welcome letter from the Telecommunications Office that included your telephone number, your long distance access code, and voicemail instructions was placed in your mailbox in the Post Office at the beginning of the term. Your telephone number is also noted on the front of your telephone.

Choosing a Password: The first time you login to your voicemail account, your password is 1 followed by the # sign. The system will then prompt you to choose your own password. Even if you were here last term, all voicemail accounts have been reset. You need to start from scratch every term.  If you enter an incorrect password three times, the system will lock you out. This is a security feature to prevent others from accessing your private voicemail.

If you are locked out of your voicemail, when you attempt to login you will be told to contact the system administrator. Please call x4443. If you are calling after hours, leave a message including your name and your extension. The system administrator will unlock your mailbox as soon as possible.

How to change your password:

• Login to your voicemail account and press 5 then 4.
• Enter your new password, followed by the pound sign. Re-enter the password, followed by the pound sign.

If your phone half-rings and then goes straight to voicemail: Pick up your receiver and press #3.

To re-record your name: Login to your voicemail account and press 5 two times. At the tone, speak your name, preferably first name then last name. When you are finished recording your name, press 1. The system will then play your recording. Press 1 to record it again or # to approve.

If you have moved to a new room: 

• The Student Life Office will notify Telecommunications of room changes as they are approved.
• Once notification takes place, phone service will be discontinued in your old room and activated in your new room. Your greeting and any messages at your old extension will be deleted. You will need to activate your new voicemail account.
• The Directory Assistance line (8888) and the Online Directory will be updated to reflect your new residence and telephone number. Please note that your long distance access code does not change.

Switching from "A" to "B" in a double room:

• When you are given a housing assignment, you are assigned to either the A or B side of the room. The telephones are labeled either A or B, so you can determine which side of the room you are assigned to by the location of your telephone.
• If you and your roommate choose to switch sides of the room, the Telecommunications Office considers this a room change although we do not require notification from the Student Life Office. If you have switched sides of the room, please notify Telecommunications immediately at extension 4443. Once notification takes place, your voicemail account will be reset. Your greeting and any messages at your old extension will be deleted and you will need to activate your new voicemail account.
• The Directory Assistance line (8888) and the Online Directory will be updated to reflect your new residence and telephone number. Please note that your long distance access code does not change.

System Features and Tips

Call Forwarding: You can forward your calls to voicemail or to any other extension on campus. If you would like to forward your calls to voicemail temporarily, dial *3. To cancel your call forwarding to voicemail, dial #3. This must be done from your own extension! If you would like to forward your calls to another extension, dial *2. At the dial tone, enter your extension. At the next dial tone, enter the forwarding extension (to where you want your calls routed). To cancel your call forwarding, dial #2. At the dial tone, enter your extension.

Call Waiting: When you hear a ringback tone, press and release the switchhook or the FLASH button on your phone. You will hear four tones. Press #1. You will then be connected to the second call. Repeat the procedure to return to the original call or to toggle back and forth between calls.

Mailing Lists:

To set up a voicemail list and send out a message:

• Login to your voicemail box. Press 5, 1, 1.
• Choose a list number (1) then press #, 1.
• Enter the extensions you want included in the mailing list; follow each with #.
• Press # again when finished.
• Press *R, 1, record your message, press #.
• Press *L, enter your extension, press #.
• Enter the list number your chose earlier followed by #, #, #.

To send out a message to an existing mailing list:

• Login to your voicemail box.
• Press 1, record message, press #.
• Press *L, enter your extension, press #.
• Enter the list number you chose for the mailing list you wish to use for this message followed by #, #, #.

To add to or modify a mailing list:

• Login to your voicemail box.
• Press 5, 1, 3.
• Enter your extension, #.
• Enter the list number, #.
• The system will begin to list the members of the mailing list; press 1 after the first entry to add a new extension.
• Enter the additional extensions you want included in the mailing list; follow each with #.
• Press # when finished.

If you do not want to create a mailing list, but want to send the same message to several individuals:

• Login to your voicemail box.
• Press 1, record message, press #.
• Enter each extension followed by #.
• Press # twice when finished.

Redial: When you want to redial the last number you called, pick up the receiver or press speaker and dial 78. This feature access code will automatically redial the last number you called!

Transfer/Conference:

You can transfer a call to any other party on campus. To do so, place the caller on "soft hold" by pressing the FLASH button or switchhook on your telephone. You will then hear four tones. Dial the extension of the party to whom you wish to transfer the call.

You can hang up and the call will be transferred. Or, you can stay on the line until the party answers. Then, if you press FLASH or the switchhook again, all three of you will be conferenced together.

Leaving a Direct Voicemail Message without Ringing the Phone Being Dialed: Dial 8300 then input the party's four-digit extension. You'll be directed immediately to their voicemail.

To Skip through the Voicemail Greeting: When you hear the party's voicemail greeting begin, press 1 and you will immediately hear the tone and can record your message. Just remember that sometimes there is important information in the voicemail greeting such as notices regarding vacation or extended absences.

Ensure that you hang up: Make sure you disconnect the line between outgoing calls. If you momentarily press the switchhook, you will not disconnect your call. You will be putting that call on hold. Then if you place another call, the first call will remain on hold the entire time and you will be charged for TWO calls instead of one. So hold the switchhook down firmly for at least three seconds between calls and save yourself unnecessary phone charges.

Un-Deleting a Voicemail Message: You can un-delete the last message you deleted as long as you have not yet disconnected. Simply press **U while you are still logged in to your voicemail account to retrieve the last message you deleted.

Telephone Service Terms and Conditions

Bennington College's Telephone Service includes your own telephone, a direct line to your room, free local and campus dialing, a private voicemail account, and long distance access. The cost of this service is $50 for the entire term, which has been charged to your student account.

You were furnished with your campus telephone number and long distance access code at the beginning of the term. Our domestic long distance rates are very competitive at 10 cents a minute. All telephones, access codes, and voicemail accounts were activated before your arrival.

Use of your long distance access code will indicate acceptance of the following:

• You agree to pay bills for long distance usage promptly.
• Each account will be billed monthly with payment due by the end of the month.
• Balances not paid on time will incur a 7.5% late fee.
• Delinquent balances will be placed on your student account and are subject to all the terms and conditions that apply to student accounts.
• Your credit limit will be $250 per term. You will be notified when your balance reaches your credit limit. Payment to reduce the balance below the credit limit must be received within 48 hours of notification in order to continue service.
• You are responsible for all long distance calls charged to your access code. It is your responsibility to protect your code and not allow the use of that code by anyone but yourself.
• Third party billing and acceptance of collect calls are not permitted.
• Any accidental or intentional use of any access code other than your own will result in a process fee for each call made plus the actual cost of the call. Where intentional misuse occurs, the offender will be referred to the Office of Student Life for disciplinary action.
• You are responsible for the telephone equipment assigned to you. Please do not remove the telephone from your room, transfer the telephone to another jack, or deface the telephone in any way. Take a moment now to make sure your telephone equipment is in order. If anything is missing or there is any damage to the phone, handset, faceplate, instructions, label, or cords, please contact Telecommunications x4443 immediately. If the telephone is not in place or is damaged or defaced at the end of the term, you will be charged a fee for damaged or missing equipment.