TELEPHONE USAGE GUIDELINES:

Local and Toll (long distance) Calls:
All calls placed from University telephones must be limited to those essential to the conduct of University business and should be as brief as practical.  All calls should be dialed directly.  Charges for all local and toll calls, excluding international calls are included in the monthly charges paid by each department in their monthly phone bills as a flat rate.  Department staff should continue to monitor the calling patterns of employees by logging onto the Telecom website and reviewing the monthly telephone bills

Calling Cards:
Calling Cards are no longer issued by the BU Telecom office.

Collect Calls:
Collect calls should not be accepted, except when directed by a supervisor, or in actual emergencies. Where possible, the originator of the call should be identified by name, calling location and telephone number, and informed that the individual will be contacted by other means. In no instance should collect calls of a personal nature (other than emergencies) be charged to a University number.

Calls from employees to report absenteeism or tardiness are chargeable to the employee and may not be made collect. Calls of this type, which involve operator assistance, incur surcharges over and above the cost of a directly dialed call. Third party calls can not be charged to University telephone numbers.

GUIDELINES FOR TELEPHONE SYSTEMS:

Measure of line or multiple line need for prime users:

1. A prime user making or receiving 10 calls per day, may be furnished a single line or digital telephone instrument, depending upon need.

2. Members of the faculty (other than department chairs and program directors) may be requested to share telephone lines, depending upon need. Arrangements appropriate for essential faculty phone service should be arranged by the Dean's office.

3. A group of prime users, performing similar duties, and all able to handle any call, may be furnished single line or digital telephones with appropriate system features, and with the number of lines determined by usage measurement.

Measure of line need for secondary users:

1. Secretarial and clerical staff who make and receive official business calls on a daily basis may be provided with individual phones with call pick-up to access the principal line in that office.

2. Secretarial and clerical staff who make or receive more than five or six official business calls daily should have access to a line separate from the principal office line, or the number of principal lines in the office should be increased as necessary.

3. Occasional users, those making or receiving less than five or six business calls per day, should be furnished access to phones used by more frequent users.

Telephone service or equipment above minimum service level:

Telephone service will be provided to meet minimum office requirements.

1. Intercom Systems: A telephone system provides a basic, efficient, and convenient intercommunication facility. Intercom service will be provided when requested.

2. Interconnection:

a. Customer provided equipment - Privately owned telephone equipment may be utilized under the following conditions: The individual or department is responsible for all maintenance of that equipment.  The individual or department using privately owned equipment will be billed at rates similar to those for equipment that would normally be provided by the University. The equipment must be registered with, and installed in a manner approved by the University Telecommunications Office.

When a customer provides his or her own equipment and asks for maintenance to be performed on the customer-owned equipment, he or she will be billed for applicable maintenance service charges.

b. Data connections - When available, the University will provide data connections. Requests for all data circuits should be initiated by a work order request emailed to the Telecommunications office. Installation charges will be billed to the department or person requesting the service.

c. Voice Mail / Answering Machines - Voice mail is provided to all faculty and staff telephone users. Users are asked to avoid connecting automatic answering machines onto the BU campus telephone network.

3. Enhanced features, i.e., speed calling, call park, call forwarding, transfer, conference, etc.: will be provided to faculty and staff at no additional charge whenever possible.

4. Installation, relocation, or modification of telephone service, cable, or wire:

All off campus connections will be terminated in the University Union B49, which is designated as the Telecommunications demarcation point for the University.  Installation and service charges for changes or additions of telephone service can be substantial. Plans for new service or changes in existing arrangements should be carefully reviewed with the Telecommunications Office prior to preparation of requests to make changes. Whenever possible, change requests should be combined into a single order to reduce the costs. Preliminary work, such as the provision of floor outlets, partition movement or installation and carpet installation should be completed well in advance of the desired date for the installation of the telephone service in order to preclude duplicate or premium charges.

Relocation, modification, or removal of telephone equipment, cable, and/or wire by University employees, other than Telecommunications personnel, is strictly prohibited and disciplinary action may result.