Teams Phone

6 for 2026

Posted on by Katrina Frank

This week we are highlighting 6 resources that are aimed at improving collaborative efforts and creating efficiencies.

Comment with an IS resource that you enjoy using.

1. Community Pages

Did you know there’s a quick way to get IS information based on the type of community member you are? Check out our student, faculty, and staff pages to find your resources much sooner.

2. Project Intake Form

Coming soon!

In IS we are working diligently to implement a more structured approach to collaborating with campus offices regarding projects with technology component/impact. Stay tuned for details on the new Project Intake Form.

3. Acquisition Policy

Are you a faculty or staff member looking to implement new software and technology? Before you select that “checkout” option or sign that contract, be sure to follow the College’s acquisition policy to ensure the right technical solution.

4. New Teammates

Soon you will see a handful of new faces in IS! While we’ll do our best to introduce our new colleagues, be sure to check out our IS staff and Library staff directories to see our full IS team.

5. “New” Phone System

Last quarter the College underwent a big migration from handheld phones to Teams Phone. Refresh your memory on how to use Teams Phone through our Phone Services page.

6. Cybersecurity

Stay alert and stay safe by following best practices relating to information security.

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Today is the Day! It’s Phone Migration Day!

Posted on by Katrina Frank

Making the Switch

Hello Faculty and Staff!

This morning, after 9 a.m. the College’s aged telephone system will be replaced with Microsoft Teams Phone. With Teams Phone, employees can place calls and receive calls outside of the College. Faculty and Staff can also expect many new services and features like setting unique voicemails, receiving voicemail transcriptions and messages via email, and more.

Note: The best way to seek help if you are having issues with Teams Phone during this migration is to email HelpDesk@kzoo.edu with a description of your issue and our computing team will get back to you as soon as possible. 

Things to Note and Explore

Taking Calls

  • Taking calls via Teams app – Most faculty and staff will not have a traditional desk phone. Instead, you will use Teams Phone which works within the Teams app on your computer or smartphone. 
  • Old Phones – Cisco IP desk phones will no longer be in use after the transition. These phones will be collected by IS staff for proper disposal.
  • Personal Phones – You are not required to use your personal cell phone to answer Teams calls. If you choose to have the Teams app installed on your phone, there are settings for whether and when you want it to ring. Please work with your supervisor to determine the expectations for your availability.

Hardware

  • Hardware during initial set-up – We recognize that with this change some may be in need of a headset or desk phone. Before submitting a request for hardware, we ask that you try to use Teams Phone as is for the initial period of time to evaluate how your set-up is functioning for you.
  • Requesting Hardware – During this time please note your pain points and if you feel that you need additional hardware to make your set up more functional, please reach out to the Help Desk (HelpDesk@kzoo.edu) so we can work with you to find a solution.

Training and Resources

  • Phone Migration Project – Provides details on the project itself including FAQs and links to instruction.
  • Phone Services – For instructions on how to use Teams Phone visit the Phone Services page.
  • Phone Guides – Check out these instructions to learn the ins-and-outs of Teams Phone.

Phone Support

We anticipate supporting a lot of community members today, with that said, we ask if you are having issues with Teams Phone during this migration is to email HelpDesk@kzoo.edu with a description of your issue and our computing team will get back to you as soon as possible. 

Don’t Wait! – Action Items for Campus-wide Phone Migration

Posted on by Katrina Frank

Hello Faculty and Staff!

Beginning 9 a.m. on Wednesday, August 27th the College’s aged telephone system will be replace with Microsoft Teams Phone. The new Teams Phone service will enable our community to keep call features as our old system as well as allow calls to be placed and received outside of the College. Faculty and Staff can also expect many new services and features like setting unique voicemails, receiving voicemail transcriptions and messages via email, and more.

To make this switch as painless as possible, all faculty and staff should take care of the action items listed below.

For questions on this project, please email HelpDesk@kzoo.edu.

Immediate Action Items – Don’t wait!

  • Retrieve any of your voicemails that you want to have from the old system since they will not migrate to Teams Phone. Review Cisco Phone Documentation for instruction to access your voicemails.
    • Want to save your voicemail, but don’t know how to? – Sometimes the simplest tech is the right tech! Simply play your voicemail on your College phone and use personal cell phone recording app to capture and save.
  • Verify and set up your voicemail in Teams. This needs to be done BEFORE the switch date so you can start receiving voicemails in the new system as soon as the switch takes place at 9 a.m. on August 27th.

What to Expect on Switch Day

Date and Time: Wednesday, August 27th – 9:00 a.m.

  • Starting at 9 a.m. off campus calls to your Kalamazoo phone number will now ring on your computer and any other Teams app that you have installed and set up (mobile, laptop, etc.)
  • If you have Teams set up on other devices you can also utilize Teams Phone there in your Call tab. If you need to transfer calls between devices that can also be done easily.
  • Old desk phones should not be used after 9 a.m. Please keep your old phone plugged in so IS can disconnect and collect outdated hardware. It is important that you do not unplug your old phone since it could impact how your office computer works.

Additional Resources