Technology Phone System

Phone System Information

Links on this Page

• Emergency Information

• Long-Distance Calling

• Information for Parents

• Campus Phone Instructions

• Using Voice Mail

Emergency Information

To report an emergency while on campus, please follow this procedure:
Dial 8-911 (just 911 from a non-school phone)

Be prepared to give your building address as provided in the Fire Response Plan for your building. If you are unsure of your building's address, please call safety and support services at extension 3544.

Note: The 911 Response Center is automatically notified of the room location and number of all calls to 911.

Then, alert campus security by calling extension 3400. (498-3400 from a non-school phone)

Long-Distance Calling

NMH offers an attractively priced long distance calling plan through Paetec Communications

Paetec is a well-established long-distance provider with a very strong presence in education. Two very competitive calling plans are available to NMH families.

Both programs provide a calling card with competitive rates that can be used at home or when traveling away from campus. This program is a great way for families and students to stay in touch. 

Rates and cost comparisons for domestic long-distance calling
	Per Minute Rate	Monthly Fee	Cost for 100 Minutes Per Month	Cost for 300 Minutes Per Month
Plan 1	2.9 Cents	4.95	7.85	13.65
Plan 2	5.9 Cents	0	5.90	17.70
Click here to see Paetec's competitive international rates. (Rates updated July, 2007)

Monthly charges will be sent to your credit card or you may pay them online. Paper invoices mailed to your home are available by request for a nominal additional fee.

NMH is not responsible for errors in billing or service experienced as a result of using these services.

Students or their families who have questions about their long-distance bills with other carriers should contact that carrier directly.

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Information for Parents

NMH provides in-room phone service and voice mail for all of its students.

Phones are not provided for student rooms. Students must bring their own phones from home or purchase one at the bookstore. Most phones will work with the school's phone system. Although students in a room share a single phone line, each has their own private extension number and voice mail account.

Extension numbers are assigned to each student for as long as they attend classes at NMH, regardless of what house or room they may move to year to year.

New students receive their extension numbers each year at registration.

To preserve a focused learning environment for its students, NMH restricts the use of telephones during study hours and after midnight. During these times, student calling is restricted to emergency and security extensions, and they may not receive any telephone calls.

Study hours are normally 8 pm-10 pm, Sundays through Thursdays.
During these times, families may leave voice mail in their students' private voice mail boxes.

If a situation urgently requires that a student be contacted, contact her or his house director. If the house director is not known, please dial the school switchboard at 413-498-3000.

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Campus Phone Instructions

Refer to these instructions to get the most from you telephone. Note that some phones may not be able to use all of the functions described here.

Dialing Off Campus

To dial any local off-campus number, lift the receiver and dial 8 followed by the number.

Dialing Long Distance

1. Lift the receiver and dial 8.

2. Dial the number you're calling, including 1+area code. When asked, enter your school-issued PIN.

3. Your department head (or parent, in the case of students callers) will receive billing details for all long-distance calls you make.

Call Forwarding

Calls to an extension may be forwarded to any other extension on campus or to any locally dialed number off-campus.

To activate Call Forwarding:

1. Lift the receiver and press *2

2. Dial the number to forward all calls to (don't forget to dial 8 in front of outside numbers).

3. Hang up.

Conference Calling

Up to three people can participate in a conference call. To initiate a conference call:

1. Lift the receiver and dial the first person's number. When the party answers tell them to hold while you connect to other caller.

2. Press the Link or Flash key (Transfer on D-Terms) on your phone. You'll hear a new dial-tone.

3. Dial the number of the third person to include in your conversation. Wait for them to answer.

4. Press the Link or Flash key (Conference on D-Terms) on your phone again and all three should be connected.

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Using Voice Mail

NMH provides centralized voice mail for its students, faculty, and staff. Each person must set up their voice mailbox prior to using.

Setting Up a Voice Mailbox (Faculty/Students)

Students and faculty who do not have voice mail assigned to a specific telephone extension should use these steps to set up their voice mail accounts:
1. Lift the receiver and dial 3800.
2. When system asks for security codes, press the '#' (pound) key.
3. Greeting will begin - Dial '9' and your extension (which is the voice mailbox number).
4. When requested, dial the starter passcode 147258. This will let you access your voice mail box the first time.
At this point, you will be prompted at each step to complete the setup. Be ready to complete these three steps:
5. Create a new passcode (minimum 5 digits, maximum 10).
6. Record a personal greeting that your callers will hear.
7. Record your name.

IMPORTANT: Do NOT hang up until you have pressed '1' to keep your settings and she says 'Great'!

Setting Up a Voicemail Box (Administrative staff)

Staff members, or faculty who have their voice mail connected to a specific campus extension should use these instructions to set up their voice mail box:
1. Lift the receiver and dial 3800.
2. When requested, dial the starter passcode 147258. This will let you access your voice mailbox the first time.
At this point, you will be prompted at each step to complete the setup. Be ready to complete three steps:
5. Create a new passcode (minimum 5 digits, maximum 10).
6. Record a personal greeting that your callers will hear.
7. Record your name.

Listening to Voice Mail

The voice mail system tells you when you have unplayed messages by sending a "stuttering" dial tone when you lift the receiver. Some phones have a message light that lights when there is a message.

To retrieve your voice mail messages, follow these instructions:
1. Dial 3800.
2. If your voice mailbox is connected to your phone extension, enter your passcode when requested.
3. If your voice mailbox is not connected to your extension (faculty, students) press the '#' key followed by '9' then your voice mailbox number. Enter your passcode when requested.
4. The voice mail system will tell you how many messages are in your mailbox and automatically play them.