Communications are a vital part of the University's operations. We support several tools and services to assist, from campus phones to video conferencing.

Click below to review some of the options.


Campus Phones

Campus phones are provided in all buildings, offices, residence halls, and fraternities. Each is assigned a unique 51²è¹Ý phone number in addition to voicemail. The phone lines are digital rather than analog. Therefore, special wiring must be requested for fax machines.

To request a new phone extension, voicemail setup, or for telephone maintenance, please contact the .

For the latest information and training on using campus phones, please visit smu.edu/phone.

Cellular Phones

At this time, only a few select devices are provided by and paid for by the University. For more information, please see Cellular Service Justification Process.

Securing your Data

If your mobile device retrieves your 51²è¹Ý email, we require all faculty, staff, and students to configure a PIN on their phones. Without a PIN, anyone could access the email account and all items contained within. This functionality is offered on all phones, although the configuration instructions vary. This policy is enforced for all faculty and staff phones with the Exchange Active Sync Policy to protect University information.

Mobile Devices and Webmail

One of the features of Webmail is the ability to control your mobile device from the email server. If your device is lost or stolen, you can simply sign in to your Webmail account and choose to erase the device, protecting sensitive University information. For more information on how to remote wipe your device or reset your PIN, please see the Exchange Active Sync Policy info page.

International Travel

Before you travel overseas, be sure to add an international plan and manage your data settings. Please see our Cellular Data and International Travel page for more details.

Audio/Video Conferencing

Audio Conferencing

Faculty and staff may request an audio conference ID with appropriate authorization from their supervisor. The audio conference bridge allows you to join up to 96 participants in a conference call. All charges are billed directly to the department on a per-minute basis. To request a Conference ID, please contact the IT Help Desk.

Video Conferencing

There are several available options for video conferencing services. These include the following:

  • Zoom: licenses available for training, webinars and small groups
  • Skype for Business & Microsoft Teams: video conferencing and desktop sharing
  • Video Conferencing options with Polycom, Skype, OWL, etc.

Don't hesitate to contact the IT Help Desk if you need assistance securing a location for a video conference appointment. The IT conference room is equipped with a Polycom device, an HD Camera, Skype, OWL, and other audio/video conferencing tools. We will be happy to arrange an appointment in the conference room if needed.

Faxing

Analog phone lines may be installed and configured by request to support fax machines for faculty and staff. OIT provides support for the phone lines and general setup of the fax machines.

To request the configuration and installation of a fax machine, please contact the IT Help Desk.


Please Note:
 OIT does not offer repair services for fax machines.

If you have any questions or concerns about our communication services, please contact the IT Help Desk at 214-768-HELP or help@smu.edu.