Recommended Communications Tools

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) analyzed the communication tools people use to do their work at the University of Minnesota. Based on that analysis, five common communication profiles emerged.

  1. UMN to UMN Communication
  2. UMN to Non-UMN communication
  3. UMN employee answers calls for multiple telephone lines
  4. Call Centers
  5. Emergency: Fire, Life, and Safety

Below, OIT recommends a suite of modern communication tools for each communication profile. 

Recommended Tools for Each Communication Profile

Communication Profile: UMN to UMN

University telephone numbers calling other University telephone numbers

Profile: UMN to UMN

UMN employees who primarily communicate with other UMN employees or units.

Recommended Tools: UMN to UMN

Communication Profile: UMN to Non-UMN

The University of Minnesota brand's block m in the center of a circle with arrows pointing outward

Profile: UMN to External (Non-UMN) 

UMN faculty and staff who primarily contact people who are not University employees; examples include calling students, parents, research collaborators, alumni, legislators, etc.

Recommended Tools: UMN to Non-UMN

Communication Profile: Multiple Phone Lines to a Single Telephone

icon of one person answering multiple phone lines

Profile: Multiple Lines to a Single Telephone

One person who answers multiple phone lines for a department. For example, an assistant who answers the telephone for multiple faculty members.

Recommended Tools: Multiple Lines to a Single Phone

Desk telephone

Call forwarding

 

Communication Profile: Call Centers

icon people wearing telephone headsets

Profile: Call Centers

University of Minnesota call centers, such as Technology Help or EFS Customer Support offer help and support to users, including a dedicated telephone number.

Recommended Tools: Call Centers

Soft phones for Call Centers

Communication Profile: Emergency - Fire, Life, and Safety

Emergency telephone calls

Description: Emergency - Fire, Life, and Safety

The University of Minnesota is required to provide backup power to ensure the availability of dedicated emergency, life and safety telephones, including Code Blue, Elevator, FireControl, Security Desks, Area of Refuge, and Labs (including freezer

Recommended Tools: Emergency - Fire, Life, and Safety

Analog Telephone

communiction devices, including smart phones, tables, apple watches, and headphones

Communications Tools Modernization Program

University is replacing its decades-old telephone system with a modern suite of communication tools. Learn more about the Communication Tools Modernization program.