On Tuesday, April 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., the Division of Information Technology migrated the Campus Police Department’s phone system to Zoom Phone. This project was announced on July 10 of last year, with the planning and procurement phase taking place in December 2023 and migration scheduled for April and May 2024. Recognizing the importance of seamless accessibility to the police department at any given time, a campus-wide email was dispatched Tuesday morning as a precautionary measure, providing an alternate number to reach police while the main line was down.
Before this transition, Stevens relied on an outdated on-site Cisco hardware system that was no longer supported by current standards. The adoption of Zoom Phone marks a significant leap forward, facilitating unlimited calls via the internet through a cloud-based solution.
While the Campus Police Department is the latest to make this transition, any faculty or staff member can opt for a Zoom-supported desk phone by submitting a request through the Stevens Support Portal. These desk phones, priced at approximately $169, are department-funded and require approval from the respective Vice President.
The advantages of Zoom Phone include greater mobility, expanded privacy, device options, decreased environmental impact, efficiency, and network flexibility. Leveraging a softphone service, calls can now be effortlessly placed over the internet using various devices on the Zoom Phone Mobile App, Desktop App, or desk sets. Stevens’s departments who make the transition will no longer have the constraints of traditional phone systems, and can use their designated Stevens phone numbers from any location without a VPN connection. Consequently, the reduction in physical desk phones not only streamlines operations but also aligns with the university’s sustainability objectives by curbing electronic waste.
Stevens has been utilizing Zoom’s services for many years now as its campus-wide web-conferencing system, seamlessly integrating it into Canvas and Outlook. The integration of Zoom Phone pairs well with the suite of communication tools already in use, creating a more cohesive ecosystem for enhanced connectivity and collaboration. The transition of the Police Department to this platform marks a pivotal step toward a more interconnected and efficient campus community.
Students should not expect to see any further disruptions, as the transition maintains continuity of service with the same police numbers and 24/7/365 accessibility.
