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September 24, 1991

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NEW PHONE SYSTEM MAKES DEBUT AT CITY CENTRE
The introduction of a new half-million dollar telephone system at Vancouver
Community College is now under way with the opening of new lines for City Centre on
Monday, September 16, 1991.
This new, "state of the art" system allows direct dialing to all campus phones, much
like the system already in place at Langara Campus. The new system will also alleviate the

delays and difficulties that plagued the old one.
Steps toward a new system began about a year ago. Changes were required
throughout the campus to meet increased demands on the system. "The old phone system
at City Centre had been in place since 1978," explains Fiona Macdonald, the System
Designer from MiTel who oversaw the project. "There were troubles with service and
maintenance, and it had become unreliable at times. Basically, the college has more or less
outgrown the capability of the old system."
Here are the changes at City Centre:
All phones are now accessible by direct dialing. This allows dialing outside
of regular hours without going through the central switchboard.

All new numbers are prefixed by 443- WITH THE EXCEPTION OF the
previous general switchboard number (681-8111) and the two FAX numbers

(681-4558, 682-3342) which will go unchanged, at least for the time being

(please turn over)

VANCOUVER
COMMUNITY

COLLEGE

n

Shared phones have been eliminated from most areas
New handsets with greater capabilities are in use
Specified lines have a Call Accounting feature that allows for long-distance

dialing
A new switchboard has also been installed
For those who still require the assistance of the central switchboard, there is
a support answering service that gives the caller a message followed by music
while they wait for an operator
The introduction of the system to City Centre went "amazingly smooth", according
to Macdonald. "We were prepared for the worst, considering the state of things," she says,
"but it's been relatively trouble-free." Support staff spent time in training sessions the week
prior to the start date.
The system is proceeding right on schedule. The next stage calls for King Edward
Campus to come on line, and that should happen October 21, 1991. At that point, City
Centre and KEC staff will be able to network using their four-digit local. Langara is
scheduled to join the network on November 12, 1991.

The system also includes Voice Mail capabilities. That stage is likely to go forward
in December or January, says Macdonald.