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Campus Telephone Service

The Office of Information Technology provides telephone service to all campus academic and administrative offices.

Local Dialing

Dialing a Campus Number from On Campus

To call a number within the university telephone system, dial only the four-digit extension.

Dialing an Outside Number from On Campus

To make a call outside the university phone system but inside the District of Columbia, dial 9 followed by the seven-digit number. 

To make a local call outside of the District of Columbia, dial 9 followed by the area code and seven-digit number.

Dialing an Outside Number from Off Campus

To call a number inside the university telephone system from a number outside the system, dial 202-885 plus the four-digit extension. 

For calls from outside the system to the Washington College of Law building, dial 202-274 plus the four-digit extension. 

Direct-dialed calls bypass the university telephone operator.

Dialing a Domestic Long Distance Number from On Campus

To call a domestic long distance number, dial 9, 1, the area code, and the seven-digit number being called.

Dialing Outside the U.S.

If you are required to place international business calls, your department will need to request an international dialing code for you, by contacting the IT Help Desk at 202-885-2550, helpdesk@american.edu, or via help.american.edu.

An international card will be issued, which must be used for official business only.

Individuals and their associated departments are individually billed and responsible for their calls.

Dialing an International Number from On Campus

  1. To call an international long distance number, dial 9, 011, the country code, the city code, and the local number being called.
  2. Wait for the steady tone, and enter your eight-digit PIN.

Standard Telephone Features

Auto dial lets you program a specific telephone number by pressing a special key.

To program or update

  1. Without lifting the handset, press the Auto Dial button. You will see a flashing indicator. 
  2. Dial the number to be programmed.
  3. Press the Auto Dial button again and the flashing indicator will disappear. 
  4. Be sure to enter a 9 and/or 1, if you are programming an off-campus or long distance number.

To call a programmed number

  1. Lift your handset or press your extension number key to hear a dial tone.
  2. Press the desired Auto Dial button. The number will automatically be dialed.

You may use this feature to forward your incoming calls to another campus extension. This is convenient for times when you are away from your desk and either wish to receive your calls elsewhere or would like someone else to answer calls on your behalf.

To activate

  • Without lifting the handset, press the Forward button. You will see a flashing indicator. Dial the four-digit extension of the AU phone where you want your calls forwarded. Press the Forward button again and the indicator will remain steady.

To cancel

  • Press the Forward button and the indicator will disappear.

To reinstate forwarding to the last forwarded number

  • Press the Forward button twice and the indicator will remain steady.

Using call pickup, you can answer a ringing telephone from any telephone in your predefined group of colleagues.

To respond

  1. When you hear a colleague's phone ringing, lift your handset so you hear a dial tone.
  2. Press either the Call Pickup button or *7 in sequence to answer the call.

You can set up a conference call for up to six parties, including yourself.

To activate with a call in progress

  1. Press the Conference button. The other party is placed on consultation hold and you will hear a dial tone. 
  2. Dial the number of the third party to add. 
  3. Greet the third party in privacy. 
  4. Press Conference again to include all three parties.
  5. If necessary, repeat the procedure to include up to six parties in the conference.

You can intercom a colleague within your office.

To use

  1. Press your I/C button. You will hear a dial tone. 
  2. Dial the 1-, 2-, or 3-digit intercom number.

To place a call in progress on hold

  1. Press the orange Hold button. A flashing indicator will appear beside the line on hold.

To return to the call

  • Press the line key with the flashing indicator beside it.

The speed call feature allows you to store a single telephone number that you can dial quickly.

To program or change

  1. Without lifting your handset, press the Speed Call button. A flashing indicator will appear. 
  2. Dial the 1-, 2-, or 3-digit speed call access code.
  3. Then, dial the number to be stored and press the Speed Call button again. The indicator will disappear.

To use

  1. Lift your handset or press your extension number key to hear a dial tone. 
  2. Press the Speed Call button. 
  3. Dial the 1-, 2-, or 3-digit speed call access code. The number will be automatically dialed.

To erase

  1. Without lifting your handset, press the Speed Call button. A flashing indicator will appear.
  2. Dial the 1-, 2-, or 3-digit speed call access code.
  3. Then, press the * button and the stored number will be automatically erased.
  4. Press the Speed Call button again. The indicator will disappear.

You may use this feature to transfer a caller to another campus extension.

To activate with a call in progress

  1. Press the Transfer button. The other party is placed on consultation hold, and you will hear a dial tone.
  2. Dial the extension that you want to transfer the call to.
  3. Announce the caller in privacy.
  4. Press Transfer again to complete the transfer.
  5. Then, hang up.

Setting Up Your Voice Mailbox

Instructions for setting up, accessing, and using the AVST Voice Mail system are available online.

If you have problems with your campus telephone or mailbox, or if you have any questions, please contact the IT Help Desk at 202-885-2550, helpdesk@american.edu, or via help.american.edu.

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Locating Campus Number
Locating Outside Local Number

For information on numbers not listed in the directory, dial 0 or x1000 to reach the university telephone operator or search the online directory.

For directory assistance information for the D.C. metropolitan area, you may use the Verizon SuperPages, a free online version of the local residential, business, and government listings. To access the SuperPages, go to the http://www.superpages.com website.

Please note that toll charges apply to all local or long distance directory assistance information calls.