Introduction
As you may know, in 2025 SUNY Cortland decided to join numerous other SUNY campuses to incorporate telephone, web conferencing and video conferencing services into the existing Microsoft Teams service. The change eliminates duplicative technology and expense while maintaining and enhancing core communication and collaboration services.
Since the decision, IR staff have actively engaged in “technical discovery and planning,” preparing to formally introduce the change to the SUNY Cortland community.
This message serves as a continued introduction and outlines the timeline for the transition, what you can expect, and how you may obtain more information should you have questions or concerns.
As we wrap up our work in technical discovery, planning, and testing – we are looking forward to piloting Teams Calling and having conversations about the project with the SUNY Cortland community. Keep an eye out for monthly communications starting in March and continuing through August.
A friendly reminder that we will be switching Phone Providers this Friday, February 27th at 4:30pm. For more information – please visit our Service Status page and see the Planned Maintenance section.
Testing
IR staff are currently conducting end-to-end testing to confirm that all components of the new environment generally function as expected.
Pilot
The transition of telephone and conferencing services will begin with a subset of individuals, offices and conference rooms to identify any remaining issues before the campus wide deployment. The pilot will include all of Information Resources, including the Technology Help Center call queue, two conference rooms (Memorial Library B301Q and Memorial Library B304A), and an “early adopter” cohort.
Pilot participants and early adopters are expected to provide timely feedback to help refine system configuration, training, and support, and to participate in the extended collegial support network during the campus-wide transition. The pilot will prepare all IR staff and other “early adopters” to answer basic questions and help the campus community during the transition.
Training and Stakeholder Outreach
Campus Technology Trainer, Julia Morog, is curating and developing learning resources and opportunities including documentation, on-line tutorials, and workshops to help you get comfortable with Teams Calling.
Starting in March, the Project Manager, Varya McCaslin-Doyle and our co-Project Sponsors, Ben Patrick (Director of Networking and Telecommunications) and Shaun Black (Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer) will update several stakeholder groups, including, but not limited to, the Provost Cabinet, President’s Advisory Council, and Chairs Councils. If you would like to meet to talk about the project, please let us know.
Deployment
The deployment schedule is tentative – we want to make sure we take our lessons learned from the pilot into our deployment. We anticipate moving offices with a call center queue first, followed by student facing offices and academic departments. We look forward to sharing more with you in our next project update in March.
We expect to start rolling out to campus in mid-April subject to what we learn during the pilot phase. Our priority is minimizing disruption to your work.
What Can I Look Forward To?
Microsoft Teams Calling lets your campus phone number go wherever you go.
Whether you're moving between classrooms, offices, or working remotely, you can make and receive calls from any device using the same campus phone number. No desk phone, no forwarding, no hassle, just simple, seamless communication wherever your day takes you.
One Place for Calls, Meetings, Messages
In a busy higher-ed environment, you can manage calls, meetings, and messages right inside Teams—no switching apps, no juggling devices. Everything you need to connect with colleagues and students’ lives in a single, organized hub, making your day simpler and more efficient.
Better Collaboration with Colleagues and Students
With calls, chats, and meetings connected in one platform, it’s simple to reach colleagues, support students, and work together in real time—whether you’re on campus or remote. Communication becomes smoother, faster, and more organized, helping everyone stay aligned and productive.
Designed for Hybrid Work
Whether faculty and staff are on campus, working from home, or supporting students on the go, Teams Calling keeps communication consistent and professional from any device. With your work number, meetings, and messages all in one secure platform, it supports a seamless workflow that fits naturally with flexible telecommuting arrangements.
Reduce Department Costs
By replacing traditional desk phones and standalone conferencing equipment with a single, software-based communications and collaboration platform, departments no longer need to purchase, maintain, or refresh expensive telephone equipment. Faculty and staff can use the devices they already have (laptops, desktops, or mobile phones) while still accessing a full-featured calling and meeting experience. The result is a modern communication system that reduces expenses and simplifies support across campus.
Questions and Concerns
Did you say, “No desk phones?”
Yes, this is to say that a “no desk phones” (a.k.a. “softphone first”) approach maximizes the benefits of Teams Calling. There are situations where physical phones will still be required, including campus emergency phones, elevator phones and credit card processing.
Are we saying “Good-Bye” to Cisco Webex?
Yes. Retiring Webex removes duplication—while giving you a single, reliable hub for everything you do.
We understand that saying Good-Bye to Webex may cause uneasiness. We ask that you please reach out to us about any concerns you may have about the switch. We will work with you to ensure the transition from Webex to Teams is smooth and your needs are met.
How do I become an “early adopter?”
We will reach out to individuals currently using Cisco Webex Calling to invite them to become early adopters of Teams Calling. In our March campus communication - we will invite anyone interested in being an early adopter to sign up.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you are nervous about the switch or are just interested in learning more – we encourage you to review our FAQ. Our documentation is still being fine-tuned, if we haven’t answered your question – we want to know ! Submit your questions here.
Your Voice
Feedback helps us make the experience better for the whole campus. We welcome conversations about the project, will be meeting with numerous stakeholder groups on campus, and holding open information and training sessions in the weeks and months ahead.
As always you may contact IR by calling 607-753-2500, submit your feedback here, or visit The Help Center in the Memorial Library. – We look forward to hearing from you!
Learn More About the Project
Stay in the loop on the project by visiting MS Teams Project webpage for the latest updates, documentation, and project details.
Thank you,
Microsoft Teams Calling Project Team