Speech Auto Attendant is a mechanism for connecting users automatically to another person or department within the University by simply speaking the name of the desired party. This eliminates the need to look up phone numbers in a directory, on the web, or in a contact manager.

The Auto Attendant system is synchronized with the University’s Banner system to insure that it is automatically updated as people move around campus, or new employees come on board.

To utilize this system:

• Dial the Auto Attendant’s phone number - 92300
• Speak the name of the person or department
•  The Auto Attendant system will look up the appropriate phone number and automatically transfer your call to the requested location.

Using the Dial by Voice System

Connecting

To connect to the Auto Attendant system, dial 92300 and follow the voice prompts.

Recording Your Name

The first time that you use the Auto Attendant from your personal phone, it will request that you record your name. This is to replace the system generated pronunciation of your name and allow callers to hear your name in your own voice as they are being transferred to your number. If you do not record your name, callers will hear a synthesized voice phonetically speak your name upon transfer.

Nicknames

The Auto Attendant system has been setup to utilize your official first and last names as they are recorded in the Banner system. If, however, you go by a nickname instead of your official first name, a provision has been made to allow your preferred first name to be included in the Auto Attendant directory. To have your preferred first name included in the directory, contact Telecommunications at extension 94490.

Similar Names

Should your name be the same as, or similar to someone else on campus, the Auto Attendant system will attempt to distinguish between similar names by using the person’s department. For example: If you call the Auto Attendant and ask for "John Murphy"; the Auto Attendant might reply: "Are you looking for John Murphy from Facilities?" If you say yes, you would be connected; if you say no, the Auto Attendant would reply: "Sorry, would that be John Murphy from Athletics?" The Auto Attendant will continue through its list of similar names until you find the individual that you want.

Name Not Found

If for some reason the individual or department you are seeking is not recognized by the Auto Attendant, it will transfer you to the University Operator.

Unpublished Numbers

The Auto Attendant system is currently setup to comply with the privacy rules established in Banner. If your phone number is private, and your calls should be directed to the departmental secretary, that is the number that the Auto Attendant will transfer callers to. If the number that the Auto Attendant is transferring your calls to is incorrect, you must contact Telecommunications to have the number corrected.

Hyphenated Last Names

The names that the Auto Attendant uses are the official names that are stored in Banner. If you have a hyphenated last name, that is what the Auto Attendant will attempt to match when a person calls for you.