Please view our frequently asked questions to find more information on Teams Calling and the project itself. This list will continue to grow throughout the project, please check back for updates as the project progresses.
GeneralFor the best functionality, we recommend that you download and install the desktop application. To install the Teams desktop application, follow the directions below:
The Teams mobile app can be installed on a smartphone or tablet. Directions are below:
You can also access Teams using Microsoft 365 (previously Office 365) on the web but there are limitations to functionality. For this reason, we recommend that you download and install the desktop app and do not use the online version.
Check out the Resources section on this site! There you will find one-page quick start guides, robust KnowledgeBase articles, online videos, and hands-on training for learning more about Teams.
Yes, as long as the user has an existing, or creates a new, account with Microsoft, they will be able to collaborate with you in Teams!
For instructions on how to have one-on-one chats with external users please visit the UWM Knowledge Base website.
For more information on the Guest User Experience please visit Microsoft’s website.
Teams allows you to collaboratively work with your team. Features such as Chat, Teams and file sharing allow you to share information, edit and create files and work together in a virtual space. Files stored in a Team are readable and editable by any member of the Team.
SharePoint is another way to access the files that are in the Files space of a Team. Using SharePoint, you can share those files to people outside of the Team.
OneDrive is a personal file storage space. It is meant for your personal files, work in progress and is the preferred space to save files if they do not belong in Teams or SharePoint. Use OneDrive instead of saving files on your computer’s desktop or hard drive.
Microsoft Teams is the overall application that houses an array of communication and collaboration tools such as Chat, Teams and Calls.
Teams Sites are housed within the Teams tab in Microsoft Teams and are where groups of users can collaboratively work towards an end goal.
Yes, see the UWM Libraries page on Electronic Records for more information about records retention and see the Public Records Reminder for information about public records.
UWM does have a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with Microsoft which results in Microsoft Teams being a HIPAA compliant solution. Although the platform itself is HIPAA compliant, it is still the responsibility of the individual to use the platform in a safe and secure manner that aligns with HIPAA compliance guidelines. Further, while the platform is HIPAA compliant, the UWM Information Security Department recommends minimizing the collection and storage of HIPAA-covered data within the Teams environment whenever possible.
No, Skype for Business has been retired at UWM. All Skype users can find the same functionality using Teams.
If you have Skype for Business installed on your computer, it will remain installed until Microsoft officially retires the product. If you try to use Skype for Business, you will be prompted to use Teams instead.
UWM currently utilizes Microsoft services for email, calendar, file storage, and collaboration. Adding the Calls component within Teams makes for a complete suite of communication products that can work seamlessly together.
Through this project, faculty and staff at UWM will have access to their own individual phone number, voicemail and calling features without additional charges to their individual department.
Students, student employees, TA’s and those in emeritus status are not eligible for a Teams phone number.
During this project, UWM is migrating its current telephony system to Microsoft Teams; there is no way to opt out of this project.
An individual phone number refers to a direct number assigned to you as an individual and employee at UWM. This number would be the phone number someone would call to speak to you directly or to leave you a voicemail.
A shared phone number refers to a number that reaches a group of individuals or a department/location. For example, a phone number shared by multiple employees, the front desk for a department, reception area, or call center.
Fax machines and credit card machines will be addressed in a later phase of the project.
Yes, College of General Studies (CGS) faculty and staff will receive a Teams number during the rollout.
By the end of October 2021, CGS will have its telephony services fully migrated to Microsoft Teams. For more information on this change, please visit the CGS Teams Project webpage.
If the internet is down, you will not be able to make or receive calls using Teams.
In Phase 2 of the project, we will reach out to those with shared phone numbers, front desk/departmental numbers and call trees.
Within Teams Calling, you are able to make phone calls as you would with any other phone service. With all 911 calls, it is essential that you share your exact location immediately with the dispatcher whether you are calling from Teams, a personal cell phone, or any other device.
Calling features only work through Teams if there is power to your computer and it has an internet connection, or if you are using the Teams Mobile App on your cell phone or other devices.
If you have saved voicemails, they will not transfer to Teams.
Faculty and staff who had a voicemail box on their individual phone line will have until August 28, 2020 to listen to voicemail messages. On August 28, the service will be cut off and you will no longer have access to this voicemail box.
After a new faculty or staff member is hired, the process begins to assign them a number in Microsoft Teams. Once the phone number has been assigned, the new employee will receive a Teams Calling welcome email with their phone number and resources for learning to use Teams Calling.
For directions on how to update your phone information so that your current phone number appears in the UWM directory, see this UWM KnowledgeBase Article.
If you do not have the necessary equipment to use Teams Calls and need a headset, you can reserve a headset by filling out the Teams Headset Reservation Form.
Departments that employ students (such as TA’s and other student workers) can purchase a headset for those students at the UWM TechStore.
Existing desk phones will not work with Teams.
If you are using your own headphones, it depends on the device if they will be compatible with Teams Calls. If you have questions about device compatibility, please contact the UWM Help Desk at 414-229-4040 or visit uwm.edu/help.
Several devices have been tested and approved by University IT Services for campus usage of Teams Calling. These devices are available for purchase through the IT Purchase Request Form.
Approved desk phones will only function on UWM’s on-site network, they are not for remote-home use.