For the best functionality, we recommend that you download and install the desktop application. To install the Teams desktop application, follow the directions below:

• To install with Office 365
• To install with Windows
• To install with Mac OS

The Teams mobile app can be installed on a smart phone or tablet. Directions are below:

• To install on an Android device
• To install on a IOS device

You can also access Teams using 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.

For more information about the differences between Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive, please visit the What to Use When page.

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.

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.

Unfortunately, there is no way to roll out a phone number to an individual user before the rollout date. You will receive your Teams phone number on the rollout date; check out the Teams Project page for the most up-to-date information about the phone number rollout.

During this phase of the project, faculty and staff will be given an individual phone number in Teams. You cannot opt-out of the 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.

Not all employees at UWM currently have an individual phone number.

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.

Shared phone numbers are not a part of this phase of the project.

No, only individual phone lines are part of this phase of the project. Fax machines and credit card machines will be addressed in later phases of the project.

Yes, College of General Studies (CGS) faculty and staff will receive a Teams number during the rollout. However, based on current phone configuration, CGS employees may continue to use both their individual phone number and their Teams phone number. There will be additional communication for CGS staff.

Yes, when your desktop phone transitions to Teams you will have the same phone functionality plus voicemail!

For more information, see the Teams Project Page.

Academic staff, university staff, limited-term and faculty are included in the Teams phone number rollout. Emeritus and sponsored accounts are not included in this rollout.

Those who are students, student employees, teaching assistants and other student employment positions are not included in this rollout.

To make a phone call using Teams, you will use the Calls portion of Teams. Some features of using Teams Calls:

• Answer and make calls from any device with the Teams app.
• If someone is saved as a contact, you can call them with one click.
• No need to dial 8 or 9 first when dialing a phone number.
• If you are dialing a number, you must dial all 10 digits (3-digit area code + 7-digit phone number).
• Voicemail is automatically set up and will transcribe messages and email you an audio file and transcription.

If you currently have an individual phone number, your phone number will be migrated to Teams over the summer. You will have a temporary Teams phone number until this time.

If the internet is down, you will not be able to make or receive calls using Teams.

This phase of the project is for individual phone numbers only. If you utilize a shared phone number, you will get an individual Teams phone number for your own use and the shared phone number will still be available for use.

In the coming phases of the project, we will reach out to those with shared phone numbers, front desk/departmental numbers and call center phones.

The 911 system in Teams will enable you to place a call from your computer to a 911 operator if there is power to your computer and it has an internet connection. Your location information will be your office location at UWM. If you are not in your office, you will need to provide your current location to the 911 operator.

If calling 911, it is recommended that you verify your location with the 911 operator.

If you have saved voicemails, they will not transfer to Teams. To check your voicemail on your individual phone line, follow the steps in this UWM Knowledgebase article.

Faculty and staff at the main Milwaukee campus can have their individual phone number forwarded to Teams. To forward your individual phone number to Teams, please fill out this form.

Faculty and staff at the College of General Studies (CGS) will need to reach out to the telephony staff at their location to have their individual phone number forwarded to Teams.

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.

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.

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 UWM TechStore. Please visit their website to see the full list of speakers, desk phones, and wireless headphones that are available. Those devices that have been approved will be listed on the Teams Devices webpage on the UWM TechStore’s online shop.

Desk phones offered through the UWM TechStore will only function on UWM’s on-site network, they are not for remote-home use.