The University may cut back on the number of telephone landlines in dorms as a way to eliminate unnecessary costs, Chief Housing Officer Mark Doherty said.
“We’re currently looking at the possibility of removing the landlines for most of the spaces in the residence halls,” Doherty said. “I say most because we would leave landlines in [residence staff] spaces and install new emergency phones in the residence halls.”
Doherty noted that students will still have the option of securing a landline in their dorms. He added that the removal of landlines would be coupled with an initiative to improve cellphone reception, and noted that students will pay less room and board fees as a result of the decision to eliminate landlines.
“Currently, we and the students, in their rent, pay a substantial amount for that landline service,” Doherty said. “We’re looking for ways to cut the expenses that need to be passed on to students without cutting the necessary services to them, especially in these tough economic times.”
The University’s decision to eliminate landline service mirrors a trend seen at some other higher education institutions. The College of William and Mary also recently decided to eliminate landlines in dorms.
Deb Boykin, William and Mary director of Residence Life, explained the decision by citing a 2007 survey that found that 92 percent of students were using cell phones, rather than landlines, as their primary telephone line.
William and Mary was “paying for services no one was using,” Boykin said. He added that the costs will be relocated toward increasing internet bandwidth on campus and installing a Distributed Antenna System to increase cell phone service.
Boykin added, however, that William and Mary students will have access to a hall phone for emergency and local calls and can opt to pay an activation fee to install phones in their dorms after landlines have been eliminated.
“This is helpful for international students who like this sort of convenience to make long distance calls,” Boykin said.
Third-year College student Nader Yuson said he is pleased with the University’s new plans to eliminate landlines.
“I don’t use my phone and I don’t know anyone who does,” Yuson said. “But I think there should be one landline in each suite or hall.”
Doherty said the University is currently working with the University’s Information Technology and Communication office to work out the details and dates of the landline elimination before the end of the semester.
—Rodger Nayak contributed to this article.
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