Case Study: Friends University achieves improved multi-campus collaboration and unified messaging with InterCall

Multiple–Campus University Improves Collaboration with Unified Communications

Friends University, a private Christian liberal arts university headquartered in Wichita with three campuses across Kansas and about 500 faculty and staff supporting 3,000+ students, needed better collaboration across locations and a replacement for an aging voicemail system. Distance made face‑to‑face meetings difficult and traveling faculty and adjuncts required easier access to messages and conferencing tools.

The university upgraded to Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and Exchange Server 2007 under a campus license, integrating the new unified communications and unified messaging features with its existing Avaya PBX via a SIP gateway. The phased rollout delivered low‑cost remote conferencing, presence and video capabilities, voicemail in Outlook and mobile access, improved IT reliability and management, and stronger collaboration across campuses—laying the groundwork for future SharePoint and portal initiatives.

Friends University

Kevin Lyerla

The University’s Technology Infrastructure Manager