by Teri Lyons

OIT's Campus Information Services (CIS) is the first point of contact and the main information source for customers calling the University of Maryland. It is responsible for answering in-bound calls and distributing information to the denizens of the university community, as well as to members of the general public. CIS receives an average of 1500 to 2000 calls a day. In the year 2000, it received a total of 408,597 calls.

Because CIS is a frontline service for the university, it receives a wide variety of calls, local as well as from other states and overseas. Most callers are trying to make important connections with university departments and individuals. While CIS does its best to answer, or refer, all questions, some are more challenging than others.

1. "I don’t have a window in my room. Can you tell what the weather is like?"
2. "What kind of stores are on McKeldin Mall?"
3. One person called to order vacuum bags.
4. The day after the final exam period was over a caller wanted to know, "Where do I take my finals?"
5. On the day of Commencement a caller asked, "When is graduation? Where is it held? How do I go about getting tickets? How do I order a cap and gown?"
6. "We were evacuated from our building. Can you tell me when is it safe to go back in?"
7. "I have a squirrel stuck in my chimney! What should I do?"
8. "I’m putting my mattress on the floor. What should I do with the headboard?"
9. Can you "connect me, and give me the number" to.
10. "Who are the Native people of Maryland, especially in Prince George's County?"

CIS hours of operation are: Sunday, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Eight full-time employees and five student employees are scheduled across several shifts to make sure all of the hours are covered.

Open a New Window to Rate This Article