Body
Questions
- How does 911 work when I call from Microsoft Teams at Bowdoin?
- Will 911 dispatchers know where I am if I call from Teams?
- How does Teams know which building I am in when I call 911?
- What happens if I call 911 from Teams when I am off-campus?
- Does Bowdoin Security get notified when I call 911 from Teams?
- Is it safe to call 911 from a Teams desk phone?
- How do I check what location Teams will send to 911 dispatchers?
- Is emergency calling different on a Teams desk phone vs. the app?
Environment
This article applies to all Bowdoin College faculty and staff who use Microsoft Teams Calling. It covers how emergency calls are routed and how your location is transmitted to dispatchers, regardless of which device you call from.
- Applies to: Teams desktop app (Mac and Windows), Teams mobile app (iOS and Android), and Teams-compatible Poly desk phones
Resolution
In an emergency — call 911 first
Do not delay calling 911. In any emergency, dial 911 immediately from Teams or any other phone. Do not wait to check your location settings or read this article. Every second matters.
To call 911 from Teams, open the dial pad and dial 911 just as you would any other number. There is no prefix or special code required.
How Bowdoin routes 911 calls from Teams
Bowdoin uses Intrado, a leading emergency communications provider, to handle all 911 calls placed through Teams Calling. When you dial 911, Intrado:
- Routes your call to the correct 911 dispatch center for your location (on-campus calls route to Bowdoin Security and Brunswick Emergency Communications)
- Transmits your location information to the dispatcher automatically
- Notifies Bowdoin Security simultaneously so campus responders can be dispatched at the same time as municipal emergency services
How your location is identified on campus
On the Bowdoin campus, your location is identified primarily through the network connection your device is using:
- Wired Ethernet: The network port your computer or desk phone is plugged into is registered in Bowdoin's emergency location database with your specific building and room number. This provides the most precise location information available and requires no action on your part.
- Wireless (Wi-Fi): Your location is identified through the wireless access point your device is connected to. This is accurate to the general area or room served by that access point.
- Desk phones (Poly): The phone's Ethernet port registration is the primary location identifier. If a desk phone is moved to a different office or port, IT should be notified so the location record can be updated.
macOS and Windows location services: Enabling location services for Teams on your Mac or Windows computer provides an additional, more precise location signal. This is particularly valuable when using Wi-Fi. See the Mac and Windows E911 setup articles in the Related Articles section.
How to verify your location in Teams
- Click the ellipsis (…) next to your profile picture in Teams and select Settings.
- Click Calls in the left menu.
- Scroll down to the Emergency calling section.
- Your detected location is displayed here. Confirm it shows your correct building and room.
Location shows as unknown or incorrect? This can happen if your Ethernet port is not yet registered in the emergency location system, or if you are connected to Wi-Fi from an area with limited access point coverage. Contact the Service Desk to have your port or area registered.
Off-campus emergency calling
If you dial 911 from Teams while working off-campus — whether at home, traveling, or at another location — Intrado still handles the call and routes it to the correct local 911 dispatch center based on your best available location. Teams uses your IP address, GPS data (on mobile), or manually entered location to determine where you are.
A few important points for off-campus use:
- Be prepared to state your address. When calling 911 from any internet-based phone system off-campus, always tell the dispatcher your exact location immediately in case automatic location data is incomplete or delayed.
- Mobile devices: When calling 911 from the Teams mobile app, your phone's GPS provides highly accurate location data to dispatchers — the same data used by your phone's native 911 function.
- Bowdoin Security is not notified for off-campus calls. Campus security dispatch only occurs for calls placed on the Bowdoin network.
Emergency calling on a Teams desk phone
Poly Teams desk phones support 911 calling the same way the Teams app does. The phone's location is determined by the Ethernet port it is connected to at the time of the call.
Moved your desk phone? If you have moved your Poly phone to a new office or connected it to a different Ethernet port, your emergency location record may still point to the previous location. Contact the Service Desk to update the registration before you need it.
Additional Help
If you need further assistance, you have several options:
- Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
- Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
- In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
- Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.