BU has been using the Zoom videoconferencing tool for setting up distance and remote meetings. Here’s a quick guide for getting started with Zoom.

Booking a meeting

To request a booking with one of BU’s paid accounts, send an email to helpdesk@brandonu.ca with the meeting details like start date/time and end date/time. You will then receive an invitation to the zoom meeting with a link for the meeting and other meeting details. You can then forward that invitation along to all of your remote participants.

Joining a meeting

To join a meeting, you will first need an invitation. One should have been sent to you in advance of a meeting. Within the meeting invitation will be a link, and you can join the meeting be simply clicking on the link.

If you have never used Zoom from your device before, you will be directed quickly to either install Zoom from the App store, or on Windows/Mac simply be prompted with confirmation to proceed with installing Zoom. This process usually takes only a minute or two. Once that one time install is complete, you will be prompted for a desired display name in the meeting, and will join the meeting.

Just a reminder, although it is not required, it is highly recommended to have a microphone and camera on the device you are joining from in order to participate fully.

Change your video background

Zoom permits you to change your background. Brandon University has provided a number of campus images for you to use with Zoom.

Free accounts

You are able to create a free account with Zoom and you can access all its features, except for one limit. You are unable to host Group Meetings longer than 40 minutes. Meetings that are just 1 to 1 there is no time limit.

To create a free Zoom account Click Here to take you to the sign up page.

Best practices

Secure your meeting by setting a meeting password.

Allowing users to join before you arrive makes joining the meetings easier for your guests.

Change the phone numbers in the meeting invite. Default settings for things like phone numbers will list USA, so if you want Canada numbers to show you need to go into settings on the account and choose/add which numbers get listed. Attendees are strongly encourage to join by the Zoom app using the Audio/Video features instead of calling in as even the Canadian numbers are in Ontario and will likely incur long distance charges.

Once you are in your meeting, if you are the host, and all the attendees are present, you are able to lock the meeting so no unwanted visitors are able join.

If you need any help finding/changing settings or any other concerns email us at helpdesk@brandonu.ca