Archives: Bulletins

On Tuesday, May 25, Information Technology Services (ITS) implemented a Microsoft policy update for all Mason-managed Windows devices. This change helps enhance university security.

This update requires Windows users to enter both their NetID and Patriot Pass Password each time they sign into a Mason-managed Windows device. Previously, Windows devices displayed the NetID of the last logged-on user, in which case users often only entered their Patriot Pass Password to log into their computers.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the ITS Support Center at 703-993-8870 or [email protected].

Microsoft is disabling the Zoom Plug-in for Macs. The specific timeline for when Microsoft will disable the Zoom plug-in has not been specified, so ITS recommends migrating to the Zoom Add-in for Outlook now to avoid any disruptions in your work.

To continue scheduling Zoom meetings directly from Outlook on your Mac, you will need to uninstall the Microsoft Zoom Plug-in and install the Zoom Add-in.

Note: the Outlook plug-in for Windows is not being retired and will continue to function as usual.

Actions to Take:

Uninstall the Microsoft Zoom Plug-in for Mac

• Close all Office applications
• Open Finder
• Click Applications
• Control-click Zoom Plug-in for Outlook and click Move to Trash, or drag it to the Trash. (Be sure not to inadvertently trash Zoom.us)

Install the Zoom Add-in for Outlook for Mac

• See How to Add & Use the Zoom Add-in for Outlook for instructions on how to get the Outlook Add-In.

If the Zoom Plug-in is not uninstalled before Microsoft disables it, it will not load when you attempt to schedule or start meetings. While it is recommended that you install the add-in for the same ease of experience, you can also schedule Zoom meetings from Mason’s Zoom Web Portal.

For more information on why Microsoft is disabling the plug-in, please reference this Microsoft support article.

For questions regarding the download and installation of the add-in, contact the ITS Support Center at 703-993-8870 or [email protected].

This summer, George Mason University’s student email account and Microsoft services will be migrated from MasonLive to Office 365, the email and calendar system for all current Mason faculty and staff.

For more information on the change, visit the Student Office 365 Migration Roadmap. This roadmap includes a detailed timeline and information on how to help students, student wage employees, and faculty/staff prepare for the transition.

The purpose of this change is to simplify service offerings at Mason, improve university-wide collaboration, deliver a consistent user experience across campus, and provide additional Microsoft resources to students, such as Microsoft Teams.

To Determine How This Change May Affect You

See What to Expect During the Student Office 365 Migration (Role Matrix)

What’s Changing for MasonLive Users

• Your MasonLive (email and calendar) and OneDrive files will automatically be migrated to the Office 365 system
• Your MasonLive address ([email protected]) will change to your Office 365 address ([email protected])
• Any mail sent to your @masonlive.gmu.edu address AFTER the migration will be automatically forwarded to your new @gmu.edu address
• You will use your Patriot Pass Password to access your email
• You will access your email account via https://mso365.gmu.edu

Important Notes for Mason Faculty and Staff

• This migration DOES NOT affect your faculty and staff email; Your @gmu.edu account remains your primary account
• For those who currently have accounts on both MasonLive and the Office 365 system, MasonLive information will be copied to their existing @gmu.edu account

How MasonLive Users Can Prepare

• Review the timeline and full details about what is changing on the Student Office 365 Migration Roadmap
• Review the Student Office 365 Migration Checklist for info on what to do before, during, and after the email migration.
• Moving to Office 365 requires Duo Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). If you do not have 2FA yet, visit password.gmu.edu, log in, and select “2FA Account Management Menu” from the left menu to enroll. To learn more about 2FA and enrollment, go to 2fa.gmu.edu.

Stay Tuned for More Info

• • If you have questions about this email migration, see Student Office 365 Migration FAQs.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the ITS Support Center at 703-993-8870.

This evening, Monday, April 26, from 11 to 11:30 p.m., there will be a network outage, including the Wi-Fi and wired networks and telephone services, in the following buildings on the Fairfax Campus while Information Technology Services (ITS) conducts emergency maintenance to address a software bug.

• Art and Design Building
• Innovation Hall
• Nguyen Engineering Building
• Research Hall
• Shenandoah Office (Parking Services)
• Shenandoah Parking Deck

Impact on users: During the maintenance period, the Wi-Fi and wired networks and telephone services will be briefly unavailable. University emergency services will remain in service.

ITS staff will restore service as quickly as possible and appreciate your patience.

If you have any questions or experience any issues connecting to the network after this maintenance, please contact the ITS Support Center at [email protected] or 703-993-8870.

On Wednesday, April 21, from 10:00 to 10:30 p.m., Information Technology Services (ITS) will be making changes to the Cisco AnyConnect Virtual Private Network (VPN). After the maintenance period, the VPN client will automatically update upon launch for all users on managed or unmanaged computers.

Impact of the change on users:
The VPN may be intermittently and briefly unavailable during the maintenance period.

Windows users: After completing the installation of the updates, you will need to reboot your Windows computers.

For information about the VPN, see its.gmu.edu/vpn.

If you need assistance or have issues connecting to the VPN after the maintenance period, please contact the ITS Support Center at 703-993-8870.