ITS COVID-19 Information and FAQs for Faculty

As we transition to a completely online learning environment, Information Technology Services (ITS) is ready and able to support faculty. This page will be updated regularly with the latest information and guidance, particularly in response to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) from the faculty community.

University-Supported Applications

ITS strongly encourages all faculty to utilize the following university-supported, reviewed, and approved platforms for collaborating online. These platforms have been reviewed and meet the required standards for accessibility, IT Security, and FERPA. They are also each known and supported by our ITS support teams.

While we understand the temptation to use other commercially available platforms (for example, Adobe Connect, Dropbox, Slack, Google Hangouts, etc.), we cannot guarantee they meet compliance and security requirements, nor are we able to provide technical support. We are continuing to investigate other enterprise-wide solutions that we may add to the list as they are approved.

University-Supported Teaching Platforms

Expand All    Collapse All

Blackboard

Blackboard Courses provides a secure login system and tools to create and administer face-to-face and online courses. Some of these tools include discussion forums, student group areas, text-based and real-time chat, a gradebook for securely distributing grades to enrolled students, and assessment tools for administering quizzes and exams.

Kaltura

Kaltura is a video management tool that allows faculty and students to create, host, and share video and audio inside the Blackboard Courses environment. Users upload audio and video directly to Blackboard using the Kaltura Media Mashup tool. Media uploaded resides in the users My Media Library (a personal cloud-based storage area). In the My Media library, users can choose to manage their media across all their courses, create screen recordings, or capture webcam video.

OneDrive for Business

OneDrive for Business (OneDrive) provides 1TB of cloud-based storage. OneDrive uses Office 365 to store Mason-related files in the cloud making it easy to access your files and collaborate from anywhere and from multiple devices.

University-Supported Web Conferencing Platforms

Expand All    Collapse All

Class Collaborate

Class Collaborate is an interactive web conferencing and virtual classroom environment designed for teaching and learning and real-time collaboration. It is available in all myMason Organizations and Blackboard Courses. Instructors can use Collaborate to set up virtual conferencing for their classes, while students can participate in chat and discussion sessions from anywhere.

Zoom

Zoom, available at gmu.zoom.us, is a cloud-based web conferencing tool for video and audio conferencing, collaboration, chat, and webinars across mobile devices, desktops, telephones, and room systems. 

Zoom Desktop Application

  • Mason-managed computers: The Zoom App is available for download from Software Center (PC) or Self-Service (Mac)
  • Non-managed or personal computers: visit https://zoom.us/download to download the app
  • Smartphone users may download Zoom from their app store

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft (MS) Teams is an enterprise-wide collaboration suite that lives within Mason’s Office 365 environment.  At its core, MS Teams provides chat, audio calling, video calling, screen share, and more with individuals and groups outside of a team structure.

Non-University-Supported Platforms

The circumstances surrounding COVID-19 resulted in the rapid adoption of software and technology services to enable telework and virtual instruction. Under normal operations, these solutions would be reviewed for legal compliance, IT security, and accessibility through the Architectural Standards Review process. In this urgent situation, we have become aware that Mason faculty and staff are purchasing software and agreeing to terms and conditions in a manner inconsistent with university policy. While we cannot control this rapid adoption of technology without proper review, it is important that all staff and faculty understand there are risks within every click-through agreement, and any agreement that avoids the formal review process will be the responsibility of the individual making the agreement and not George Mason University.

Support Resources for Non-Standard Software and Tools

Last modified: April 29, 2025