Zoom is Mason’s supported web conferencing tool for hosting virtual class meetings, collaborating with students, and sharing content. Instructors can meet face-to-face using HD video, share screens, and present lectures or documents.
Zoom integrates directly with Canvas, making it easy to schedule, manage, and share class sessions and recordings within your course. It can be accessed through a web browser, the desktop application, or the mobile app.
Support: ITS provides assistance with Zoom account access, Canvas integration, and troubleshooting. Additional resources are available through online tutorials and peer collaboration.
Getting Started with Zoom
If you are new to Zoom at Mason, the first step is to join the university’s institutional license.
- Go to gmu.zoom.us/signin.
- Log in with your Mason NetID and Patriot Pass Password to activate your account.
- Once your account is active, you can schedule and manage Zoom sessions directly within your Canvas courses.
Note for Faculty: If you previously created a free or personal Zoom account using your Mason email address, you must switch it to the institutional license to unlock full features and Canvas integration. You will be prompted to approve the transfer when signing in at gmu.zoom.us.
Using Zoom with Canvas
Zoom can be used as a virtual meeting space within your Canvas course. You must first make Zoom visible in your course menu. To make it accessible to students, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings in your Canvas course.
- Select the Navigation tab.
- Drag Zoom from the hidden section up to the active section of your course menu.
- Click Save.
Once enabled, you and your students can use Zoom to schedule or join meetings, access personal meeting rooms, or hold virtual office hours directly from Canvas.
Schedule New Meetings
- Open the Zoom tool in your Canvas course and click Schedule a New Meeting.
- Set your meeting options (topic, date/time, recurrence, security). Tip: use your course name as the meeting topic for easy identification.
- Click Save. The meeting appears for enrolled students on the Zoom page in your Canvas course.
You can also view or modify the meeting from the Mason Zoom website or the Zoom desktop app.
When you schedule a Zoom meeting through the Canvas Zoom tool, it is automatically added to your Canvas course calendar. If you would like these events to also appear in Outlook, follow the steps in the Syncing Your Canvas Calendar to Outlook (Optional) section below.
Syncing Your Canvas Calendar to Outlook
Use this option if you’d like your Canvas calendar (including Zoom meetings) to also display in your Outlook calendar.
You can subscribe to your Canvas course calendar in Outlook so Zoom meetings (and other course events) appear automatically.
- In Canvas, open Calendar.
- On the right sidebar, click Calendar Feed and copy the iCal URL.
Outlook on the Web (Outlook 365):
- Go to your Outlook calendar (web).
- Select Add calendar → Subscribe from web.
- Paste the Canvas iCal URL, name it (e.g., “Canvas – Course Name”), choose a color, and click Import.
Outlook Desktop (Windows/Mac):
- Open Outlook Calendar.
- New Outlook: Add calendar → Subscribe from web → paste the iCal URL → Import.
Classic Outlook: File → Account Settings → Internet Calendars (or Open Calendar → From Internet…) → paste the iCal URL.
Your Outlook calendar will now display Canvas events, including Zoom sessions created through the course.
Upcoming Meetings
When you open the Zoom tool in Canvas, the Upcoming Meetings tab displays all scheduled meetings for the course.
- Click Start to begin a meeting.
- Click Delete to cancel a meeting.
- Click the meeting name to view details, edit settings, or add poll questions.
- To adjust options set during scheduling, click Edit this Meeting from the meeting details page.
Personal Meeting Room
Your Mason Zoom account includes a personal meeting room that is always available. Select Personal Meeting Room in the Zoom tool to view or edit settings and copy the join link. Students do not see this tab and cannot access your personal meeting room from Canvas.
Recordings
Zoom class sessions scheduled through Canvas are recorded to the cloud (when enabled) and appear on the Cloud Recordings tab of the associated Canvas course. Enrolled students have access to these recordings.
- On the Cloud Recordings tab, click the meeting name to view, download, or share recordings.
- Recording visibility and advanced settings are managed in your Zoom web account at gmu.zoom.us.
- Retention: Zoom cloud recordings are deleted automatically after 120 days.
All Zoom recordings are also copied into your Kaltura MyMedia library in Canvas, where they can be retained longer and published to one or more courses.
Student View
When students open the Zoom tool in Canvas, they see three tabs: Upcoming Meetings, Previous Meetings, and Cloud Recordings. Students do not see your Personal Meeting Room.
- Upcoming Meetings: Students click Join at the meeting time; password handling is automatic through the Canvas integration.
- Previous Meetings: Shows a history of past meetings for the course.
- Cloud Recordings: Students click a recording title to view available sessions.
Quick How-Tos for Zoom
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How to Host Meetings
How to Manage Audio & Video
How to Record a Meeting
How to Share Content & Present
Accessibility Features in Zoom
How to Use Mason-branded Virtual Backgrounds
Additional Resources
Links to Mason’s Zoom page, ITS Zoom service details, the Zoom Help Center, and guides on securing and managing virtual classrooms.
- Mason Zoom page
- ITS article: Zoom (ITS Service Page)
- ITS article: How do I secure my online meeting?
- Zoom Help Center
- Zoom’s Best Practices for Securing Your Virtual Classroom