Zoom

Zoom is Minnesota State’s online web conferencing system and collaboration tool open to students, faculty and staff. It provides multimedia capabilities that can be used for many activities such as interactive classes, group work, online office hours and meetings.

• Safeguards to Prevent & Stop Zoom Disruptions
• Zoom Video Tutorials
• Zoom for Classroom Use Infographic
• Knowledge Base: Zoom Instructions & Tips
• Features and Demos:
  • Meeting rooms
    • 300 person meeting room capacity
    • 500 person webinar space
  • Microphone and telephone audio 
  • Video 
  • Recordings 
    • Select "Cloud" recording to have it automatically uploaded to your MinnState Kaltura MediaSpace
    • Learn about saving Zoom recordings to Minnesota State's MediaSpace
  • Screen sharing and whiteboards 
  • Breakout rooms 
  • Mobile device support 
  • Calendar integration
  • Virtual meeting backgrounds
    • Download SCSU-themed backgrounds

St. Cloud State University is moving to the Zoom Phone service!

St. Cloud State University is transitioning from our current phone system to the Zoom Phone system between December 2022 and June 2023. The Zoom Phone service will offer our campus community modernized and remote phone service capabilities including the ability to make and receive calls and text messages from their work number on their work computer, mobile device and more.

The transition to Zoom Phones will happen in phases, moving approximately 250 employees (grouped by department) each month in Spring 2023. Departments will be contacted ahead of time to discuss transition details, training and other needs. Training and support will be provided before, during and after the transition in a variety of formats. 

Why transition to the Zoom Phone system?

Communications services are critical for all operations at St. Cloud State University and a reliable phone system is necessary. The current system is outdated at nearly 20 years old with obsolete equipment and software, and is no longer supported by the vendor. In addition to technical challenges and business risks associated with an outdated system, maintaining the current system is increasingly costly. St. Cloud State University sought to implement a modern solution with more value to the campus community, reduced technical and security risk, and created a financially sustainable phone system model. Along with others within Minnesota State, St. Cloud State University selected the Zoom Phone solution which will integrate with the University’s current technology systems and create a sustainable phone system for our campus community.

What do employees/departments need to know about this change?

• Employees will be able to make and receive calls and text messages from their work numbers from their laptop, mobile device and more!
• There are many settings that employees will be able to customize including their business hours (when their phone rings), where they want their phone to ring (laptop, mobile phone, etc.) and even what hold music they want their phone to have.
• Employee phone numbers will stay the same and your customers should experience no impact on their end.
• Most employees will move from a physical desk phone to a softphone (virtual phone on their computer) and a headset. 
  • Every employee will receive one headset at no charge to the department and will have a variety of headset options to choose from (e.g. wired, wireless, puck). Departments will need to pay for replacement headsets. 
  • Physical phones will be distributed to a very limited number of areas/people based upon need (e.g. shared physical phones, accessibility needs). Areas/people in need of a physical phone will receive them at no charge to the department.
  • As our campus moves to this modernized phone system, we encourage all employees who can utilize a headset for Zoom Phone calls to do so. For employees who prefer, but do not require a physical phone (e.g. no shared physical phone or accessibility needs), departments may purchase physical phones at the full purchase price as a departmental charge.  
• This will be a big change for many on campus. Zoom and ITS will be providing live training, instructional materials and support through a variety of formats.
• The per-line phone charges to departments will continue to be $9.00 per line/user.  

Learn More:

• ITS held three open sessions in December 2022 for a presentation, demo and Q&A about the transition to Zoom Phones.
  • Open Session Recording.  
• Virtual drop-in sessions will be held every Wednesday at 1:00pm through Zoom; join to ask questions or get assistance with Zoom phones.
• Email phonesupport@stcloudstate.edu or submit a ticket to ask questions or get assistance with Zoom phones.
• Online resources available 24/7:
  • Zoom Video Tutorials
  • St. Cloud State Knowledge Base: Zoom Instructions, Tips & FAQs
  • Zoom Knowledge Base

• Data privacy policies
• FAQs Regarding Recording Lectures in Distance Learning
• Zoom meeting security and privacy

• Request Help:
  • Submit a ticket for phone support requests and questions
  • HuskyTech service desk (during posted business hours)
  • Zoom-provided support (24/7 support, including public holidays)
  • Minnesota State service desk (during posted business hours)
• Learn More Online & Self-Service Instructions (available 24/7):
  • Zoom Video Tutorials
  • St. Cloud State Knowledge Base: Zoom Instructions, Tips & FAQs
  • Zoom Knowledge Base