Zoom Licensing at Bowdoin

Questions

  • What Zoom license does Bowdoin have?
  • What features are included in my Bowdoin Zoom account?
  • How many people can join a Zoom meeting at Bowdoin?
  • Can I host a Zoom webinar? How do I request a webinar license?
  • Where are my Zoom cloud recordings stored?
  • Can participants dial in to a Zoom meeting by phone?
  • Will my department be charged if someone uses Zoom dial-in audio?
  • What happens to a recording after I record a Zoom meeting to the cloud?

Environment

This article applies to all Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students. Bowdoin holds a site license that automatically provides a full Zoom Pro account to everyone in the community.

Resolution

What Is Included in Your Zoom License

Bowdoin's Zoom site license gives all faculty, staff, and students access to Zoom Pro features, including:

  • Hosting and attending unlimited meetings
  • Meetings with up to 300 participants
  • Cloud recording (stored in Panopto — see below)
  • Screen sharing, breakout rooms, polling, and live captions

Webinar Licenses

Zoom webinar licenses are not included in Bowdoin's standard site license. A limited number of webinar licenses are available to borrow for short periods. To request a webinar license, contact the Service Desk or submit a request through the Service Catalog.

Cloud Recordings and Panopto

When you record a Zoom meeting to the cloud, the recording is processed by Zoom and then automatically transferred to Panopto, Bowdoin's video storage platform. Zoom does not store cloud recordings long-term. After a meeting ends, wait for processing to complete and then retrieve your recording from Panopto.

Dial-In Audio

Important — Do Not Use Dial-In Audio: Bowdoin has not subscribed to a Zoom dial-in phone plan. If you or any meeting participant chooses the dial-in audio option, the call costs will be charged directly to your department. Always select Computer Audio (or Join with Computer Audio) when starting or joining a Zoom meeting.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
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Related Articles (9)

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Overview of Zoom at Bowdoin - what the platform is, who can use it, and how to request IT support or a tutorial.
Delete Zoom Cloud Recordings
How to delete one or more Zoom cloud recordings from the Bowdoin Zoom web portal, including details on the 30-day trash period and the 180-day automatic deletion policy.
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How to request a Zoom webinar license at Bowdoin and use it to schedule, set up roles, run, and end a webinar — including managing panelists, Q&A, and the practice session.
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Recommended Zoom meeting settings for faculty and staff hosting synchronous meetings or classes, covering meeting ID, security, audio, video, and participant options.
Record a Zoom Meeting to Cloud Storage
How to start, pause, and stop a Zoom cloud recording from the desktop app, mobile app, or web client — and where to find the recording after the meeting ends.
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A guided tour of the Zoom desktop app for Windows and macOS, covering how to sign in, navigate the Home tab, and use in-meeting controls. Includes a short overview video.
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