About Zoom at Bowdoin

Summary

An overview of Zoom at Bowdoin — what it is, who can use it, how licensing works for faculty, staff, and students, when to consider Microsoft Teams instead, and what IT support is available.

Body

Questions

  • What is Zoom and how does Bowdoin use it?
  • Who is allowed to use Zoom at Bowdoin?
  • Can students use Zoom to host their own meetings?
  • How do I get started with Zoom at Bowdoin?
  • Does Bowdoin provide Zoom to all faculty, staff, and students?
  • Why does my Zoom meeting end after 40 minutes?
  • Should I use Zoom or Microsoft Teams?
  • What IT support is available for Zoom?
  • Can I get help setting up Zoom for a classroom or meeting space?

Environment

This article applies to all Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students. Zoom is available on Windows 11, macOS Sequoia (15.x) or later, iPadOS, iOS, and via a web browser.

Resolution

What Is Zoom?

Zoom is one of Bowdoin's two supported video conferencing platforms, used for virtual meetings, webinars, and screen sharing. A host can invite up to 300 participants from anywhere, on any device, and licensed hosts can record meetings to the cloud for later review. Microsoft Teams is Bowdoin's other supported platform and is often the simpler choice for everyday meetings (see below).

Bowdoin's Zoom service is available at bowdoin.zoom.us. Sign in with your Bowdoin username and password using Single Sign-On (SSO).

Who Can Use Zoom?

Everyone at Bowdoin can sign in to Zoom, but what your account includes depends on your role:

  • Faculty have a full Zoom Pro account automatically — no request needed.
  • Staff have a Basic account, which limits meetings they host to 40 minutes. Staff can request a Pro license to host longer meetings.
  • Students have a Basic account limited to 40-minute hosted meetings, with local recording only (no cloud recording). Students can request temporary Pro access for a specific need.

No signup is required — your account is automatically available when you sign in with your Bowdoin credentials. For details on what each license includes and how to request more, see Zoom Licensing at Bowdoin in the Related Articles section.

Should You Use Zoom or Microsoft Teams?

For most everyday meetings — especially ones you want to record — Microsoft Teams is often the better choice. It has no meeting-length limit for anyone, records to your OneDrive, and lets external guests join without a license or the desktop app. Zoom is the better choice for large interactive meetings, webinars, and public-facing events. For a full comparison, see Choosing Between Zoom and Microsoft Teams at Bowdoin in the Related Articles section.

IT Support for Zoom

Zoom is managed by Bowdoin Information Technology (IT) and supported by the Service Desk and Classroom Technology Services. Support is available for:

  • Connectivity issues and sign-in problems
  • License requests for longer meetings, large meetings, and webinars
  • Zoom setup in classrooms, labs, and meeting spaces

IT does not attend individual Zoom meetings as a routine service, but classroom-specific consults are available on request. Submit a request through the Service Catalog links in the Related Services section.

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.

Details

Details

Article ID: 66100
Created
Fri 10/26/18 11:20 AM
Modified
Thu 7/9/26 10:26 AM

Related Articles

Related Articles (7)

Access Zoom Training Through LinkedIn Learning
Instructions for accessing a self-paced Zoom training course on LinkedIn Learning, available to all Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students.
Choosing Zoom vs. Microsoft Teams
Helps faculty, staff, and students decide whether to use Microsoft Teams or Zoom for a meeting or event at Bowdoin. Covers meeting length limits, recording and storage, internal vs. external attendees, large events and webinars, and a side-by-side comparison.
Compare Zoom Features: Desktop App, Web, and iPad
A feature comparison table for the Zoom desktop app (Windows and macOS), the iPad and iOS app, and the Zoom web client, covering meeting controls, host tools, security, screen sharing, chat, and settings.
Create a Zoom Meeting
Instructions for scheduling and starting a Zoom meeting, including step-by-step setup through the desktop app and Zoom web portal, with guidance on key security and audio settings.
Record a Zoom Meeting to Cloud Storage
How to record a Zoom meeting to the cloud at Bowdoin, where cloud recordings are stored (Panopto), and how to record from the desktop app, a mobile device, or the web app. Notes that cloud recording requires a Pro license; students on a Basic account should record locally or use Microsoft Teams.
Tour the Zoom Desktop App
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.
Zoom Licensing at Bowdoin
Details about Bowdoin's Zoom site license — what's included, meeting capacity limits, how to request a webinar license, where cloud recordings are stored, and the dial-in audio policy.

Related Services / Offerings

Related Services / Offerings (2)

Request a Consult for a Hybrid Class or Event
Request hands-on help for a specific upcoming hybrid class or event in a classroom or lab — bringing in a remote guest speaker, running a hybrid session, or recording — including help deciding and setting up the right platform.
Zoom
Zoom is one of Bowdoin's supported web-conferencing platforms. Faculty are licensed automatically; staff and students have a 40-minute account and can request a Pro, Large Meeting, or Webinar license here. Also report Zoom problems or get help using Zoom in a classroom.