Attention Zoom users,

For the start of the Fall 2020 term, we will be releasing some configuration changes to Zoom at the University of Alberta. Starting Monday August 31st, 2020 the following changes will be enabled in Zoom: 

• Meeting Passcodes will be required when scheduling a meeting. This should not impact students accessing course meetings through eClass as meeting links in the integration will allow the user to join directly with 1-click access. This change is required because Zoom will be enforcing a global settings change later in September requiring a passcode or waiting room on all meetings. Note: this change will mean that meetings created prior to Aug. 31st, 2020 that do not have a passcode will have the waiting room automatically added after September 28th.
• Zoom meetings in eClass will no longer automatically populate Alternative Hosts in meetings based off of instructor/TA/Designer roles in eClass courses. For new meetings, this means instructors and TAs will need to add Alternative Hosts manually if required.
• Virtual backgrounds will be enabled at a site level to allow instructors to upload custom backgrounds.
• Instructors will be able to optionally require that their meetings only allow authenticated UofA zoom users entry, which will:
• Remove the option for users to change their displayed name in meetings.
• Allow instructors to enable video and audio watermarks to identify any users who record during a meeting.
• Allow instructors to pre-assign participants to breakout rooms when scheduling a meeting.
• Note: choosing any of these options for a meeting will require that students authenticate using their UAlberta CCID credentials before being able to join the meeting. 
• The following Zoom companion apps for 3rd party systems have been Pre-approved for use:
  
  • G Suite
  • 10to8 Scheduling
  • Otter.ai Live Notes for Zoom

These changes are being implemented to promote a more seamless experience for Zoom users, and to provide instructors with the most secure options available within the Zoom platform. If you have any questions about these changes, please contact us at eclass@ualberta.ca.

Regards,
IST eClass Support