Communications
GW IT offers a wide variety of services to meet the voice, video and data communication needs of the GW community. These services allow GW community members to communicate with each other across campuses, offices and residence halls.
Colonial Connect is a state-of-the-art unified communications system allowing faculty and staff to communicate with each other across campuses, offices, residence halls and off-campus locations through chat, voice, video and web conferencing. It combines chat, voice, video and web conferencing features into an easy-to-use toolkit with a common directory. Colonial Connect also includes apps for a wide array of mobile devices, allowing users to collaborate from anywhere in real-time.
Jabber
Jabber, a Colonial Connect service from GW IT, brings phone capabilities to your computer through the integration of chat, voice, video and desktop share in one tool. Once installed, you can select any of these features from the Jabber window. Jabber allows you to make and receive calls, check voicemail, receive voicemail messages in your email inbox, group chat with others and easily see who is online, integrate your calendar and share video and desktop with someone else all from your computer. Jabber also supports WebEx integration, and will automatically send invites to those within a Jabber group chat if WebEx is needed.
Download instructions: Login to the software downloads page with your GW NetID and corresponding password. Use the dropdown to navigate to the Colonial Connect section. Select the Cisco Jabber Client that matches your operating system of your computer. If you need assistance downloading Jabber, please call the IT Support Center at 202-994-4948.
WebEx
WebEx is a collaborative meeting tool that allows for real-time meeting and sharing computer content over the web. Features include multi-point video conferencing and desktop share to help facilitate online meetings or teach a class. For information on how to access this service, visit the WebEx for faculty and staff page or the WebEx for students page.
Voicemail
In order to access your voicemail, press the voicemail button, or dial 4-4000 for Foggy Bottom users and 3-4000 for Virginia Science and Technology Campus users. Colonial Connect also sends received voicemails directly to your email address. You can then listen to your voicemail directly from your email inbox.
Conferencing
Colonial Connect Conferencing allows for eight party conference calls, with a dial-in number and code available upon request.
Mobile (Single Number Reach)
Single number reach is available through Colonial Connect Mobile. With this feature, your office extension will ring on your mobile device, allowing you to answer a call on the device of your choice.
Set up single number reach here using your GW NetID and corresponding password. You can use this site to have your phone or Jabber line ring to your local cell phone number.
eFax
eFax gives you the ability to fax from your computer without access to a physical fax machine. Using an existing fax number, you can send and receive faxes through the Colonial Connect eFax portal, with the ability to leverage Adobe PDF digital signature functionality. In addition, faxes can be received via email. Colonial Connect eFax supports a paperless office and reduces the number of hard-copy documents that may contain sensitive material.
Desktop Phone
Phone features include the ability to place calls on hold, call waiting, ad-hoc conferencing, phone directory, transfer capabilities, call history, voicemail, video calls and extension mobility. The standard video desktop phones (models 8845 and 8945) offer video capability as an added feature. Extension mobility allows users to configure any Colonial Connect Standard Video or Multi-Line phone as their own, on a temporary basis, by logging into that phone. Once a user logs in, the phone adopts the individual user’s default device profile information, including line numbers, speed dials, service links and other user-specific properties of a phone. Basic, Multi-Line and Conference phone options are also available.
This enterprise solution enables departments to create, manage and deliver digital signage content on video screens throughout campus using preapproved university templates.
The enterprise license is available at no charge to open budget customers; closed budget customers are offered the license at a reduced rate. Customers are responsible for all hardware costs and costs associated with onboarding (installation costs, etc)
This service is hosted in the cloud by a third party. The vendor will contact GW for maintenance as needed. Customers will be notified in advance if maintenance is required.
Effective September 26, 2018, long distance codes are no longer required when calling from a GW desk phone or Jabber softphone.
For information on local, long-distance, and on-campus dialing, visit the GWiz knowledge base.
To select who may make long-distance calls, use the Phone Dialing Permission Change Request form.
In mid-September, The George Washington University will add Zoom to GW’s menu of web and video conferencing tools. Faculty will be the first group to have GW-licensed accounts to Zoom and will be able to use this platform to initiate video conferencing, recording, phone, chat and screen sharing with students and fellow faculty. Licensed accounts for students and staff are expected to be added later in the school year.
Stay tuned for more information about Zoom coming very soon, including timelines, features, FAQs, additional training and resource guide information.
Logging into Zoom.
University-licensed Zoom accounts will be phased in for GW faculty this fall semester. Licensed accounts for students and staff will be added later in the academic year.
Faculty included in the first migration group are those without an existing Zoom account, as well as those with a Zoom account that is free, free with credit card or single Pro User. Not included in the first migration phase are faculty holding Zoom education accounts, business accounts or who are paid multiple pro users.
Faculty will be contacted directly via email once their Zoom account has been activated under the new licensing model. If you have an existing account already, please continue to use that account until you are directly notified about the migration for your area.
Faculty will be contacted directly via email once their Zoom account has been activated under the new licensing model. If you have an existing account already, please continue to use that account until you are directly notified about the migration for your area.
Once you have been notified that your Zoom account is activated, click on the Zoom button below to log in.
Why is GW adding a licensed version of Zoom?
The switch to online learning and telecommuting provides opportunities for GW to enhance options for tools used by students, faculty and staff. Many faculty members expressed a desire to add Zoom as an option for instructional web conferencing, and some are already actively using it on personal accounts.
An analysis of individual Zoom accounts charged to the University showed that GW could actually save money by entering into an enterprise license agreement. In addition, officially licensed accounts provide an added level of security for users and data not readily available with free and individual accounts. These factors were instrumental in the decision to add Zoom as a video conferencing option.
Are Zoom Meetings Secure?
In order to ensure privacy, safety and security, Zoom is implementing new safety measures. Starting September 27, Zoom will require that all meetings have a passcode or a waiting room enabled. This additional safety measure is being mandated by Zoom in response to concerns about “zoom-bombing” or "zoom-raiding," which is an unwanted interuption from uninvited members or internet hackers. Read more about Waiting Room and Passcode Requirements to learn more.
Does Zoom replace Webex and other web conferencing applications at GW?
No, Zoom is an addition to GW’s offerings. The University is committed to providing technology options for students, faculty and staff to meet their needs and preferences – basically providing the right technology tools, for the right use/preference, at the right time. Zoom joins these GW-supported web conferencing tools:
- Webex is a collaborative meeting tool that allows for secure, real-time meeting and sharing computer content over the web and continues to be GW’s preferred general use web conferencing application. New features will launch in mid-September.
- Blackboard Collaborate is a real-time video conferencing tool that allows faculty to add files, share applications, and use a virtual whiteboard to interact with students.
Special Note To GW Course Instructors About Blackboard Collaborate
For GW's all-online Fall 2020 semester, most faculty will be running synchronous sessions rather than on-campus/in-person classes. GW’s Instructional Core recommends instructors continue to use Blackboard Collaborate for the following reasons:
- it keeps your course navigation all in Blackboard, which means fewer clicks for you and your students;
- it automatically saves any recordings you make and posts them to your online course;
- it tracks attendance (when set up) to make participation easier to manage.
If Blackboard Collaborate does not meet your needs, GW supports other tools to run sync sessions including Webex, Echo360, and now Zoom. Please remember, Zoom, or any other web conferencing tool, cannot replace the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS). You should still use Blackboard as your course shell, where you house your readings, documents, assignments, other media, syllabi, etc.
For faculty support in setting up a course or using Blackboard Collaborate or Echo360, please contact the Instructional Core at [email protected], or visit the faculty guides page.
Zoom Training Resources
To become more familiar with Zoom, explore the links to self-paced resources below. Additional resources will be added, so check back for updates.
Support
Questions about technology at GW? You can always count on the GW IT Support Center, including 24/7 assistance through Martha Chat, or email at [email protected], or online at go.gwu.edu/itsupport.
Prefer to talk to a Help Desk support technologist? Call 202-994-GWIT (4948) weekdays from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.
In-person support - GW IT Walk-in Support Center located at Rome Hall B102, Foggy Bottom Campus. GW IT Support Center currently provides in-person technology support only through scheduled appointments. Please contact the IT Support Center at 202-994-4948 to schedule an appointment with a technology specialist or go to https://go.gwu.edu/gwiz and click the "Make an Appointment" button at the bottom of the page.
In mid-September, The George Washington University will add Zoom to GW’s menu of web and video conferencing tools. Faculty will be the first group to have GW-licensed accounts to Zoom and will be able to use this platform to initiate video conferencing, recording, phone, chat and screen sharing with students and fellow faculty. Licensed accounts for students and staff are expected to be added later in the school year.
Stay tuned for more information about Zoom coming very soon, including timelines, features, FAQs, additional training and resource guide information. Here's what we know so far.
Why is GW adding a licensed version of Zoom?
The switch to online learning and telecommuting provides opportunities for GW to enhance options for tools used by students, faculty and staff. Many faculty members expressed a desire to add Zoom as an option for instructional web conferencing, and some are already actively using it on personal accounts.
An analysis of individual Zoom accounts charged to the University showed that GW could actually save money by entering into an enterprise license agreement. In addition, officially licensed accounts provide an added level of security for users and data not readily available with free and individual accounts. These factors were instrumental in the decision to add Zoom as a video conferencing option.
Does Zoom replace Webex and other web conferencing applications at GW?
No, Zoom is an addition to GW’s offerings. The University is committed to providing technology options for students, faculty and staff to meet their needs and preferences – basically providing the right technology tools, for the right use/preference, at the right time. Zoom joins these GW-supported web conferencing tools:
- Webex is a collaborative meeting tool that allows for secure, real-time meeting and sharing computer content over the web and continues to be GW’s preferred general use web conferencing application. New features will launch in mid-September.
- Blackboard Collaborate is a real-time video conferencing tool that allows faculty to add files, share applications, and use a virtual whiteboard to interact with students.
Special Note To GW Course Instructors About Blackboard Collaborate
For GW's all-online Fall 2020 semester, most faculty will be running synchronous sessions rather than on-campus/in-person classes. GW’s Instructional Core recommends instructors continue to use Blackboard Collaborate for the following reasons:
- it keeps your course navigation all in Blackboard, which means fewer clicks for you and your students;
- it automatically saves any recordings you make and posts them to your online course;
- it tracks attendance (when set up) to make participation easier to manage.
If Blackboard Collaborate does not meet your needs, GW supports other tools to run sync sessions including Webex, Echo360, and now Zoom. Please remember, Zoom, or any other web conferencing tool, cannot replace the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS). You should still use Blackboard as your course shell, where you house your readings, documents, assignments, other media, syllabi, etc.
For faculty support in setting up a course or using Blackboard Collaborate or Echo360, please contact the Instructional Core at instructioncore[email protected], or visit the faculty guides page.
Zoom Training Resources
To become more familiar with Zoom, explore the links to self-paced resources below. Additional resources will be added, so check back for updates.
Support
Questions about technology at GW? You can always count on the GW IT Support Center, including 24/7 assistance through Martha Chat, or email at [email protected], or online at go.gwu.edu/itsupport.
Prefer to talk to a Help Desk support technologist? Call 202-994-GWIT (4948) weekdays from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.
In-person support - GW IT Walk-in Support Center located at Rome Hall B102, Foggy Bottom Campus. GW IT Support Center currently provides in-person technology support only through scheduled appointments. Please contact the IT Support Center at 202-994-4948 to schedule an appointment with a technology specialist or go to https://go.gwu.edu/gwiz and click the "Make an Appointment" button at the bottom of the page.
