Getting more with Zoom Workplace

GW IT is excited to announce that Zoom Workplace will become GW’s primary communication platform for phones, web conferencing, and more. The transition is a multi-year project, resulting from a comprehensive evaluation, including a university-wide survey, analysis of current usage, and consultations with other universities and industry leaders. The survey revealed a dominant use of Zoom among faculty, staff, and students, highlighting its popularity and familiarity.

Even if you have been using Zoom for a while, you might have missed the new features available with the release of Zoom Workplace. It includes features such as the soft phone for your GW phone number, chat, whiteboards, group workspaces, plus integrations with your calendar and email.

As part of this initiative, we will also be integrating Zoom Rooms. Zoom Rooms are software-based room systems that provide audio and video conferencing, as well as wireless screen sharing.

Why Zoom?

Based on GW community feedback, Zoom was chosen for its uniform experience across classrooms and offices. Zoom Workplace combines web conferencing and phone services with new features like chat, file sharing, and appointment scheduling. This reduces the number of applications needed, streamlining communications and creating a more consistent and sustainable experience. Transitioning to Zoom Workplace as our primary communication platform enhances our capabilities and aligns with our mission to support education and research with an efficient, scalable, and secure digital experience.

Transition Plan & Timeline

This project is a multi-year project that includes moving all phone and voice services and retiring Webex. Currently, we are in the pilot planning process for the phone transition.

Webex meetings will be retired in 2027, but you can start moving your meetings to Zoom now. More detailed timelines and transition plans will be shared in the coming months. We appreciate your understanding and support during this transition. 

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What's Changing?

Phone, voice services, and academic technology will migrate from Cisco to Zoom. Once the transition is complete, desk phones, soft phones, and web conferencing will transition to the Zoom platform, and Webex will be retired. If you have a desk phone or use a soft phone, these will need to transition to Zoom Phone, and Webex meetings will need to be moved to Zoom Meetings.

We will be replacing Cisco-based web conferencing technology with Zoom Rooms and expand Zoom services across campus. Some older desk phones may also need to be replaced if they can not support the Zoom infrastructure. 

MyE911

As we transition to Zoom Workplace, emergency location services will be integrated directly into the Zoom platform, eliminating the need to set your location using MyE911. This ensures compliance with the Ray Baum’s Act. Your location will be automatically updated and accurately communicated during emergency calls, providing a seamless experience without the need for a separate application.

Zoom Workplace Features

We will be rolling out new Zoom features as the project progresses and will continue to provide updates. We are confident the transition to Zoom will benefit our university community by enhancing our communication capabilities and ensuring a seamless experience.

• GW Zoom Features

Zoom Resources

• GW Zoom Guide
• GW Zoom Features
• Zoom AI Companion
• Zoom Learning Center