Microsoft Teams at SUNY Geneseo

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Comprehensive Guide

Microsoft Teams is the campus workspace for real-time collaboration, communication, meetings, file sharing, and app integration. All SUNY Geneseo faculty, staff, and students are fully licensed for Teams, making it effortless to search, chat, call, or collaborate with anyone on campus.

With Microsoft Teams, you can:

  • Pull together teams for departments, committees, or projects.

  • Use chat instead of cluttering your email inbox.

  • Securely edit files simultaneously with colleagues.

  • Stay engaged with likes, @mentions, and instant replies.

Table of Contents

Getting Started & Installation

For the best experience, we strongly recommend using the dedicated desktop or mobile apps rather than a web browser. Log in using your SUNY Geneseo email and password.

Desktop Setup

  • College-Owned Devices: Teams may already be installed.

  • If not, open Software Center (Windows) or CIT Self Service / Company Portal (Mac) on your machine, search for "Teams," and click install.

  • Personal Devices: Download the application directly from the Microsoft Website.

  • Note: Joining a meeting via a web browser will log you in as a Guest.

Mobile Setup

📥 Quick Link: Access Teams on the web or download the app at teams.microsoft.com.  You can also view the Teams Quick Start Guide (PDF). 

Managing Your Profile & Visibility

Set Your Pronouns

You can display your pronouns next to your name across Teams. Update this by modifying your Microsoft 365 Profile.

Create Direct Chat or Call Links

Add these custom URLs to your email signature or profile to let colleagues contact you with a single click. Simply replace username with your actual Geneseo username:

  • Direct Chat Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/chat/0/0?users=username@geneseo.edu

  • Direct Call Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/call/0/0?users=username@geneseo.edu

Requesting & Structuring a Departmental Team

Best Practices for New Teams:

  • All Geneseo faculty, staff, and students are eligible to request a new team for your department or group. Complete this form.

  • Add Multiple Owners: Always designate additional team owners to share administrative duties and ensure someone receives important inactivity or deletion warnings.

  • Invite Members: If your team is private, invite individuals directly. You can also invite non-Geneseo email addresses as guests, or share a join code via email for large groups.

  • Build Channels: Start with a few focused channels to keep conversations organized (e.g., General, Water-Cooler, Functional Groups, or specific project titles).

  • Establish Notification Expectations: Discuss as a team what the communication boundaries and notification expectations are.

  • This Google guide should be followed to delegate the ability to Make Changes to Events.

Join the Community

CIT has created a public space for campus users to collaborate and learn:

Scheduling Meetings via Google Calendar

Steps to Schedule on Behalf of an Organizer:

  1. Create the Google Calendar meeting.

  2. Select your meeting options, but do not add video conferencing yet.

  3. Change the calendar owner dropdown to the person you are scheduling for (the name next to the calendar icon).

  4. Invite your guests.

  5. Click the blue arrow to the right of "Add Google Meet video conferencing" and select Microsoft Teams.

  6. Save the calendar event.

Resources

Teams Basics

Microsoft has a wealth of information about Microsoft Teams on their website.

Chat & Calls

Meetings & Organization

Teams & Channels

 

Still Need Help?

Ask CIT! 📞 (585) 245-5588 | 📧 Email | 💬 Chat | 📝 Submit a Request and we'll be happy to assist you.

 

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Request a Microsoft Team
Use this form to request the creation of a Microsoft Team