Web Conferencing with Zoom

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I’m experiencing an audio issue?
Contact IT Services at itservices@uchicago.edu or call 773.702.5800 and have this information ready.

  • Meeting details, including:
    • Meeting ID
    • Date and time of the meeting
    • Specific time the audio quality issue was heard (if known)
  • Description of the issue.
How do I sign into Zoom using my CNetID and Single Sign On (SSO)?

You will need to log in to Zoom using UChicago’s Single Sign On (SSO) to access all of the benefits of your Zoom account.

If you are using a Zoom application on your computer or mobile device:

  1. Click the top-right button that contains your profile (typically your initials). This brings up a drop-down menu.
  2. Scroll to the bottom of that menu and click “Switch Account.” This brings you to a “Sign In” dialog box.
  3. On the right, click the “Sign In With SSO” button.
  4. Login using your CNetID and password.

If you are using your web browser, choose the appropriate UChicago Zoom sign-in website. Click the “Sign In” button to access your Zoom account.

Who can host and attend meetings and webinars?

Meetings

  • Anyone can attend meetings, including individuals outside of the University.
  • Instructors, staff, and students with Zoom accounts can host meetings.
  • UChicago Medicine users without a CNetID can log in to Zoom using their UCHADID.

Webinars (one speaker to many attendees)

  • Anyone can attend webinars, including individuals outside of the University.
  • Instructors and staff can host webinars
  • Fill out the Zoom webinar license request form to request a short-term loan of an IT Services webinar license or to initiate the purchase of a dedicated license.
  • Details about lending terms, license costs, and feature comparisons are provided in the Zoom Webinar Overview.

Special Considerations for UChicago Medicine and Biological Sciences Division (BSD) Staff

UChicago Medicine and Biological Sciences Division staff that may have access to patient protected health information or other confidential data received approval to use Zoom for UChicago Medicine, which allows for recording of Zoom meetings to your local computer’s hard drive (cloud recording is not available).

Researchers

Researchers who have been interviewing Subjects in person and want to do so using Zoom should first contact their Institutional Review Board (IRB) for guidance.

How many people can attend Zoom meetings and webinars?
  • You do not need a Zoom account in order to attend a meeting. You only need a Zoom account to schedule or host Zoom meetings.
  • Instructors and staff can host up to 500 participants in Zoom.
  • Students can host up to 300 participants in Zoom.
  • For meetings with more than 500 attendees, or if you need to host a webinar, please fill out the Zoom webinar license request form to request a short-term loan of an IT Services webinar license or to initiate the purchase of a dedicated license. Note: Large events require advance notice and planning.
  • Details about lending terms, license costs, and feature comparisons are provided in the Zoom Webinar Overview.
What can I use to join and host Zoom online meetings or webinars?
How can I test my Zoom video conferencing hardware and software?
After creating a Zoom account, individuals should start up a meeting to check their audio and webcam: log into Zoom, then click on “Meetings” in the sidebar, then on “Personal Meeting Room,” then the “Start Meeting” button. After clicking on the “Start Video” icon, look to see that the image is clear and that the green microphone button in the lower-left corner lights up when speaking into the microphone. When finished, students can click “Leave Meeting” to exit the session.
Are there interactive features in Zoom?

The options for interaction in Zoom include the following:

  • Initiate virtual breakout sessions: meeting participants can be randomly placed in breakout rooms to hold small-group discussions.
  • Poll attendees: see responses to questions you pose in real time.
  • Group messaging.
  • Screen share documents, photos, and video clips.
  • Simultaneous screen sharing.
  • Annotation and co-annotation.
  • Whiteboarding.
Can any University of Chicago student use Zoom conferencing?

Zoom allows students to host online video calls using computer audio for up to 300 participants. This can be used for meetings, group project work, and student events.

  • All University of Chicago students may create a free Zoom student account by visiting uchicago.zoom.us, clicking on the “Sign In” button, and entering their CNetID and password.
Do I need an FAS account to request my individual Zoom account?

You do not need to submit a request form or provide an FAS number to claim an individual account. Follow the instructions above to claim your account.

I’m a student staff member, how should I claim my Zoom account?
If you are a student staff member, you should claim a Zoom account based on where you are a staff member. The Zoom sites for staff are uchicago.zoom.us and uchicagomedicine.zoom.us. If you have questions about claiming your account, contact IT Services at itservices@uchicago.edu or 773.702.5800.
I already requested a Zoom account before I had the option to automatically claim it, do I need to make any changes?

No, if you requested a Zoom account before you could automatically claim the account, you can continue to sign in and use it as you did before.

I'm a TA. If a professor creates a Zoom session, can I view and edit the settings?

No, not unless the instructor gives the TA scheduling privilege on their Zoom account.

How do I get support?

Need help with Zoom? Visit the IT Services Knowledge Base, Zoom’s robust help site, or contact the IT Services Service Desk.