Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise
Microsoft allows George Mason University to provide the latest version of Microsoft Office with Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise at no cost. Each user may install Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise on up to five computers and five mobile devices. The software is free as long as you are active at Mason. Access is tied to your email address.
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For more information see:
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise is automatically added during email account creation. Instructions to install Microsoft Office are available:
Additional Information
Employees
All active employees are eligible. Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise must connect to the internet once every 30 days to verify that you are still eligible for the free software. When you stop working at George Mason University, your Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise subscription will end. At that time you can purchase Microsoft Office from a retail store.
Note: Retirees, Affiliates, and Contractors are not eligible for this service.
Students
All current students are eligible. Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise must connect to the internet once every 30 days to verify that you are still eligible for the free software. When you stop taking classes at George Mason University, your Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise subscription will end. At that time you can purchase Microsoft Office at a retail store.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft (MS) Teams is an enterprise-wide collaboration suite within Mason’s Office 365. At its core, MS Teams provides chat, audio calling, video calling, screen sharing, and more with individuals and groups.
MS Teams is available via web browser, desktop application, and mobile app.
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Key Features
Within the structure of a formal Team, Team members have access to chat, audio calling, video calling, and screen share, as well as several Office 365 shared features:
MS Teams is a self-service application. Training and support provided by ITS are limited to account access questions. Additional training is provided via online tutorials and collaboration with other users.
Accessibility
Information on MS Teams accessibility features can be found at Accessibility support for Microsoft Teams.
Getting This Service
Eligibility
Microsoft Teams is part of Office 365 and is automatically available to all active faculty, staff, and students.
Note: Retirees and Generic Accounts are not eligible for this service.
Accessing MS Teams
On the Web
Access MS Teams through the application launcher on your Mason Office 365 account at http://mso365.gmu.edu via supported browsers.
On a Desktop
ITS recommends using the MS Teams desktop application for full functionality. The application is available for direct download at https://products.office.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-app.
On Mobile
Get the MS Teams mobile app for Apple or Android from the app stores or https://products.office.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-app from a browser on your mobile device.
Linux Users
Microsoft has retired the Linux desktop client for MS Teams. All users on the Microsoft Teams Linux desktop client will have to transition to the web or Progressive Web Apps version.
Using MS Teams
Review the following information for an overview of the MS Teams structure and roles: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-channels-overview
Team Owners
The Team Owner creates the team and controls who has access, including adding members and other owners.
Teams must have more than one owner to ensure any Team members who are no longer active faculty or staff are removed from active Teams.
Teams Renewal Process
Teams workspaces must be renewed periodically to help ensure Teams are being maintained and retired when appropriate. Team owners will be notified when it is time to complete the renewal process, which includes archiving old or no longer-needed workspaces and confirming that the owner/member information is still correct. See MyHub Renewal Policies for more details.
Guests
For information and eligibility for adding guests to Teams (members who do NOT have accounts on Mason's Office 365 system), see, Adding Guests in MS Teams.
Training
Microsoft Teams Training
Recorded sessions of MS Teams training are posted in the Files tab within the Collaboration Collective. See Additional Information for details on how to join the Collaboration Collective.
Microsoft Training Videos
The following information can help you familiarize yourself with MS Teams and prepare to collaborate with other MS Teams users.
Additional Training Opportunities
Additional training is available via Mason’s Subscription to LinkedIn Learning. Visit https://lil.gmu.edu, log in with your Mason credentials, and search for Microsoft Teams. The Microsoft Teams Essential Training provides a popular overview.
Microsoft: Microsoft offers free instructor-led training webinars. See Instructor-Led Training for Microsoft Teams for a list of training topics and to register for sessions.
Recording Retention Policy
MS Teams recordings are stored with expiration dates attached to them. The default expiration period for MS Teams recordings may vary between 30 and 120 days. Check the expiration date on your recording to confirm the default expiration period. See MS Teams Recording for more information.
AvePoint MyHub
Mason uses MyHub within the Office 365 environment as a one-stop shop for managing existing workspaces and creating new ones in Microsoft Teams (MS Teams). MyHub allows you to see all your workspaces in one place and easily find, prioritize, and organize the teams you are in or own. MyHub enforces retention and other policies to enhance collaboration in a secure environment.
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Access MyHub from the MS Teams client by clicking the MyHub icon in the left navigation or via myhub365.gmu.edu.
Key Features
- Directs users to the appropriate Team type
- Manages sensitive & restrictive data
- Enforces retention policies
- Ensures Teams have multiple owners
Getting This Service
MyHub is currently deployed in the Microsoft environment for all users. You can access MyHub via the MS Teams desktop app or the web.
Desktop
Access the MyHub app via its Teams tile. You may need to navigate to “…” (More) and then MyHub. If MyHub is not listed, select More apps and search for “MyHub.”
ITS recommends using the MS Teams desktop application for full functionality. The application is available for direct download at https://products.office.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-app.
On the Web
Navigate to the web app via myhub365.gmu.edu. Sign in using your NetID, Patriot Pass Password, and Duo Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). You may be prompted and should choose “Work or school account created by your IT department.”
Creating Workspaces with MyHub
Team Owners
Every MyHub Team will have a Team Owner who creates the team and controls who has access. Teams can have multiple owners but must have at minimum two owners.
Renewal Process
MS Teams workspaces must be renewed periodically to help ensure Teams are being maintained and retired when appropriate. Team owners will be notified when it is time to complete the renewal process, which includes archiving workspaces that are old or no longer needed or renewing workspaces, and confirming that the owner/member information is still correct.
Information
MS Teams workspaces in MyHub are created as Private. This helps ensure workspaces are created with adequate security measures. Private means only the members added will be able to join the Teams, while Public means that anyone in the organization can join via a link, code, or search in Teams, without needing approval.
Teams can be changed from Private to Public on your desktop using these instructions: To change the privacy settings for your team from public to private (or vice versa), go to the team name and select More options … > Edit team toward the bottom of the menu. Under Privacy, select either Public or Private.
Office 365 OneDrive (work or school)
OneDrive (work or school) is a cloud storage service that is part of the Microsoft 365 (M365) productivity suite. It allows users to store files in the cloud. Files can be synced and accessed from a web browser or mobile device and shared publicly or privately. File saving and sharing is simplified through Microsoft (MS) Teams and all Office suite products (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.).
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Data stored within OneDrive is not backed up by George Mason University. Account holders are responsible for backing up their own data and preserving copies of important files.
Note: When you stop taking classes or working at Mason, you will no longer be able to access your Office 365 account, including OneDrive. It is your responsibility to transfer any work files to your department before you leave.
Key Features
Getting this Service
Eligibility
OneDrive is part of M365 and is automatically available to all active faculty, staff, and students at the time of email account creation. No sign-up is necessary.
When you stop taking classes or working at Mason, you will no longer be able to access your Office 365 account, including OneDrive. It is your responsibility to transfer any work files to your department before you leave.
Note: Retirees, Affiliates, Contractors, and Generic Accounts are not eligible for this service.
Accessing OneDrive
On the Web
Access OneDrive through the application launcher on your Mason Office 365 account at http://mso365.gmu.edu via supported browsers.
On Your Desktop
ITS recommends using the OneDrive desktop application for full functionality. The application is available for direct download:
Note: The sync client is installed on Mason-managed Windows devices by default. Mason-managed Mac users can get the Mac OneDrive Sync client from Mason Self-Service.
On a Mobile Device
Get the OneDrive mobile app for Apple or Android.
In MS Teams
The OneDrive application is available via MS Teams.
Training
View Getting Started with OneDrive and OneDrive FAQs for more information on using OneDrive at Mason. Microsoft and LinkedIn Learning also offer a wide selection of free instructional guides, videos, and additional resources to help you get started.
Note: Differences exist between OneDrive (work or school) and OneDrive (Personal), when reviewing LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft support articles and videos be sure to check the top of the page for “OneDrive for work or school” or “OneDrive for business.”
Microsoft Training
Microsoft offers a wide selection of instructional guides, videos, and additional resources to help you get started using OneDrive (work or school):
Additionally, you can view the OneDrive video training resources for work or school, and view or participate in instructor-led training from Microsoft.
LinkedIn Learning Training
You can log in via LinkedIn Learning using your NetID and Patriot Pass Password. In LinkedIn Learning you can use their AI tool to ask specific questions and it will lead you to the appropriate information within the application.
Some recommendations include:
SharePoint Document Library
SharePoint Document Libraries are a feature of Microsoft SharePoint, which allows users to securely store, organize, and share files with others and make them accessible from any device at any time. Members of the workspace can work synchronously on files. Adding or moving files between folders is as easy as dragging and dropping them from one location to another. SharePoint Document Libraries are created using MyHub.
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In a document library, you can:
- Add, edit, or delete a file, folder, or link from a SharePoint document library, co-author, and download documents
- Track the activity on a file, such as when it was last modified, and receive a notification when something has changed
- Share files or folders with others
- Add a link in a document library to something stored outside the library, for example, a link to a file in a different library or an external web page
- Highlight a link, file, or folder in a document library so you and others can access it quickly
Getting This Service
Eligibility
SharePoint Document Library is part of Office 365 and is automatically available to all active faculty and staff.
Note: Retirees and Generic Accounts are not eligible for this service.
Patriot Drive
The Patriot Drive is a file-sharing and storage service that is available on-premises for enterprise use.
Eligibility: Active Faculty and Staff
Policy
All users of the George Mason University network must adhere to University Policy Number 1301: Responsible Use of Computing.
Employee Security Bulletin
This service is intended for work-related public use data only. The University Data Stewardship Policy defines data classified for public use. Users are responsible for understanding and complying with this policy. For more information about data usage and classifications, reference the following:
Student Security Bulletin
This service is intended for school-related data only. Use the same discretion you use when sharing information through any online medium. Users are responsible for understanding and complying with the University Data Stewardship Policy. For more information about data usage and classifications, please reference the following: