Schedule a meeting

To schedule a Zoom meeting in Canvas, select Zoom on the left hand navigation of your Canvas course and then click on the blue "Schedule a New Meeting" button. At that point, you will be able to create a new meeting and select your specific preferences. When you have finished selecting your preferences, click Save.

Meeting Preferences

  • Topic: Add a topic or meeting title.
  • Description (optional): Enter a description or agenda for the meeting.
  • When: Enter the date and time of the meeting.
  • Duration: Select the length of the meeting (for scheduling purposes only; meeting can start early and end late.)
  • Time Zone: Confirm the preferred time zone.
  • Recurring meeting (optional): Schedule a series of meetings (e.g. every Tuesday for six weeks) or create a meeting with no fixed date or time.
  • Registration: N/A in meetings scheduled from Canvas
  • Video: Choose whether or not to share host and/or participant video when the meeting starts.
  • Audio: It is recommended that both telephone and computer audio be available for attendees.
  • Meeting Options:
    • Require meeting password: For added security, consider adding a password to your meeting; anyone with access to the course in Canvas will see the password when they access the meeting from the Zoom tab.
    • Enable join before host: This allows participants to join the meeting prior to the host; this setting is not recommended unless the instructor has a specific use cause for it.
    • Mute participants upon entry: This ensures only the host has their audio turned on when the meeting begins (participants can unmute themselves once they have joined the meeting.)
    • Use Personal Meeting ID: Not recommended for meetings scheduled in Canvas.
    • Enable waiting room: This will send all participants to a Waiting Room; hosts can then admit students from the participants tool in the Zoom meeting. (In your Zoom account settings, you can enable Waiting Room for guests only; this allows participants that have logged in to the Zoom app with their NetID to access the meeting while sending outside guests to the waiting room.)
    • Only authenticated users can join: This is recommended for security purposes as it will limit meeting access to only those with a valid Northwestern NetID.
    • Record the meeting automatically: Not recommended if “Join before host” has been enabled
  • Alternative Hosts: Add the email address for anyone at Northwestern that needs hosting privileges. Be sure to use the email associated with their Northwestern Zoom account.