We have some time sensitive news about our Zoom platform to share. Please be advised that on August 22nd, IS&T will require the BU community to use Zoom 5.7.4 or higher when joining internal meetings. Over the course of the past year Zoom has made some significant changes to both improve and enhance their quality of service. As a result Zoom began requiring more frequent software updates and cutting off support for older versions of the application. This required update will ensure that our community can consistently leverage Zoom’s newest features and security patches in their meetings, webinars, and classes.

To avoid interruptions, we encourage you to update your Zoom apps as soon as possible. To learn more, please see some frequently asked questions below or refer to TechWeb.

How can I see whether or not I need to update?

Faculty and staff: Have a BU managed computer? Zoom may already be up to date! You can verify by following the steps below.

For mobile devices, please check Apple’s App Store or Google Play Store for available updates.

To update the Zoom on your computer:

1. Open the Zoom app and sign in
2. Click the profile menu at the upper right of the window
3. Click “Check for Updates”

For further assistance updating Zoom, please refer to our TechWeb article or contact the IT Help Center or your local IT support group.

What happens if I do not update by August 22nd?

The next time you attempt to join a meeting, you will be prompted to upgrade Zoom. In some cases, you will be offered the option to join the meeting from a web browser and upgrade later.

Will this affect outside guests attending my BU Zoom meetings?

No, this requirement will only affect members of the BU community joining BU meetings. We will not require non-BU participants to upgrade at this time.

What changes has Zoom made?

Zoom has made a number of updates in recent months to improve and enhance performance and users experience. These include:

• Native pronoun support
• Improved Zoom Rooms pairing experience
• Enhanced breakout rooms:
  • Broadcast shared content to all breakout rooms
  • Co-host breakout room management
  • Allow participants to self-select their breakout rooms
• Share MP4 and MOV files natively
• Blurred backgrounds

As always, for any questions, you can contact the IT Help Center by sending an email to ithelp@bu.edu or calling 617-353-HELP (4357).You can also visit TechWeb for more resources and help online.