Hosting a Zoom meeting
About this article
This article provides an overview of the features and functions of the Zoom web conferencing system. It is intended for all WSU students and employees interested in conducting or attending online meetings using Zoom.
Logging into Zoom
Minnesota State controls the Zoom instance used by all colleges and universities in the system. It is this instance that we at Winona State University use for hosting virtual meetings.
You can access the official instance of Zoom at https://minnstate.zoom.us. Use your Star ID and password to log into Zoom.
Once you are logged in, you will be asked to join a meeting, host a meeting, or proceed directly to your user profile. See the image at right.
Your Personal Zoom Room
Your personal zoom meeting session is a recurring meeting with no fixed time. This means it is always available to use for any purpose. It is not a scheduled meeting session. All you need to do is share your personal meeting link and meeting ID with someone and that person will be able to join your meeting anytime.
To find the address of your default room, ...
- Go to https://minnstate.zoom.us and click the Sign In button. If you are asked to enter credentials, use your Star ID and password.
- In the left column, click on Profile.
- Under your picture, you will see a heading called Personal Meeting ID. (See the picture at below.)
- Copy the link. Your students will need this link to get into the room.
Hosting a Zoom meeting
There are two ways to host a meeting, you can enter your room through the main Zoom page or you can use the URL.
Entering your room from the Zoom main page
Go to https://minnstate.zoom.us and click the Host button when you are hosting a meeting.
- Click the Host button in the browser window. A new page will be displayed.
- Log in with your StarID and password. (If you have recently logged into another application that is part of the Minnesota State single sign-on suite, you may not need to log in here.)
- You will be asked to Open Zoom? Select Open Zoom
- The Zoom application will launch on your computer. Select Join With Computer Audio.
Participants that have the address and time of the virtual meeting will join you in the room. If you wish to send invitations to certain individuals, refer to the More Information section below for step-by-step instructions.
If you do not have the Zoom application on your computer, you can download it from the Zoom homepage at https://minnstate.zoom.us. Click the Download Client link at the bottom of the browser window.
Using the URL
The URL you copied from your Profile page above will also work to get you into the room. Paste it into the address field of your browser and hit Enter/Return.
Configuring your user account
Click the Sign in button to configure your Zoom account.
- Click the Sign in button in the browser window. A new page will be displayed.
- Log in with your Star ID and password. (If you have recently logged into another application that is part of the Minnesota State single sign-on suite, you may not need to log in here.)
- You will be asked if you wish to allow this page to open zoom.us. Click Allow to enter the meeting room.
- The Zoom application will launch on your computer. Select Join With Computer Audio.
At this point, you can create meetings and webinars, change your account information, review recordings of past meetings, and much more. For more information, check out My Account in the Zoom Help Center.
If you do not have the Zoom application on your computer, you can download it from the Zoom homepage at https://minnstate.zoom.us. Click the Download Client link at the bottom of the browser window.
More information
Zoom training
- Zoom Help Center
- Zoom training from Linkedin Learning
- From the Zoom Help Center:
- How do I invite others to join a meeting?
- My Account (account configuration, password reset, meeting-link creation, meeting, scheduling, ...)
Related Wiki Topics
- Student daily tips
- Instructor daily tips
- Draft:Article layout basic
- Send incoming Zoom Phone calls to voicemail
- Launch Zoom on startup
- Zoom Phone settings
- Zoom Phone preparation checklist
- Zoom Phone FAQ
- Zoom Phone
- Blended meetings
For a complete listing of topics, select from the category list below.