Rutgers University provides free access to various Microsoft Office products for all current students, which includes Microsoft Teams. Students can download and access Microsoft Teams using their Rutgers email accounts: Non-RBHS students have access to the product by logging in using their Scarletmail accounts, while RBHS students can download and access Teams directly from their Rutgers Connect accounts.

Microsoft Teams is a great way for students to collaborate with classmates virtually by managing tasks, video conferencing, direct messaging, and storing files all in one place. It has also replaced Skype for Business as the suggested product for voice and video conferencing in the Office365 suite, offering real-time updates to files and conversations. Rutgers University students have the ability to both join existing Teams and create new ones.

Students will have continued access to their Teams files, conversations, and data until their student role expires, after which the Office 365 Suite will no longer be available. Much of the data that’s stored via Teams can be accessed or shared from the student’s OneDrive (also available in the Office 365 Suite for students). Because students are using a Scarletmail address to access these spaces, there is no Office 365 mailbox attached to these products. Students can still receive mail from Teams at their Scarletmail accounts.

If a student has been invited to join a team, or is eager to create their own collaborative space, follow the instructions below to login.

Log in via the Teams web app

1. Open a web browser.
2. Navigate to teams.microsoft.com to access the Teams login page.
3. Log in with your Rutgers ScarletMail* credentials. The login name should be entered as netid@scarletmail.rutgers.edu*.
4. Enter your NetID password.
5. Click Sign in.

*If you are an RBHS student, or if you were provisioned with an Office 365 account, you must login using your connect.rutgers.edu credentials instead of your Scarletmail account.

Log in via the desktop app

1. After downloading the application from getoffice.rutgers.edu using your student account*, you will be asked to sign in with your work or school account.
2. The login name should be entered as netid@scarletmail.rutgers.edu*.
3. Enter your NetID password.
4. Click Sign in.

*If you are an RBHS student, or if you were provisioned with an Office 365 account, you can download Teams directly from getoffice.rutgers.edu using your connect.rutgers.edu credentials instead of your Scarletmail account.

Log in via mobile applications

Students that would like to access teams from their mobile devices will need to first register the device via mobile device management. The process involves downloading the Rutgers Company Portal application in order to register the device via Microsoft inTune, as is the case for most Office 365 applications on mobile devices. More details about the MDM process can be found here.

This measure is in place to secure devices in order to meet University compliance. MDM does not interfere with personal privacy or personal usage of a device. It instead provides an extra layer of security on the device and works to prevent the compromisation of University data. RBHS students can view their specific MDM policy information here. For any issues with MDM, please contact the OIT Help Desk for assistance.

Instructions for downloading the Company Portal Application can be found below

1. Download the Microsoft Intune Company Portal application from your respective app store.
2. Follow instructions for setup based on your device:
   
   • iOS instructions
   • Android instructions
3. After setup, open the app and navigate to the Apps section.
4. Under Apps, search for/select Microsoft Teams to download it.
5. After download, you should be able to login with your ScarletMail (or Rutgers Connect) information.

Remember: RBHS students (or any student with a Connect account) can sign-in to Teams directly from their Connect accounts. 

Getting Started

Once signed in, you should be brought to the main “Teams” tab where you can view any Team you are a member of, or create a new Team using the “join or create team” option. There are also sections for direct calls/messages, recent activity, and a calendar where you can view or schedule meetings.

Teams are made up of two types of channels — standard (available and visible to everyone) and private (focused, private conversations with a specific audience). Each channel is built around a topic like "Team Events," a department name, or just for fun. Channels are where you hold meetings, have conversations, and work on files together. The tabs at the top of each channel link to your favorite files, apps, and services. Tabs vary for each channel. Microsoft offers various support videos to help users become familiar with the product.

You can also watch a demonstration on how the Rutgers University environment works from the Rutgers IT Lecture Series.

Key Features in Teams for Students

Manage Notifications

1. Click the ellipses at the top of your application > Settings > Notifications.
2. To be notified about all your shown channels, under the “Teams and Channels” section, select All activity.
3. To be notified only when you are @mentioned or when you receive replies to your messages in channels, select Mentions & replies.
4. You also have the ability to set “Custom” notifications.
   
   • In order to see personal @ mentions, team mentions, and to better engage with team posts or direct messages, ensure that Banner and Feed is selected for the options of your choice. This will provide you with a prompt directly on your device even if the application is minimized or closed.
   • The Only show in feed option will still flash notifications on the desktop taskbar when notifications arrive, but no pop-up will show on your desktop.

Pinning Posts

• To pin a post within a channel, hover over the post that you want to pin, select the More options at the top right, and then choose Pin.
• To remove a pinned post, go to the original post, select More options, and then choose Unpin.
  
  • Note: If you can't pin a post, check with a team owner or channel moderator to see if you have permissions.

Application Behavior

• This section allows you to update if the Teams application opens on startup, runs in the background, etc.
• Click the ellipses at the top of your application > Settings > General > Application.

Add Multiple Teams Environments

• If you have access to Teams from different accounts, you can add the account to your Teams application to easily alternate between them. The environment that you have access to with your student account is titled “Rutgers University” seen in the top right.
• To add another account, such as a personal Microsoft address, click the ellipses at the top of your application > Settings > Account > Add account.

Background Blur for Meetings

• You can set your own custom background during a video call to help disguise things in the background. You can also blur out the background. Both settings can be found before you join a call/meeting. You can head start this by going to the Calendar tab > Meet now > Start meeting.
• Prior to a call/meeting, turn on your camera and select Background filters.

Pop-out Chat

• Right-click on a chat, select pop-out chat to isolate the window.

For more information, see our frequently asked questions or see our Teams support page. Any questions or concerns regarding Teams please contact the OIT Help Desk.