Bookings with me is a scheduling tool from Microsoft, already integrated with your Outlook calendar, which simplifies the process of scheduling personal meetings. 

Getting Started

First go to https://outlook.office.com/calendar and select "Edit bookings page"

Next you will see your, empty, personal bookings page

The next step will be to create a "meeting type", either Public or Private.

• Public meeting types are visible when someone visits your bookings page
• Private meeting types are only available to those with a direct link to that specific meeting type

For the purposes of this documentation, we will use a Public meeting type.

Create a Meeting Type

When you create a new meeting type, you must

1) Add a title for the meeting (i.e. Advising meeting, Class Questions, Tutoring, etc.)

 

2) Add a brief description. If necessary, include instructions for the requestor to provide any information you may need to prepare for the meeting. Note: Name and Email are already required when they schedule the meeting.

3)Enter a location (i.e. your office location, a conference room, etc.). 

• If you plan to meet in person, toggle "Teams meeting" to off. 

• If you plan to meet online, leave "Teams meeting" on and don't include a location.

4) Set the duration for the meeting type.

5) Choose the hours you are available for this meeting type. 

• For example: This an an advising meeting and you're only available Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:00 Pm - 4:00 PM for advising, switch the drop-down to "custom availability hours" and only select those days/times. 

Note: Bookings with me is already integrated with your Outlook calendar and will automatically exclude any times you are already unavailable.

6) The advanced options allow you to add buffers to the meeting type, manage intervals, and set lead time restrictions. 

• Buffers before the meeting ensure you have time to prepare. 
• Buffers after the meeting provide time to complete any follow-up work (i.e. data entry, emails, etc.). 
• Intervals only allow meetings to be booked at certain clock intervals. 30-min allows appoints at the top (00) and half (30) of the hour. 1-hr only allows appointments at the top of the hour. 15-min would allow meetings at the top (00), quarter-past (15), half (30), and quarter-till (45).
• Lead times determine how far in advance someone must or may book an appointment. A 4-hour minimum means you must have at least 4 hours notice (someone could not book a 2PM meeting after 10AM the same day). A 30-day maximum means no one could book a meeting more than 30 days in advance.

7) After you finish, click "Save"

Customize Banner Image

The banner image (at the top of your bookings page) can be customized with preset images provided by Microsoft.

To change the banner imager, click the menu and select "Edit banner image"

Select the image you would like to use.

Click the X (in the top-right corner).

Sharing links to your Bookings with me page

Once you have setup your meeting type(s) and, if necessary, customized your banner image, your Bookings with me page is ready to use. You will need to share the link to your page for people to find it.

When you click the "Share" button you will find three options.

• Copy link copies the link to your clipboard, allowing you to paste it into something (i.e. a Canvas Announcement, Email, etc.).
• Share via email generates and sends an email containing the link to whomever you like.
• Add to email signature inserts the link into your Outlook Web App signature

The recommended option is to use "Copy link" as it provides you with the most flexibility in terms of placement and formatting.