Personal Bookings & Shared Bookings

Microsoft Bookings Overview

Microsoft Bookings is available in two primary versions:

• Personal Bookings – designed for individual use, such as faculty office hours

• Shared Bookings Pages – designed for teams or departments managing multiple staff calendars

Both versions are web-based tools that allow you to create customizable appointment types and enable others to easily schedule meetings, either in person or through Microsoft Teams.

View Microsoft's Bookings Support page

Personal Bookings (Individual Use / Faculty Office Hours)

Personal Bookings is ideal for individuals who want to make their availability visible to others for one-on-one scheduling, such as office hours.

• Share your availability through a personalized booking page

• Allow students or colleagues to book time slots that automatically sync with your calendar

Watch a how-to video by Kevin Stratvert 

Additional Office Hours Options

If you prefer alternatives to Personal Bookings, consider the following options:

Microsoft Teams Meeting Link

You can create a reusable Teams meeting link using:

• Microsoft Teams

• Outlook Calendar

• Canvas integration

Once created:

• The same link can be reused for multiple sessions

• The link expires only if it remains unused for more than 30 days

Share the link via Canvas, your syllabus, a course page, or your Outlook signature.

Canvas Scheduler

Canvas includes a built-in scheduler within the course calendar that allows students to sign up for appointment times.

• Does not automatically generate Microsoft Teams meeting links

• Best suited for simple time-slot sign-ups

Refer to the Canvas Guide for instructions on using the Scheduler.

Shared Bookings (Department Use)

Shared Bookings allows users to manage appointments across multiple staff members.

• Students or clients can book appointments based on staff availability

• Ideal for departments, advising centers, or service-based teams

• Supports coordination across multiple calendars

While originally designed for small businesses, Shared Bookings works well in academic and administrative settings that require structured appointment scheduling.

Watch a how-to video by Kevin Stratvert