What is Microsoft Bookings?

Microsoft Bookings is a scheduling tool included with Microsoft 365 that allows others to view your availability and book appointments without needing to email back and forth.

Common faculty uses include:

• Student advising appointments
• Office hours
• Academic support sessions
• Department meetings
• Virtual consultations

Step 1: Open Microsoft Bookings

1. Sign in to your LSUA Microsoft 365 account at https://office.com
2. Select the App Launcher (nine-dot menu) in the upper-left corner.
3. Choose Bookings.
   • If Bookings is not visible, select All Apps and search for Bookings.

Step 2: Create a Booking Calendar

1. Select Get Started or Create Booking Page.
2. Enter:
   • Business Name (Example: "Dr. Smith Advising Appointments")
   • Business Type (Education - Optional)
   • You can also update your Business Hours
3. Select Next.
4. Invite staff (Optional).  Select Next.  
5. Set up a service window will appear.  You can adjust this now or later.  Select Next.
6. Choose who can book appointments window will appear.
7. Select Create.
8. Your booking page will be automatically created.
9. Select Get started.

Step 3: Set Your Business Information

1. Select Business Information from the left menu.
2. Verify or update:
   • Business Name
   • Phone Number (optional)
   • Email Address
   • Office Location
3. Click Save.

Step 4: Set Your Availability

1. Select Business Hours.
2. Configure your available days and times.

Example:

Note: These hours define when appointments can be scheduled.

1. Click Save.

Step 5: Add Yourself as Staff

1. Select Staff from the left navigation.
2. Click Add new staff if you do not already appear.
3. Enter your LSUA email address and update any information in the window.
4. Assign the role:
   • Administrator (recommended for your own calendar)
5. Click Save.

Step 6: Create an Appointment Type

1. Select Services.
2. Click Add a Service.

Example Service Information:

Service Name

• Student Advising Appointment

Description

• Meet with faculty advisor to discuss registration, degree plans, or academic concerns.

Duration

• 30 Minutes

Location

• Office, Teams Meeting, or Phone Call

Assigned Staff

• Select your name

1. Click Save Changes.

Step 7: Configure Online Meetings (Optional)

If appointments should be virtual:

1. Edit your service.
2. Enable Add Online Meeting.
3. Save changes.

Students who book appointments will automatically receive a Teams meeting link.

Step 8: Configure Your Booking Page

1. Review:
   • Scheduling policies
   • Availability settings
   • Email notifications

2. Click Save if any changes were made.

Step 9: Obtain Your Booking Link

1. From the Booking Page, locate your booking URL.
2. Click Copy Link.

The link will look similar to:

https://outlook.office.com/bookings/...

Step 10: Share Your Booking Page

Share the booking link in:

• Moodle courses
• Email signatures
• Department websites
• Microsoft Teams
• Canvas announcements (if applicable)

Example Email Signature:

Need to schedule an appointment? 
Book a meeting with me: [Insert Booking Link]

Managing Appointments

To view scheduled appointments:

1. Open Microsoft Bookings.
2. Select Calendar.
3. Click an appointment to:
   • View details
   • Reschedule
   • Cancel
   • Contact the attendee

Best Practices for Faculty

✅ Keep business hours up to date

✅ Create separate services for different appointment types

✅ Use Teams meetings for virtual appointments

✅ Test your booking page before sharing it with students

✅ Add the booking link to your email signature for easy access