Update on Possible Changes to the BlueJeans Virtual Meetings Service in FY23

To BlueJeans Users:

We are writing to inform you of a possible change to the status of BlueJeans Virtual Meetings.  

Over the past two years, the availability and capabilities of video conferencing tools have greatly expanded on campus, leading to redundant services with overlapping capabilities. As such, the Penn Technology Investment Committee has recommended removing BlueJeans Virtual Meetings from the Common Good service portfolio next fiscal year (July 1, 2022).  

If this change takes effect, BlueJeans Virtual Meetings would no longer be available as a centrally funded service.

Individuals and groups that are scheduling meetings after July 1, 2022, are encouraged to consider Penn’s alternative platforms such as Penn Medicine Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

Who Is Affected?

All current University of Pennsylvania BlueJeans Virtual Meetings service users will be affected by the changes.  

Who Is Not Affected?

This change does not directly impact BlueJeans Events, which is used for webinars and events and will remain an available platform.

This change does not impact the use of BlueJeans for Telehealth within Penn Medicine. Patient encounters for clinical and clinical research purposes scheduled through PennChart and managed via Switchboard are not affected.

Options

Penn currently has 2 other centrally funded options for those using BlueJeans Virtual Meetings.

• Zoom – Penn Medicine Zoom is available to active faculty, staff, and students, including for academic use, and is integrated with Canvas. More information can be found here: https://www.med.upenn.edu/dart/zoom/
• Teams – Microsoft Teams is available to all who have an active Penn Medicine O365 and / or PennO365 account and is recommended for meetings in administrative settings. Teams integrates with the Microsoft environment seamlessly, including your O365 email and calendar, as well as OneDrive and Sharepoint.

What Do I Have to Do?

Review your current use of BlueJeans and contact PMACS / DART if you have any major concerns about transitioning to another option. 

Questions

More detailed information will be provided as it becomes available.  If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to bluejeans-psom-changes@pennmedicine.upenn.edu or contact PMACS / DART.

For more information on the Video Conferencing tools, please visit https://www.med.upenn.edu/dart/collaboration-services.html.

For further guidance on the use of Penn’s video conferencing platforms where PHI may be discussed, please see https://www.med.upenn.edu/ocrobjects/secure/library/General_Guidance.pdf.

– Penn Medicine Academic Computing Services