Brandeis University provides the full Google Workspace suite for all faculty, staff, and students to help manage day-to-day projects, communication, and collaboration.
⚠️ Important Notice: Effective January 12, 2026, Brandeis has implemented storage limits on all Brandeis Google accounts (including email, photos, and Drive). For details on these limits and tips on managing your data, please review the Google Storage Policy page.
📧 Email (Gmail)
Gmail is the official, Brandeis-supported email client. Because it is cloud-based, you can access your inbox securely from anywhere, and it seamlessly integrates with Google Chat and Google Meet.
📅 Google Calendar
Google Calendar is the primary application for scheduling meetings, managing timelines, and tracking tasks at Brandeis.
💾 Google Drive & File Sharing
Google Drive is one of Brandeis' approved cloud storage solutions (alongside Box). It includes web-based tools like Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms for real-time collaboration.
File Permissions
When sharing files or folders, you can assign three levels of access:
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Viewer: Can only look at the file; cannot make changes.
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Commenter: Can view the file and add comments, but cannot alter the main content.
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Editor: Can view, comment, and fully edit the file.
Shared Drives vs. Shared Folders
Understanding who owns your data is crucial for collaboration and backups:
| Feature |
Google Shared Drives |
Google Shared Folders |
| Ownership |
Owned collectively by the Drive itself. |
Owned by the individual who created the folder. |
| File Persistence |
Files remain in the Drive even if the creator leaves Brandeis. |
Files reside on the creator's personal account; access can be lost if they leave. |
| Management |
The creator acts as a Manager and can adjust member permissions. |
The owner retains ultimate control over the folder and its contents. |
📹 Google Meet
Google Meet is available to the Brandeis community as an alternative to Zoom for video conferencing, virtual administrative meetings, and screen sharing.
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Capacity: Supports up to 100 participants per meeting.
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Features: Includes recording capabilities, screen sharing, digital whiteboards, live automatic transcripts, and virtual backgrounds.
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How to Access: Log in via the Google Apps menu, through meet.google.com, or via the login portal at login.brandeis.edu.
👥 Google Groups
Google Groups functions as an online mailing list to streamline communication for departments, project teams, or interest groups.
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Capabilities: Send email blasts to all members simultaneously, invite the entire group to calendar events, and quickly share Drive documents with a single group address.
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Management: Group owners and managers can customize membership rights, change delivery options, and manage message archives.
❓ Need Assistance?
If you have questions or experience technical issues, contact Information Technology Services (ITS):