Information Technology Solutions

Microsoft Teams owner FAQ

NOTE: These instructions apply only to RRC Polytech employees. For additional Teams information that applies to staff, faculty, and students, open the Microsoft Teams Basic User FAQ Help Resources page.

You can scroll through each help topic in this document or click a specific topic below:


What is my role as a team owner?

Each team has a primary and secondary team owner who have elevated privileges on a team. Open the Microsoft Teams Glossary – Team owners webpage for detailed information about team owner roles and responsibilities.

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How do I add someone to my team?

If you are a team owner, click Teams on the left‑hand pane, select the team name in the list, click the More options (more options icon) icon, click Add member, and then type the name of the member.

IMPORTANT: Both employees and students names will appear in the populated list as you type. The job title will appear under an employee’s name, and the word Student will appear under a student’s name.

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How do I add a large number of members to a Team?

If you want to add a large number of people to a team, you can email them an invitation rather than adding them one at a time.

If you are the team owner, select the team name in the list, click the More options (more options icon) icon, click Get link to team, click Copy, and then email the link to the person you want to invite to your team. The recipient of your email can simply click the link to join the team. You also can post this link into Learn Discussions for your students rather than emailing it.

You will then get requests from all the users who clicked on the link to join the team. To accept or decline their requests, click the More options (more options icon) icon, click Manage team , and then click the Pending Requests tab at the top of the page.

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How do I add a channel?

  1. If you are a team owner you can add a channel in two different ways:
    • Click Teams on the left side, click the More options icon next to the team name, and then click Add channel.
      click more options and then add add channel
    • Click Teams on the left side, click the More options icon next to the team name, and then click Manage team.
      click more options and then manage team

      Click the Channels tab and then click + Add channel.
      click add channel

  2. Both options will open this new window. Enter both the team name and the team use, and then using the drop down choose between the Standard or the Private channel type.
    add details and choose a type
  3. Verify the information that you provided, and then click Create.
    verify and click create

    NOTE: You can create up to 200 channels over the life of a team, which includes channels you create and later delete.

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Can my team use third‑party apps?

IT Solutions’ primary focus is on the implementation of Office 365’s core services. At this time, the only available third‑party apps are those currently listed within RRC Polytech Teams.

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What happens if my team becomes inactive?

After 365 days of team inactivity (inactivity means that team members have not read or modified content or participated in chat activity), the following process occurs:

  • Team owners will receive a renewal email notification 30 days, 15 days, and 1 day prior to the expiration of the team.
  • The email will provide team owners with the specific removal date of the team.
  • Team owners can keep the team active by replying to the email.
  • If there is no response from the team owner, Microsoft will automatically delete the team on the date specified in the email, and the team owner will receive an email about the team’s deletion.

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How do I delete a team?

If you no longer require a team, please complete the Microsoft Teams Request – Deactivate Maestro process.

NOTE: When you delete a team, you permanently delete the group. This includes all team chats, group conversations, email messages, files, calendars, and any other related information.

IT Solutions will also delete a team under the following circumstances:

IMPORTANT: If you delete a team and want to recover it, please submit a Service Desk ticket using the ITS Service Desk website within 25 days of deletion. IT Solutions cannot recover deleted teams after 25 days.

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What is IT Solutions’ role with Microsoft Teams at RRC?

  • Configure and secure the system.
  • Develop and maintain any processes associated with the maintenance, monitoring, security, and provisioning of the system.
  • Develop, update, and publish the governance for Teams.
  • Review new features.
  • Provide, deliver, or develop help documents for the use of Microsoft Teams.

NOTE: IT Solutions is NOT responsible for the maintenance of a team, which includes managing, editing, monitoring, designing, developing, maintaining, or providing permissions for team members.

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RRC Polytech campuses are located on the lands of Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininew, Dakota, and Dené, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.

We recognize and honour Treaty 3 Territory Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, the source of Winnipeg’s clean drinking water. In addition, we acknowledge Treaty Territories which provide us with access to electricity we use in both our personal and professional lives.

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