Google is improving the Google Calendar experience with its new appointment schedule feature. Some of you may have already made the move from Google appointment slots to appointment schedules. If you’ve already made the switch, then you’ll see its recent updates. If not, then you’ll soon see that Google appointment slots is permanently going away making space for Google’s new and improved scheduling tool.

When Is the Appointment Slots Feature Going Away?

Starting July 18, 2024, appointment schedules will replace appointment slots. This transition is part of Google’s ongoing efforts to provide more flexible, efficient, and user-friendly scheduling tools.

What Is Google Calendar’s Appointment Scheduling Feature?

Google Calendar’s appointment scheduling feature allows you to create and manage time slots that others can book with you. This tool is especially useful for setting up office hours and other meeting times with students and colleagues.

Switch From Appointment Slots to Appointment Schedules

Important: Your existing appointment slots don’t transfer automatically to appointment schedules.

Until July 17, 2024, you can still create, book, and delete appointment slots. Starting July 18, 2024, you can no longer use or book appointment slots. To allow others to schedule appointments on your calendar, you can use appointment schedules.

You can switch from appointment slots and appointment schedules by following the instructions below.

1. On your computer, open Google Calendar.
2. Go to Settings General Appointment schedules.
3. Select or deselect the box next to “Create appointment schedules instead of appointment slots.”

What Are the Benefits of the New Appointment Schedules Feature?

• Simplified Scheduling: Instead of back-and-forth emails to find a suitable time for meetings, students and colleagues can view your available slots and book an appointment directly. This eliminates confusion and saves valuable time.

• Customizable Availability: You can set specific times for your office hours and tailor the duration of each appointment. Whether you prefer short 15-minute check-ins or longer advising sessions, this feature lets you customize your schedule to meet your needs.

• Multiple Calendar Integration: With the new updates, you can create appointment schedules on secondary calendars. This is particularly beneficial for shared office hours or team meetings, allowing multiple users to manage and view bookings collaboratively.

• Co-Hosts and Delegate Access: You can now add up to 20 co-hosts to your appointment schedules, enabling collaborative hosting of meetings. Additionally, colleagues with delegate access can help manage your appointment schedules, ensuring your calendar stays organized and up-to-date.

• Avoiding Scheduling Conflicts: The “Check calendars for availability” feature helps prevent double-booking by checking for conflicts across multiple calendars. This ensures your appointments do not overlap with existing commitments

Use Cases

• Office Hours: Easily manage and book student appointments, ensuring that you are available when they need assistance. Students can see your availability and select a time that works for them, making the process seamless and efficient.

• Committee Meetings: Coordinate meeting times with committee members by sharing your availability and allowing them to book slots. This facilitates better collaboration and ensures that meetings are scheduled at convenient times for all participants.

• Collaborative Projects: For projects requiring input from multiple colleagues, use the co-host feature to schedule joint meetings. This ensures everyone involved can find a suitable time and stay updated on meeting details.

How Do I Set Up Google Appointment Schedules?

To set up your appointment schedule:

1. Open Google Calendar on your computer.
2. Click “Create” and select “Appointment schedule.” You must make the switch to Appointment schedule in Google calendar settings first.
3. Enter a title, set the duration, and configure your availability.
4. Choose a primary or secondary calendar and add co-hosts if needed.
5. Customize your booking page with necessary details and save your schedule.

For the full details, please go to Create an appointment schedule on Google’s support page.

ITS is is also available to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have during this period of transition. Please reach out to us by submitting a ticket through our support portal at https://support.swarthmore.edu.