Objective
Introduce a user-facing setting in Google Calendar that allows individual end-users to select “None” or “No default video-conferencing”, bypassing the tenant-wide default provider (Google Meet or third-party add-ons) configured by the Workspace Administrator.
The Problem & Current Limitations
Currently, Google Workspace administrators can globally enforce Google Meet, a third-party conferencing tool, or disable video conferencing entirely at the Organizational Unit (OU) or group level. However, there is no granular control available to the end-user to opt out of automatic link generation.
In a massive Higher Education environment like the University of Minnesota, user behavior varies wildly. Many users utilize Google Calendar strictly for personal reminders, physical desk hours, or in-person lab schedules where a video link is irrelevant. Because they cannot turn this off themselves, it generates a steady stream of IT support tickets.
Administrative & Technical Impact
To resolve these user requests, administrators must manually create, manage, and audit dedicated security groups or OUs just to disable the video-conferencing service for those specific individuals. This workaround:
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Consumes valuable institutional IT resources for simple preference changes.
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Increases technical debt by cluttering the directory with single-purpose security groups.
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Scales poorly across tens of thousands of revolving student, faculty, and staff accounts.
Value to the Wider Google Workspace Ecosystem
This feature is highly applicable to all institutions and large enterprises alike. By giving end-users autonomy over their calendar preferences, Google can:
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Drastically reduce helpdesk ticket volumes for IT departments globally.
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Improve user experience by preventing the accidental generation of confusing or unnecessary Meet/Zoom links on physical event invitations.
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Streamline administration, allowing Workspace Admins to focus on security and governance rather than individual user preferences.
