Slack

Slack Essentials

Students: If your instructor is using Slack, you will receive an email to join their course Workspace. Follow the instructions in the email to join the course.

Download Slack

Workspace Administration

Create a Slack Channel

Channels are the best way to keep conversations about various projects, topics, or teams organized in Slack. There’s no limit to how many unique channels you can have in Slack. Workspace Admins or Members can create new channels. Channel Managers can be added to maintain channel memberships. To create a channel:

1. Open the desktop Slack app. 

2. In the sidebar on the left side of the app, navigate to the Channels section. 

3. Select Add channels at the bottom of the list, then select Create a New Channel.

4. Select Blank Channel and then Next.

5. Name your channel. All channel names become lowercase after creation. Spaces become hyphens (-).

6. Select the correct workspace from the dropdown menu.

7. Choose a channel type: public or private. The default is public. Public channels are not open to the entire college, but messages and files within a public channel are searchable by members of your workspace. Most channels are fine as public channels. If you have questions about what type of channel to create, email ithelp@smith.edu and a Slack administrator will be in touch.

8. Select Create. You can add people to the new channel right away, or select Skip for now and add people later.

Repeat steps 3-6 for as many channels as you need.

Find Channels in Slack

There will be times when the only channels you see in your Workspace are General and Random, which are the default channels in every Workspace (although they can be renamed). Instructors may create additional channels and inform students that they can join more. To find channels:

1. Open the Slack desktop app. 

2. In the sidebar on the left side of the app, navigate to the Channels section. All channels you have joined will be listed here, based on the workspace you have selected at the top. If you have selected All Workspaces, you may see duplicate channels named #random and #general, as most workspaces include them by default. The workspace name will be added next to the channels for easier distinction.

3. Select Add Channels at the bottom of this list, then select Browse All Channels. Private channels will not appear in the list and are invite-only.

4. Hover over a channel to reveal the Join button. Select it to join the channel. 

Note: If you are a Five College or high school student, you will need to ask your instructor to add you to any channels. You will not be able to join channels on your own. 

Remove People from a Slack Workspace

If someone is having difficulty leaving your Workspace on their own, you can remove them manually.

Single course Workspaces: Students are automatically removed from the Slack Workspace if they drop the class.

Combined or cross-listed course Slack Workspaces: Students should be automatically removed from the Slack Workspace if they drop the class, or the instructor can manually remove them.

To remove someone:

1. Open the Slack desktop or mobile app. 

2. Select the arrow next to Smith College at the top of the Slack app. 

3. Select Tools and Settings.

4. Select Manage members. 

5. Select the correct workspace and then Open. 

6. Locate the member/guest you wish to remove and select the three dots to the right of their record. Select Remove from workspace. The account will appear grayed out in case the person needs to be re-added, but they are now removed from the workspace and all channels they were in.

7. Repeat as needed to remove additional members/guests.

Teach with Slack

Invite Smith Students/Staff to Slack Workspaces

Invite Smith College community members (e.g., graduate assistants or co-professors) to join your single, combined, or cross-listed Workspace using their email addresses.

ITS will automatically add students registered in Workday  to the appropriate course Workspace approximately ten days before the start of class (or when the workspace is created if after that ten day window). ITS will update Workspaces several times a day as students register/drop courses. If you find a student is not in your workspace who is already registered in Workday, please submit a Helpdesk ticket so our Slack team can assist.

You can invite Smith College staff and/or students (e.g. graduate assistants, co-professors) to join your single, combined, or cross-listed Workspace using these steps:

1. Open the Slack desktop or mobile app. If you have not downloaded the app for desktop or mobile, you may do so here: slack.com/downloads. 

2. Select the arrow next to Smith College at the top of the Slack app.

3. Select Tools and Settings.

4. Select Manage members. 

5. Select the correct workspace and then Open.

6. Select Invite People in the top right corner.

7. Choose Members.

8. Choose whether to invite the new users as guests or members

9. Enter the Smith email address for the person you would like to add.

10.  You can include multiple email addresses in the invitation, but the type of user needs to be consistent for each invitation.

11. Select Send.