Start Here: Slack at USC

Overview
Logging in to Slack
Customizing your profile and settings
Dornsife-specific workspaces
Messaging, channels, and workspaces in Slack
App integrations in USC Slack

Overview

This guide explains USC's implementation of Slack, and how Dornsife workspaces and channels operate within USC Slack. We also explain the options for requesting a new channel or workspace.

Additional guides

Note that our guide focuses on USC-specific information. For general usage guides, the official documentation from Slack may be helpful:

Getting started for new Slack users: Configure your basic Slack settings
How to use Slack: Navigate the Slack interface
Find and start conversations: Message other USC members in Slack
Collaborate effectively in channels: Begin interacting with channels in Slack

Logging in to Slack

Slack app on your device

Slack is installed on all Dornsife-managed computers and devices:

Log into Slack on a Windows PC

Quick guide

In the Start menu, type Slack in the search bar. Select the Slack app.
Slack opens. Click Sign in to Slack.
A browser window opens. Type your USC email address and click Sign In With Email.
- Your USC email address is your USC NetID@usc.edu. For example, if your USC NetID is ttrojan, your email address is ttrojan@usc.edu.
Complete the verification.
Select University of Southern California and click Open.
Click Sign in with your USC NetID.
The Shibboleth prompt appears. Sign in using your USC NetID and passphrase.
The Duo prompt appears. Complete the verification.
Click Open Link.
The Slack app opens. You are now logged into Slack.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

In the Start menu, type Slack in the search bar. Select the Slack app.
Slack opens. Click Sign in to Slack.
A browser window opens. Type your USC email address and click Sign In With Email.
- Your USC email address is your USC NetID@usc.edu. For example, if your USC NetID is ttrojan, your email address is ttrojan@usc.edu.
Complete the verification.
Select University of Southern California and click Open.
Click Sign in with your USC NetID.
The Shibboleth prompt appears. Sign in using your USC NetID and passphrase.
The Duo prompt appears. Complete the verification.
Click Open Link.
The Slack app opens. You are now logged into Slack.

Log into Slack on a Mac

Quick guide

In the Applications folder, double-click Slack.
Slack opens. Click Sign In to Slack.
A browser window opens. Type your USC email address and click Sign In With Email.
- Your USC email address is your USC NetID@usc.edu. For example, if your USC NetID is ttrojan, your email address is ttrojan@usc.edu.
Check Outlook for an email from Slack. Complete the verification.
Select University of Southern California and click Open.
Click Sign in with your USC NetID.
The Shibboleth prompt appears. Sign in using your USC NetID and passphrase.
The Duo prompt appears. Complete the verification.
Click Allow.
The Slack app opens. You are now logged into Slack.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

In the Applications folder, double-click Slack.
Slack opens. Click Sign In to Slack.
A browser window opens. Type your USC email address and click Sign In With Email.
- Your USC email address is your USC NetID@usc.edu. For example, if your USC NetID is ttrojan, your email address is ttrojan@usc.edu.
Check Outlook for an email from Slack. Complete the verification.
Select University of Southern California and click Open.
Click Sign in with your USC NetID.
The Shibboleth prompt appears. Sign in using your USC NetID and passphrase.
The Duo prompt appears. Complete the verification.
Click Allow.
The Slack app opens. You are now logged into Slack.

Slack on the web

Go to https://usc.enterprise.slack.com.
Click Sign in with your USC NetID.
If prompted, type your USC NetID and passphrase, and complete Duo authentication.
The workspaces you are a member of appear at the top, followed by other workspaces at USC.
To open a workspace in your browser, click Launch in Slack.

Customizing your profile and settings

Add a photo and fill out your profile

Quick guide

In the lower left, click your profile icon, and select Profile.
The profile panel opens to the right. Click Edit.
Fill out your profile. All fields are optional:
- To update your profile icon, click Upload photo and select an image from your computer.
- You can also fill in any other fields, such as Title, Pronouns, or Time Zone.
Once you are done, click Save Changes.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

In the lower left, click your profile icon, and select Profile.
The profile panel opens to the right. Click Edit.
Fill out your profile. All fields are optional:
- To update your profile icon, click Upload photo and select an image from your computer.
- You can also fill in any other fields, such as Title, Pronouns, or Time Zone.
Once you are done, click Save Changes.

Customize Slack appearance and notifications

Quick guide

In the lower left, click your profile icon, and select Preferences.
Click any item in the left menu to edit your preferences. For example:
- Availability: Set your working hours and notification times.
- Notifications: Select which messages you want to receive alerts for, and how these alerts should sound and appear.
- VIP: Ensure that you always receive notifications when specific people contact you, even if you pause general notifications.
- Appearance: Customize your Slack color scheme.
- Accessibility: Improve Slack's readability through features such as the zoom level.
- Audio & video: View settings for and troubleshoot audio, video, and screensharing.
Some changes are immediately saved. Other changes, such as selecting a different theme for Slacks appearance, will prompt you to Save Changes when you switch to a different menu item or exit your preferences.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

In the lower left, click your profile icon, and select Preferences.
Click any item in the left menu to edit your preferences. For example:
- Availability: Set your working hours and notification times.
- Notifications: Select which messages you want to receive alerts for, and how these alerts should sound and appear.
- VIP: Ensure that you always receive notifications when specific people contact you, even if you pause general notifications.
- Appearance: Customize your Slack color scheme.
- Accessibility: Improve Slack's readability through features such as the zoom level.
- Audio & video: View settings for and troubleshoot audio, video, and screensharing.
Some changes are immediately saved. Other changes, such as selecting a different theme for Slack's appearance, will prompt you to Save Changes when you switch to a different menu item or exit your preferences.

Dornsife-specific workspaces

To collaborate with Dornsife faculty and staff, use the Dornsife workspace to join and create private channels. If you and your team members are all staff members, you may prefer to use the Dornsife Administration workspace instead.

Dornsife workspace

Location: https://uscdornsife.slack.com
Description: Workspace for Dornsife collaborations open to all members of USC Dornsife
How to access: Using the Dornsife workspace in Slack
Who qualifies: Dornsife faculty, staff, and students

Dornsife Administration workspace

Location: https://uscdornsifeadmin.slack.com
Description: Workspace for administration-specific collaboration at USC Dornsife
How to access: Using the Dornsife Administration workspace in Slack
Who qualifies: Dornsife staff

Dornsife Class workspace

Location: https://uscdornsifeclass.slack.com
Description: Workspace for Dornsife academic class channels
How to access: Contact ITS (consult@usc.edu). Be aware that, as of Dec 2025, ITS no longer automatically creates dedicated class channels. Faculty members wanting to use a Slack channel to communicate with students should refer to this page for instructions on manual setup: Create a Slack Channel and Add People.
Who qualifies: Dornsife faculty and USC students

Messaging, channels, and workspaces in Slack

Direct messages

You can directly message any USC faculty, staff, or student in USC Slack, no matter which workspaces they belong to, and you can also message a group of people at a time. If you are consistently collaborating with a group of the same colleagues, we do recommend using channels instead.

Channels

You can use public and private channels to communicate with members within the same workspace. Public channels are visible to any member of the workspace, while private channels can only be seen once a member is added to the channel.

Multi-workspace channels

If you need to collaborate with members from another USC workspace (for instance, you are part of a Dornsife research group but are working with researchers from other USC schools such as Viterbi or Keck), one option is to request a multi-workspace channel.

Workspaces

At USC, the default recommended approach is to create channels within the existing Dornsife-specific workspaces.
If you feel that a dedicated workspace is the best approach for your purposes, you must demonstrate that your request complies with ITS guidelines for separate workspaces. Your proposed workspace should:

Have 25 or more members
Have a demonstrated need or needs, which channels alone would not meet

To request a separate workspace, email ts@dornsife.usc.edu with this information and we will place your request with ITS. Please be specific about your documented needs for the workspace and why private channels in a Dornsife workspace would not be sufficient.

App integrations in USC Slack

App integrations can sync Slack with other applications used at USC, such as Microsoft and Google applications. To set up an app integration in Slack, view our guide:

Using app integrations in USC Slack

Contributors: Chris Huntley, Trish Kelly.