Changes to the Slack interface
On Jan 3, 2024, the Slack interface for USC received an update. We will be updating this article to reflect the interface changes.
For more information, see ITS's FAQ page on Slack's new user interface.
Overview
In this guide, we review useful features for faculty or staff who need to manage channels in Slack, with a focus on the Dornsife workspace and the Dornsife Administration workspace. Slack is installed by default on all Dornsife-managed computers.
Channel permissions and settings will vary depending on the specific Slack workspace. For ITS general resources on channels and other Slack features, refer to USC's Keep Teaching Slack guide.
Creating and managing channels
Public vs private
There are two types of channels in Slack:
Public channels
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Who can view or join a public channel? Anyone who's a workspace member can search for, view, and join public channels in the workspace.
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Who can create a public channel?
- Dornsife workspace: Only the admins can create a public channel (you can request one using our online form).
- Dornsife Administration workspace: Any member can create a public channel.
Private channels
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Who can view or join a private channel? Only workspace members who have been explicitly invited to a private channel can search for, view, and join that channel. Even the workspace's admins cannot see private channels they have not been invited to.
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Who can create a private channel?
- Dornsife workspace and Dornsife Administration workspace: Any member can create a private channel.
Changing the channel type
While a channel manager can change a public channel to private, ITS does not permit you to change a private channel to public.
Creating a channel
Quick guide
- Open Slack.
- In the sidebar, under "Channels," click + Add channels > Create a new channel.
- Type a name and click Next.
- Select "Public" or "Private" and click Create.
- You can add existing workspace members to the channel using their NetID@usc.edu email address, or click Skip for now.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- Open Slack.
- In the sidebar, under "Channels," click + Add channels. Select Create a new channel from the dropdown.
- Type a name and click Next.
- Select "Public" or "Private" and click Create.
- You can add existing workspace members to the channel using their NetID@usc.edu email address, or click Skip for now.
Editing the channel name, topic, or description
As the channel manager, you can rename a channel or edit its topic or description at any point. Slack recommends not changing the channel name unless you really need to, as it risks confusing channel members.
Quick guide
- Open the channel and click its name in the top left.
- Next to "Channel name" or any other field, click Edit. You can now make any changes.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- Open the channel and click its name in the top left.
- Next to "Channel name" or any other field, click Edit. You can now make any changes.
Leaving a channel
You can leave a channel at any point. If you leave a private channel, you will no longer see its content and cannot rejoin unless a current channel member adds you.
To leave a channel, open the channel and click its name in the top left. Then, click Leave channel.
Adding and managing members
Adding members to a channel
Any channel member can add other workspace members to that channel. It does not matter whether they are a channel manager or not, or whether the channel is public or private:
Quick guide
- Open the channel and click its name in the top left.
- Click the Members tab. Then, click Add people.
- Type the name of the person, select them from the dropdown, and click Add.
- If the person is a workspace member: They will be added to the channel.
- If the person is not a workspace member but has a USC email address: You will be prompted to first add them to the workspace.
- If the person does not have a USC email address: Skip down to our section on "Adding and managing non-USC guests."
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- Open the channel and click its name in the top left.
- Click the Members tab. Then, click Add people.
- Type the name of the person, select them from the dropdown, and click Add.
- If the person is a workspace member: They will be added to the channel.
- If the person is not a workspace member but has a USC email address: You will be prompted to first add them to the workspace.
- If the person does not have a USC email address: Skip down to our section on "Adding and managing non-USC guests."
Channel managers
By default, when you create a new channel, you are its channel manager. Channel manager permissions are fairly limited. As a channel manager, you can:
- Convert the channel from public to private
- Rename the channel
- Add and manage other channel managers
- Archive the channel
To check whether you're the channel manager or to add more channel managers:
Quick guide
- Open the channel and click its name in the top left.
- Next to "Managed by," click Edit.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- Open the channel and click its name in the top left.
- Next to "Managed by," click Edit.
Slack channels created in 2022 or earlier may not have a channel manager. If you created a channel but are not its manager, contact your workspace admins. If you are in the Dornsife workspace or Dornsife Administration workspace, you can email ts@dornsife.usc.edu.
A note about multi-workspace channels
If you are in the Dornsife or Dornsife Administration workspace, and you want to add non-Dornsife people from USC to your channel without making them a workspace member, email ts@dornsife.usc.edu to request a multi-workspace channel. We will submit your request to ITS. Please be specific about your reason for needing a multi-workspace channel.
Adding and managing non-USC guests
To add a non-USC person to your channel in any USC Slack workspace, you'll need to first invite them to the workspace. You must invite them as a guest rather than as a member:
Quick guide
- In the Slack sidebar, click the workspace name at the top. Select Invite people to… from the dropdown.
- Fill out the fields and click Send Request:
- To: Type the person's email address. You can include multiple people in this invitation.
- Invite as: Select Guest from the dropdown.
- Add to Channels: Type the channel names. If you're adding them to a single channel, you can select the checkbox Allow them to be added to more channels for future access. Disregard the billing note: your department will not be billed for this.
- Set a time limit: Select No limit if the person needs indefinite access. You can also set a custom time limit.
- Reason for request: Filling this out helps provide context to workspace admins so they can approve your request.
- The workspace admins will review and approve your invitation request. Once approved, your guest receives an invitation from Slack to join the workspace.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- In the Slack sidebar, click the workspace name at the top. Select Invite people to… from the dropdown.
- Fill out the fields and click Send Request:
- To: Type the person's email address. You can include multiple people in this invitation.
- Invite as: Select Guest from the dropdown.
- Add to Channels: Type the channel names. If you're adding them to a single channel, you can select the checkbox Allow them to be added to more channels for future access. Disregard the billing note: your department will not be billed for this.
- Set a time limit: Select No limit if the person needs indefinite access. You can also set a custom time limit.
- Reason for request: Filling this out helps provide context to workspace admins so they can approve your request.
- The workspace admins will review and approve your invitation request. Once approved, your guest receives an invitation from Slack to join the workspace.
Troubleshooting guest access
The following options for managing guest access must be performed by a workspace admin—channel managers will not be able to access these settings:
Switch a guest from single-channel access to multi-channel access
Re-invite someone as a guest instead of a member
If a guest was initially invited as a member, workspace admins can correct this by first revoking the member invite, and then re-activating the account as a guest account:
Quick guide
- In the Slack sidebar, click the workspace name at the top. Select Settings & administration > Manage members.
- The workspace settings open in your browser.
- First, remove the person's access to the workspace:
- Click the […] to the right of their name. Select Revoke invitation from the dropdown.
- Click Remove.
- Now, you can add them as a guest:
- Click the […] to the right of their name. Select Activate account from the dropdown.
- You may have the option of either Single-Channel Guest or Multi-Channel Guest. Make a selection and click Save, then add your channel(s). You can always change the guest account type later.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- In the Slack sidebar, click the workspace name at the top. Select Settings & administration from the dropdown, and select Manage members.
- The workspace settings open in your browser.
- First, remove the person's access to the workspace:
- Click the […] to the right of their name. Select Revoke invitation from the dropdown.
- Click Remove.
- Now, you can add them as a guest:
- Click the […] to the right of their name. Select Activate account from the dropdown.
- You may have the option of either Single-Channel Guest or Multi-Channel Guest. Make a selection and click Save, then add your channel(s). You can always change the guest account type later.
Archiving channels
You can archive a channel if it is no longer in use and is just taking up space in members' Slack sidebars (for instance, if the channel was created for a project or class that is now complete). When a channel is archived:
- Channel members can no longer post to the channel, and the channel no longer shows up in members' channel lists.
- Channel content remains available, and channel files and conversations will show up when you do searches.
- Since the channel can still be accessed, you cannot use its name for new channels.
- How members are affected:
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Public channel: All members are removed.
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Private channel: Members are retained.
To archive a channel, you must be a channel manager. Open the channel and click its name in the top left. Then, click Archive channel.
Un-archiving channels
To un-archive a channel, contact your workspace administrators. If you are in the Dornsife workspace or Dornsife Administration workspace, you can email ts@dornsife.usc.edu.
A note about deleting channels
Deletion permanently removes a channel: there are no recovery options. This feature is disabled for the Dornsife workspace and the Dornsife Administration workspace.