Groups Guides Overview
Groups connect users with relevant people, discussions, announcements, events, and resources. They can be created for schools, campuses, divisions, services, and organizations.
The Groups Guides Overview provides information that is essential to utilizing Groups. It is advised to begin with The Groups Guides Overview before proceeding.
In this article:
Guide Overview
Goal
Make Groups accessible and appropriate to specific users.
Objectives
- Portal should decide on Group customization options and settings.
- Portal Admin may customize Group options from the front end.
- Portal Admin may customize Group options in Admin Plus.
Outcome
- Groups are more manageable and functional.
- Groups are more specifically tailored to an institution's needs and its users.
Customize Group Options from the Front End
Set Who Can Post and Comment
Posting and commenting abilities can be enabled or disabled. An institution may turn off posting and commenting for announcement-type Groups, so that the discussion feed does not become cluttered or off topic.
Set Who Can View Members
The ability to view other Group members can be enabled or disabled. An institution may disable the ability to view other members in required groups that feature sensitive information such as counseling services or academic support services. This allows members to remain anonymous, as long as they do not post in the Group.
Set Who Can Create Events and Manage Files
Creating events and adding files in a Group can be enabled or disabled. An institution may set these preferences depending on the amount of Group administrators available to monitor created events and shared files within the Group.
Customize Group Options in Admin Plus
Set Order Groups Within a Group Category
Groups can be ordered within a Group category in a way that is functional to the end user.
Set Group Membership Filters
Group Membership can also be adjusted from the front end.
Through the use of membership filters, users are automatically enrolled in a Group based on a set of characteristics or attributes. This ensures first-time users have a positive platform experience, as they already belong to relevant Groups and can view discussion in their activity feed upon login.
Example Use: An institution may use a Group membership filter to automatically enroll all freshman students in an “Orientation” Group.
Example Use: An institution may assign a role to staff, faculty, and students that are veterans. Using a Group membership filter, users with this role are automatically added to a “Veterans Services” Group, helping to foster connections across roles.
Set Who Can Join/Leave Group
Permissions can also be adjusted from the front end.
Groups can be configured for optional or required membership.
Example Use: An institution may use a membership filter to enroll all students in a “Student Services” Group and configure the Group so no one can leave. This ensures that important information provided by the institution will show up in all students’ activity feed.
Example Use: An institution may create a public “Campus Deals” Group that features student discounts and is optional to join and leave. Users can find the Group using search or discover, then choose to join the Group if they wish. Joining the Group will add the Group to the left-hand menu.
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