Introduction to Slack
Slack is a communication platform that facilitates Saga-wide internal collaboration and community-building. It allows staff and fellows to chat through direct messages (like instant messaging) as well as channels (like group chats).
Joining Slack
Please use the links in this document to join Saga's Slack workspace with your Saga Google account.
Protocols and Expectations
The following are general guidelines for Saga's Slack usage. Department heads will determine additional department and/or role-specific protocols/expectations and communicate these to their teams.
- All channels that start with a “#” are open - meaning any Saga Slack user in that workspace can search, read, and contribute to them. All channels that start with a lock symbol, and all direct messages, are private - visible only to members invited to that channel or message group, as well as Saga’s Slack admins. That said, all communication that occurs through Slack should remain professional at all times.
- As a recipient of a federal AmeriCorps grant, Saga (and all of its employees) must refrain from engaging in these AC prohibited activities; we ask that you do NOT engage in the outlined activities via Slack.
Tips and Resources
- Download the Slack app on your device:
- For Windows
- For Macs
- Chromebook users can use the web app on browser
- Mobile App
- For iOS
- For Android
- Or just look up Slack in App Store (iOS) / Google Play Store (Android)
- Use custom sections to organize your channels/conversations
- Organizing your channels does not affect other users’ dashboards
- Close out of direct messages (DMs) you don’t use regularly
- To do this, move your cursor over a DM you want to close out, and click on the "X" that pops up.
- Doing so will not delete the conversation history; once you reopen the direct conversation, the conversation history will be visible.
- Slack will automatically, over time, also hide direct messages to others you do not use regularly.
- When creating channels, use the prefixes established (these will populate when you begin entering a channel name). Even if the channel you are creating is private (to you and a few colleagues), using consistent prefixes will help to keep channels organized for you and your colleagues.
- help— For questions, assistance, and resources on a topic
- proj— For collaboration on and discussion about a project
- team— For collaboration within a department or team
- If you need help with a specific area (e.g. technical issues) or a tool (e.g. Saga Connect, Salesforce), please seek help in the corresponding #help channel for more efficient responses and better organization. You can also provide related useful tips there.
- If you need help with something that does not have its own channel, you may utilize the #help-miscellaneous channel.
- Here are some channels that can enhance you participation in the workspace:
- #academics: This channel is for staff and fellows to come together to talk about math and learning and how it applies to the work we do at Saga.
- #announcements: This channel contains different events and challenges.
- #general: This channel contains updates and resources of general value to the Saga community.
- #welcome: This channel is for you to say hello to your fellow colleagues!
For some more info on the basics, watch these videos:
Conversations in Slack
Essentials Guide to Notifications
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Slack?
At its base, Slack is a messaging platform. It allows you to send text, files, calls, and other items to an individual or a group of people. To learn more, please visit here.
Glossary:
Workspace: The virtual space where all channels and operations occur.
Channel: A space where any message sent is broadcasted to all members who joined it.
DM: Abbreviation of "Direct Message". Also known as "private message" in other applications. You can DM a person, or a group of people. Note that DMs are not channels. Although they operate similarly, rules and functions that work in channels may not translate to DMs.
Ping: An alert someone gets when they receive a new message. It is a single "ping" sound. Visually, they would see a counter that a new message comes in. Since the term "ping" is deeply associated with new messages, it also refers to the action of sending a quick message to someone.
@mention: When you use the "@" symbol then type in someone's name, it will ping them directly. You would use this to get someone's attention to a particular workspace, channel, or DM.
What is a workspace and how do I join it?
A workspace is where you and your Saga colleagues will work together. It can be joined by an email invite sent to your Saga account. You can refer to the Joining Slack section for more information.
How do I set up my Slack profile?
Once in Slack, click on your icon at the bottom of the left panel, then click on "Profile" on the pop-up. In the window that pops up, click "Edit" or "Add" for the sections yo want to make changes. Here you can differentiate between your name, display name, your role, and other information.
On the mobile app, click on your icon on the upper right corner. Select "View profile", then "Edit Profile".
How do I get Slack set up on my device?
Windows, Mac, Linux: Visit the appropriate page to download the installer.
Chromebook: Chromebooks do not have a desktop application. You can still use Slack on the browser platform. See Tips and Resources.
Phone: Visit your phone's app store and download Slack to your phone. See Tips and Resources.
What are Slack commands?
Slack commands are small executables to do small tasks. You can type them into any channel or DM. There are some useful ones, but none are necessary in the slightest. You can find a starter here. Our favorite is the reminder command to fill our water bottles!
What is Slack used for?
Collaborations! If you need to reach someone directly or to a group for a small, short, pointed question/announcement, then Slack is a great platform to use. It will alert the person that a message is waiting for them. For longer, more detailed work that needs greater documentation, email and google workspace apps are better to get the message across. The way you use Slack may be slightly different based on your roles, but across the organization, it is the most common instant messaging/texting tool to get someone's attention on something. Please be aware of who you are messaging and what you are messaging - some roles are more social and collaborative while others are not.