Related pages
Slack is a chat service used by University staff, including Departmental Computing Officers (DCOs) and other key IT related staff across the University.
Staff with Slack accounts have access to general access channels, and to any private channels used by their group or department. Some open channels are used primarily by IT Services and DCOs to discuss IT related issues, for example:
Note: this service was previously provided using HipChat.
Eligibility
Access is available to all staff. Associates can be added on request.
Our workspace's Slack URL is uoy.slack.com.
Access to Slack is via your University Google account, so please choose the "Sign in with Google" option when logging in.
Desktop apps are available to download for Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android:
Mobile apps are available via the App Store, Google Play, or the Microsoft Store.
Channels are used to organize conversations around certain topics, projects or teams. Team members can join and leave channels as required. Channels may be public or private.
By default, you will automatically be invited into the following public channels:
The following public channels are also available for those members who will find them useful:
Private (restricted access) channels may be set up which are specific to your department, group, or team.
Further guidance on Slack channels can be found on the Slack wiki:
Only use the IT Emergency Comms channel to discuss an emergency situation. The definition of 'emergency' is necessarily loose, but it would normally be a situation which affects a significant number of staff and/or students, or impacts on business-critical services.
Please don't use the channel to ask whether a specific service is running or to report a problem affecting your department: the Library & IT Help Desk should be your first port of call.
To maintain the focus of the channel, discussion is led by members of IT Services. We may ask for specific input from DCOs - for example, updates on how their area is affected.
Discussion within IT Emergency Comms should be treated as confidential unless stated otherwise, and should not be shared.
Be aware that the discussion is often of a diagnostic nature, rather than confirmed facts.
Once the situation has been resolved and communications completed, discussion should move elsewhere.
This channel can be used by DCOs to share knowledge and to seek advice from other DCOs.
Members of IT Services may use the channel, but it shouldn't be used as a way to raise an issue with IT Services.
Please be aware that the records of any channel may be subject to a Freedom of Information request - be particularly careful about discussing details relating to individuals.
We provide more advice on using Slack, including use of mentions and notification settings, on the following wiki pages:
Library & IT Help Desk
If you're having any problems using Slack, get in touch with the Library and IT Help Desk.
Service status | Live and supported service. |
---|---|
Hours of service | 24/7 |
Service support | For help and support with this service, contact the Library and IT Help Desk. |
Hours of support | Help from the Library & IT Help Desk is available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. |
Target availability |
General IT Services targets: |
Our performance |
Our service standards have been produced in consultation with our customers, and monitor the quality, timeliness and access to facilities and services: |
Complaints procedure |
If you wish to give us general feedback on this service, please see our Feedback page for ways to get in touch. If you wish to make a complaint, please see our complaints procedure. |