ChargerNet Groups
The Overview posted below relates primarily to joining ChargerNet groups and using Groups Studio as a group member. Documentation related to serving as a ChargerNet group leader is available on the Administration Page.
The Groups application gives students, faculty, researchers and staff members the ability to create and manage group homepages for clubs and organizations. The Groups Studio gives clubs access to various communication tools including email, chat, photos, links and posted files. Additionally, groups can create calendars to advertise meetings and events.
Open the Groups Studio by clicking the Groups icon on the toolbar at the top right of the screen. The Groups Studio window will open. The window contains three tabs: My Groups, Groups Index, and Request Group. The My Groups tab shows groups you have previously joined. The Groups Index tab provides a listing of all categories of groups at UAH and access to the homepages of individual groups so that you can read about and request to join a group. The Request Group tab provides the form necessary to create a new group for a campus club or organization.
Joining a Group
To join a group, click on the Groups Index tab. At this point, you have two options for joining groups. You may click a category on the left and then choose a group from within that category or use the Group Search at the bottom of the screen.
Example: If you type “Technical Communication” in the Groups Search box and click Search, the Group search Results window lists the UAH Technical Communication group. Click on the name of the group, and the Group Guest View window opens. This window gives a description of the group and links to read the group policies and membership policies for the organization. Click on Join Group to continue. You will be required to check boxes indicating that you have read and understood the school’s policy on group membership and that you are willing to share your username and email address. After checking these two boxes, you can click Join to be added to the group. The homepage for the group will appear, allowing you access to the group’s information and tools.
Membership in Groups may be restricted to allow only those in specific classes or with specific majors or club affiliations to join. Group Leaders will approve and grant access to certain, restricted groups.
Groups you have joined will appear under My Groups in the Groups Studio. Click on the Groups icon on the toolbar at the top, right of the screen on the ChargerNet homepage to open the Groups Studio.
Posting Articles, Photos, Links and Files
Clicking on the News, Photos, Links or Files links under Group Tools will allow members to view content already posted on the group homepage.
To add content, click on the Post button on the bottom right of the window. To add files, click on Add a new File. Fill in the required fields. When you post photos or add files, you will see a Browse button next to the File Name field. You can use this to browse your computer to find the photo or file you wish to post.
The first field when posting content is the Status field. If “Submitted” is selected, the content will not appear on the homepage until approved by Group Leader or member who has been delegated to supervise the application. If “Active” is selected, the content will be posted immediately to the group homepage. If “Inactive” is selected, the content will be posted immediately to the group homepage, but the content will only be viewable by the Group Leader or content supervisor.
Calendar
The group calendar is one of the particularly useful tools groups will have available to them. The Group Leader and those with permissions will be able to add events to the group calendar in the same manner in which the personal ChargerNet calendar is used. Click on Calendar and New Event, and a new event window will open.
The options when adding new events allow Group Leaders to schedule events, invite individuals or the entire group to attend and send out email reminders automatically at a selected date and time before the event.
Utilizing the calendar will allow groups to quickly and conveniently advertise meetings and events for their members.
Anyone who joins a group is automatically subscribed to the group calendar. All calendars are accessed by clicking on the Calendar icon on the toolbar and selecting the desired calendar from the Current Calendar pulldown menu.