Why Approve Student Group Requests in your Community?
Student-led Groups are a brilliant way to foster connection, belonging, and peer-to-peer support within your Community. Giving students the chance to suggest and create their own Groups helps build a sense of ownership and authenticity.
At the same time, having you as University Admins approve these requests ensures that Groups remain aligned with your institution’s values and provide the best possible experience for prospective and current students.
How will I know when a Student has requested a new Group?
All Admins will receive an email when a new Group has been requested, directing you to your University Dashboard to edit, approve, or delete the request.
Don't want to receive these notifications?
Simply go to your Settings tab in the University Dashboard and toggle off Public group requests, under Email notification preferences > Community.
How can I review and approve group requests?
To review and approve student requested Groups in your Community, follow the instructions below:
Log into your University Dashboard.
Select the Community tab on the left-hand navigation menu.
Select the Community that has a red notification icon (this means you've got Group requests waiting to be reviewed, as in the screenshot below).
Go to the Groups tab. You'll see the red badge notification there, too.
Above your list of Current Groups, you'll see Requested Groups. These are the public groups that your students have asked for.
Click Review to take action on this Group request. You'll see the Name and Description chosen by the student, and a blank Tags field.
If would like to approve this Group, you can first edit the Group Name and Description if necessary, by clicking those fields and making updates directly.
Click the Tags field to choose Tags which match the theme of this Group.
Click Approve Group.
Your new Group will be instantly available in your Community Explore tab for students to discover and join.
What if I don't want to approve the Group?
It might not always be appropriate to approve all Group requests, especially if something similar already exists, or if the requested Group doesn't fit the scope of your Community. In this case, follow these simple steps;
Follow the above steps - and when you get to the Review requested group prompt, simply click Delete request.
Please note: the student is not notified of the outcome of their Group request.
Best Practices
Approve Groups where appropriate.
Approvals aren’t about limiting student initiative - they’re about supporting it. By recognising student-led ideas, you can empower Ambassadors and current students to take leadership in their Community.
Edit requested Group Names and Descriptions to maintain consistency.
Groups are often one of the first touchpoints for prospective students. Editing them before you approve helps maintain consistency with your institution’s tone of voice and reputation, ensuring the Community reflects your brand in a positive way.
Not sure? Don't approve it.
By reviewing requests, you can confirm that Groups contribute to a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment. This is key to making sure all students feel welcome and represented.
Announce your new Groups.
At the moment, students aren't notified when their requested Group is created, or if the request has been denied. If you approve a Group request, be sure to announce this in your Updates channel, so students are aware. You can also use your Updates channel to encourage students to submit Group requests.
Similarly, if you delete Group requests, you might like to post an Update to explain why a recent request wasn't approved.