1. Open the desktop Slack app. 

2. Go to the Slack Workspace in which you want to create a channel or channels. Check you are in the correct Workspace by verifying the workspace name in the top left corner of the app.

3. In the sidebar on the left side of the app, navigate to the Channels section. All channels you have joined will be listed here. Select Add Channels at the bottom of this list, then select Create a new channel.

4. Name your channel. All channel names become lowercase after creation. Spaces become hyphens (-).

5. Add a description (optional). This is particularly helpful when people are searching for channels to join.

6. Choose a channel type: public or private. The default is public. Public channels are not open to the entire college, but messages and files within a public channel are searchable by members of your workspace. Most channels are fine as public channels. If you have questions, email ithelp@smith.edu and a Slack administrator will be in touch.

7. DO NOT check the box to share the channel outside of your company unless you have spoken with a Slack administrator in IT.

8. Select Create. You can add people to the new channel right away, or select Skip for now and add people later.

Repeat steps 3-6 for as many channels as you need.