How do I enable Slack for an account?

To enable Canvas notifications for all users within a Slack workspace, a user with Slack admin rights must create and install the Slack app to create a Bot Access Token. After the bot is created and verified, individual Canvas users can enable Slack as a Canvas contact method to receive notifications.

Note: Child consortium accounts cannot manage Slack settings.

Open Slack Apps

Open Slack Apps

Open api.slack.com/apps in your internet browser.

If necessary, log in to your Slack account.

Create New Slack App

Create New Slack App

Click the Create New App button [1].

Give the app a name in the App Name field [2]. The app name will display to users in the Slack workspace.

Select your institution's workspace or the workspace the app should belong to in the Development Slack Workspace drop-down [3].

To create the app, click the Create App button [4].

Add OAuth Scope

Add OAuth Scope

Open the OAuth & Permissions page [1].

In the Scopes section [2], click the Add an OAuth Scope button [3].

Select Scopes

Select Scopes

Click the Add permission by Scope or API method drop-down menu [1] and select the following OAuth scope options:

  • channels:manage [2]: Manage public channels that your Slack app has been added to and create new ones
  • chat:write [3]: Send messages as your Slack app
  • groups:write [4]: Manage private channels that your Slack app has been added to and create new ones
  • im:write [5]: Start direct messages with people
  • mpim:write [6]: Start group direct messages with people
  • users:read [7]: View people in the workspace
  • users:read.email [8]: View email addresses of people in the workspace

Install App

Install App

To save and install the app, click the Install App to Workspace button.

Allow App Workspace Access

Allow App Workspace Access

A message displays requesting permission for the app to access the Slack workspace.

Click the Allow button.

Copy Slack Bot Access Token

Copy Slack Bot Access Token

Once the app is created in Slack, click the Install App link [1].

Locate the Bot User OAuth Access Token and click the Copy button [2].

Add Slack API Token

Add Slack API Token

In the Account Settings page in Canvas, locate the Slack API Token section and paste the copied token in the New Slack API Key field [1].

To save, click the Update Settings button [2].

Note: If the Slack API Key heading does not display, refresh your browser window.

Create Contact Method

Create Canvas Contact Method

In your user settings page, click the Add Contact Method link [1].

Click the Slack Email tab [2], and enter the email address of your Slack account in the Slack Email field [3].

Then click the Register Slack Email button [4].

Confirm Communication Channel

Confirm Communication Channel

In Slack, look for a notification sent to the newly-created Slack App with a four-digit Canvas registration code [1].

In Canvas, enter the four-digit code in the Confirm Communication Channel field [2]. Then click the Confirm button [3].

Once confirmed, all users in your Slack account can add the Slack Email contact method and manage their Slack notification settings in the User Settings page.