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DeanDesk’s built-in messaging lets administrators, instructors, and students communicate privately without relying on external tools like WhatsApp or email. All conversations stay on your platform, and your institution owns the data.

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One-on-one messaging

Start a private conversation with any user on your platform.
1

Open Messages

Click the Messages icon in the sidebar or navigate to Inbox from the top navigation bar.
2

Start a new conversation

Click New Message and search for the person you want to contact by name or email address.
3

Write and send

Type your message in the compose field and press Enter or click Send.
You can message any user on your platform — students, instructors, or other administrators.

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Group messaging

Send a single message to multiple recipients at once.
1

Open New Message

Click New Message from your Inbox.
2

Add multiple recipients

In the To field, search for and add each person you want to include. There is no limit on the number of recipients.
3

Write and send

Compose your message and click Send. All recipients receive the message in their individual inboxes.
Group messages in DeanDesk are broadcast messages — each recipient sees the message individually, not as a shared thread. For a real-time group conversation, use the Community feature instead.

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File attachments

Attach documents, images, and files to any message.
  1. In the message compose area, click the Attach icon (paperclip).
  2. Select the file from your device.
  3. Click Send once the file finishes uploading.
Recipients can preview or download the attachment directly from the message thread.
Use file attachments to share course materials, feedback on assignments, or signed forms — without leaving DeanDesk.

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Message history

All sent and received messages are stored in your Inbox. Conversations are threaded by contact and sorted by most recent activity.
  • Use the Search bar at the top of your Inbox to find a specific message or sender.
  • Click any conversation to view the full thread.
  • Messages are retained indefinitely — there is no automatic deletion.

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Managing notification preferences

Users control how they are notified about new messages.
1

Go to your profile

Click your avatar or name in the top right corner, then select Profile Settings.
2

Open Notification Settings

Select the Notifications tab.
3

Configure your preferences

Toggle each notification channel on or off for the Messages category:
ChannelDescription
EmailReceive an email when you get a new message
PushReceive a push notification on the mobile app
In-appSee a badge and alert while using DeanDesk on the web
4

Set frequency

Under Email Frequency, choose how often email digests are sent: Immediately, Daily digest, or Weekly digest.
5

Save

Click Save Preferences.

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Who should use messaging

Use messaging for individual student follow-ups that require a private record — outstanding balances, enrollment issues, or personal matters that shouldn’t appear in a course announcement. For bulk outreach, use Announcements instead.
DeanDesk messaging is intended for platform-related communication. Do not share passwords, sensitive personal data, or financial information through the message system.