Summary
This article provides information to aid the reader in choosing the SharePoint site type that most meets their needs, and the instructions to create a site. It intended for those who may be interested in creating a SharePoint site, but need more information about available site types and their purpose. This information is applicable to both the Windows and Mac OS operating systems.
Content
This article describes the type of information that is typically included in each of the two types of SharePoint sites: communication sites and team sites. It also includes the information needed to help you select a site type.
Communication site
Create a SharePoint Communication site to share news, reports, status, and other information in a visually compelling format. These types of sites can be shared broadly and with a wide variety of people within the USNH system.
Team collaboration site
Create a SharePoint team collaboration site to provide a location where you and your team can work together on projects, create work flows, store and collaborate on files, or create and manage lists of information. A team collaboration site includes a group of related web pages, a default document library for files, SharePoint lists for data management, and web parts that you can customize to meet your needs. This type of site is designed for smaller groups of users than a communication site is.
Note: Microsoft's naming makes this confusing. A SharePoint team site (with a lower-case "t") is a SharePoint site built for collaborating with a group of people. It does not have to be tied to a Team (upper-case "T") in the Teams app. You can have a stand-alone team site in SharePoint for collaborating with people within USNH. The SharePoint site underpinning a Team in the Teams application is generally this same type. If you follow the instructions in this article to create a stand-alone team collaboration SharePoint site, you can add a Team (through the Teams app) on top of your team site at a later date if desired.
Should I create a team collaboration site or a communication site?
Use a communication site to broadcast information out to a broad audience within USNH. With a communication site, typically only a small set of members contribute content that is consumed by a much larger audience.
Use a team site when you want to collaborate with other members of your team or with others on a specific project. With a team collaboration site, typically all or most members can contribute content to the site and the information is limited to only the members of the team or project and specific invited stakeholders.
Instructions
Step 1 - Navigate to the SharePoint Support article.
Step 2 - Click Request Support.
Step 3 - Enter the required information.
Outcome
A SharePoint administrator reviews and fulfills your request.
How-To
Task: To create a SharePoint site.
Instructions
Step 1 - Sign into Microsoft 365, open the app launcher, choose SharePoint.
Step 2 - Click + Create site and choose one of the site type options: Team site (for collaboration) or Communication site
Note: It is recommended to make a team site for smaller groups of users.
Step 3 - Enter a Name for your SharePoint site. An M365 Group e-mail will be automatically generated with the same name as your site.
Note: Your SharePoint site name should be clear and define the contents of your site. The name should include a department abbreviation and/or a project name. Keep the name as short as possible while maintaining clarity.
- Example of a good name: UNH Human Resources
- Example of a bad name: HR
Step 4 - In the Site description box, add some text that lets people know the purpose of your site.
Step 5 - In the Privacy settings section, choose either
- Public - anyone in the organization can access this site
- Private - only members can access this site - MAKE SURE THIS IS SET TO DEFAULT. Do not make your site public until you are ready to publish it to the University System which includes Students as well as Faculty and Staff.
Step 6 - Click Next..
Step 7 - Add the names or email addresses of anyone else you want to manage the site in the Add additional owners box.
Note: The site creator is automatically a member of the site owners group.
Step 8 - In the Add members box, add the name or email address for everyone you want to be a member of your site and then click Finish. Members added to the M365 group associated with the site are automatically added to the site members group.
Step 9 - Click Finish.
Outcome
Your site is created and a appears among the sites you're following . Your site does not inherit the permission settings or navigation of other sites.
Important Information
If you require a SharePoint/Teams to contain PII, FERPA, and HIPAA data please fill out a request Service - SharePoint (usnh.edu)
Use of SharePoint Online and other Office 365 services provided by UNH is governed by the same policies as other university resources:
Further Readings
To share your Team collaboration site with others, see Share a site .
To request to share with external (non-USNH) collaborators, see SharePoint: Enabling Sharing with External Collaborators
Now that you have a Communication Site it's time to set it up. Visit the knowledge base article on using web parts.
See the Manage site permissions section in Microsoft - Manage a site in SharePoint Online
To add a Team (through the Teams app) on top of your team site at a later date if desired.
Need additional help?
If you require a SharePoint site or Teams to contain PII, FERPA, or HIPAA data, please fill out a request Service - SharePoint (usnh.edu).
For additional Training please visit the Teaching & Learning Technologies Training site.
To submit a support request, please fill out the Microsoft 365 Support webform with as much detail as possible, or contact the ET&S Help Desk team on your local campus. For password issues you must call or visit the Help Desk in person.