# Working with Roles and Adding Users

Before adding a user, you should have a solid understanding of user roles. Assigning the wrong role to a user can put the entire site in jeopardy. For example, a user with an Editor or Administrator role could potentially delete all of a site's content in less than five minutes.

## Working with Roles

Always give a user the lowest level role they need. If you're unsure about what role a user should have, stick with Subscriber or Contributor. You can always give them a higher level role later.

**Media Milwaukee**: Students are only assigned a Subscriber or Contributor role. Never give a student any other role.

**UWM Post**: New writers are only assigned a Subscriber or Contributor role. Don't assign an Author or Editor role to a user until they've proven themselves trustworthy in lower level roles. The Administrator role should be given to as few users as possible.

| Role          | Rights                                                                                                                                                                      | Who should get this role                                                                                                                |
| ------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Subscriber    | Can change their own profile info (author pic, email address.) Can't create or publish their own posts.                                                                     | Students new to Media Milwaukee or UWM Post. Use this role if you don't know what role to assign.                                       |
| Contributor   | Can create posts, but can't make them public. Editor role can make a Contributor's posts public.                                                                            | Media Milwaukee: Students in JAMS 320 (and above.) UWM Post: New writers hoping to attain an Author role.                               |
| Author        | Can create and publish their own posts.                                                                                                                                     | Media Milwaukee: Students are not given this role. UWM Post: Writers who have written three posts as a Contributor.                     |
| Editor        | Can create and publish posts. Can edit posts written by other users. Can approve posts written by Contributors.                                                             | Media Milwaukee: Students are not given this role. UWM Post: Editor role is given to actual UWM Post editors.                           |
| Administrator | Can create, edit, publish posts written by anyone with access to site. Can create and delete users and change user passwords. Can add and delete plugins and change themes. | Media Milwaukee: Students are not given this role. UWM Post: Administrator role is only given to students who are running The UWM Post. |

## Adding a User

1. In the Dashboard, go to **Users** and select **Add New**.
2. On the Add New User page, fill in the fields with with new user's appropriate information. Note: Use the student's UWM email address for both the username and email address.
3. Make sure the Send User Notification checkbox is selected.
4. Assign an appropriate user role (see above.)
5. When finished, click **Add New User**.&#x20;
6. Instruct the user to perform a [password reset](../accessing-the-news-site/resetting-your-password) (to create their own password.) **Note**: Users will need to use a strong password.&#x20;
