Using the Public Wiki vs. Private Wiki

We support two wiki solutions, one private (wiki.smu) for an internal audience and one public (resources.smu) for an external audience, to meet the needs of the SMU community. While both serve similar purposes, there are differences. Using the information below can help you choose the right type of wiki for your needs while maximizing the potential for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and engagement.

  1. Accessibility

    The primary difference between the two wikis is accessibility. Wiki.SMU is only accessible to faculty, staff, students, or anyone assigned SMU credentials. Resources.SMU can be accessed by anyone within and outside the University with internet access.

  2. Purpose

    Wiki.SMU provides an environment for collaboration and information sharing among the SMU community. Resources.SMU is designed for external knowledge sharing, customer support, and marketing to the general public, and is not just limited to internal knowledge sharing and collaboration.

  3. Content

    The content in Wiki.SMU is typically confidential, sensitive, or proprietary information only relevant to those within the SMU community, and will be kept private from search engines and AI discovery.

  4. Security

    The content in Wiki.SMU is secured by user authentication for access. In addition, page-level permission can be added to restrict access further. Resources.SMU is open and accessible to the public, but requires user authentication to edit content.

Sharing on Resources.SMU?

Below are some guidelines for sharing content on Resources.SMU. 

Okay to share

  • General Information: High-level overviews, policies, and resources that are helpful to a wide audience.
  • How-To Guides: Step-by-step instructions, processes, or best practices that others can follow.
  • FAQs & Common Solutions: Answers to frequently asked questions or recurring issues.
  • Reference Materials: Links, documents, or summaries that provide context and support.
  • Community Contributions: Helpful tips, lessons learned, and insights that benefit everyone.

Do not share

  • Sensitive or Confidential Information: Do not post personal data, private business information, or anything restricted.
  • Temporary Updates: Short-term notices or time-sensitive updates should be shared through other channels (e.g., email, social media, announcements).
  • Duplicate Content: If information already exists, update or improve the existing page instead of creating a new one.