Formalized assignment and possible logging of pending applications

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In a feature discussion titled “Formalized assignment and possible logging of pending applications,” robbie.morrison proposes improving coordination among admins reviewing new user applications on [forum.openmod.org]. Currently, admins manually triage applications using informal rules: institutional emails or known users are approved, others receive a background request. Robbie suggests a GUI for assigning ownership of pending applications to avoid duplication and adding typed notes to support decision-making. JammyDodger notes that while Discourse has an “auto approve email domains” setting and a “reviewable claiming” feature, the latter doesn’t currently apply to user sign-ups — which would be ideal if it did. They also mention the User Notes plugin as a workaround, though integration into the Review Queue would be preferable. nathank agrees, emphasizing that such a feature would be especially useful once a bug preventing invited users from bypassing approval is fixed meta.discourse.org/t/new-users-need-approval-despite-being-invited/231300. The thread references two relevant Meta Discourse threads for background context meta.discourse.org/t/how-can-moderators-coordinate-their-efforts/190257/17 and meta.discourse.org/t/custom-email-for-application-pending-use-case/211285.

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For consideration please:

Problem statement: When someone seeks to join our site, they are put in a Review queue of Pending applications. And then one of three admins might process their request using the following protocol:

  • those with an institutional email address are waived through
  • those who are known (often as a result of a referral) are waived through
  • those not are sent an email requesting background.

Possible solution: Via some kind of GUI interface, an admin can take charge of a particular screening process so that the other admins can know that that application is being handled and by whom.

Additional feature: If typed‑in notes could also be recorded en route, that would also help reduce the opportunities for confusion and possibly also assist with the screening decisions.

Background material:

Many thanks in advance, R

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Bulk adding auto approve email domains
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There’s the auto approve email domains admin setting that may help with that one:

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There is the reviewable claiming admin setting too, but it doesn’t appear to apply to approving users currently. If it did that would be almost perfect. :slight_smile: You could apply user notes from their admin page using the Discourse User Notes plugin too, though it would be nice if this was a few steps closer to the Approval in the Review Queue.

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Totally agree! It would be massively helpful to have this also apply to sign-up requests.

For us, it would only be useful once Allow users invited by staff to skip approval is fixed of course…

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4 posts were split to a new topic: Bulk adding auto approve email domains