The Commons is often used to promote cross-campus and campus-based initiatives. Examples include:

• ePortfolios @SPS – a private working group and group blog for the “Connect to Learning at SPS” project.
• GCDHI – the Graduate Center’s Digital Humanities Initiative uses a group, a group blog, and the Commons Wiki.
• Zines at Brooklyn College – a great site that provides information about Zines in general, and information about the college’s collections.
• Carribbean Commons – a public blog that “…announces Caribbean Studies CFPs, events and publications of interest to those in the Northeast US. It also archives information from the CE Seminar….”
• CUNY Hybrid Initiative – The CUNY Hybrid Initiative is an open resource for professors new to online teaching and who are planning to create and teach hybrid courses, as well as experienced online professors wanting to refine their practice.
• Open Access @ CUNY – This site was created by a team of CUNY library faculty interested in highlighting and advocating open access scholarship across the university. It holds resources, promotes discussion and events, and brings scholars together.
• Queens College Tenure Track Group – This is a private group that provides support and guidance to junior faculty in the Educational and Community Programs Department at Queens College

There is no set formula, but many initiatives include a WordPress site (and its discussion capabilities), and/or a group (either private or public).  Often a group Web site is attached to a group, and admins provide group members various editorial permissions.  The Commons wiki is often employed as place to build the initiative’s knowledge base.

Jessie Daniels – Just Publics