For setting up a communication system on Insidelaw, I cannot find the type of communications plugin that I am envisioning. It's really simple, so I can't understand why it doesn't exist. There are some "private messaging" plugins, but none are quite right.
Simply put, users would be able to submit a post where they designate which users/groups can read.
When that group member / user logs in, the post would be waiting in a list on their home page. We would probably enable comments by default so it can be a dialogue. Users could be restricted from designating some groups - i.e. students could not post to the "students", "all college" or "all faculty" groups, but could post to most groups that they are a member of (student orgs, class, etc.).
These posts (perhaps called "messages"? "notes"? "dispatches"?) could be a custom content type, initially submitted by the forms manager. Posts could be a help desk ticket when submitted to the "technology" group. Technology staff members, having an editor or higher role, could reassign the post or archive it. I am considering what type of e-mail notifications (if any) might be needed/desired. Notifications would need to be opt-in and simple.
Examples:
- Roy logs in, creates a post tagged to "Students" (and/or "Faculty") instead of using mailing lists. Hopefully we can have attachments (or link in).
- Student creates a post tagged to "Registrar" group. Anyone in the registrar group will see and can respond (if comments are enabled)
It looks like I may be writing this and/or cobbling it together with plugins:
- Custom Content Types
- Forms Manager
- Shortcodes UI
- Advanced Post List
Also, it may be possible to send out (at least messages to groups) via a newsletter functionality - e.g. http://www.itthinx.com/plugins/groups-newsletters/
Other possibilities
- BuddyPress
- Citadel - has "rooms"
- iRedMail - front end for Postfix, etc. - has WebMin module