# User Access Assignments

Use access assignments when a staff user should work only with selected branches, classes, or sections.

## Assign branches

1. Go to **Users & Staff > People Directory**.
2. Find the staff user.
3. Open the row action for **Branches**.
4. Select the branches the user should access.
5. Select **Save Changes**.

## Assign classes

1. Open the same user in **People Directory**.
2. Select the **Classes** action.
3. Choose the classes the user should access.
4. Select **Save Changes**.

## Assign sections

1. Open the user actions again.
2. Select **Sections**.
3. Choose the sections the user should access.
4. Select **Save Changes**.

## What SmartAcademy does in the background

The backend validates that the selected branches, classes, and sections belong to your organization, stores the assignments in linking tables, and records the access update in audit logs.

## Tips

- Assign branch access before assigning classes or sections for branch-specific staff.
- Teacher access is easier to manage when classes and sections are created first.
- Role permissions decide what the user can do; access assignments decide which school records the user works with.

## Related pages

- [People directory](/smartacademy-v2-platform/staff/people-directory)
- [Roles and permissions](/smartacademy-v2-platform/staff/roles-permissions)
- [Sections](/smartacademy-v2-platform/academics/sections)