diff --git a/config/template.json b/config/template.json
index 165180c..ef3fcc9 100644
--- a/config/template.json
+++ b/config/template.json
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@
               "group": {
                 "name": "${ challenge.name }",
                 "description": "Welcome to Topcoder ${ challenge.track } challenge!\nPlease post your questions in this forum, thanks!",
-                "type": "secret"
+                "privacy": "secret",
+                "type": "challenge"
               },
               "categories": [
                 {
@@ -57,7 +58,8 @@
               "group": {
                 "name": "${ challenge.name }",
                 "description": "Welcome to Topcoder ${ challenge.track } challenge!\nPlease post your questions in this chat group, thanks!",
-                "type": "secret"
+                "privacy": "secret",
+                "type": "challenge"
               },
               "categories": [
                 {
@@ -105,7 +107,8 @@
               "group": {
                 "name": "${ challenge.name }",
                 "description": "Welcome to Topcoder ${ challenge.track } challenge!\nPlease post your questions in this chat group, thanks!",
-                "type": "secret"
+                "privacy": "secret",
+                "type": "challenge"
               },
               "discussions": [
                 {
@@ -147,7 +150,8 @@
               "group": {
                 "name": "${ challenge.name }",
                 "description": "Welcome to Topcoder ${ challenge.track } challenge!\nPlease post your questions in this chat group, thanks!",
-                "type": "secret"
+                "privacy": "secret",
+                "type": "challenge"
               },
               "categories": [
                 {
diff --git a/src/services/vanilla.js b/src/services/vanilla.js
index 2c49ed0..dd311a5 100644
--- a/src/services/vanilla.js
+++ b/src/services/vanilla.js
@@ -206,6 +206,7 @@ async function createVanillaGroup (challenge) {
       const groupDescriptionTemplate = _.template(groupTemplate.group.description)
       const { body: group } = await vanillaClient.createGroup({
         name: groupNameTemplate({ challenge }),
+        privacy: groupTemplate.group.privacy,
         type: groupTemplate.group.type,
         description: groupDescriptionTemplate({ challenge }),
         challengeID: `${challenge.id}`,