Reaching out to students early and often before a semester begins and throughout the first week of class makes a major impact on students’ success. Review the checklist below for steps you can take to start off the semester on the right foot.
Two weeks before course start
Review your course for a voice and tone that help build a growth mindset and promotes belonging. Frame challenges as opportunities, encourage the learning process (not the results!), and help students plan and reflect. Use our voice and tone checklist as you make modifications.
While students rely heavily on their instructor in the first few weeks of a course, there is a network of support services and resources available at your institution to support students from orientation through graduation. Pre-write announcements that highlight key services, websites, and resources that students may need in the early days of the course. Use our Student Success guide to begin this process.
One week before course start
Making your online course site available to students before the first day of the course gives them the chance to review materials and better prepare themselves for the expectations of the course. You do not need to make all pages available, but sharing your syllabus, instructor introduction, course policies, and introduction activity for students will help answer any initial questions students may have.
One week before students begin the course, send an inviting email welcoming students to the course and inviting them to meet one-on-one. This email should express your commitment to their development and share information that will support them. Use our initial outreach email template to start your email!
Day one of your course
On the first day of the course, send an announcement to all students using your LMS announcement functionality. Like your kickoff email, this message should reiterate your excitement about this new learning community, promote your new learning community, and share that you are looking forward to each student’s success.
Week one of your course
Analytics available in your LMS can tell you a lot about how engaged students are in your online course. Monitor those analytics closely. Track frequency of log-ins, submission of assignments, and other data points to inform your outreach strategies.
Now that students are actively working in your course, engaging students with short, one-on-one meetings in week one can help them better understand the expectations for success in your course and feel supported.
For templates, examples, and additional strategies that extend past week one, review our Student Success Guide.
