Use several weeks or more before the course begins.

Note: eCampus also sends a welcome letter; review this letter to enrolled students to see what information is already provided.

Dear Students,

Welcome to [course] taught during [semester/session]. I am looking forward to learning with you in our online course. I am writing prior to the official semester start to cover a few items.

Course Availability: The online course will be open on [date course will be available, usually set to one week prior to the official start date] in HuskyCT (lms.uconn.edu). Please familiarize yourself with HuskyCT, begin the Course Orientation, read the syllabus, and introduce yourself. The first official day of the semester is [date]. I will be available on this date. If you discover technical difficulties before the first official day of the semester, please contact the university Technology Support Center at techsupport@uconn.edu or 860-486-4357.

Syllabus, Schedule, and Required Materials: I have included a tentative course syllabus and schedule [link to or attach syllabus and schedule]. Read the syllabus carefully, as it contains materials you will need to purchase prior to the start of class as well as course expectations. Note: The official syllabus and schedule will be linked in the HuskyCT course site.

Time Commitment: An online course requires discipline, self-motivation, collaboration, and organization. It also requires the same credit hours of work as a face-to-face course. Although there is greater flexibility for “when” you may complete coursework online, there are required due dates. Class participation is required and expected. You should expect to spend between [X and Y] hours per week working and learning in the course. Please plan your time accordingly.

Sincerely,

[name by which you want students to address you]
[signature line]

Use several weeks or more before the course begins.

Note: eCampus also sends a welcome letter; review this letter to enrolled students to see what information is already provided.

Dear Students,

This is [your name]. As your instructor, I’d like to welcome you to [course].

I'm looking forward to working with you to explore [your general topics] during this semester. The course will begin on [date]. You will be able to access the course on [this date, date one week prior]. Once the course becomes available, please begin by familiarizing yourself with the syllabus and schedule. Once the course begins, I will be using announcements for reminders, comments, and other course-related communications. Please check the announcement regularly!

If you are new to online courses, it's worth taking the time to also go over the various parts of the course. Course content is delivered in weekly modules that consist of [customize: lectures, readings, activities, and discussions]. Each new module will be released every [day of the week]. You will also find several assignments throughout the course. There are [customize: two exams, a mid-term and a final exam], in this course.

Please note that this course is not self-paced. Your weekly participation is expected. Refer to the Participation Expectation section in the syllabus for further details. It is very important that you set aside time each week to work on your course to keep up. It can be extremely difficult to catch up once you fall behind.

If you ever experience issues with the course site, reach out to university Technology Support Center at techsupport@uconn.edu or 860-486-4357. If you have any questions about the course, please [preferred method of contact].

[name by which you want students to address you]
[signature line]

Use general announcements throughout the course, likely on a weekly basis.

From KINS 6425 - Special Topics in Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan
KINS 6425 Module 2 Wrap-up

Hi All, What a terrific discussion last week! Your reflective essays were equally well done. [Provides feedback]  A terrific start to our semester together. [The informal social greetings and use of "our" facilitates instructor presence] Compared to classes in the past, when considering the final list of the top three in the US and the world, low and behold there is really no consensus among you with the exception of the following:

1. In the US physical activity/the built environment emerged at the top of your list followed by CVD, cancer, hypertension, and Alzheimer's disease. The surprise concern on the list for some of you was hypertension both in the US and the world;
2. Globally, a point of consensus was the list varied depending on the type of country developing or developed. Nonetheless, CVD, diabetes, and nutrition under and over emerged as your top choices.
3. Last, although not at the top of the list, the future estimates about the prevalence of mental health were eye catching as were your points made about the stigma relating to seeking treatment. [Wraps-up discussion post by highlighting key points]

Classes very relevant to our discussions this week are Module 4: Weight Stigma in Health Care by Dr. Puhl, Module 8: The Exercise Paradox by Dr. Taylor, Module 9: Chronic Emergency by Professor Buckley, and Module 11: Health-Related Issues of Global Warming which maybe the biggest health concern of all that did not make our list.  [Facilitates transition from one topic to the next.] Stay Tuned!!! Dr. P.

Use during the last week of the course.

Hello class,

I hope that you will be able to find about 15 minutes to complete the Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET) and internal Course Summative Evaluation surveys. We rely upon your anonymous feedback to guide our continuing efforts to make this class worth the time and money you (and in many cases, your employers) invest. Whether your feelings about the class are positive, negative, or mixed, please take a few minutes to let us know.

Thanks,
[name]