Contacting Students Before the Course Start Date (Instructors)

At Extended Studies, we recommend that instructors contact their students prior to the course start date to send a welcome message. Students do not have access to their Canvas course until the course start date, so they will not receive course announcements beforehand.

There are two methods instructors can use to contact students before the course begins:

1. Emailing Students Using InstructorLink
2. Sending a Message Using the Canvas Inbox

Emailing Students Using InstructorLink

One way to contact your students before the course start date is by emailing them through InstructorLink.

1. Log into InstructorLink.
2. From the My Sections page, click "Email" (on the left side of the interface).
3. Check the box next to all students you wish to email.
4. Click "Next".
5. You will then be able to compose an email, which will be sent to you with your students included on the Bcc line.

   Note: You can add attachments using the specifications outlined in InstructorLink:

   • Click Browse to upload a file from your computer.

   • Click Add Attachment to include additional files.

   • The file size limit is 1 MB per file, and you may include up to 5 attachments.

6. Click "Send" when you're finished.

Sending a Message Using the Canvas Inbox

Instructors can also contact students before the course starts by using the Canvas Inbox. By default, Canvas sends an email notification to students when they receive a message through the Inbox.

For detailed instructions on how to send a message using the Canvas inbox, please refer to our help article: How do I send a message to all my students? (Instructors)