University of Kentucky®
Orientation
Creating a program-level orientation can help students understand program goals, clarify expectations, and improve their overall experience. Below are some key considerations to get your started and help shape a meaningful, inclusive, and effective program-level orientation for fully online students.
Program Orientation Goals
- Is orientation mandatory or optional for online students? Clarify expectations and whether completion is optional.
- Who is the orientation designed for? Online learners are often balancing work, family, and community roles. Orientation should help them identify realistic study schedules, support resources, and contingency plans for busy weeks.
- What should students gain from completing the orientation? Is the goal completion or awareness? Decide whether students must complete the orientation or simply be informed that resources are available.
Delivery Considerations
- What is the delivery format? Online (asynchronous or synchronous), hybrid, or in-person?
- What platform is used? Examples: Canvas, PDFs, videos, interactive modules.
- What is the time commitment? Break online asynchronous content into manageable segments.
Content Structure
- Are you highlighting program-specific details? Include relevant info such as:
- Licensure requirements
- Practicum expectations
- Course term availability
- Faculty contacts
- What topics are covered? Consider including:
- Time management and study tips
- Technology requirements
- Instructor communication expectations and preferences
- Student success resources
- Are interactive components included? Consider including things like program FAQs, discussion boards opportunities, or quizzes to gauge student engagement.
- Are online-specific services and support included in development?
- Faculty can explore the UK Online Student tab learn about virtual support services available to online students. To further enhance student success, be sure to highlight any additional resources offered at the program or college level.
- Is the content accessible? Ensure mobile-friendly formats, captioned videos , and screen-reader compatibility
Belonging
- Does the orientation foster a sense of community and shared experiences among students?
- Consider opportunities to foster community by promoting things like program or college social sites, shared spaces that allow students to connect with one another throughout the semester, or participation in virtual program or college events.
- Connecting students to the UK community, faculty, and their peers early helps them feel connected even if they never step on campus.
Access & Awareness
- How will students know about the orientation? Programs can use multiple channels to generate awareness for the orientation.
- Syllabus
- Canvas announcements
- Orientation checklist
- Welcome emails
- Can departments track completion? If “completion” is the goal, programs can use Canvas analytics or custom forms to monitor engagement and track completion.
- Will materials remain available throughout the term? Allow students to revisit orientation content as needed.
- How are students informed about the orientation? Will communications be shared before the start of class? Do they need to register for the orientation separately? Is the orientation embedded in an existing course shell?
- How will your program create ongoing communication? Consider creating an email list, newsletter, SharePoint site, or other way to share news and reminders with students.
Improvement Opportunities
- Do students have the opportunity to provide post-orientation feedback? Assessing their feedback is a helpful way to enhance student voice and gather perceptions to better inform and refine content for future cohorts.
- How often will you revisit the content to confirm accuracy and relevance? Having a dedicated person tasked with regularly reviewing and updating the orientation ensures that content remains relevant and that the overall student experience is strengthened.
Student Resources
Online students are eligible for support and resources such as library access, academic coaching, writing center support, wellness services and more! View a listing of available resources on the UK Online “Student” section of the UK Online website. Online students who wish to access in-person services not covered by the standard mandatory fees can choose to add those fees to their account. To do so, simply schedule a virtual appointment with Student Account Services.
Student IDs
Online students can request a virtual WildCard ID through the UK ID Center.
Technology & Course Access
Common technology tools used by students include Canvas, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and UK email. Information to assist students with these tools, hardware requirements, software downloads, technology support, and more is available on the UK Online Technology page under the “Student” Section of the UK Online Website.
Commencement
Online students can participate in commencement ceremonies on the main campus. Travel expenses are not covered by the university. However, students enrolled in fully online degree programs who have applied for their degree are eligible to participate in commencement ceremonies, just like on-campus graduates. To confirm their degree conferral status and registration for the ceremony, students should connect with either their academic advisor or the Registrar’s Office.
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