Welcome experiences for online students

3. Creating better welcome experiences for online students

A recent higher ed survey by Salesforce showed that students are 35 times more likely to have a great overall university experience if their onboarding is excellent. The survey also found that students who had a great university experience are 51% more likely to recommend the institution to friends and family.

Unfortunately, that same survey showed that only a third of students said they had a great welcome experience.

*Salesforce. 2022. Connected Student Report (Third Edition)

Tips to improve the welcome experience:

Connect & communicate before the semester begins

Engage students with virtual orientations, webinars, student meetand-greets, etc. Instructors can also send course information like the syllabus, virtual office hours, and what to expect.

Create a site page with any resources for online students

Online students should have a centralized location with all of the information and resources they need, such as: • Hardware/software requirements & technical support • Student privacy information • Learning resources (online library, tutoring, etc.) • Important dates (midterms/finals, semester start/end, etc.)

Build an ambassador program for online students

Find current online students who can connect with future students and share their experiences, perspectives, and tips.

Simplify processes

Whether it’s registering for online courses, getting technical support, or even just providing single sign-on, make it simple and remove frustrating obstacles.

Gather student feedback

Use anonymous surveys to better understand students’ questions, expectations, needs, and how to improve the welcome experience.