[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-276077-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":81,"doc-detail-276077-en":127},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","welcome-letter-characteristics-info-and-example","Welcome Letter Characteristics - Info and Example","","A welcome letter framework for distance education faculty outlines when and how to contact enrolled students before the first class meeting, including delivery via PeopleSoft or Canvas Inbox and placement in a Canvas orientation module. The guidance specifies how the message builds early rapport, sets course expectations, and supports effective contact. A structured content checklist covers course, type, login, policies, resources, accessibility links, and required materials. An annotated example email demonstrates practical wording and step-by-step Canvas access instructions.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/","Letters",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/welcome-letter-characteristics-info-and-example/276077/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/welcome-letter-characteristics-info-and-example/276077.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Seraphina","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-01","2026-09-15",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",10,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"When should distance education faculty send the welcome letter to enrolled students?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Faculty should email the welcome letter two working days prior to the first class meeting and post it in Canvas on the first class meeting day. The letter is recommended to be included as part of an Orientation Module.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What key information should be included in a welcome letter?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"The welcome letter should cover course information (name, section, dates, instructor, contact and reply expectations), course type (fully online or hybrid with first-meeting details), login information (Canvas URL, instructions, getting started links), and additional items such as textbook(s), check-in assignment, student resources, and accessibility information.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What does the example welcome letter show students about accessing Canvas?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"The example explains that Canvas is the learning management system and that students can access the course only starting on the first day of the term. It provides step-by-step login pathways through the SIS and includes guidance for handling login failures.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},276077,1790478247,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,99,104,109,114,118,123],{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":86,"show_sort_weight":87,"slug":88},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":90,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":91,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":93},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":95,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":96,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":98},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":100,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":101,"show_sort_weight":102,"slug":103},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":105,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":110,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":115,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":116,"slug":117},18,30,"letters",{"id":119,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":124,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":126},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":128},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":129,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":22,"category_id":115,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":30,"language":136,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":140,"read_time":22},962075114101,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/e000253a75eb197efd?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1780044092746381165","Characteristics of a Welcome Letter  \nIn order to establish rapport with the students and to incorporate general best practices for distance education, all distance education faculty should construct a welcome letter and email all enrolled students via PeopleSoft ([https://mycollege.laccd.edu](https://mycollege.laccd.edu)) or via Canvas Inbox two working days prior to the first class meeting and post it in Canvas on the day of the first class meeting. It is recommended to post the Welcome Letter as part of an Orientation Module.  \nNote: You can only send students a Canvas Inbox message if the course has been published.  \nAWelcome Letter:  \n• Helps students unfamiliar with the distance education environment understand course expectations  \n• Tells students how and where to login  \n• Lets students know where to go for help and support  \n• Establishes rapport and promotes regular effective contact with the students early on  \n• Should be upbeat and supportive in tone  \nA Welcome Letter should have the following information:  \nCOURSE INFORMATION  \n• Course name, section number  \n• Course dates  \n• Instructor name/information  \n• Contact information ; the best way to contact you; how long students should expect to wait for a reply  \nCOURSE TYPE  \n• Fully online or hybrid – for hybrid, place and date of first meeting.  \nLOGIN INFORMATION  \n• Login information/link:  \no Canvas URL  \no Login instructions  \n• Getting started/orientation links/course Check-In Assignment  \n• Attendance and drop policies if applicable  \n• Where to find the syllabus; recommended: attach the syllabus to the email with the Welcome Letter  \nADDITIONAL INFORMATION  \n• Required textbook(s)  \n• Course Check-In Assignment  \n• Distance education student resource(s) website  \n• Information about accessibility & link to DSPS website  \nExample of a Welcome Letter  \nRecommended to be sent out two working days before the start of the term  \nHello Students!  \nWelcome to our online English 101 class, section 12345! My name is Jane Doe, and I will be your instructor for this course. I’m really looking forward to working with you all this semester. This letter contains information to help you get started in our class.  \n1. This is an online class, and all online classes at LASC use Canvas as the Learning Management System .  \nI highly recommend using the most recent version of Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome as your browser to make sure everything works correctly (you can click on those links to download)!  \nPlease note: Our class will be accessible in Canvas starting on the first day of the term . You won’t be able to access our course in Canvas before that.  \nHOW TO LOG INTO CANVAS:  \nStudents and faculty will now log into Canvas through the Student Information System (SIS) . This is the system where you go to look at your class schedule, add classes, etc. There are two ways to do this:  \n1. Go to [https://ilearn.laccd.edu](https://ilearn.laccd.edu and log in. This will)[ and log in. This will](https://ilearn.laccd.edu and log in. This will) take you directly to Canvas  \n2. Go to [https://mycollege.laccd.edu](https://mycollege.laccd.edu and log in. Then)[ and log in. Then](https://mycollege.laccd.edu and log in. Then), click on \"Canvas\" on the right side of the screen.  \nWHAT TO DO IF YOUR LOGIN FAILS:  \nIf it is your first time logging into the SIS system, please see this guide for logging in:  \n[https://www.laccd.edu/Students/Documents/Student%20FAQ/how-to-login-portal.pdf](https://www.laccd.edu/Students/Documents/Student%20FAQ/how-to-login-portal.pdf)  \n[If you are having trouble logging into the SIS system to reach Canvas](If you are having trouble logging into the SIS system to reach Canvas), [you can try to reset your password](you can try to reset your password) at:  \n[https://accounts.laccd.edu/reset/](https://accounts.laccd.edu/reset/)  \nIf you still can't log in, please contact Admissions to begin the password reset process. The contact information for Admissi","cbCaihMn6JOHVw6I","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaihMn6JOHVw6I","pdf",477465,"English","# Characteristics of a Welcome Letter\n## Timing and Delivery\n## What the Welcome Letter Should Do\n# Information Checklist for the Welcome Letter\n## Course Information\n## Course Type\n## Login Information\n## Additional Information\n# Example Welcome Letter Email","[{\"question\":\"When should distance education faculty send the welcome letter to enrolled students?\",\"answer\":\"Faculty should email the welcome letter two working days prior to the first class meeting and post it in Canvas on the first class meeting day. The letter is recommended to be included as part of an Orientation Module.\"},{\"question\":\"What key information should be included in a welcome letter?\",\"answer\":\"The welcome letter should cover course information (name, section, dates, instructor, contact and reply expectations), course type (fully online or hybrid with first-meeting details), login information (Canvas URL, instructions, getting started links), and additional items such as textbook(s), check-in assignment, student resources, and accessibility information.\"},{\"question\":\"What does the example welcome letter show students about accessing Canvas?\",\"answer\":\"The example explains that Canvas is the learning management system and that students can access the course only starting on the first day of the term. It provides step-by-step login pathways through the SIS and includes guidance for handling login failures.\"}]","Welcome Letter Characteristics - Info and Example | PDF",1789491123]