Choosing an online university has a variety of benefits: the ability to study anywhere without having a commute to a campus, the flexibility of completing your coursework on your own schedule, and access to professors who are experts in their fields around the world. While many think online learning is an isolated journey without the physical presence of classmates, students can connect, collaborate, and build relationships online. When you take advantage of online resources, your virtual classroom can become a vibrant community.
What Is the First Step to Connecting with Classmates?
When connecting with fellow students, the first step is familiarizing yourself with the online platform at your chosen university. For example, at University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), students complete Virtual Orientation when they first enroll, which introduces them to the various online communities such as their classroom, the UMGC Student Community, course-specific communities, and student clubs and organizations.
“Virtual Orientation is designed to help students feel connected to UMGC as a whole,” says Marsha Fortney, portfolio director of the First Year Experience at UMGC. “Students can join the UMGC Student Community and look for opportunities to contribute. That might be responding to a peer, authoring your own post, creating a fun poll question, or attending a live event.”
The UMGC Student Community is an online platform which serves as a space where students can connect, ask questions, share experiences, and support one another throughout their UMGC journey. It’s student-driven and university-supported, designed to make sure no one has to navigate UMGC alone. In the online classrooms, discussion threads offer a way for students to directly connect with other classmates in their course. Students can also connect through group projects assigned to them in the courses.
Once you feel comfortable with the online format, the first step can be to simply introduce yourself in class or in the student community with a friendly note. A simple “Hi, I’m ______, and I’m excited to learn with you,” can go a long way in breaking the ice.
“Start small; respond to one discussion post, introduce yourself in a group chat, or attend a single virtual event. Consistency builds comfort,” says Brian Gashlin, peer leader for the First Year Experience at UMGC. “Be genuine, ask open-ended questions, and share a little about yourself. You don’t have to overshare, just something that invites conversation, like your goals or hobbies.”
How Else Can You Connect with Other Students?
Additional platforms provide more opportunities to connect with school communities. Some students may prefer to connect with a wide range of students through social media, while others prefer to connect within a smaller group setting.
“Study groups, peer mentoring, and student-led communities often create the strongest bonds,” says Gashlin. “These give students a shared purpose and accountability, which naturally builds trust and friendships.”
Regardless of which ways students connect with each other, authenticity and friendliness are the core of gaining a valuable connection with others and building relationships.
“Students tend to have the most genuine conversations in spaces where they can show up as themselves,” says Adam Oldach, senior experience designer for Digital Student Experience at UMGC. “Look for spaces that speak to you. The UMGC Student Community is a great place to start, but clubs, student organizations, and affinity groups also offer this.”
Some online spaces for students to connect at UMGC also include:
- Student Clubs and Organizations: Student organizations can provide members with professional growth, leadership development, and a sense of community. Student organizations at UMGC range from academic-focused groups where students can engage with career-related topics and opportunities, to interest-based groups that provide students with ways to support and connect with each other through a shared purpose.
- Study Groups: Through connecting in the student community, students can create study groups for their courses, which will help keep each other accountable in their studies. It can also help build friendships with those students who may go through much of their educational journey together, if they share the same major.
- Student Support Services: Some of the best ways to connect with others are by making the most of your educational experience through student services. Students can join group tutoring sessions, work with writing advisors through the Effective Writing Center, and join mentoring programs to achieve academic and career goals.
- Online Events: Students can explore the various events that UMGC hosts both online and in-person, with events including career fairs, industry-specific webinars, and other informative sessions.
- Social Media: Students can connect with fellow classmates and alumni through the various UMGC social media platforms. UMGC has location and topic-specific Facebook groups, as well as Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and other platforms to keep students engaged and informed.
In addition to the online communities, students can also connect outside of the classroom through exploring their shared interests with fellow students.
“Informal connection is just as important as formal connection, so don’t forget about study groups, volunteerism, and mentoring programs,” says Oldach. “The most positive experiences come when you choose spaces that fit your interests and comfort level.”
Through the various ways you can connect, the most important reminder to students is that they are a part of a strong community.
“You’re not alone. These spaces exist because other students want to connect too,” says Oldach. “Be authentic with your engagement. Others will have shared interests, goals, or fun facts.”
How Do Students at UMGC Connect with One Another?
Students can contribute to the student community at any time, and many find connection by just scrolling through the various conversations, which is also a form of active engagement in the community and can show them that they aren’t alone.
“I suggest just joining, even if you don’t participate right away,” says Oldach. “You can join and be a quiet observer until you feel more comfortable engaging in other ways.”
If students are interested in connecting with others at UMGC, they can also ask their professors, success network partners or peer leaders for ideas.
“The online community spaces are just for UMGC students, which is what you have in common with every student here,” says Nancy Trojanowski, department chair for the First Year Experience at UMGC. “Reach out with something simple to find common ground, such as location, pets, favorite foods, or a recent win to celebrate.”
UMGC has also introduced the Connect and Engage page for current students, which brings the community spaces together in one place. From here, students can access the UMGC Student Community, join other communities, explore student clubs and organizations, connect with affinity groups, and check out the student events calendar. It’s designed to make it easier to meet peers, discover shared interests, and get involved in UMGC’s vibrant global network.
“Building connections is an important part of the UMGC experience, and we know it hasn’t always been easy online,” says Oldach. “With the new ‘Connect and Engage’ page, students can dive straight into communities, clubs, and events that fit their interests.”
Online learning doesn’t have to be isolated. At UMGC, you are joining a global community of motivated fellow students who are also balancing school, work, family, service, and more. The key is to take that first step: reach out, speak up, and get involved. With intention and effort, you’ll find a network that supports your success academically, socially, and professionally.
“You can think of UMGC as a place to earn credits that lead to a degree, or you can add more depth and breadth to your education by going beyond the classroom and cultivating relationships with your peers, professors, and staff,” says Fortney. “We might not physically pass each other in the hallway, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t connect in meaningful ways.”
At UMGC, you can also connect after graduation as a member of the alumni community. The UMGC Alumni Association is committed to supporting and promoting the university and its community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni worldwide. From application to graduation, UMGC helps you feel connected in a digital world.
Reference on this webpage to any third-party entity or product does not constitute or imply endorsement by UMGC nor does it constitute or imply endorsement of UMGC by the third party.
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