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Step 6: Creating a welcoming, informative space for your incoming students

How to prepare your Community for your incoming students - with Polls, Updates, welcome messages and To-Do's

Amy Gray avatar
Written by Amy Gray
Updated over a month ago

Your Unibuddy Community can play a big role in helping offer holders and incoming students feel welcomed, informed, and excited before they arrive on campus. A little preparation goes a long way in setting the right tone and encouraging students to engage early.

Here are some key steps and features you can use to make your Community a supportive, lively space from day one:

1. Welcome Messages

A warm welcome sets the tone. Remember that members of your Community can see all messages and posts, irrespective of when they joined - which means you can prep the space for them with handy announcements and a friendly greeting.

  • Post a welcome message in your Updates channel - your one-way broadcast channel pinned to the top of the Inbox.

  • Kick off an AMA or 'Ask Us Anything' Group with the kinds of questions your team and your Ambassadors can answer - setting a reassuring tone.

  • Assign Student and/or Staff Ambassadors to key Groups, and encourage them to introduce themselves and invite questions.

💡 Best practice: Keep the tone friendly and approachable - it should feel like the start of a conversation, not a formal announcement.

2. Polls

Polls are a fun, low-barrier way to spark interaction. They also give you useful insights into student sentiment and behaviour.

  • Icebreakers: “Tea or coffee?”, “Early bird or night owl?”

  • Campus prep: “Which societies are you most excited to join?”, “What’s your top priority when choosing accommodation?”

  • Feedback: Ask students to vote for the topics they’d like more information about.

💡 Best practice: Use lighthearted polls early on to boost engagement, then mix in more practical ones as the semester approaches.

3. Updates

Keep everyone in the loop with timely Updates. This is the perfect place to maintain a consistent University Admin presence in the Community, without getting too involved in Groups as students get to know one another.

  • Share key dates and deadlines (final decisions, orientation, move-in day).

  • Post about upcoming webinars or events.

  • Spotlight student stories to show authentic voices and experiences.

💡 Best practice: Schedule regular Updates so students know they can rely on Community as a trusted source of information. We'd recommend posting once every 1-2 weeks.

4. To-Do’s

Help students stay organised by sharing a checklist of important next steps.

  • Add essential pre-arrival tasks (e.g., “Submit your housing application by June 1st”).

  • Include orientation prep (e.g., “Download the campus app” or “Sign up for Welcome Week events”).

  • Add wellbeing reminders (e.g., “Explore student support services” or “Connect with your peers in Groups”).

💡 Best practice: Break larger tasks into smaller, manageable actions so students don’t feel overwhelmed.

5. Images, GIFs, and .PDF docs

Add visuals and documents directly into your Community. These simple additions can spark engagement and keep students informed.

  • Images: Share campus photos, event posters, or snapshots of student life to bring your messages to life.

  • GIFs: Use lighthearted animations to add personality, break the ice, or celebrate milestones.

  • PDFs: Upload guides, checklists, and schedules so students always have key resources at their fingertips.

💡 Best practice: Task your Ambassadors with this, too - they will likely have fantastic images they have taken, PDF docs that they found useful in the past, and a finger on the pulse when it comes to trending GIFs!

Final Step before Launch: Invite your Students!

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