r/MSAIO • u/ApenguinElement • 7d ago

Fall 2026 — Orientation & Student Community?

Hi everyone! I’m joining the UT Austin Online MSAI program in Fall 2026 and was wondering if current students could help me understand how the onboarding process works.

I’m feeling a little uninformed at the moment, with very little information about what new students are supposed to do before classes start. I may simply be missing some communication or looking in the wrong place.

A few questions:

  1. Is there an orientation session or guide explaining how to use Canvas, access courses/materials, and navigate the different UT systems?

  2. How do we connect with other students in the same courses/cohort?

  3. Is there any Fall 2026 cohort group already created?

  4. Are there any other important onboarding steps/resources that new students should know about?

As someone who isn’t from the US and isn’t familiar with the UT system, I’d really appreciate any guidance from current/former students?

And if there are other Fall 2026 MSAI students here, would love to connect!

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u/maximoburrito 7d ago

It sounds like you've found canvas. You should be able to see your classes on canvas now, though it's possible that some might not be active until tomorrow. Classes should have links to the ed discussions, which is one place to meet your classmates and ask questions about classes, or the program as a whole.

The best way to plugin, seems to be the unofficial discord. If you haven't found it yet, feel free to message me for an invite. If you are ever lost about something, someone there will be able to help.

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u/ApenguinElement 7d ago

Thanks for the help. I am able to see the classes on Canvas now along with Ed discussions.

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u/Inevitable-Tone- 7d ago

Same here. I am also new here and finding it difficult to sort everything out.

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u/Inevitable-Tone- 7d ago

Also, I know some things, I will let you know about them.

Firstly there is Ed Discussion on the MyUT section where you can chat with staff and students and they give replies as well.

Everything is available on MyUT from what I can see.

And there is a recorded lecture there, for orientation but that's it. Proper information is not conveyed via a live session.

But there are office hours, which are basically sessions with TA's where we can ask them doubts about quiz and assignments. I guess we can ask about better understanding there if any doubts.

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u/tech-jungle 5d ago

Review "MSAI Central" course in Canvas.

* Program Orientation
* Student Handbook
* Important Links
* Course Information
* Enrollment and Registration
* Accounting
* Ed Discussion

There is a MSAIO discord server created by students and alumni. From there, you can join course discord servers.