How to Create a Discord Server for a College Class
First things first you are going to need to have a Discord account. If you don't know how to do so you can refer to this guide. Assuming that you have an account already this guide will be how to create a server off of Windows 10.
You can do this either through the Discord App, here is a download link. Or through the browser version, you can login through this link here. You are also able to create a server through the mobile app, which you can download through your phone's app store.
There is a link at the bottom of this that will create this template for you, however learning the steps to creating the server will allow you to understand the application much more and know what to do if you ever run into an issue with the server.
Click the + “Create a Server” on the bottom left.
Click “Create My Own” or pick a template.
The “Tell us more about your server” prompt is asking you to choose between a private and public server.
You can click “For me and my friends” if you want it to be a private server.
Or click “For a club or community” if you want a public server.
I highly recommend “For me and my friends” for a college class
The “Customize your Server” prompt is where you name your server and upload an icon
This can always be changed later, so don’t sweat it.
You are only required to name the server, if you don't pick an icon picture, it will give you an “icon” of the first letters or numbers of what you named the server.
You now have a server!
This server is a complete blank slate though.
Here is where you can customize your server for the class you are taking.
How to customize your server by Categories
First thing you have one text and voice channel named both “general,” you can choose to delete these if you want.
You can now create a “Category” by right clicking
A category is how you organize your text and voice channels. For a class, I suggest creating four separate categories.
I would name these; Welcome, Chats, Class Info, and Assignment Specific.
I would then click and drag the “general” text channel under “Welcome” and then delete the category labeled “Text Channel”
Then drag the category labeled “Voice Channel” to the bottom.
Customizing your server by under the “Welcome” category.
First I rename the “general” text chat to something like “welcome” or “landing spot.” You can do so by right clicking the channel and pressing edit channel, or by clicking the little cog wheel.
While you are in the settings of this text channel, click “permissions” and scroll down a little until it has “Send Messages” and set that to the red X.
If you don't do this, people who are unfamiliar with discord will only ever chat in here. They will not know to check these other categories and channels that you have put so much effort into. It will also look extremely ugly when they do so if you are aiming for an aesthetically pleasing server.
Under the Welcome category you can add text channels like; introductions, social media handles, gaming handles, and linked-in. One text channel that you will want to add as well are the rules.
Rules to a server for a class are generally simple, asking people to be on good behavior while emphasizing fun, as this server is just another opportunity for everyone to make friends. Since this is for a college class I recommend adding an aspect about not cheating. Since this is your discord server, you do not want to be in trouble if people want to cheat.
Customizing your server under the “Chat” category.
Here you should only need three text channels. General, in-class, and off-topic.
These are just organizational tools to make sure that specific topics are kept within their text channels. It helps keep the server clean, along with being a great tool for newcomers to understand the purpose of the Discord server, to navigate through it, and for you as the admin to easily identify problematic behaviors or an important message.
This category should look like the image on the right.
Customizing your server under the “Class Info” category
Here is where I suggest that as the administrator of the Discord, that you take some steps to help yourself in the future.
First you are going to create three, four or more categories based off of the specific needs of the class you are in. Though I recommend the following four text channels.
Syllabus, Due dates, book, and zoom link
Underneath the Syllabus, I suggest downloading your syllabus from your instructor, or BlackBoard or other online service that your school uses, and uploading it into this text channel.
Adding a zoom link into that channel along with meeting times is also great preparation that you and your fellow students will appreciate more than you know.
Customizing your server under the “Assignment Specific” category
Here is where it completely depends on the class that you are in. If you are in a class that has group projects, you can create all different channels for each group, or you can just place a screenshot of a specific assignment to reference for yourself later.
What to do with voice channels?
Here I recommend having two VC’s, one labeled “General” as it comes standard, and then adding another, labeled however you please, though I recommend something like “gaming” or “study group” as these are better spaces to connect with fellow classmates.
Now you have a beautiful server! Now create your invite link!
Well now you want people to join your server obviously! You have to invite them, since it is a private server they need a link to join. This link can be found at the top left of your server.
Note: when you create this link, you are going to want to be clicked onto the #landing-spot or #welcome text channel at the top, or else people will be joining in the wrong text channel.
Click on your #landing-spot or #welcome and click “invite your friends.” Click “Edit invite link” in blue underneath your link and copy. Then set it to “Expire After” Never, and “No limit” on the Max number of uses. Then click “Generate New Link.”
Immediately copy this link, you will know that this link never expires if below it states that your link will never expire
How to invite people from your class when you have never met them before?
Here is where it depends on what site your school uses to communicate to its students.
On sites like BlackBoard, you have access to the classlist for each class you take. I recommend just emailing the classlist from there.
Don't forget to add that invite link into the email that you send and then there you have it.
A fully functioning discord server is not hard to make, though it may be tedious with specific capitalization. Another quick way to have this template, whether you like it as is or want to change anything about it is by downloading this server template below, https://discord.new/RGZVAje47BBw The link for this server template is completely free, you simply need to place it in your browser and you can change anything you want about it. I only ask that you check out some of my blog posts that interest you, and share this with someone you know need help with discord. If you found anything helpful or need further clarification, please leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you.