The American Public University System (APUS) is currently attracting more than eight hundred new undergraduate students every month, the majority of whom are required to take "Foundations of Online Learning" as their first course. That first course plays a critical role in the academic career of new students and may have a direct bearing on whether they finish their degree. It must introduce students to the institution's policies, procedures, and processes, develop competency with the online learning management system; develop critical study skills; and initiate the complex and necessary process of building a sense of belonging within a virtual community of learners. This paper examines the critical first class experience from the perspective of an online, open enrollment institution serving primarily adult learners in the military and public service sectors.