This study explored community college and university instructors' and students' perceptions of online welcome messages in college courses. Based on survey responses from 417 participants (72 instructors and 345 students), instructors and students agreed that a welcome message helps students get to know their instructor and how the course is set up, and that a welcome message can engage and motivate students. Also, instructors and students strongly agreed that video welcome messages were preferred over written ones. Recommendations are made to help faculty develop instructor presence in their courses through online welcome messages.