Course Community server template

For self-paced courses on Kajabi, Teachable, Thinkific or Podia. Works from 30 to 5,000 members without restructuring.

Self-paced online courses
Course creators launching their first community
50 to 5,000 students

Channels and categories

START HERE

# welcome text
What this server is, how to get help, and your first 3 steps.
Access: Everyone can read; only Staff can post
# rules text
Community rules (required for Community servers).
Access: Everyone can read; only Staff can post
📣 announcements announcement
New lessons, live calls and course updates.
Access: Everyone can read; only Staff can post
# introductions text
Say hi: who you are, what you want from the course.
Access: Members can read and post

COURSE

💬 course-questions forum
One post per question. Tag by module. Mark answered posts with the Solved tag.
Access: Members can read and post
# module-1 text
Discussion for Module 1. Rename per module.
Access: Members can read and post
# module-2 text
Discussion for Module 2.
Access: Members can read and post
# module-3 text
Discussion for Module 3.
Access: Members can read and post
# resources text
Downloads, templates and links mentioned in lessons.
Access: Everyone can read; only Staff can post

COMMUNITY

# general text
Anything related to the topic of the course.
Access: Members can read and post
# wins text
Share progress and results. Celebrate others.
Access: Members can read and post
💬 accountability forum
One post per person: weekly goals and check-ins.
Access: Members can read and post
# off-topic text
Everything else.
Access: Members can read and post

LIVE

🎙️ live-calls stage
Monthly Q&A and office hours.
Access: Members listen; speakers invited by Staff
🔊 study-room voice
Co-working and study sessions.
Access: Members can read and post
# call-replays text
Links to recordings and notes.
Access: Everyone can read; only Staff can post

STAFF

# staff-chat text
Private team chat.
Access: Hidden from everyone except Staff
# mod-log text
AutoMod alerts and bot logs.
Access: Hidden from everyone except Staff

Roles and permissions

Role (highest first)	Purpose	Key permissions	Assigned by
Admin	Owner and co-owner	Administrator	Owner, manually
Staff	Moderators and TAs	Manage Messages, Manage Threads, Timeout Members, Kick Members, Manage Events, View Audit Log	Admin, manually
Student	Paying students; unlocks COURSE and LIVE	View course channels, Send Messages, Create Posts in forums, Connect/Speak in voice	Purchase integration or Staff after verifying the order
Alumni	Finished the course; keeps community access	Same as Student	Staff or a completion form
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced	Experience level, for tailored help	None (cosmetic + filtering)	Onboarding question
Live-call pings	Opt-in notifications for live sessions	None (mentionable by Staff)	Onboarding question

@everyone: deny View Channel on COURSE and LIVE categories, so only Student/Alumni see course content.
Student and Alumni: allow View Channel on COURSE and LIVE at the category level; keep channels synced to the category.
START HERE channels: @everyone can view; only Staff can Send Messages (except #introductions).
Keep the Staff role below Admin and above Student; bots that assign roles must sit above Student and Alumni.
Do not give Administrator to bots or Staff: it bypasses every channel override.

Onboarding questions

Which course are you here for? (required, pick any)
- • I bought the course → Shows how to verify your purchase in #welcome (Student role is granted after verification, not by this answer)
- • Just looking around → Keeps public channels only
What's your experience level? (optional, pick one)
- • Beginner → Beginner role
- • Intermediate → Intermediate role
- • Advanced → Advanced role
Want a ping when we go live? (optional, pick one)
- • Yes, ping me for live calls → Live-call pings role
- • No thanks → Nothing

Onboarding needs Community enabled. Never grant paid roles from an onboarding answer: anyone can pick any answer. See onboarding setup.

AutoMod rules

Rule	Setting	Response
Block Mention Spam	On. Start with a low mention limit per message (Discord lets you choose the number) and enable raid protection.	Block message + send alert to #mod-log + timeout member
Block Suspected Spam Content	On for all channels.	Block message + send alert to #mod-log
Block Commonly Flagged Words	Enable the preset lists (insults and slurs, sexual content, severe profanity) that match your audience.	Block message with a short custom explanation
Custom keyword rule: scams	Keywords such as free nitro, steam gift, airdrop, crypto giveaway, dm me for. Exempt Staff.	Block message + alert #mod-log + timeout member
Member profile filter	Block the same scam terms plus impersonation patterns like admin, support team, moderator in usernames and nicknames.	Block member from interacting until they change their name
Custom keyword rule: invite links	Block discord.gg/ and discord.com/invite outside staff. Exempt Staff.	Block message + alert #mod-log

Configure in Server Settings > Safety Setup > AutoMod. AutoMod guide.

Recommended bots and why

Carl-bot recommended
Role menus, logging, tags
Reliable reaction/button role menus for anything Onboarding doesn't cover, detailed mod logs, and saved 'tags' for answers you type every week.
Sesh optional
Events and reminders
Timezone-aware event times and reminders for live calls. Discord's native Scheduled Events cover the basics; Sesh adds calendar sync and polls.
Craig optional
Voice recording
Discord has no built-in call recording. Craig records voice channels (announce it and get consent before recording).
Zapier optional
Purchase-to-Discord automation
Posts new-lesson announcements and can add the Student role when your course platform fires a purchase event (requires the buyer's Discord user ID).

Bot features and premium plans change; check each bot's site. Grant only the permissions a bot asks for, never Administrator.

Welcome messages

#welcome

Welcome to the {Course name} community 👋

This is where students ask questions, share wins and join live calls.

Your first 3 steps:
1. Read #rules (2 minutes).
2. Verify your purchase: {how to verify}. You'll get the Student role and see the COURSE channels.
3. Post in #introductions: your name, where you're from, and one goal for this course.

Stuck? Post in #course-questions and tag the module. A team member answers within {response time}.

#introductions (pinned template)

Copy and fill in:
**Name:**
**Where I'm based:**
**Why I took the course:**
**One goal for the next 30 days:**
**Fun fact:**

Server Guide welcome message

Glad you're here, [@username]. Start with #rules, then introduce yourself. Questions go in #course-questions.

Setup checklist

Open the printable version

Before you start

☐ Create the server from a fresh account you own (or transfer ownership later)
☐ Enable 2FA on the owner account
☐ Decide how students prove purchase (invite in course, integration, or manual check)

Structure

☐ Create roles in the order listed, highest first
☐ Create categories and channels; set permissions on categories, then sync channels
☐ Add forum tags: Module 1, Module 2, Module 3, Solved, Bug in course

Community features

☐ Server Settings > Enable Community (needs a verification level, content filter, rules and updates channels)
☐ Set up Onboarding: questions, default channels, Server Guide
☐ Turn on AutoMod rules and point alerts to #mod-log

Bots and automation

☐ Invite Carl-bot with the minimum permissions; move its role above Student
☐ Optional: connect Sesh for live-call reminders
☐ Optional: connect your course platform via Zapier or a paywall tool

Launch

☐ Post and pin the welcome and intro template
☐ Schedule the first live call as a Scheduled Event
☐ Test with an alt account: join, onboard, verify, post
☐ Share the invite link inside the course (set it to never expire)

Guides for this setup

Get the Course Community pack

Ready-to-import pack for $49, or we build it in your server for $299.

Done for you: $299