---
title: "How automatic rostering works"
description: "Understand when students are added to a Fiveable class from an assignment link."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/help/teachers/assignments/automatic-rostering"
type: "teacher-help"
lastUpdated: "2026-09-03"
---

# How automatic rostering works

## Quick answer

When an assignment is published to a saved class, its class-specific link asks a signed-in student to join that class. After the student joins, the Classes roster reflects the account and class reporting can include that student.

## What to do

1. **Assign work to a saved class**: Open Settings on the assignment and choose the class. Publish the assignment to create the class-specific link.

   ![Classes page explaining that students are added automatically from an assignment link.](/img/teachers/classes-header.jpg)

   *Auto-roster adds students to the selected class when they open its assignment link and start working.*

2. **Share that class link**: Use the link for the intended class period. A general link does not carry the same class membership step.

3. **The student signs in and joins**: The student opens the link, signs in, and sees Join [class]. They select Join class before starting the assignment.

4. **Check Classes**: Open the [class roster](/assignments/classes) to see the connected student. A source such as Assignment link or Signed in helps explain how the row was added.

## What students see

The join prompt appears once for that class. It tells the student which class the assignment belongs to before they select Start assignment.

## If something is not working

### A student did not appear in the roster.

Confirm the assignment was assigned to that class and that the student opened the class-specific link, signed in, and selected Join class.

### A student joined the wrong period.

Remove or update the student in Classes, then send the correct class-specific link. Check every posted link before the next assignment.

## Related guides

- [What students see when they open an assignment](/help/teachers/assignments/student-assignment-access): Follow the student path from your shared link to submission and saved results.
- [Fix an assignment a student cannot open, start, or submit](/help/teachers/assignments/fix-student-access): Check the link, sign-in, class, status, timing, and attempt limit in a useful order.

## About This Document

Canonical Fiveable pages are available as Markdown at the same path plus `.md`.

- [llms.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms.txt): index of Fiveable's sections and URL patterns
- [llms-full.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms-full.txt): complete subject and unit listing
- [MCP server](https://fiveable.me/mcp): call Fiveable as tools instead of fetching pages (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp`)