Classes always start on a Monday. See the academic calendar in the catalog for official start dates. You will have full access to the course the Friday afternoon (Mountain time) before the start, which is called the open house period. You may access the course, download the syllabus, and review course material as early as Friday afternoon before the official start date for the term.
In order to confirm your attendance: You must complete a gradable assignment in your course on or after the official start date, during the first week. Note that only submitting your week 1 introduction posts WILL NOT count toward your attendance.
Posting during the open house period does not count toward your first week's attendance. Posting in the first official week indicates your intent to continue in the course.