Merge pull request #2112 from edx/markhoeber/documentation/stud-1132

Course Start Date Changes

docs/course_authors/source/create_new_course.rst

@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@ Create a New Course
 
     *Note: If your course will be open to the world, be sure to include the "x". If it is exclusively an on-campus offering, do not include the "x".* 
 
+  * For **Course Run**, enter the term your course will run. Do not include whitespace or special characters. 
+
+    The Course Run date you enter does not affect the default **Course Start Date**.  See :ref:`Set Important Dates for Your Course` for more information.
+
+
+
 4. Click **Save.**
 
 You then see the empty Course Outline.
@@ -137,6 +143,10 @@ From the **Settings** menu, select **Schedule and Details**.
 
 .. image:: Images/schedule.png
 
+.. note:: 
+
+    The default **Course Start Date** is set far into the future, to **12/31/2029**. This is to ensure that your course does not start before you intend it to.  You must change the **Course Start Date** to the date you want students to begin using the course.  
+
 Follow the on-screen text to enter the course and enrollment schedule.
 
 .. note::

docs/course_authors/source/set_content_releasedates.rst

@@ -58,9 +58,15 @@ Release Dates
 
 Release dates specify the dates when content is available to students. 
 Release dates are set at the section and subsection levels. 
+
 Neither a section nor its contents are visible to students until the release date passes. 
 However, course staff can see content in the LMS regardless of its release date.
 
+.. note:: 
+  For courses created before January 14, 2014, when you create a new section or subsection, the default release date is January 1, 1970. This means that public units are immediately published, and you must change this date to the future to prevent students from viewing the content.  
+
+  For courses created after January 14, 2014, the default release date is January 1, 2030. In this case, you must adjust the release date to the day you want students to be able to view the content.
+
 ========================================
 Set the Release Date for a Section
 ========================================