Switch between student and guide time zones

In this article: How to control whether scheduled messages and module releases use each student's local timezone or your own. All Plans

When you schedule messages or set module release dates in a scheduled course, Ruzuku needs to decide whose timezone to use. By default, it uses each student's local timezone — so a message scheduled for 9:00 AM arrives at 9:00 AM in every student's time zone. You can switch this to use your timezone instead, so the message goes out at the same moment for everyone.

This matters most for live events. If you're sending a meeting reminder for a session at 2:00 PM Eastern, you want all students to receive that reminder relative to 2:00 PM Eastern — not 2:00 PM in their local time.

How the two options work

Student's timezone (default)

Each student receives scheduled messages and module releases according to their local time. A message scheduled for 9:00 AM arrives at 9:00 AM Eastern for a student in New York and 9:00 AM Pacific for a student in Los Angeles.

This is the best choice for most courses, especially self-paced content or drip-released modules where the exact delivery moment doesn't matter.

Your timezone (guide's timezone)

All students receive scheduled messages at the same moment, based on your timezone. A message scheduled for 9:00 AM Eastern goes out at 9:00 AM Eastern for everyone — which means a student in Los Angeles receives it at 6:00 AM their time.

Use this when timing matters — for example, meeting reminders, live event announcements, or time-sensitive deadlines where everyone needs to receive the notification at the same real-world moment.

Tip: For live meeting reminders, guide's timezone usually makes more sense. You want everyone to get the reminder at the same moment relative to the session, not at the same local hour. For general course messages and drip-release notifications, student's timezone often works better.

Switch the timezone setting

This setting is available on scheduled courses (courses with drip-released modules).

Go to Manage Course → Settings.
In the Course Type section, find the option: Use the student's timezone to determine module and message schedules.
Toggle this setting:
- On (default) — messages and module releases use each student's local timezone.
- Off — messages and module releases use your timezone (the guide's timezone).
Save your changes.

The change applies to all future scheduled messages and module releases. It doesn't retroactively change messages that have already been sent.

Tip: You can change this setting after your course has started. It takes effect for the next scheduled message or module release.

What this setting affects

Scheduled messages — The time each student receives the email
Module release dates — When drip-released modules become available to each student

Meeting reminder emails always show the meeting time converted to each student's local timezone, regardless of this setting. The timezone setting controls when the reminder is sent, not the time shown in the email.

Set your own timezone

Your personal timezone is set in your account profile. Ruzuku detects it from your browser when you first sign up, but you can change it anytime.

Click your photo or initials in the top-right corner and select Account Settings.
On the Profile tab, click the Timezone dropdown.
Search for and select your timezone.
Save your changes.

If you have calendar availability set up and you change your timezone, Ruzuku will ask whether you want to shift your availability hours to match the new timezone or keep the same absolute times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this setting apply to on-demand courses?

The timezone toggle appears only on scheduled courses (courses with drip-released modules). On-demand courses don't have timed module releases, so the setting doesn't apply. Scheduled messages in on-demand courses still use the student's timezone by default.

How do students set their timezone?

Ruzuku detects each student's timezone from their browser when they sign up. Students can change their timezone in their account settings under Profile → Timezone.

What timezone does Ruzuku use if a student hasn't set one?

Ruzuku auto-detects the timezone from the student's browser at signup. If detection fails, it defaults to America/New_York (US Eastern).

Will meeting times display correctly for students in different timezones?

Yes. Meeting reminder emails automatically convert the meeting time to each student's local timezone. A meeting at 2:00 PM Eastern shows as 11:00 AM Pacific in the email for a student on the West Coast.