Erin, I have typically made them voluntary as well. However, I have reminded them on regular occasions that the live sessions are like help sessions and it is there opportunity to get personalized help. When they need the extra help or clarification they attend, which is ok since that is really my goal - their learning. I try to record all sessions as well and student DO go back and review them. I also make myself available for one-on-one live sessions if they need more help and some students DO take advantage of that as well. You have to be careful with accreditation as well. If you are accredited as a synchronous program you can require the sessions, but if you were accredited as an asynchronous program then they should be optional - depending on your accrediting agency. Herbert Brown III