Management of the study environment is crucial to the learning process, and this management in an online class setting is even more challenging. This study investigates models of environmental structuring in online groupwork in China, as reported by 307 graduate students in 80 groups. At the group level, environment management was positively associated with earning-oriented reasons. At the individual level, environment management was positively associated with feedback, peer-oriented reasons and help seeking. In addition, males were less likely to take initiatives in arranging the study environment.