Thunder U
Thunder U is the required, in-person portion of your incoming Orientation experience. Thunder U offers a chance to connect with key resources, like your Ace, find and meet other incoming T-birds, and get connected to start your school year off on the right foot!
Before Thunder U
- Complete Online Orientation (must be completed prior to Thunder U, can be found on the right side of your mySUUportal)
- Complete the New Student Checklist
Students will be emailed the full Thunder U schedule with additional information from both the Student Onboarding and Retention Office and their Ace. If you are unfamiliar with campus locations, check our campus map for more information.
If you have specific questions about Thunder U, please contact your Ace! If you aren't sure how to contact your Ace you can email thenest@suu.edu.
Thunder U Fall 2026 Schedule
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- On-Campus Move-In Day! (On Campus Housing)
- Thunder U Check-In (Student Center Ballroom #145)
- Check-in is only required ONE time for Thunder U. Required events begin at 10 AM on Monday, August 31. Please prepare for long check-in lines on the morning of August 31, or select an alternate check-in time on August 29 or 30 to avoid long lines. The badge that you receive at check-in will be required in order to gain access to Thunder U events.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Optional Parent and Family Meeting (Student Center Church Auditorium #155)
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
- Thunder U Optional Evening Activities (Various Locations)
- Optional Evening Activities Schedule will be announced by mid August.
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Thunder U Check-In (Student Center Ballroom #145)
- Check-in is only required ONE time for Thunder U. Required events begin at 10 AM on Monday, August 31. Please prepare for long check-in lines on the morning of August 31, or select an alternate check-in time on August 29 or 30 to avoid long lines. The badge that you receive at check-in will be required in order to gain access to Thunder U events.
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Thunder U Optional Activities (Various Locations)
- Thunder U Optional Activities Schedule will be announced by mid August.
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
- Thunder U Optional Evening Activities (Various Locations)
- Thunder U Optional Evening Activities schedule will be announced by mid August.
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
- [LAST CHANCE] Thunder U Check-In (Student Center Ballroom #145)
- Check-in is only required ONE time for Thunder U. Required events begin at 10 AM on Monday, August 31. Please prepare for long check-in lines on the morning of August 31, or select an alternate check-in time on August 29 or 30 to avoid long lines. The badge that you receive at check-in will be required in order to gain access to Thunder U events.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (MANDATORY)
- Thunder U Team Captain Meeting
- You will be receiving a Thunder U Team Captain Group # closer to mid August. You will refer to your Thunder U Badge for your group number and meet at the corresponding location.
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM (MANDATORY)
- New Student Induction (America First Event Center)
- All are welcome to attend the New Student Induction Ceremonies! A live stream of the event will additionally be conducted in the Student Center Church Auditorium #155. Following the induction ceremony, students will process beneath the Carter Carillon Bell Tower located on Upper Campus. This session will lead right into the Bell Tower Tradition.
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM (MANDATORY)
- Carter Carillon Bell Tower Tradition
- The official welcome to new students as they are surrounded by cheering faculty, staff, students, alumni, and administration. New students walk east, which symbolizes the sunrise or the start of the student’s new chapter at SUU. Parents and family, please cheer for your student on the west side of the Bell Tower. TBirds, please cheer on our incoming class from the east side of the Bell Tower.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (MANDATORY)
- New Student Lunch (Upper Quad)
- Please see your Thunder U Badge for your indicated lunch selection and corresponding station. Lunch is available to incoming students and Thunder U Team Captains only FIRST, if there are leftovers - others may join. You will need to stick to the lunch you selected during your Thunder U RSVP - see badge for that selection
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (MANDATORY)
- College Meetings (Various Locations)
- You will meet with all the freshmen who are in the same college as you. You will have the chance to meet your College Dean. During Thunder U you will refer to your Thunder U Badge for your location.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Thunder U Optional Activities (Various Locations)
- Thunder U Optional Activities Schedule will be announced by mid August.
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
- Thunder U Optional Evening Activities (Various Locations)
- Thunder U Optional Evening Activities schedule will be announced by mid August.
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM (MANDATORY)
- SUU Resource Fair (America First Event Center)
- Come get to know SUU Resources available to you. BINGO sheets will be available for visiting tables and prizes will be offered for their completion. You will do this event in between your assigned ACES meeting time.
8:00 AM - 10:00 PM (MANDATORY)
- ACE Meeting
- Please refer to communication from your ACE (Peer Mentor) regarding meeting times.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (MANDATORY)
- Thunder U Team Captain Meeting
- You will be receiving a Thunder U Team Captain Group # closer to mid August. You will refer to your Thunder U Badge for your group number and meet at the corresponding location.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (MANDATORY)
- Tradition Time (America First Event Center)
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (MANDATORY)
- New Student Lunch (Upper Quad)
- Please see your Thunder U Badge for your indicated lunch selection and corresponding station. Lunch is available to incoming students and Thunder U Team Captains only FIRST, if there are leftovers - others may join.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
- Thunder U Optional Activities (Various Locations)
- Thunder U Optional Activities Schedule will be announced by mid August.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Thunder U Optional Evening Activities (Various Locations)
- Thunder U Optional Evening Activities schedule will be announced by mid August.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (All Students Welcome!)
- Summer Celebration (Upper Quad)
- Enjoy an evening of live music, games, hammocking, food, and a final farewell to summertime! Welcome home, TBirds!
Is Thunder U Required?
Thunder U (orientation) is required for all new students under SUU Policy 6.5 IV-B-4K.
- Incoming first-year students are required to attend Thunder U.
- Transfer students are required to attend Thunder U.
- Non-Traditional students (over the age of 25, married and/or with children) are required to attend Thunder U. We also host a Non-Traditional Student Mix and Mingle during Thunder U, be sure to check for it on the complete schedule.
- International students are required to attend both the International Student Orientation and Thunder U.
- Veteran students are required to attend Thunder U and should connect with the Veteran Resource and Support Center to attend their Military Connected Orientation.
- Online campus students are exempt from attending Thunder U. Students with all online courses that are registered as a "main campus" student are still required to attend Thunder U. For questions about your campus designation, please contact your Ace.
- Parents of T-Birds Both in-person open houses and online orientation for parents are available through Parent and Family Services.