Thunder U

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.

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

• Free Money! Building a Strong Financial Foundation (Student Center, Living Room #100A)

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Optional Parent and Family Meeting (Student Center Church Auditorium #155)

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

• Free Money! Building a Strong Financial Foundation (Student Center, Living Room #100A)

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

• Free Money! Building a Strong Financial Foundation (Student Center, Living Room #100A)

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

• Class Schedule Tours (Student Center Rotunda)
  • Tours will be offered in a group setting beginning at 2:00 PM, 2:45 PM, and 3:30 PM. The Student Center Rotunda is located just outside of the Ballroom where Thunder U Check-In takes place.

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

• Bookstore Open House (SUU Campus Store)
  • Stop by the SUU Campus Store for a fun evening of shopping and exploring! Whether you need to pick up your textbooks, grab some Thunderbird gear, or just want to check out what’s new, come hang out and see what the Bookstore has to offer.

8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• International Dance Party (PE Building)
  • Dance the night away with International Affairs!
• Succulent Pot Party (Intramural Field, located near the PE Building)
  • Come decorate your dorm by selecting your own live succulent plant and pot to paint! Refreshments will be provided.

8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Open Rec Night! (PE Building)
  • Enjoy access to basketball, racquetball, pickleball, volleyball, and more!

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 - 10:00 AM

• Sunday Morning Cartoons and Cereal (Student Center, Living Room #100A)
  • Take it easy this morning with a bowl of cereal and nostalgic, Sunday morning cartoons!

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Yoga on the Quad (Library Quad)
  • Find your zen with yoga on the Library Quad (Located in the grassy area at the front of the Library Building). All experience levels are welcome. Mats will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own.

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

• Speed Friending! (Student Center Starlight Room #208)
  • Come get to know your fellow TBirds and make a few fast friends at the start of your Thunder U experience.

8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Karaoke & Game Night (Student Center Living Room #100A)
  • Take the stage with your best karaoke song or sit back and enjoy table games while listening to tunes - either way, it’s sure to be a night of fun!

8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Open Rec Night! (PE Building)
  • Enjoy access to basketball, racquetball, pickleball, volleyball, and more!

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.
• Veteran Student Meeting (Student Center Theatre #161)
• Non Traditional Student Meeting (Student Center Starlight Room #208)
• Legacy Parent Mix & Mingle (Hunter Alumni Center)
  • Exclusive event for SUU alumni parents and grandparents of incoming students.Before the Fall 2026 Bell Tower Tradition, Alumni Relations invites parents and grandparents who attended SUU back to campus to celebrate a continuing legacy.
  • Meet other Legacy families, connect with our Alumni Relations & Student Alumni teams, and enjoy refreshments before your student becomes a T-Bird!
  • Parents RSVP
  • Students RSVP

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 - Refer to Thunder U Badge
  • Business (Hunter Alumni Center Gilbert Great Hall #203)
  • Education and Human Development (Education Building Room #104)
  • Health Sciences (PE Building #101, #128, #122, #121, #120)
  • Humanities and Social Sciences (Student Center Ballroom #145)
  • CSTEM (Auditorium)
  • Performing and Visual Arts (Eccles Music Center)
  • Undeclared/Exploratory Studies (America First Event Center)
  • Aviation (Student Center, Church Auditorium #155)
  • CPVA (Main Concert Hall, Room #101)

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Department Activities - Get to Know Campus with snacks, games, crafts, and swag! Check out the locations below!

• SUU Connect Scholarship Giveaway (Student Center, Rotunda)
  • Create your SUU Connect account and be entered to win a scholarship! Sponsored by SUU Alumni.

• Title IX Trivia (Student Center, Living Room #101A)
  • Test your knowledge for prizes on Title IX and Consent while learning what SUU has to offer for resources!

• English Exchange (BC, Writing Center #101)
  • The English Exchange is your chance to meet the English faculty, connect with fellow students, and discover everything the English Department has to offer. Join us for games, prizes, snacks, and information about majors, minors, clubs, study abroad, and more. Whether you're already an English major or just curious, we'd love to meet you!

• Beat the Clock, Beat the Stress! It's Game Time! (Student Center Starlight Room #208)
  • Think you’ve got steady hands and quick reflexes? Drop by our joint Testing & Tutoring Center Open House for some high-tension, fast-paced fun!
  • We’re pitting incoming students against our friendly Tutors and Proctors in rapid-fire classic games like Perfection, Operation, Suspend, Tenzi, and more. See if you can beat the clock (and our staff!) in under two minutes.
  • While you're here, we’ll show you the super-easy way to check in for tutoring sessions or scheduled exams so you're ready to crush your first semester.
  • Bonus: Just for learning the check-in process, you’ll be entered to win a bookstore gift card and other prizes!
  • Come play a quick game, meet the team who has your back this semester, and get entered to win prizes. See you there!

• Drop by the Advising Suite for Advising & Plinko! (Student Center, Academic Advising #204)
  • Come mingle with your academic advisors! Whether you have questions or just want to say hello, stop by the Advising Suite for a fun, relaxed way to get connected. Don't forget to grab a treat and play Plinko while you're there!

• POP-In to the Dean of Students! (Student Center, VP Office #201)
  • POP-In and meet the Dean of Students team! Stop by for some caffeine, snacks, and a chance to win a brand new electric scooter! We can’t wait to meet you!

• You've got a friend in me - signed Thor (Student Center, Student Outreach and Support #101)
  • This event is designed to introduce students to Thor, our student support chatbot, and provide an opportunity to meet the staff behind Thor, learn about the resources available, and build meaningful connections.

• Health Science Welcome Social (Pickleball Courts)
  • Join us for a relaxed and friendly Welcome Social as we kick off the college journey together!

• Thunder U Service Project (Wing #101A)
  
  • Give back to the Cedar City community! Join us for a hands-on service project where we’ll make cozy blankets to donate to members of our local community. Come serve, connect, and make a difference!

8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Tye Dye Dance (Library Quad)
  • Make a fun, SUU themed tye dye shirt with University Housing and dance the night away with DJ Macus Wing!
• Open Rec Night! (PE Building)
  • Enjoy access to basketball, racquetball, pickleball, volleyball, and more!
• Karaoke (Living Room)
  • Unleash your inner performer at KSUU's Karaoke night! Bring your friends and roommates, take the stage, and show your stuff. Plus enjoy free drinks, popcorn, and cookies.

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.

8:00 AM - 10:00 PM (MANDATORY)

• ACE Meeting - Please refer to communication from your ACE (Peer Mentor) regarding meeting times. Meeting locations are as follows:
  • Aiden (Bristlecone Hall, Room #104)
  • Aimee (Bristlecone Hall, Room #116)
  • Analise (Bristlecone Hall, Room #121)
  • Audrie (Bristlecone Hall, Room #205)
  • Ava (Bristlecone Hall, Room #206)
  • Brighton (Hunter Alumni Center, Charles Hunter #107)
  • Brinlee (Hunter Alumni Center, Yankee Meadows #112)
  • Brynley (Hunter Alumni Center, Great Hall #203)
  • Bryson (Hunter Alumni Center, Whiting Room #211)
  • Captain (Hunter Alumni Center, Red Hill Room #212)
  • Dhimani (Student Center, Church Auditorium #155)
  • Emma (Student Center, Theater #161)
  • Fae (Student Center, Starlight Room #208)
  • Gwenivere (Business Building, Room #120)
  • Isabel (Business Building, Room #126)
  • Lauren (Education Building, Room #103)
  • Liz (Education Building, Room #104)
  • Maliah (Education Building, Room #215)
  • Nathan (PE Building, Room #101)
  • Nevaeh (PE Building, Room #122)
  • Nizhoni (PE Building, Room #128)
  • Phoenix (General Classroom, Room #107)
  • Ryan (General Classroom, Room #109)
  • Savannah (Bristlecone Hall, Room #118)
  • Skyler (Bristlecone Hall, Room #211)
  • Tony (Bristlecone Hall, Room #219)

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

Interest Group Breakouts

• Open Rec (PE Building)
  • Enjoy access to basketball, racquetball, pickleball, volleyball, and more!
• Vinyl Record Painting (Student Center, Ballroom #145)
  • Head to the Student Center Ballroom to mosey through some groovy vinyl records, paint, and contribute your favorite tunes to the Thunder U 2026 Playlist!

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Department Activities - Get to Know Campus with snacks, games, crafts, and swag! Check out the locations below!

• Safety Scavenger Hunt- Win Big Prizes! (Student Center, Wing #101A)
  • Join the Safety Scavenger Hunt! Solve riddles, find key safety spots, and learn tips to keep campus safe, all while competing for prizes, including a $200 SUU Bookstore gift card!

• SUU ProSales Final Freedom Day (Library Quad)
  • Party with SUU ProSales during the last days of Summer! Come participate in fun games and activities, meet our Student Ambassadors, and eat FREE popsicles! Compete in our games to earn awesome prizes to prepare you for back to school and make some new friends. Come check it out! Hosted by SUU Professional Sales.

• Honors Open House drop-in for incoming honors students! (Library #307)
  • Honors students who have been accepted to the SUU Honors Program and are planning to take HONR 1040 Foundation of Honors this fall should stop by the honors office (LIB 307) between 1-3 to pick up honors swag and meet the Honors Director, Student Mentors, etc.

• Making college a "Piece of Cake" for Non-Trads (Student Center, Non Traditional Office #174)
  • Discourse & Dessert: Where Non-Traditional Students Connect.

• Political Bingo (Student Center, Levitt Center #112)
  • Play bingo in the Leavitt Center and win swell prizes!

• Donuts with the DRC (Student Center, Student Support Center #206)
  • Come grab a donut and learn how students with disabilities (including mental health disabilities & short term conditions) can receive support while at SUU!

• Found Poetry in the Writing Center (BC, Writing Center #101)
  • Come create found poetry by blacking out text on a page, then decorate your poem with flowers and stickers before laminating it.

• Cookies for Questions (Student Center, Financial Wellness #113)
  • Enjoy a free cookie while getting to know the Financial Wellness Office and discovering the resources available to help you succeed. Ask your financial aid questions, submit them anonymously, and test your luck in our money grab booth filled with flying “cash”!

• Officers vs Students Ping Pong (Student Center, Wing #101A)
  • Challenge a SUU Police officer to a friendly game of ping pong! Stop by to show off your skills, meet the officers who help keep our campus safe, and enjoy some fun competition in a relaxed atmosphere.

• Beat the Clock, Beat the Stress! It's Game Time! (Student Center, Starlight Room #208)
  • Think you’ve got steady hands and quick reflexes? Drop by our joint Testing & Tutoring Center Open House for some high-tension, fast-paced fun!
  • We’re pitting incoming students against our friendly Tutors and Proctors in rapid-fire classic games like Perfection, Operation, Suspend, Tenzi, and more. See if you can beat the clock (and our staff!) in under two minutes.
  • While you're here, we’ll show you the super-easy way to check in for tutoring sessions or scheduled exams so you're ready to crush your first semester.
  • Bonus: Just for learning the check-in process, you’ll be entered to win a bookstore gift card and other prizes!
  • Come play a quick game, meet the team who has your back this semester, and get entered to win prizes. See you there!

5:00 PM - 9:00 PM (All Students Welcome!)

• Athletics ThunderFest (Outside the America First Event Center)

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (All Students Welcome!)

Department Activities - Get to Know Campus with snacks, games, crafts, and swag! Check out the locations below!

• Mini Masterpieces: Open Studio (SUMA)
  • Join us at SUMA for a hands-on Open Studio experience where creativity is small but mighty! In this drop-in workshop, SUU students and their families are invited to create Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) or a DIY Button to make your statement—miniature works of art designed to be shared, swapped, or collected.
  • Explore a wide range of materials, including collage, markers, watercolor, and mixed media, as you design original 2.5” x 3.5” cards. Whether you're an experienced artist or just looking to experiment with materials, ATCs are a fun and low-pressure way to connect and express yourself.
  • While here, be sure to explore the exhibitions in the galleries. Treasures from the vault, including works that have never been publicly shown, will take center stage alongside gifts received and acquisitions made over the past decade.
  • No experience necessary, just bring your imagination! All supplies are provided, and you’re welcome to create and trade as many cards as you like.
  • Free and open to all SUU students and their families.
• Decompression Station (Student Center, Health and Wellness #175)
  • The Health and Wellness Center will transform into a quiet space where T-Birds can color, work on puzzles or just have a calm space to decompress!
• Stay Connected (Student Center Post Office Window)
  • Write a postcard about your move-in weekend to your parents/friend - Get a goodie bag! -Postage Covered