Parent & Family Orientation

We look forward to welcoming your student to campus for the fall semester of 2026. Please stop by to learn more about key resources available for your student, how to support your student, and learn about other important information to get your student started on the right foot.

Fall 2026 Parent & Family Orientation Open Houses

Come anytime during the times available. We can't wait to meet you.

We invite all our new parents and families to come to the New Student Induction (America First Event Center) & Carillon Tradition (Carter Carillon, bell tower) on Monday, August 31.

Parent and Family Online Orientation

This orientation was designed to introduce you to a few things your student might experience as a Thunderbird and to help you identify ways that you can support your student and help them create a successful experience. You can complete the orientation section-by-section or visit the topics that will be most helpful for your student. The support your student receives from you plays a key role in their success. We look forward to having your student at Southern Utah University, and we encourage you to stay connected as you join us in supporting your student throughout their journey.

Transitioning to College

College offers your student a new start. This can be a refreshing and sometimes overwhelming opportunity. While this is a big change for your student, there are also some key changes in your role as a parent. For example, if your student misses class or is struggling academically, you won't receive a phone call from the school. This is a good opportunity to build better communication with your student.

As a parent or family member of a new college student, you should understand FERPA . FERPA stands for Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. This federal law allows students (When a student turns 18 years old, or enters a postsecondary institution at any age) to protect their own privacy and information. This means that you as the parent or family member will not have access to your students records unless they have given you permission. This is a great opportunity for your student to practice responsibility and self advocacy.

To allow family members to interact with campus on their behalf, a student must sign and submit a FERPA release of information and keep it on file with the campus Registrar's office. Current grade and attendance information is typically between the student and professor until grades are final at the end of the semester. If you would like updates on that information, you will need to set up a communication plan with your student.

Preparing Your Student's Mental Health for College

College can be hard. Learning to live on your own, making new friends, navigating a new environment, and developing many new skills can cause a lot of stress to new students. It is completely normal for students to struggle and experience some anxiety during these different phases of college life.

One of the best skills that can help students be more successful is to develop Emotional Preparedness. Being emotionally prepared for college life and beyond can be summarized into the four following areas:

• The ability to take care of oneself
• The ability to create and maintain healthy relationships
• The ability to understand and manage challenging or uncomfortable feelings and behaviors
• The ability to adapt to new situations and environments

Talking to your student about emotional preparedness will help them quickly adapt to their new home and the challenges associated with starting college. It is normal for students to experience ups and downs throughout college. If your student currently struggles with their mental health please read on to make sure you are aware of what SUU and the Cedar City area can (and cannot) provide for your student so you can make the necessary arrangements before they arrive. The following outlines SUU's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) scope of service, including the services they provide.

"SUU CAPS serves a unique role on campus in providing brief mental health counseling and related services. Not all students with very real needs can be accommodated within our treatment model, and we will work with these students to identify other resources. An outside referral may be made following the initial appointment with a counselor, or it might occur after some treatment if student needs do not fall within our Scope of Practice. CAPS follows a predominantly short-term and solution-focused counseling model through a variety of services including crisis counseling, individual counseling, group counseling, workshops and support groups, biofeedback, and consultation."

Mental health has been a significant issue for students for many years and the challenges have increased during these extraordinary times. You will find that SUU's faculty and staff are committed to providing the best experience possible for your students. In addition to the services provided through CAPS and other campus resources, students can seek mental health care in the Cedar City community. It is important for you to know that at this point in time, Cedar City does not have inpatient psychiatric care available for our community members. Outpatient psychiatry services are also very limited. If you feel your student will need enhanced mental health support while they are a student at SUU, we encourage you to begin arranging this care prior to their arrival.

Talk to your student about emotional preparedness, specifically:

• The ability to take care of oneself
• The ability to create and maintain healthy relationships
• The ability to understand and manage challenging or uncomfortable feelings and behaviors
• The ability to adapt to new situations and environments

Make sure your student has a mental health plan that includes the services they need before they arrive at SUU. SUU provides a range of mental health resources for our student community, so please make sure your student knows how to find these! 

Your SUU Student's Checklist

There are a few things your student needs to take care of before classes begin. The new student checklist will be sent to your student by both their Ace and the First-Year Experience Office. If they haven't seen it yet, remind them they should be checking their email regularly. Completing these tasks will help your student practice independence and responsibility and will help them begin to feel ready for college. Families can support by following up with their student to see which items have been completed and which tasks they need extra support with.

Many of these checklist items trigger another part of the new student process and should be done in a timely manner. For instance, when your student fills out the T-Bird Takeoff Questionnaire, their academic advisor will use your students preferences to hand register them for the best schedule possible. This is done to ensure your students first semester is full of classes that count towards their graduation while they begin to understand their graduation requirements. SUU students have graduated quicker and with less debt as a result of hand registering our incoming students.

Meet Your Student’s Peer Mentor (Aces)

To help your student succeed from the beginning of their SUU experience, they will be assigned a peer mentor or Ace. Your student's Ace will reach out to them before school begins, will be with them throughout orientation, and will meet with them throughout the school year to help them in  navigating the social, emotional, and academic aspects of college.  Aces can help students get involved on campus, find jobs, navigate roommate conflicts and relationships, and develop effective study habits.  If your student is struggling to find connection, have them set up a meeting with their Ace.

The Aces can help your student connect with other students with similar interests and hobbies.  The Aces, together with the First-Year Experience Office, host meet-up events before large campus events, so students can make new friends and have a group to attend campus events together.  The Aces work in The Nest in the Sharwan Smith Student Center (ST 178), this is also the student help center on campus, and the right place for your student to go anytime they need help or support. 

Cedar City: Your Student's Home Away from Home

Southern Utah University is located in the beautiful rural town of Cedar City, Utah. The community provides fun and unique events for the public that your student won't want to miss. The university provides weekly activities on campus to help students make new friends, learn new things, and create campus connections.

Getting to know their new surroundings and finding new adventures is key in helping to combat homesickness. Encourage your student to learn new things, meet new people, and get to know their new space. If your student needs help finding some fun, have them start working on our student bucket list of 50 Things to Do as a Thunderbird .

Academic Support for your SUU Student

At SUU we pride ourselves in offering a wide array of resources to help students succeed, both in and out of the classroom. Our devoted professors are SUU's greatest academic resource. Professors open their doors to students during office hours to build relationships, answer questions, explain grades, and discuss career goals.

Like you, we want your student to succeed.

• Encourage your student to reach out and communicate with their professors.
• Challenge your student to use the academic support available on campus./li>

To graduate with a bachelor's degree, your student will need to complete a minimum of 120 credits. If your student plans to graduate in four years, this means they must take 30 credits each academic school year, or 15 credits per semester (fall and spring), or 12 during fall and spring and 6 over the summer. Though this pace is not required, it is recommended for students hoping to graduate in four years. To graduate sooner, students may take as many courses as they feel comfortable with each semester. They can also take advantage of summer classes to get ahead.

What is a Major?
A major is the primary area of a student's academic study. SUU has over 100 majors to choose from. Each major has its own set of core courses that must be completed to obtain a degree.

What is a Minor?
If your student is majoring in one subject but has other interests they would like to pursue, adding a minor is a simple way to study both. SUU has over 60 minors to choose from. While your student is considering whether to add a minor, keep in mind that it does require additional classes in the selected topic.

What is General Education?
General Education courses are required to help create a well-rounded university education. These courses can provide opportunities to learn and guidance as students search for their passion. General Education courses include Math, English, Science, Social Science, History and Information Literacy.

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Financial Resources for your SUU Student

Financial concerns are a leading reason students dropout of college. Like you, we want your student to persist and create success in their academic journey. We have several financial resources at SUU to help your student stay in school and create success. We highly encourage every student to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) despite their family's financial situation. Filling out the FAFSA gives our on-campus resources the most helpful and up-to-date information for assisting and financially advising your student, and can help your student gain access to grants, scholarships, student loans, and work study opportunities.

Support available on campus includes:

• The office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, located in the Sharwan Smith Student Center (ST 167), provides information and support for finding student loans, grants, and scholarship opportunities. Your student will be assigned a financial aid counselor who can answer questions and help them navigate the options available to them.
• The office of Financial Wellness Counseling, located in the Sharwan Smith Student Center (ST 204), provides one-on-one financial counseling and guidance to help students create a budget, manage student loans, and build a financially stable life.
• The SUU Cashier's Office is located in the Rotunda of the Sharwan Smith Student Center. This is where students pay balances, set up payment plans, and receive answers to fee rate questions. Your student can grant others access to make payments on their account.
• Explore other Financial Resources for Students

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Career Resources for your SUU Student

We want your student to be successful in choosing a major and finding a career path. Many students are declared as Exploratory Studies majors (undecided) their first semester of college. On average, students across the nation will change their major three times throughout their college career. Some students have a dream career in mind, but don't know what major they should pursue to get there. Other students love their major, but aren't sure what careers it could lead them to. SUU has career-specific resources to help your student find the most fulfillment in their major and career..

• The Career Center is located in the Sharwan Smith Student Center (ST 204). The Career Center can help your student find an on or off-campus job, explore future career options, create a resume, and practice interview skills. They provide career and internship fairs, and career assessments to help students create an academic or career path.
• Student Success Advisors (ST 204) offer academic guidance and planning, answer questions regarding majors and degree requirements, and provide holistic support for student growth and success. Each student is assigned an advisor based on the major they have selected, who will work with them from creating their first semester schedule, all the way through to graduation.
• Explore all Career and Professional Development Resources for Students

Health & Wellness Resources for your SUU Student

College can be an overwhelming time for most students as they adjust to new experiences, unfamiliar environments, and establish their independence. Students who have a family history or have previously struggled with their physical or mental health can find it particularly challenging.

If your student is struggling with their physical or mental health, there are a number of campus resources that may be able to help. If your student isn't sure where to start, have them stop by the Health and Wellness Office in the Sharwan Smith Student Center (ST 175) or reach out to their ACE in The Nest (ST 178) for help in getting connected with trusted campus resources.

• The Health and Wellness Office offers health education, peer mentoring, and health resources for students, as well as support for students who struggle with alcohol or drug use. The office has a health care kiosk where students can video conference with a doctor, or they can help connect students with off-campus health care resources. Students can drop-in anytime in the Sharwan Smith Student Center (ST 175).
• Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) offers short-term individual, group, and couples counseling, crisis intervention, outreach and consultation, and online support resources.
• Disability Resource Center helps determine eligibility for academic accommodations or aids for students with medical, psychological, learning or other disabilities. Located in the Sharwan Smith Student Center (ST 206).
• The Title IX office, located in the Bennion Building (BB 111), offers support to victims of gender inequity, sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and sexual assault.

If you suspect your student may struggle with their physical or mental help, help them set up extra support in advance. Students can benefit from continued care with familiar doctors and therapists, or help setting appointments with local providers before symptoms worsen. Families can also help by setting a regular time to check-in with their student about health related issues, giving students practice filling their own prescriptions and scheduling their own appointments before they come to school, and discussing what to do if they miss a dose of medication and who the student should call if they aren't feeling well.

Families can also help by setting a regular time to check-in with their students about health related issues, giving students practice filling their own prescriptions and scheduling their own appointments before they come to school, and discussing what to do if they miss a dose of medication. If you have health insurance, see that your student has a copy of the insurance card, and decide ahead of time who the student should call if they are sick or aren't feeling well. A little advance preparation can help reduce stress for families and their students.

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Your Student's First Six Weeks at SUU

The first six weeks are crucial in helping your student get connected and finding their place on campus. During these first six weeks, we will help by offering frequent communication regarding campus events, club meetings, ways to get involved, and how to overcome obstacles they may be facing.

As your student adjusts to the freedom that comes with being in college, they may experience some identity crisis, homesickness, or loneliness. One of the best things you can do to help your student is to encourage them to stay in Cedar City over the weekend and to get involved, especially during those first six weekends. For most students, going home on the weekends makes it harder for them to get connected.

We understand that this can be an emotional time, both for students who are moving away for the first time and for the parents who are missing them. Trust that they will find their way. We will help your student make connections and friends in any way we can. You can help by providing encouragement and support.

• Talk to your student about staying in Cedar City over the weekends for the first six weeks.
• Encourage them to join a club or organization.
• Challenge them to try one brave thing each day—a new activity or campus event can lead to new friendships, greater learning, and a full experience.

Helping Your Student Get Involved at SUU

Involvement outside the classroom is a vital part of your student's overall success and experience as a student. You can play an important role in your student's involvement by encouraging them to look for opportunities to get involved, asking questions about clubs they have joined, events they have attended, and ways they feel connected to campus.

• SUU Clubs: Learn more about on-campus clubs, organizations, and involvement opportunities here. Your student can also use this site to request to join a club.
• SUU App: Your student can download the SUU app to get daily event notifications.
• Events Calendar: You or your student can follow along to find events happening every day. Watch for the "Free Food" tag to find snacks and meals! 
• T-Bird Athletics: SUU has a full schedule of amazing teams. Students get in free to athletic events with their student ID. 
• SUU Arts: Our College of Performing and Visual Arts hosts numerous events throughout the year, many are free to students with student ID. 
• SUU Outdoors: Basecamp offers trips, educational events, and gear rentals! 
• Community Engagement Center: Students can participate in service opportunities or trips.