Thunder U
Thunder U is a welcome program that takes place prior to the start of school. Students indicate their favorite interest and participate in activities surrounding that interest throughout Thunder U. Thunder U offers a chance to connect with key resources, like your Ace, and learn other important information to get you started on the right foot.
Before Thunder U
- Complete Online Orientation (must be completed prior to Thunder U, can be found via Canvas on your mySUUportal)
- Complete the New Student Checklist
Students will be emailed the full Thunder U schedule with additional information from both the FYE 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 Schedule
Saturday, August 24th
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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- 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 26. Please prepare for long check-in lines on the morning of August 26, or select an alternate check-in time on August 24 or 25 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
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- Optional Parent and Family Meeting (Student Center Church Auditorium #155)
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8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
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- 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.
- International Dance Party (PE Building)
8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
- Open Rec Night! (PE Building)
- Enjoy access to basketball, racquetball, pickleball, volleyball, and more!
Sunday, August 25th
8:00 AM - 5:00 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 26. Please prepare for long check-in lines on the morning of August 26, or select an alternate check-in time on August 24 or 25 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 not be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
- Sunday Stroll CLASS TOURS (Student Center Rotunda)
- Tours will be offered in a group setting beginning at 1:00 PM, 1:45 PM, and 2:30 PM. The Student Center Rotunda is located just outside of the Ballroom where Thunder U Check-In takes place.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Optional Parent and Family Meeting (Student Center Church Auditorium #155)
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.
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
- Institute Devotional sponsored by LDSSA (650 W Center St, Cedar City)
- Join the LDSSA for a special Sunday Devotional.
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 - 11:00 PM
- Open Rec Night! (PE Building)
- Enjoy access to basketball, racquetball, pickleball, volleyball, and more!
Monday, August 26th
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 26. Please prepare for long check-in lines on the morning of August 26, or select an alternate check-in time on August 24 or 25 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
- Refer to your Thunder U Badge for your group number and meet at the corresponding location as seen here:
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.
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
- 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.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (MANDATORY)
- Thunder U Team Captain Meeting
- Refer to your Thunder U Badge for your group number and meet at the corresponding location as seen here:
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (MANDATORY)
- College Meetings - Refer to Thunder U Badge
- Business (Student Center Church Auditorium #155)
- Education and Human Development (Education Building Room #104)
- Engineering and Computational Sciences (Bristlecone Quad)
- Health Sciences (Hunter Alumni Center Gilbert Great Hall #203)
- Humanities and Social Sciences (Student Center Ballroom #145)
- Natural Sciences (Bradshaw Grove)
- Bradshaw Grove is located outdoors between the General Classroom and Science Buildings.
- Performing and Visual Arts (Student Center Starlight Room #208)
- Undeclared/Exploratory Studies (America First Event Center)
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Department Activities - Get to Know Campus with snacks, games, crafts, and swag! Check out the locations below!
- Involvement Captains - Business Quad
- Testing Services - Electronic Learning Center #209
- Professional Sales - Student Center Convention Center
- Disability Resource Center - Grassy Area between Geo Science and Bennion Buildings
- Alumni Relations - Student Center Rotunda
- TRiO Student Support Services - Student Center #206
- Career and Professional Development - Student Center #204
- Thunder 91 Radio Station - Student Center #175
- Community Engagement Center
- SUU Outdoors - PE Building, Climbing Wall
- Health and Wellness Center - Student Center #175 (The Wing)
- Healthy TBirds Coalition - Business Quad
- Academic Advising - Student Center #204
- Utah Health Scholars - Business Quad
- Tutoring Center - Electronic Learning Center #204
- SUU Athletics - Library Quad
- SUU Library - Library Quad
- Writing Center - Braithwaite Liberal Arts Center #101
- Financial Aid - Student Center #167
- COMPASS & Academic Recovery - Electronic Learning Center #112
- University Police - J Reuben Clark Building (Lawn Area)
- Student Outreach and Support - Student Center #101
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
- Picnic at the Institute sponsored by LDSSA (650 W Center Street, Cedar City)
- Dinner of hot dogs, chips, and drinks at the Cedar City Institute of Religion, while supplies last. Yard games such as nine-square, spikeball, kanjam, and cornhole will also be available to play.
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!
Tuesday, August 27th
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
- 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
- ACE Meeting - MANDATORY
- Please refer to communication from your ACE (Peer Mentor) regarding meeting times. Meeting Locations are as follows:
- Abby (Bristlecone Hall, Room #104)
- Ada (Bristlecone Hall #105)
- Alex (Bristlecone Hall #121)
- Andrew (Bristlecone Hall, Room #206)
- Benjamin (Bristlecone Hall #207)
- Brielle (Hunter Alumni Center, Shooting Star Room #111)
- Brynn (Hunter Alumni Center Yankee Meadows Room #112)
- Chad (Hunter Alumni Center Vermillion Cliffs Room #114)
- Christian (Hunter Alumni Center, Whiting Room #211)
- Elise (Hunter Alumni Center, Gilbert Great Hall #203)
- Harper (Hunter Alumni Center, Charles Hunter Room #107)
- Kade (Student Center, Theater #161)
- Kamele (Student Center, Church Auditorium #155)
- Landon (Student Center, Cedar Breaks #141)
- Leona (Student Center, Brian Head #144)
- Lisa (Student Center, Escalante #144)
- Logan (PE Building, Room #101)
- Nathan (Business Building, Room #120)
- Nikolette (Business Building, Room #126)
- Olivia (Education Building #215)
- Pablo (Education Building, Room #104)
- Rachel (Education Building, Room #103)
- Tad (PE Building, Room #120)
- Tanner (PE Building, Room #122)
- Yazmine (PE Building, Room #128)
- Please refer to communication from your ACE (Peer Mentor) regarding meeting times. Meeting Locations are as follows:
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (Mandatory)
- Thunder U Team Captain Meeting (America First Event Center)
- Refer to your Thunder U Badge for your group number and meet at the corresponding location, as seen here:
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.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
- Interest Group Breakouts
- 3 vs. 3 Basketball Tournament (PE Building Gymnasium)
- Who runs the court? Come solo or with a team to get your basketball on and emerge as the king (or queen!) of the court. Prizes will be awarded to the winning team.
- 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 2024 Playlist!
- Trendy Trivia! (Student Center, Starlight Room #208)
- Come show your knowledge of music, media, and more! Prizes will be awarded!
- Gamer’s Corner (Student Center, Living Room #101A)
- Join us for XBOX, Playstation, Nintendo Switch, pool, pingpong, and more!
- Chill on the Hill with SUU Outdoors (Lake at the Hills, 2090 W Royal Hunte Dr, Cedar City)
- Catch the SUU Outdoors Shuttle in the PE Building Parking Lot departing at 1:00, 1:30, or 2:00 PM with returning shuttles at 2:00, 2:30, and 3:00 PM. Enjoy kayaks, paddle boards, beach volleyball, yard games, and chillin’ on the beach!
- 3 vs. 3 Basketball Tournament (PE Building Gymnasium)
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
- Honors Student Meeting (Hunter Alumni Center, Shooting Star Room #111)
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (All Students Welcome!)
- Summer Celebration
- Enjoy an evening of live music, games, hammocking, food, and a final farewell to summertime! Welcome home, T-Birds!
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.