Gold Rush Days
Gold Rush Days at Southwest Minnesota State University is our new student orientation program designed to help you smoothly transition to life as a Mustang. During Gold Rush Days, you will have the opportunity to participate in various events. The programming will assist you in navigating the campus and connecting with new and current Mustangs, faculty, staff, as well as the Marshall community, all while having a blast! We are excited to welcome you to campus and to our Mustang Family.
Departments on campus are available to help you during Gold Rush Days with extended hours, visit this link to find more detail.
Before you arrive:
- Check your SMSU.edu email often
- Important information regarding move-in, coming to campus, and fall course delivery will be sent to your SMSU.edu email.
- Move-in time
- You will be assigned a move-in time in advance. Check your email for your personal check in time.
Move-In Day
Move-In for Incoming First-Year Students
Make sure to check your smsu.edu email to find more information about your Move-In time.
Thursday, August 18 Through Sunday, August 21, 2022
If you are unable to move-in on the 18th contact Residence Life at 507-537-6136 or email reslife@smsu.edu
Gold Rush Days Schedule
All events are open to all incoming freshmen and transfer students.
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 - 5:00 p.m. |
Residence Hall Check-In |
Birch Street outside Naoutha (Residence Life Office) |
| 8:00 - 2:00 p.m. |
Mustang Movers |
|
| 8:00 - 4:30 p.m. | Mustang ID Generation Students, you can come to campus anytime between now and the start of class to get your Mustang ID. Call 507-537-6573 to see how you can get your Mustang ID mailed to you! Once on campus during Gold Rush Days, the Mustang Card Center (student center) will be open Thursday August 19 & Friday, August 20 from 8 am – 4:30 pm. The student will need a form of photo ID, like a driver’s license, High School ID, or passport to verify who they are. |
Mustang Card Center in Student Center |
| 10:00 - 12:00 p.m. | SMSU Alumni Schwan's Ice Cream Enjoy some Schwan’s Ice Cream sponsored by the SMSU Alumni Office! |
Central Field |
| 10:00-12:00 p.m. | FREE Chair Massages Enjoy a FREE chair massage courtesy of Health Source of Marshall. |
Residence Halls |
| 11:00 - 2:00 p.m. | Move In Day Campus Picnic Bring your families and join us for a free cookout! |
Alumni Plaza (Student Center Back up for weather) |
| 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. |
Campus and Classroom Tours |
Student Center Second Floor |
| 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. |
Mustang Meetings |
On Campus – Residence Hall Lobby's Commuter Students - Student Center Couches |
| 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Dinner Eat with your Orientation Leader & Resident Assistant |
Campus Dining |
| 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Mustang Volleyball Come watch the nationally ranked SMSU volleyball team! |
PE Gym |
|
8:15 - 9:15 p.m. |
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Joe Martin |
SMSU Fine Arts Theatre |
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast | Campus Dining |
| 8:00 - 4:30 p.m. | Mustang ID Generation Haven't gotten your Mustang ID yet? You can come and get that checked off your list! |
Mustang Card Center in Student Center |
| 9:20 - 9:35 a.m. | Mustang Meeting | On-Campus Students - Residence Halls Commuter Students - Student Center Couches |
| 9:40 - 9:50 a.m. | New Student Photo Join the rest of the incoming Mustang Family and take part in the biggest group photo you’ve ever seen! |
Alumni Plaza |
| 9:50 - 11:00 a.m. | MUST ATTEND: Convocation Your official welcome to campus from the SMSU administration, faculty and staff! Hear from President Kumara Jayasuriya and a featured speaker Dr. Joe Martin, to find success early and throughout your SMSU career! |
Location is Conference Center Upper Ballroom |
| 11:05 - 12:15 p.m. | MUST ATTEND: Meet Your Advisor Students will be divided into groups by declared major. Undecided students will also be grouped together. In this session you will learn more about your major, meet your faculty advisor, and hear more about the classes and opportunities that await you! If you are undeclared, there will be a special session to help you explore the majors offered at SMSU! |
Various Rooms Around Campus |
| 12:00 - 6:00 p.m. | FREE Prentice Street Barbers - Shannon Brown Barber services for students of all cultures. |
Plaza Sidewalk |
| 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. | Lunch/Hang Out Time |
Campus Dining |
| 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. | MUST ATTEND: Playfair PLAYFAIR is totally unlike anything else you have ever experienced. It’s entertainment! It’s fun! It’s the perfect way to make new campus friendships! PLAYFAIR is a great way to meet other new students and promotes campus unity and school spirit! |
Schwan Regional Event Center |
| 2:45 - 4:15 p.m. |
Campus Offices Open House
|
|
| 2:45 - 5:30 p.m. |
Activity Block |
|
| Sand Volleyball Sign up for Sand Volleyball before 1:00 p.m. in the Student Center and arrive at the courts by 2:45 p.m. for announcements. Sign up individually or with a team! |
Sand Volleyball Courts | |
| Bean Bags Grab a partner or be paired up when you arrive to test your Bean Bag skills! |
Grass Lot by Campus Daycare Center | |
| Slip and Slide Kickball Picture kickball… but with soap and slip n’ slides! |
Grass Lot by Campus Daycare. Game times will be posted. | |
| Mustang Zone Games Come chill in the Mustang Zone! Play billiards, table tennis, PS5 and Xbox Series X for free! |
Mustang Zone | |
| Combat Archery Tag | RA Facility | |
| 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. | MUST ATTEND: Mustang BBQ Grab a sandwich and enjoy hanging out with other students on campus! |
RA Lot |
| 5:45 - 6:00 p.m. | Mustang Athletics Home Field/Court Advantage Program | |
| 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Activity Block - Athletics Team Games with Students | |
| eSports Open House | ST 266 | |
| Football - Field Goal Kicking, Punting, and Football Toss | REC | |
| Golf - Chipping and putting | RA Lot | |
| Men's Basketball - Beersbie | RA Lot | |
| Softball - Horseshoe-Like Game | RA Lot | |
| Swimming and Diving - Pool Tours and Match Game/Water Balloon Toss | Pool and RA Lot | |
| Tennis - Pickleball | RA Lot | |
| Volleyball - Spike ball | PE Gym | |
| Wheelchair Basketball demo | RA Facility | |
| Women's Basketball - Washers | RA Lot | |
| Wrestling - Pull-up/Push-up contest | RA Lot | |
| 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Shuttle to Downtown – Need a ride downtown? A shuttle will be available starting at 7:00pm to bring you downtown for the Illusionist show and will bring you back to campus after it has concluded. | The shuttle will be parked on Birch St outside of the Residence Halls to bring students downtown and will be in the Taunton State Bank parking lot to return students to campus. |
| 8:00 - 9:15 p.m. |
Illusionist - Jett Skrein |
Sounds of Summer Stage (Downtown Marshall - Shuttle starting at 6:45 p.m.) |
| 9:00 - 12:00 a.m. |
DJ Party |
REC |
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. | Classroom and Campus Tours |
Student Center Second Floor |
| 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Mustang Zone Games Free Game and/or Tournament Play |
Mustang Zone |
| 10:00 - 12:00 p.m. | T-Shirt Tie Dye | Central Field |
| 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Brunch | Campus Dining |
| 12:00 - 3:30 p.m. | Mud Volleyball A staple of Gold Rush Days, Mud Volleyball is an event you won’t want to miss! Sponsored by Mustang Maniacs, you can sign up with your orientation leader. If you need a team the orientation leaders will find one for you. Complimentary showers on site after the game! Game times will be posted. |
Green Lot (west of campus) |
| 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. |
Activity Block |
|
| Frisbee Disk Golf BYOD (Bring Your Own Discs) or borrow some of ours (based on availability) and enjoy an afternoon playing disc golf on our 18-hole course. |
SS Parking Lot – Campus Disk Golf Course Hole #1 | |
| Wiffle Ball Sign up with your orientation leader. Game times will be posted. |
Residence Hall Central Field | |
| Mustang Zone Games Come chill in the Mustang Zone! Play billiards, table tennis, PS5 and Xbox Series X for free! |
Mustang Zone | |
| Hammock Hang Meet at SS145 Dance Studio |
Trees by Social Science | |
|
Campus and Classroom Tours |
Fireplace/Comfy Couches 2nd Floor Student Center | |
| 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. | Web Survival Recap Need a refresher on accessing your SMSU email, online classes, e-services, and more? This Zoom meeting led by a member of the SMSU admission team will get you all the important information you need. Log on with your own device or come to Student Center 249 to participate. |
CH102 |
| 5:00 - 5:30 p.m. | Intramurals Intro Over 80% of students participate in intramurals every year! Find out what we offer, how to sign up and also learn about possible employment positions with intramurals! |
PE Gym |
| 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Dinner | Campus Dining |
| 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. | MUST ATTEND: Speaking of Sex |
SMSU Theatre |
| 8:00 - 12:00 a.m. |
Mustang Zone Game Night |
Mustang Zone |
| 8:00 - 11:30 p.m. | Student Alumni Association Bonfire/Fire Pits |
RA Lot |
| 9:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. |
Sounds of Summer Concert - Time Machine with opening act Roxbury Drive from 6:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m. (There will be Marshall 150th anniversary fireworks at 10:00 p.m. shot from middle school parking lot. Shuttle to concert provided.) |
Downtown Marshall |
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 - 11 a.m. | Yoga in the Courtyard Take some time to de-stress and center yourself before starting the semester. No experience with yoga? No problem! All skill levels are welcome! Bring your own mat (or towel) and water! Be sure to wear something comfortable. Lead by Yogi Crystal Knakmuhs and Eb & Flow Yoga. |
FA/BA/PE/SC Quad |
| 11:00 - 1 p.m. | Brunch | Campus Dining |
| 11:30 - 1:00 p.m. | Soccer Pickup Game |
Regional Event Center |
| 11:00 - 4:00 p.m. |
Mustang Zone Games Free Play |
Student Center |
| 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. | What Is There To Do Here? FREE Scooter Tours featuring the top parks in Marshall. | Departing From Front of Conference Center at 1:00 p.m. at 2:00 p.m. |
| 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. | Transfer & Non-Traditional Student Social
|
Coffee Shop |
| 2:00 - 2:20 p.m. |
How to Use the MAT bus - Presentation |
Lower Ballroom |
| 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. |
Campus/Classroom Tours |
Comfy Couches |
| 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. |
Activity Block |
Shuttle Available to the Locations |
| Open Swim at Marshall Aquatic Center | 400 W College Dr, Marshall, MN 56258 | |
|
The Gym |
The Gym of Marshall 900 Clarice Ave, Marshall, MN 56258 |
|
| Open Ice Skate |
Red Baron Arena 1651 Victory Dr, Marshall, MN 56258 |
|
| 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Mustang Zone Game Night |
Mustang Zone |
| 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. |
Drama Club Improv |
Black Box Theatre |
| 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. |
Dinner |
Campus Dining |
| 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. |
Mustang Happy Hour |
SC 137 (Indoor Entry from the Alumni Plaza) |
| 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Mustang Meeting |
