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 17 Through Sunday, August 20, 2023
If you are unable to move-in on the 17th 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 |
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| 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. 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. | FREE Chair Massages Enjoy a FREE chair massage courtesy of Health Source of Marshall. |
Central Field |
| 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 - 2:00 p.m. |
Campus and Classroom Tours |
Student Center Second Floor |
| 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. |
Mustang Meetings Meet with your Resident Assistant (RA) and OL to learn about life on campus and events that are happening throughout the weekend! Soccer will be hosting an exhibition starting at 5:00pm for those that want to stop by between their house meetings and dinner! |
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 |
Social House (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 |
| 9:30 - 11:30 p.m. |
Movie on the scoreboard Dirty Dancing will be playing on the scoreboard at the Schwan's Regional Event Center. Bring a blanket and a chair to enjoy the movie under the stars! |
Regional Event Center (Football Stadium) |
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. |
Breakfast Head to Campus Dining with your Mustang ID to get your day started! |
Social House (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 Meet with your Resident Assistant and Orientation Leader to learn about the day’s events. |
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! Wear SMSU apparel! |
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! |
The Upper Conference Center |
| 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 - 1:30 p.m. |
Lunch/Hang Out Time Available at Campus Dining. Don't forget your Mustang ID! |
Social House (Campus Dining) |
| 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. |
MUST ATTEND: Saddle Up! With music, games, and shenanigans, Saddle Up! is like TikTok but with live people. Prepare to meet your classmates as SMSU faculty Ben and Julie Walker introduce you to the rest of the class of 2027! Enter drawings and earn prizes. Can’t wait to see you there! |
Location RA Gym |
| 2:45 - 5:30 p.m. |
Activity Block |
|
| This event will end at 4:15 p.m. |
Campus Offices Scavenger Hunt Grab a passport and search for the offices on campus, those that finish the scavenger hunt will win a prize! Offices will close at 4:15.
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| This event will end at 4:30 p.m. |
Combat Archery Hosted by the Veterans club on campus; what’s more fun than inflatables and NERF wars? |
RA Facility |
|
ESports Open House Stop by our practice room to check out the space and be entered to win prizes. |
ST266 | |
| 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! |
Central Field | |
| Slip and Slide Kickball Picture kickball… but with soap and slip n’ slides! Hosted by our Enactus club, head to the grass lot for some games and a dunk tank. |
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 | |
| 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. | MUST ATTEND: Mustang BBQ Grab a sandwich and enjoy hanging out with other students on campus! Be sure to bring your Mustang ID. |
RA Gym |
| 5:45 - 7:00 p.m. |
Activity Block - Mustang Athletics Home Field/Court Advantage Program Learn about our SMSU Athletic programs! |
RA Gym |
| 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. | Shuttle to Downtown Illusionist Max Fleet – Need a ride downtown? A shuttle will be available starting at 6:30pm 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. |
| 9:00 - 12:00 a.m. |
Headphone Disco |
Lower Conference Center |
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.. |
Brunch Grab some breakfast at Campus Dining. Don't forget your Mustang ID! |
Social House (Campus Dining) |
| 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. |
Classroom and Campus Tours Need another tour of campus or want help finding your classrooms? The SMSU Orientation Leaders (OL) will be available to show you around campus! Bring your class schedule and they’ll even show you where your classrooms are. Available to all new students! |
Student Center Second Floor |
| 10:00 - 12:00 p.m.. |
T-Shirt Tie Dye Join the Education department to Tie Dye T shirts! Bring your white shirts from attending Dr. Joe Martin! |
Alumni Plaza |
| 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 and the Lynd Fire Department 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! |
Green Lot (west of campus) |
| 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. |
Women's Soccer Exhibition Watch our Women's Soccer team as they demonstrate their skills on the field. |
REC |
| 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.. |
Activity Block |
|
| This event will end at 3:00 |
Future Self Start the year off right! Create vision boards and write letters to your future graduating self that will be given back to you at graduation. |
Upper Student Center |
| 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. |
Meet in RA Gym | |
| Hammock Hang Enjoy the outdoors, bring a book, and relax at the Hammock Hang. |
Meet in the RA Gym | |
| Courtyard Corral Outdoor Games: Spikeball, Kan Jam, Badminton, and Bean Bags |
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 | |
| 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. |
Dinner Don't forget your Mustang ID! |
Social House (Campus Dining) |
| 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.. |
BINGO! Hosted by Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council (SMOC) enjoy free BINGO with great prizes! |
Upper Student Center |
| 9:00 - 11:30 p.m. |
Bonfire Stop by for a s'more and music! |
RA Lot |
| 9:00 p.m.. - 12:00 a.m. |
Sounds of Summer Concert - Featuring The Fabulous Armadillos Shuttle will pick up on Birch street and run routes from campus to downtown Marshall |
Downtown Marshall |
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. |
Brunch Remember your Mustang ID |
Social House (Campus Dining) |
| 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. |
Alumni Plaza |
| 10:00 - 2:30 p.m. |
5 on 5 Basketball Tournament Put together a team or be put on one once you arrive. Play in a single elimination tournament. All teams can be co-ed but are not required to be. |
RA Gym |
| 11:30 - 1:00 p.m. |
Soccer Pickup Game Join SMSUs club soccer team for a pick up game! |
Regional Event Center |
| 11:00 - 4:00 p.m. |
Mustang Zone Games Free Play |
Student Center |
| 12:30-2:30 p.m. |
Activity Block |
Shuttle Available to the Locations |
|
Battleship in the Pool Head to the SMSU Pool for an epic game of Battleship. Check out ZeeMee for the hype video. Choose your swimsuit or workout clothes but you will get wet! Teams of three will be created at the event or bring your own team! |
Don Palm Natatorium (SMSU Pool) | |
|
The Gym |
The Gym of Marshall 900 Clarice Ave, Marshall, MN 56258 |
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Open Ice Skate Free skate rentals are available for all SMSU students during this Open Skate time! |
Red Baron Arena 1651 Victory Dr, Marshall, MN 56258 |
|
| 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. |
LGBTQ+ Social Join our on campus LGBTQ+ club for button making in their Center! |
CH 105 |
| 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. |
Campus/Classroom Tours Need another tour of campus or want help finding your classrooms? The SMSU Orientation Leaders will be available to show you around campus! Bring your class schedule and they’ll even show you where your classrooms are. Available to all new students! |
Fireplace/Comfy Couches 2nd Floor Student Center |
| 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. | What Is There To Do Here?
FREE Scooter Tours featuring the top spots in Marshall. Meet in the loop for tours that will be leaving at 1:00 and 2:00. |
Departing From Front of Conference Center at 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. |
| 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. | Transfer & Non-Traditional Student Social Hosted by the Deeann Griebel Student Success Center, stop by to meet other Transfer and Non-Traditional Students. Gold 'N Brew will have coffee ready for you. It's a great way to finalize your Gold Rush Days weekend! |
Coffee Shop |
| 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. |
Speaking of Sex Speaking of Sex tracks six students as they try to untangle the complicated web of sexual miscommunication and discover what the best behaviors are in these sometimes awkward situations. This program addresses sexual violence education initiatives. |
The Fine Arts Theater |
| 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. |
Mustang Zone Game Night Come chill in the Mustang Zone! Play billiards, table tennis, PS5 and Xbox Series X for free! |
Mustang Zone |
| 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. |
Dinner Bring your Mustang ID |
Social House (Campus Dining) |
| 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. |
How to Use the MAT bus Learn how to use the Marshall public transportation. For $1/ride the MAT bus makes multiple stops around town including on SMSU’s campus. |
Table outside of the Dining Hall |
| 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. |
Mustang Happy Hour |
Sweetland Patio |
| 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. |
Mustang Meeting Your final meeting with your Resident Assistants. Get a good night's sleep because tomorrow classes start! |
