First Four Schedule
New student orientation August 20-23, 2026
Welcome to Campus, Husky!
Welcome to Huskies First Four! This schedule highlights the key experiences designed to help you connect with other students, learn about campus resources, and prepare for a successful start at St. Cloud State. We encourage all new students to fully participate in these events, as each one plays an important role in your transition to campus life.
Bonus! We have a very special guest speaker coming to campus Monday—you won't want to miss it.
Select a Daily Schedule
Schedule updated 8/10/2026
Thursday, August 20
Welcome home, Husky! Today we welcome you and your family/guests to campus and help you start finding your place in the Husky community.
| Time | Activity/Event | Who? | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. - 2 p.m. |
New student move-in | Residential students can check in at their assigned residence hall and get settled before Huskies First Four begins. We encourage you to get settled before you check-in for First Four Days. |
Required for all new students living on campus |
Residence Halls – Check in at assigned Residential Hall |
| 10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. |
Huskies First Four Days | Check in once for Huskies First Four, pick up a free t-shirt, and receive your pack assignment for the weekend. |
Required for all new students |
Atwood Main Lounge |
| 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. |
Husky Family and Friends Connection | Connect with staff, ask questions, and learn more about resources that support student success. |
Family members and friends |
Residence Hall Lobbies |
| 5-7 p.m. |
Opening Dinner | Enjoy dinner at Garvey Commons and begin connecting with other new Huskies. If you have a meal plan, please use it for dinner. If you do not have a meal plan, we will provide an accommodation. |
Required for all new students |
Garvey Commons |
| 7-8 p.m. |
Residential Community Gathering | If you live on campus, meet with your hall community and learn more about residence hall life. Watch for details from your Resident Advisor or Hall Director. |
All students living on campus |
Atwood Memorial Center – Various Locations |
| 7-8 p.m. |
Commuter Student Gathering | Commuter students are an important part of Husky Nation. Join us for a welcome session designed to help you meet other students, learn how to navigate campus, and get ready for your first days at St. Cloud State. |
Required for all commuter students |
Atwood Memorial Center |
| 8-8:30 p.m. |
New Student Welcome | Welcome to the Pack! Join other new students for a shared welcome to St. Cloud State. |
Required for all new students |
Atwood Memorial Center – Ballroom |
| 8:30-11 p.m. |
Huskies Kickoff Night | Celebrate your first night on campus with activities in Atwood, including bowling, billiards, ping pong, arcade games, and more. |
All new students |
Atwood Memorial Center – Various Locations |
Friday, August 21
Today is your academic day where we will help you discover your academic home, explore campus resources, and make your mark as part of the Husky Pack.
Please make sure to wear your Academic T-shirt given during check-in!
| Time | Activity/Event | Who? | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
Info Table and Huskies First Four Check-in | Students arriving for Huskies First Four for the first time should check in. Students only need to check in once for the event. |
New students who have not yet checked in |
Atwood Main Lounge |
| 9-10 a.m. |
Academic Orientation Welcome | Start Academic Day with a welcome for all new students before heading to your college-specific orientation. Meet other students, learn what to expect for the day, and get ready to discover the programs, people, and resources that will support your success at St. Cloud State. |
Required for all new students |
Atwood Mall |
| 10 a.m. - noon |
Academic Orientation | Meet faculty, staff, and leaders from your college, learn important details about your program or major, and discover academic resources that will help you succeed. Pack Leaders will guide students to their Academic Orientation locations. |
Required for all new students |
Various Campus locations |
| 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. |
Campus Picnic | Take a break and enjoy lunch with the campus community. This is a chance to relax, meet other students, and celebrate the start of the year together. |
All new students |
Atwood Mall |
| 1:30-2 p.m. |
Class Photo | Gather with your incoming class for a First Four photo. Wear your Academic t-shirt given during check-in. |
Required for all new students |
Atwood Mall |
| 2-4:15 p.m. |
Passport to the Pack | Explore campus and discover the people, places, and resources that will support your success at St. Cloud State. Visit participating offices and departments, complete a quick activity, and collect passport stamps for a chance to enter prize drawings. |
All new students |
Across Campus |
| 4:15-5 p.m. |
Paws on the Plaza | Leave your mark on campus by painting a paw print on the plaza that represents you and your place in the Husky Pack. Passport to the Pack prize drawing winners will also be announced; students must be present to win. |
All new students |
Husky Plaza |
| 5-7 p.m. |
Dinner with Husky Packs | Share dinner with other new students and continue building connections before the evening events. |
All new students |
Garvey Commons |
| 7-9 p.m. |
HuskyPalooza | Kick off a fun evening with friends before heading to Skatin’ Place. Explore activities throughout Atwood, meet other Huskies, enjoy games and entertainment, and get together with friends as the campus community gears up for one of the biggest social events of the weekend. |
All new students |
Atwood Memorial Center |
| 7 p.m. |
Men's Soccer vs Bethel | Cheer on the Huskies at Husky Stadium. Student entry to athletic events is free. |
All new students |
Husky Stadium |
| 9:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. |
Skatin' Place | Join other Huskies in skating the night away. In addition to roller skating, enjoy the arcade and laser tag. Admission, refreshments, and a limited number of arcade tokens are included; additional tokens may be available for purchase onsite. Shuttle check-in begins at 8:45 p.m. All attendees are required to ride the shuttle. |
All new students |
Offsite; shuttle service provided. Check in at Atwood Main Lounge |
Saturday, August 22
Today is student life day where we will show you fun ways to connect, explore campus, and discover some unexpected treasures of St. Cloud State.
Saturday's events are highly recommended for all new Huskies.
| Time | Activity/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
Info Table and Huskies First Four Check-in | Students arriving for Huskies First Four for the first time should check in. Students only need to check in once for the event. |
Atwood Main Lounge |
| 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. |
Open Campus Recreation | Try Campus Recreation for free and explore recreation opportunities available to students. |
Halenbeck Hall |
| 10-10:45 a.m. |
Husky Strong: High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) | Get Husky Strong with a free, beginner-friendly, equipment-free workout using bodyweight exercises and optional modifications to help improve strength, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness!
Dress for movement and bring a water bottle. |
Atwood Memorial Center- Ballroom |
| 11 a.m to noon |
Husky Strong: Gentle Yoga | Move your body with a free gentle movement and stretching class focused on mobility, flexibility, balance, and relaxation. This can also serve as a deeper stretch and cool-down for those participating in the HIIT class.
Dress for movement and bring a water bottle. |
Atwood Memorial Center- Ballroom |
| 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Brunch in Garvey | Stop by Garvey Commons for brunch before the afternoon First Four activities. | Garvey Commons |
| 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Learn how to Row | Learn how to row with our SCSU Rowing Club. Get out on the water or try out a stationary rowing machine. No experience required - just fun! | Meet outside of Eastman Hall, front entrance |
| 1:15-4 p.m. | Beyond the Classroom Sessions | Discover some of the unexpected treasures of St. Cloud State. Choose from a variety of fun sessions where you can gather with new friends, explore parts of campus you may not know about yet, and try something new. You might even learn something useful along the way while having a good time. | Various campus locations |
| 5-6:30 p.m. | Dinner | Share dinner with other new students before the evening event. | Garvey Commons |
| 8-10 p.m. | Outdoor Movie Night | Grab a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy Scary Movie under the stars with fellow Huskies. It is a relaxed way to wrap up the day, spend time with friends, and enjoy one more evening together before classes begin. | Atwood Mall |
Sunday, August 23
Today is the day to take a deep breath and get ready for the first day of classes while strengthening the connections you have made throughout Huskies First Four.
Sunday's events are highly recommended for all new Huskies with the exception of the 6 p.m. Residential Life Floor Social, which is required for all students living in the residence halls.
| Time | Activity/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8 am - 4 p.m. |
Info Table and Huskies First Four Check-in | Students arriving for Huskies First Four for the first time should check in. Students only need to check in once for the event. |
Atwood Main Lounge |
| 10 a.m. |
Safety and the Sights | Join Public Safety for a walk to Munsinger Gardens, where you can explore the beautiful gardens, learn tips to remain safe on campus, and connect with friends along the way. It’s the perfect chance to get moving, clear your head, and soak up some sunshine! |
Check-in Atwood Main Lounge |
| 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. | Open Campus Recreation | Try Campus Recreation for free and explore options for staying active during the year. | Halenbeck Hall |
| Noon - 4 p.m. |
Find Your Classes | Start your first week with confidence. Stop by the Atwood Main Lounge and then explore campus to locate your classrooms before the first day of classes. Orientation Leaders will be available to help answer questions, provide directions, and share tips for navigating campus. |
Atwood Main Lounge |
| 3-4 p.m. |
Ice Cream Social | Grab an ice cream treat, reconnect with friends you have made during Huskies First Four, and visit with Orientation Leaders, faculty, staff, and university administrators. It is a chance to get any final questions answered and head into the first day of classes feeling confident and connected. |
Atwood Mall |
| 6 p.m. |
Residential Life Floor Social - Required for all new students living on campus | Meet the people who will be part of your residence hall community throughout the year. Connect with fellow students, get to know your hall staff and student leaders, and learn about the resources, activities, and traditions that make your residence hall a place to belong. |
Residence Halls |
Monday, August 24
| Time | Activity/Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8 p.m. |
Kickoff Speaker: David Coleman | Start the academic year with one of the most popular college speakers in the nation. David Coleman shares practical and entertaining insights about building friendships, creating meaningful relationships, and making the most of your college experience. Whether you are looking to expand your social circle, strengthen connections, or simply feel more at home on campus, this is a great way to begin the year as part of the Husky community. |
Ritsche Auditorium |