New Student Orientation

Welcome to Our Mines Family. All new students will need to attend an orientation prior to the start of the semester. Orientation helps prepare you for the challenges you will face during your academic career here at SD Mines. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to meet new people and have a lot of fun. After orientation, Welcome Week starts with different, fun and entertaining programs and activities each night!

Fall 2019 First Year Student Orientation Information

Orientation is mandatory for all new students. New students will be automatically registered for Orientation. Students will receive their Orientation schedules the beginning of August.

Additional orientation sessions are listed further down this page.

Parents are encouraged to attend the Parent Orientation Sessions. More information can be found on our Parent Resources page.  

Students your meal plans will cover the cost of your meals during orientation. Family members attending Orientation must sign up and receive free lunch tickets at the Parent Connections table located on the main floor of the Surbeck Center: Thursday, August 22 from 8am-4:00pm and Friday Morning.


ACCUPLACER® placement testing for Math and English

Due to the large number of students who have not completed or may elect to re-test theirACCUPLACER® placement testing for fall, we will have two special sessions in the Electrical Engineering/Physics Building (EEP).

  •         Thursday, August 22, from 8 am–Noon and from 1–4 pm, Electrical Engineering/Physics (EEP) room 255. First come first served walk-ins

  •          Saturday, August 24, from 9am–Noon, Electrical Engineering/Physics (EEP) room 255. By appointment only for re-testers or those who cannot test on August 22nd. Test proctors can be reached on the days of          testing by cell phone: (605) 209-0420.  Students are encouraged to make appointments for testing at earlier times & days to enable the Registrar's office to finalize class schedules for incoming students.                 Appointments can be made by contacting the Tom Mahon, Tutoring and Testing Coordinator at Thomas.mahon@sdsmt.edu or calling 605-394-2428.


TABLET PC PICKUP SCHEDULE

Students can pick up their Tablet PC’s on the hour at the following times

  •         Thursday, August 22, at 10 AM- 4PM, Electrical Engineering/Physics (EP) room 251.

  •         Friday, August 23, at 8AM-4:00 pm, Tablet Central-Lower Level of the Library.


FALL ORIENTATION

SCHEDULE (example)

Students will be divided into 8 orientation groups. Each group will rotate through the following sessions on Friday and Saturday with an assigned Orientation Leader. *Students will be emailed their individual schedule over the summer.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

 8:00 AM  Residence Halls open for Move-In  Residence Halls
 See above Schedule Tablet PC Pick-Up in EEP 251. Please make sure you pick up your tablet PC up on Thursday. Must have student id. Electrical Engineering/Physics 251
 8:00 AM-4:00 PM Math Placement Testing. See information above Electrical Engineering/Physics 255
 8:15 PM Mandatory New Resident Meeting and Event Surbeck Ballroom

Friday, August 23 2019

 7:30 AM Check-In/Divide into Orientation Groups Don't be late! Campus Quad
 7:40 AM- 8:10 AMBreakfast/Interactive Activities   Rotating Groups
 8:10 AM- 8:40 AMBreakfast/Interactive Activities  Rotating Groups
 8:40 AM Orientation Groups walk to Quad for Kickoff Surbeck Center East Patio
 9:00 AM Orientation Kickoff- School Song, Comments from University President Campus Quad
 9:15 AMProcessional to the Goodell Gymnasium  
9:30 AM President's Convocation King Center-Goodell Gymnasium 
9:50 AM-10:20 AMBreak, and Overview of Day 1 with Orientation Groups King Center-Goodell Gymnasium 
 10:20 AM Zero Shades of Gray-All Attendee Session King Center-Goodell Gymnasium
 11:30 AM-1:00 PM Lunch (Bring your student id) Fraser Gym
 1:10 PM Transition to Academic Program Meetings King Center-Goodell Gymnasium
 1:30 PM Academic Program Meetings Various Locations
 3:10 PM Breakout Session Block 1 Rotating Session
 4:05 PM Breakout Session Block 2 Rotating Session
 4:45 PM Day 1 Wrap-Up in Orientation Groups Various Locations
 5:00 PM Dinner on your own You Decide!
 8:00 PM Welcome Week Event: Comedian Andy Hendrickson Surbeck Ballroom 


Saturday, August 24, 2018

 7:30 AM  Breakfast on Your Own  Surbeck Dining Hall 
 9:15 AM Meet your Orientation Leader/Day 2 Check In Campus Quad 
 10:00 AM Breakout Session Block 3 Rotating Session
 10:50 AM Breakout Session Block 4 Rotating Session
 11:30 AM Lunch for groups: Glacier, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, & Badlands Surbeck Dining Hall
 11:30 AM  Life at Mines Session for groups: Arches, Shenandoah, Zion, & Yellowstone Surbeck Ballroom 
 12:50 PM Lunch for groups: Arches, Shenandoah, Zion, & Yellowstone  Surbeck Dining Hall
 12:50 PM  Life at Mines Session for groups: Glacier, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, & Badlands  Surbeck Ballroom
 2:10 PM Optional Campus Tour Various Locations
 5:00 PM Welcome Week Event: Recreation Night and Picnic King Center


Sunday, August 25, 2019

1:30 PM  President's New Student Service Project  Various Locations 
 7:00 PM Welcome Week Event: Fun Pianos by 176 Keys Surbeck Ballroom 

Orientation Mobile Application:
Our new student orientation program has gone mobile. Click on the hyperlinks for instructions on how to download our Orientation App and find your orientation schedule.
Download App
Find your Schedule

Orientation: Athletics

Football -  August 11, 2019 |   Student Schedule     Football Forms  Parent Schedule
Volleyball, Cross Country, Soccer, Cheerleading- August 18, 2019| Student Schedule  Parent Schedule   
Hardrocker cross country, football, soccer, cheerleaders, and volleyball players will move into their residence halls prior to their assigned orientation session. These orientations are specifically designed for student athletes. Sessions will also be available for parents. 

Orientation: Veterans

Wednesday, August 21, 2019   
The orientation is from 10:00AM – 12:00PM in the Veterans Resource Center. 

Orientation: Nontraditional/Transfer

Thursday, August 22, 2019 | Orientation Schedule
Transfer student orientation is mandatory for all new Transfer Students. Students are automatically registered for Orientation. Students will receive their schedules the beginning of August.                                                              

Orientation: International Students
(This is a two-day orientation)

Wednesday, August 21, 2019 (9:00 am- 3:00 pm) and Thursday, August 22, 2018 (9:00 am- Noon)                                                      
All international students must attend this session. This orientation provides international students with information specific to their status and their transition to the US, including differences in culture and the educational system. All international students are required to attend this orientation session in addition to attending New Student Orientation. 

Orientation: Center for Inclusion Pre-Orientation

Monday, August 19- Thursday, August 22, 2019                                                       
Open to all incoming domestic students of color. Including those that self-identify as one or more of the following: American Indian, African American, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, Natice Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. *Note Tribal enrollment is not required to attend. *All attendees are required to also attend New Student Orientation.  Contact the Office of Center for Inclusion with questions: Jesse.Herrera@sdsmt.edu or (605) 394-1828

For additional information contact (605) 394-2336, orientation@sdsmt.edu