Welcome Back 2026 info for students
DSU Move-In | New Student Orientation Information
Our team and campus partners are excited to welcome you to Dakota State University as you begin your journey in Madison! Our new Trojans will move in Friday, Aug. 21, 2026 and we welcome our returning students throughout the weekend. Updates will be posted online and students will receive additional details regarding move-in throughout the summer.
Move-In Day 2026
This year’s move-in will take place over a three-day period starting on Friday, August 21 through Sunday, August 23. New students will be able to move into the halls from 8:00am to 12:00pm on Friday, August 21. Returning students will be able to move into the halls starting at 8:00am on Saturday, August 22.
What to Bring (and What to Leave Behind)
New students arrive at the Office of Residence Life located at Courtyard Hall between 8 a.m. to noon to receive their room key, directions to their residence hall, and other information. From there new students will go to their residence hall where volunteers will help students unload their vehicles and carry items to their rooms.
The Courtyard Hall address is:
Courtyard Hall
Dakota State University
917 Washington Ave. N.
Madison, SD 57042
If you have any questions, please contact Residence Life at (605) 256-5146 or by email at residencelife@dsu.edu.
Returning students should arrive at the Office of Residence Life located at Courtyard Hall between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to receive their room key and other information.
Before and after those hours you will check in at your assigned residence hall by calling the Residence Assistant (RA) duty number.
If you have any questions, please contact Residence Life at (605) 256-5146 or by email at residencelife@dsu.edu.
Orientation Weekend Schedule
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. | All Offices Open | Across Campus |
| 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Tablet Distribution | ITS Help Desk - Mundt Library |
| 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Information Station | Trojan Center |
| 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., or 1 p.m. | Sessions for Parents | Learning Engagement Center |
| 10:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. | Transfer Student Orientation Sessions | Trojan Center Alumni Room |
| 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Campus Grill-Out | West Trojan Center Lawn |
| 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Trojan Zone Stadium Store Open | Beacom PREMIER Complex |
| 2 p.m. | Trojan Trek Attendance is Expected |
West Trojan Center Lawn |
| 2:30 p.m. | All Campus Ice Cream Social Attendance is Expected Sponsored by Madison Regional Health System |
Beacom PREMIER Complex |
| 3 p.m. | Welcome: Trojans Start Here Attendance is Expected |
Brian Kern Family Stadium |
| 3:30 p.m. | GO! Time Attendance is Expected |
Blankley Field |
| 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. | Marketplace Open | Trojan Center Marketplace |
| 7 p.m. | Game Night with Games Club | Trojan Center |
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 7 a.m. -10:30 a.m. | Marketplace Open for Continental Breakfast | Trojan Center Marketplace |
| 8 a.m. | Move-In for Returning Students | |
| 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. | Community Center Open | Madison Community Center |
| 9:30 a.m. | DSU 101 Attendance of one is expected Sign up on Trojan Connect |
Tunheim Classroom Building 203 |
| 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Marketplace Open | Trojan Center Marketplace |
| 11 a.m. | DSU 101 Attendance of one is expected Sign up on Trojan Connect |
Tunheim Classroom Building 203 |
| 11 a.m - 12:30 p.m. | Soccer Tailgate with Free Lunch for Students | Dan Beacom Track Complex |
| 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Open Office Hours | ITS (Mundty Library), Trojan Zone (Trojan Center), Residence Life (Courtyard) |
| 1 p.m. | Home Soccer Game | Dan Beacom Track Complex |
| 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Meet & Mingle Campus Tours Available |
Trojan Center Underground |
| 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. | Marketplace Open | Trojan Center Marketplace |
| 7:30 p.m. | TAB Event: Comedian Myq Kaplan | Tunheim Classroom Building 203 (Auditorium) |
| 9 p.m. | Night Nachos | Trojan Center Marketplace |
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Various | Services at Local Churches | Times Posted in Trojan Center |
| 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Sip, Relax, and Chill - Drop In | Learning Engagement Center Relaxation Room |
| 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Community Center Open | Madison Community Center |
| 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Information Station | Trojan Center |
| 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Marketplace Open | Trojan Center |
| 2 p.m. | Trojan Olympics for New Students | Trojan Center Fireplace Lounge |
| 4 p.m. | Bingo with TAB | Trojan Center Marketplace |
| 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. | Trojan Zone Open | Trojan Center |
| 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. | Marketplace Open | Trojan Center |
| 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. |
Information Station |
Trojan Center |
| 7 p.m. | Residence Hall Meetings & Hall Council Kick-off | Check Residence Halls for Details |
| 7:30 p.m. | Welcome Back Karaoke with DSU Live | Trojan Center Underground |
Full Welcome Back Schedule
Monday, August 24: First day of Classes
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Information Station | Trojan Center |
| Noon | Transfer Student Orientation Session | Trojan Center Alumni Rroom |
| 6 p.m. | Learn about TAB and So Much S'more! | West Trojan Center Lawn |
| 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. | Swing into the New Year with Swing Dance Club | Beacom Institute for Technology (1st floor) |
Tuesday, August 25
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Information Station | Trojan Center |
| 3:30 p.m. | Convocation Attendance is expected |
Dakota Prarie Playhouse |
| 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. | DownTown in MadTown: DSU Night with Boogie Wonderland | Eagan Avenue (Meet at The Queue in the TC to walk down) |
| 8 p.m. | Movie Night with LCA Film Club | Science Center Room 135 |
Wednesday, August 26
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Information Station | Trojan Center |
| 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Arts-O-Rama | Dakota Prarie Playhouse Theatre |
| 7 p.m. | Home Volleyball Match "Swap Ur Swag" Walk away with a new DSU Trojan Pride shirt! |
DSU Fieldhouse |
| 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Crafting with Cru Night | Trojan Center Underground |
Thursday, August 27
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Information Station | Trojan Center |
| 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Nintendo Night with Cru | Check "dakotastatecru" on Instagram |
| 8 p.m. | Night Games with SAB | West Trojan Center Lawn |
Friday, August 28
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| All Day | Spirit Fridays: Trojan Pride Prize Patrol Get caught wearing something DSU and receive a prize |
|
| 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Information Station | Trojan Center |
| TBD | Frisbee Golf "Frolf Fridays" with Cru | Check "dakotastatecru" on Instagram |
Saturday, August 29
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 7 p.m. | Home Trojan Football Game | Brian Kern Family Stadium |
Monday, August 31
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 12 p.m. | Trojan Tutoring Begins | Learning Engagement Center |
Wednesday, September 2
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. | Transfer Student Coffee Talk | 8th Street Square |
| 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Trojan Fest: Clubs & Organizations Fair & Part-Time Job Fair | West Trojan Center Lawn |
| 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. | LEC Open House | Learning Engagement Center |
| 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Student Carnival | Trojan Zone |
Thursday, September 3
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Trojans Take the Lake | Lake Herman State Park Shuttle available at the D in front of Res Village |
Friday, September 4
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| All Day | Spirit Fridays: Trojan Pride Prize Patrol Get caught wearing something DSU and receive a prize |
|
| 5 p.m. | Home Volleyball Match | DSU Fieldhouse |
| 6 p.m. | Bob Ross Paint Night | Trojan Center Underground |
| 7 p.m. | Home Soccer Game | Dan Beacom Track Complex |
Saturday, September 5
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2 p.m. | Home Volleyball Match | DSU Fieldhouse |
Monday, September 7
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| LABOR DAY - NO CLASSES & OFFICES CLOSED |
Tuesday, September 8
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 8 p.m. | Movie Night with LCA Film Club | Science Center Room 135 |
Wednesday, September 9
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Self-Care Station | Trojan Center |
| Noon - 1 p.m. | Hiration Workshop | MadLabs Room 112 |
| 6 p.m. | Make a Custom Tote Bag with TAB | Trojan Center West Hallway |
Friday, September 11
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| All Day | Spirit Fridays: Trojan Pride Prize Patrol Get caught wearing something DSU and receive a prize |
|
| 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Walk of Hope | Outside of the Trojan Center |
| 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. | Blue Bash | West Trojan Center Lawn |
Saturday, September 12
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 6 p.m. | Home Football Game | Brian Kern Family Stadium |
Sunday, September 13
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 8 p.m. | Multiverse Madness Trivia with TAB | Trojan Center Underground |
Monday, September 14
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 6 p.m. | History and Ethics Forum | Beacom Institute of Technology |
Tuesday, September 15
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 8 p.m. | Movie Night with LCA Film Club | Science Center Room 135 |
| 7 p.m. | Home Soccer Game | Dan Beacom Track Complex |
Wednesday, September 16
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. | Welcome Picnic with International Programs | Madison Public Library Park |
Thursday, September 17
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 3 p.m. | Water Field Day with TAB | West Trojan Center Lawn |
Friday, September 18
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| All Day | Spirit Fridays: Trojan Pride Prize Patrol Get caught wearing something DSU and receive a prize |
|
| 5:30 p.m. | Home Volleyball Match | DSU Fieldhouse |
Saturday, September 19 FAMILY WEEKEND
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 a.m. | Family Weekend Check In & Welcome | Learning Engagement Center |
| 10 a.m. | Veteran Suicide Awareness March | Dan Beacom Track Complex |
| 1 p.m. | Home Football Game | Brian Kern Family Stadium |
| 5 p.m. | Home Volleyball Match | DSU Fieldhouse |
| 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. | 437 Project | United Methodist Church Parking Lot |
Sunday, September 20
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 8 p.m. | Grocery Bag Bingo with SAB | Trojan Center Marketplace |
Quick Links
Trojan Connect App
Get the Trojan Connect App to access resources directed towards your academic success.
1. Find an install the Navigate360 Student app in your app store.
2. Search for Dakota State University in the app's search bar.
3. Log in using your DSU email and password
Trojan Net
Access class schedule, pay your bill, register for parking permit, access ITS and laptop support, review dining options, find academic support and many other services.
Contact Us
Have a question? Call the DSU Office of Admission (605) 256-5139 or email us