Power Up Weekend | New Student Enrollment | University of Nebraska

June 23–25, 2023

Power Up is an optional extended Orientation experience for incoming first-year students. Throughout the weekend, you will stay on campus in the residence halls, participate in fun activities and build a support network central to your success as a new Husker.

At Power Up, you will:

Meet incoming first-year students and Nebraska student leaders.
Spend two nights in a residence hall and eat at campus dining facilities.
Experience student life and engage in fun, informative campus activities.
Learn Husker traditions.

Registration Instructions

1 Log in to MyRED to register starting April 25, 2023.
2 Use the "Admissions" drop-down menu in the top navigation, select "Undergraduate" and click on "Power Up Weekend reservations" (under the "Prepare for New Student Enrollment" section). Complete the online registration form.
3 Pay the $210 fee via credit card or check. There are a limited number of $90 scholarships for Pell Grant-eligible students. Upon registration, the system will verify if you qualify for the Power Up Weekend scholarship and automatically award the scholarship.

4 Complete the required waiver forms. (If you are under the age of 19, you will need a parent/guardian to complete the forms with you and submit the forms using the email address they provided to the university.)
5 Register for Online Orientation or In-Person Orientation starting May 2. Power Up students are encouraged to register to attend In-Person Orientation on June 23.
In order to comply with program guidelines, Power Up participants are expected to be enrolled in fall-semester classes prior to June 23. Learn more about course enrollment.

Register Now

Note: If you decide to cancel your Power Up Weekend reservation, we must receive the cancellation notice by June 9, 2023 to refund the Power Up Weekend fee.

Questions? Please contact New Student Enrollment at nse@unl.edu.

Details and FAQs

Packing List

Clothes

Shorts
T-shirts
Jeans
Socks
Athletic shoes
Sleepwear

Bedding

One extra blanket (sheets, a pillow and a pillowcase will be provided)

Toiletries

Toothbrush/Toothpaste
Soap
Shampoo
Bath Towel
Flip flops (for shower)

Misc.

Sunscreen
Camera
Snacks
Umbrella
Water bottle

Arrival & Parking

Arrival

New Student Enrollment will be offering transportation to and from the Lincoln (LNK) airport on Friday and Sunday during Power Up Weekend. You may sign up for this service on your Power Up reservation in MyRED. If you plan to fly into the Omaha (OMA) airport, the best transport option is Omalink, a licensed airport shuttle service. A shuttle from OMA to campus is about $85.

Parking

Students who are driving to Power Up Weekend will park in the lot that is located west of the University Health Center. The University Health Center is located at 550 N 19th St. and the lot is across the street. Look for the "New Student Enrollment" flags to help direct you.

Students attending In-Person Orientation on Friday, June 23: You will use the Orientation parking pass that you receive upon arrival to remain in the same lot during Power Up Weekend.

Students attending Orientation on another day or participating in Online Orientation: You will receive a Power Up parking permit when you arrive in the lot between 4:30–5:30 p.m. on June 23.

Drop-off Parking: If someone is dropping you off at Power Up, limited meter parking is available along 17th Street west of Abel Hall and in the lot east of the Abel-Sandoz Welcome Center.

Accessible Parking: Accessible parking spaces are available in the lot east of the Abel-Sandoz Welcome Center.

Schedule

This schedule provides an overview of Power Up Weekend activities and is subject to change.

Friday, June 23

Check in at Abel-Sandoz Welcome Center between 4:30–5:30 p.m.
Meet other students through icebreakers and team time.
Learn about Husker traditions and values.
Participate in various late-night activities on campus.

Meals provided: Dinner

Saturday, June 24

Engage in a fun campus activity based on your interests.
Tour Downtown Lincoln and explore your campus.
Participate in academic workshops to prepare for college academics.
Discuss the diverse identities of new classmates and explore ways to be inclusive and respectful of one another.
Enjoy a hypnotist performance, music and evening activities at a late-night party at the Campus Recreation Center.

Meals provided: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Sunday, June 25

Set goals for the fall semester.
Participate in a small-group reflection about your experience during Power Up.
Check out at 10:30 a.m.

Meals provided: Breakfast

Parent & Guest Information

Lodging for Parents and Guests

The Graduate Hotel, located in Lincoln's Historic Haymarket, is the host hotel for Power Up Weekend. Make a reservation with the university's rate of $122 (breakfast included) for a king or double queen room. View a full list of Husker Preferred Hotels.

Optional Parent Activities

New Student Enrollment invites parents and families of Power Up Weekend participants to events Friday evening and throughout the day on Saturday.

On Friday, June 23, a reception will be hosted at the Graduate Hotel from 6:30–8 p.m. This will be an informal opportunity to meet other parents/guests and university staff members.

On Saturday, parents and families are invited to the following events:

Downtown Walking Tour and Farmers Market: 9–10 a.m. Meet in the lobby of the Graduate Hotel.
State Capitol Tour: 10:45 a.m. Meet inside the North Entrance of the Capitol at 10:45 a.m. The tour begins at 11 a.m. and will last approximately one hour.
East Campus Dairy Store: 2–3 p.m. Enjoy free, locally made ice cream on East Campus. Optional East Campus tours.
Brewery Hop in the Haymarket: 4–6 p.m. Enjoy some of Lincoln’s best craft breweries!
- Bierhaus Maisschaler (Approx. 4–5 p.m.)
- Kinkaider Brewing Co. (Approx. 5–6 p.m.)

Additional materials will be provided to parents and families during check-in and orientation on June 23.

Explore dining, shopping, arts, and entertainment in the Haymarket district near the hotel

Get more information about things to do in Lincoln

Event Expectations

As stated in the Event Code of Conduct, students are not to leave the assigned program area at any time. This is to ensure they have the best experience, as well as for safety and liability reasons. If we discover a student has violated this rule, we will contact you immediately.

FAQs

Do I need to make a Power Up Weekend reservation and an Orientation reservation?

Yes, Power Up Weekend and Orientation are two separate programs. Orientation is required, while Power Up is an optional extended program. The June 23 Orientation date is exclusively reserved for Power Up Weekend participants. We recommend choosing this date to pair your Orientation experience with Power Up Weekend, so you only have to make one trip to Lincoln.

I am trying to make travel arrangements. When should I arrive for Power Up Weekend and when is it over?

For students who are traveling to Lincoln from afar and are scheduled to attend In-Person Orientation on Friday, June 23:
You will want to arrive by Thursday evening (June 22), because Orientation check-in begins at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 23. After the Orientation day concludes on Friday, Orientation Leaders will guide participants to Power Up check-in. Power Up Weekend will conclude by 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 25.

For students who are participating in Online Orientation or are scheduled to attend In-Person Orientation on a date other than June 23:
You will not need to arrive to Lincoln until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 23. Power Up Weekend check-in is from 4:30–5:30 p.m. at the Abel-Sandoz Welcome Center.

What should I bring?

Please see the "Packing List" section on this page.

Is bedding provided?

Sheets, a pillow and a pillowcase will be provided. Please bring an extra blanket.

Should I bring snacks or drinks?

We recommend bringing a water bottle that you can refill throughout the weekend. Feel free to pack snacks. All meals (2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners) will be provided.

Where do I park?

Please see the "Arrival and Parking" section on this page.

Where do I check in?

Power Up check-in is at the Abel-Sandoz Welcome Center at 830 N 17th St.

Do parents and guests attend? Are they needed at check-in?

Parents and guests do not attend Power Up Weekend, though there is an optional reception for parents on Friday night (see Parent and Guest Information section). Parents/guests are only needed at Power Up check-in if you still need to complete your waiver forms.

I’m attending In-Person Orientation on Friday. Will the day be over before Power Up check-in?

Yes, Orientation Leaders will guide you to Power Up check-in after your Orientation day is over.

Should I eat before I come to Power Up?

Participants will eat dinner together early Friday evening as part of the program.

I’m attending In-Person Orientation on Friday. What should I do with my luggage?

Please do not bring your luggage with you to the Nebraska Union for Orientation. You will have time to go back to your car after the Orientation day is over. If you will not have a car at Orientation, please contact nse@unl.edu to make luggage storage arrangements.

I am arriving in Lincoln Thursday night to attend Orientation on Friday before Power Up. Can I stay on campus an extra night before Power Up begins?

Yes, please indicate that you need an extra night of accommodations in a campus residence hall on your Power Up registration. An extra night of accommodations is $60 and does not include meals. This option is available for participating students only.