Thundr ChatCommunity | August 24, 2025
Back-to-School Random Chat Guide for New Students
Whether you are running residence-hall icebreakers or welcoming remote learners, Thundr Chat makes it easy to pair strangers who want to feel part of campus. Use this guide to set expectations, keep conversations safe, and help students build genuine connections in the first month of the academic year.
1. Start with orientation-ready prompts
Schedule the first week with low-pressure topics: favorite cafeteria dishes, local weekend tips, or club recommendations. Add two prompts to each room description so participants know what to expect before the video loads. Encourage peer leaders to pin creative follow-up questions in the chat.
Need inspiration? Check the icebreaker templates under Support — Getting started. They work great for hybrid campuses and distance programs alike.
2. Keep Safe Mode on and recruit student moderators
New participants benefit from the default Safe Mode in Thundr Chat. Leave it enabled for the first month so AI filters can pre-screen matches. Pair each room with two resident assistants or student ambassadors who watch sentiment alerts and respond quickly to reports. The moderation panel lets them mute, remove, or rematch any participant while leaving clear notes for staff follow-up.
Share the Safety architecture overview with your student team so they understand what AI-based protections are already in place.
3. Build study pods faster with interest tags
Launch weekly study pod mixers with tags for major, course, or exam goal. Students can bookmark their favorite matches and create private group rooms for follow-up sessions. Encourage participants to schedule their next meetup before logging off so momentum stays high.
If you need larger breakouts, combine random chat with Creator Mode layouts where a facilitator can spotlight questions or host a review game.
4. Reinforce guidelines and provide escalation paths
Encourage every student to read the campus-specific guidelines before joining. Pin a quick reminder in each room: consent-first conversations, keep personal info private, and use the shield button if you need help. Should an issue arise, direct participants to the reporting flow. Staff can track outcomes in the analytics panel and escalate to campus safety teams when necessary.
You can customize escalation destinations under Support — Still need help? Add your campus email so our safety specialists can loop you in immediately.