Student Life
Join the action
Students at RIT take their academic pursuits seriously—striving to get good grades and working hard to develop their talents—but they’ll be the first to tell you that there’s more to college than books and professors.
At RIT, there’s no shortage of ways to get involved outside the classroom. Take advantage of your free time. Try something new. Achieve your full potential. Our campus is alive with energy and activity, providing round-the-clock opportunities for leadership, entertainment, relaxation, and personal growth. Your active participation in the many aspects of student life helps to ensure that you’ll graduate well educated and well rounded.
Living on campus
There’s always lots of activity along “The Quarter Mile,” our main pedestrian thoroughfare on campus. Nearly 70 percent of RIT’s full-time students live on campus in residence halls or apartments, and our self-contained, suburban location gives the campus a safe, residential atmosphere. You’ll find that just about anything you need is available and accessible, including athletic facilities, dining halls, a post office, a health center, a student-run nightclub, and even a convenience store located in the residence halls. Gracie’s, the main dining hall on the residential side of campus, features an extensive menu that borrows from Greek, Asian, and Italian cooking as well as California, Southern, and Texas favorites, and offers a variety of vegetarian choices.
Our student housing is among the safest, most comfortable, and technologically advanced in the nation. Two computer connections are available in every room to provide high-speed access to the campus computer network and the Internet.
We offer campus living options to meet a variety of needs and interests. If you’re passionate about art, photography, science, computers, or engineering, you may want to live in one of our residence hall special-interest “houses.” Others include International House, for international and American students and Unity House, which develops and fosters awareness of black history and culture. Members of special-interest houses select housemates through an application process and run their own house with a house manager and executive board. Because the houses are designed for members to share special interests, residents agree to be active in house events and projects throughout the year.
Many sororities and fraternities also have their houses on campus. These “Greek” organizations promote high academic standards and community service while offering a number of athletic, extracurricular, and social outlets for their members. Greek life is a great way to develop leadership and organizational skills, build lifelong friendships, and expand your career network through alumni connections.
Campus apartments are an attractive housing option for many sophomores, juniors, and seniors, since RIT has one of the nation’s largest university-owned and -operated apartment systems. Five apartment complexes are located less than a mile from the center of campus. Apartment living offers you opportunities to personalize your surroundings, cook your own meals, and take a big step toward life after college.
Student Alumni Union
With the exception of your college and residence hall, you’ll probably find
yourself in the Union more than any other building on campus. It features the
500-seat Ingle Auditorium, a Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, and the first
ESPN Sports Zone on a college campus. You can sit behind the SportsCenter desk, test
your skills as a sports broadcaster, and e-mail video clips of your performance to
all your friends!
The Union also contains a game room with billiards and electronic games, performing arts rehearsal space, a hair-styling and tanning salon, meeting rooms, a student lounge, and two separate dining areas. RIT’s Interfaith Center, located next door to the Union, houses two chapels and our Center for Campus Ministry.
Multiple perspectives
The diverse backgrounds and interests of RIT students contribute in many ways to the quality of campus life, broadening our understanding and acceptance of differing cultures, beliefs, politics, and perspectives. RIT attracts students from 50 states and more than 95 countries around the world, providing a diverse learning environment in the classroom, residence halls, and elsewhere on campus. A number of campus organizations and student services address the unique needs and interests of minority students, deaf students, and international students at RIT. If you enjoy interacting with a great variety of people, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to do that here.
More than 1,200 deaf and hard-of-hearing students share classes and campus facilities with hearing students at RIT. Deaf students communicate in a variety of ways—through speaking, speech reading, signed English and American Sign Language. Many hearing students learn sign language through the RIT Sign program and by taking credit-bearing courses. RIT boasts the largest staff of interpreters of any university in the United States, with approximately 100 full- and part-time interpreters on campus.
Clubs and organizations
What are your interests? What do you like to do for fun? Whether you’re into art, music, literature, politics, science, or sports, you’ll almost certainly find others at RIT who share your enthusiasm. The diverse interests of our student body are reflected in the variety of activities and programs that take place on campus. More than 175 student clubs and organizations complement classroom learning and provide a lot of fun and recreation.
Interested in broadcasting or publishing? WITR is our noncommercial student-run FM radio station. WITR provides Rochester-area listeners with an alternative to mainstream radio and offers practical experience in broadcasting, engineering, and management for RIT students. Reporter is RIT’s student-produced weekly magazine. Talented students—artists, writers, photographers, managers, and printers—collaborate and contribute to this award-winning publication, recognized as one of the most professional student magazines in the country.
You’ll also find numerous musical and theatrical activities on campus. Try out
for the dance company, jazz ensemble, gospel ensemble, or any of several other vocal,
musical, and theater groups. Three or four theater productions are held each year on
campus, as well as many concerts and performances by visiting artists, writers, and
our own music groups.
RIT has five student-run governing bodies—Student Government, Residence Halls Association, Off-Campus and Apartment Student Association, Greek Council, and NTID Student Congress. These organizations give students a voice on campus, and they control substantial budgets to support student activities and clubs and bring speakers, performers, and special events to campus.
In addition, RIT’s Student Government supports club-level sports teams in
archery, bowling, cycling, equestrian, roller hockey, field hockey, men's lacrosse,
alpine skiing, men’s volleyball, water polo, women’s cross country, and
ultimate frisbee. Most club teams compete on an intercollegiate level, although some
are solely for recreational purposes. Several club teams have competed in national
championship tournaments, with men’s roller hockey capturing the Division I national
championship in 2001.
For more information, visit campuslife.rit.edu/clubs.
Recreation and intramurals
You’ll find everything from basketball and racquetball courts to a dance studio
in our Student Life Center. Another great feature—especially if you like to
put miles on your running shoes—is the indoor track. Other campus athletic
facilities include two more gyms, a swimming pool, an ice arena, and a
weight-training room. A new $25 million field house was completed in 2004.
Outdoor facilities include lighted tennis courts, playing fields, an all-weather
track, and a fitness trail. If you have your own way to stay in shape or work off
some steam, the chances are good that you can do it at RIT.
Intramural sports emphasize fun as well as fitness. Our extensive program includes co-ed teams in everything from basketball and flag football to inner-tube water polo and golf. Tournaments help to keep the competition interesting. More than 50 percent of our students participate in these activities each year, making intramurals one of the best ways to make friends at RIT. So join the action. The good times are waiting for you.
For more information, visit www.rit.edu/ciar.
