• Welcome, Tiger Families!
• Becoming an RIT Parent
  • Common Orientation Terms
  • Family Orientation Newsletters
  • Tiger Parent Bootcamp
• Getting Started
  • Make Sure We Have a Current Email Address
  • Complete Our New Tiger Family Survey
  • Check Out RIT Parent and Family Resources 
  • Show Your Tiger Pride
  • Save the Dates

In just a few short months, you will launch your child into adulthood and life as an RIT student. There is so much on your mind right now. How do you wrap up high school celebrations while managing the RIT checklist, all while shopping for their dorm room and arguing about curfews? We know it’s an overwhelming time, and are here to help your family through the transition.

This college experience will be different from anything you experienced yourself, or anything you have experienced with other children, as each college student’s journey is individual. You probably have questions, and maybe a couple of concerns, yet are looking forward to watching your student grow. Just like you, we are so excited to welcome your student to the Tiger family and begin their journey at RIT. 

The purpose of these Family Orientation Newsletters is to give you the tools and information you need to guide your student and prepare them for college life. We will be sending you deadlines, resources, and fun facts to get you started and excited about this new journey. You, as parents, family members, and supporters, play a vital role in your student’s transition and success. You are an important part of the RIT community, and we are thrilled to have you as our partners.

Welcome to the RIT Family!
Chelsea Petree, Ph.D.
Director, Parent and Family Programs

Common Orientation Terms
Here is a list of RIT and Orientation terms you will read throughout the summer. Follow the RIT Parent and Family Programs Facebook page to learn more RIT Lingo throughout the summer!

• Family Orientation Newsletter: Sent weekly, this newsletter will help you understand campus resources, important deadlines, and how to support your student through the transition to college.
• Off-Campus and Commuter Students: These students are any students who do not live in RIT housing, whether that be at home with family or in an apartment.
• Orientation: Orientation, held on Aug. 20-25, is a week-long series of events, activities, and opportunities developed to assist students in transitioning to life at RIT.
• Orientation Check-In: All students, including residential and commuter students, must check in for Orientation on their Welcome Day.
• Orientation Leader (OL): Orientation Leaders are RIT students who are responsible for leading a group of new students and helping them acclimate to life at RIT throughout Orientation week.
• Transfer Orientation: Transfer students have two options for their Orientation program, both of which will begin on Tuesday, Aug. 20. Transfer students can learn which program is best for them and register on the Orientation website. 
• Transfer Students: Transfer students are students who after high school, started college elsewhere, and are entering RIT with credits from another college or university.
• Virtual Orientation: Your student will jump-start their Orientation experience with our mandatory RIT Virtual Orientation. The virtual orientation experience will provide your student with important information, including an introduction to services and resources, and help them successfully launch their RIT journey. Parents are welcome to log in as guests to view the information.
• Welcome Days: Our Orientation program kicks off with our Welcome Days on Sunday, Aug. 18, and Monday, Aug. 19. Welcome Day highlights include first-year residential move-in, Orientation check-in, campus resource fair,  Welcome to RIT presentation, and social programming for students and families. All events on Welcome Days are for students and family members. Students moving into RIT housing will choose their move-in day (which will also be their Welcome Day) later this summer. Commuter students can attend either Welcome Day. 

Family Orientation Newsletters
This newsletter will be sent every Tuesday throughout the summer. These newsletters will guide you through what to expect this summer and how to prepare your student for life at RIT. It includes tips, resources, and conversation starters to use with your student as needed. To change your email preferences for this newsletter, have your student update your email address at www.rit.edu/studentcontact.

Parent Bootcamp
With so much to think about this summer, it will be easy to forget to talk to your student about the everyday skills they will need at college. Join current students and RIT staff for tips on how to prepare your student for real-life tasks such as laundry, basic cooking skills, getting a campus job, and more. The RIT Parent Bootcamp will be held on Thursday, June 27, or Tuesday, July 9. Both will be held at 7 p.m. EST.