• News and Events
  • Imagine RIT
  • Final Exam Dates
  • Housing End of Year Closing
  • 2024 Commencement Ceremonies
  • Order a Kitchen Away from Home Cookbook
• Let’s Talk About It
  • Academics—Managing Finals Stress
  • Campus Engagement—Public Market Bus
  • Campus Life—Goodbye, Goodbuy!
  • Wellness—Good Samaritan Protocol and Alcohol Safety
• Information and Updates
  
  • FAFSA Updates
  • Philanthropy Graduation Cords
  • Summer Term
  • RIT Master Plan
  • Parent Poll
  • Featured Photo

Spring is definitely in the air at RIT! The rest of the academic year is sure to be very busy for your student, especially for our soon-to-be graduates. Remind them to take time to enjoy all of the happenings on campus and take care of themselves between studying.

Imagine RIT
Imagine RIT is on Saturday, Apr. 27 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. This annual campus festival is a special event that highlights the creative and innovative spirit of RIT students, faculty, and staff. The event showcases over 350 exhibits and is open to the community. 

Final Exam Dates
While all students’ schedules will vary, here are the dates for final exams as found on the academic calendar: 

• Last day of classes: April 29
• Reading Day: April 30
• Final exams: May 1-8 
• Final grades due: May 10

Housing End of Year Closing
All students in RIT housing are encouraged to move out of RIT housing 24 hours after their last exam. All students in RIT housing must move out no later than Saturday, May 11 at 10 a.m. Graduating seniors and those working graduation have until Sunday, May 12 at noon to check out of RIT housing. Students who require extensions may request them from RIT Housing. Please visit the End of Year website for information about checking out of housing. 

2024 Commencement Ceremonies
The RIT Community is looking forward to celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2024! Commencement will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 10-11. Ceremonies include Friday morning’s Academic Convocation at 10 a.m. in the Gordon Field House and Activities Center, a celebration of graduates from all nine colleges and two degree-granting units, and individual commencement ceremonies on Friday afternoon and Saturday. Please check the commencement schedule to see when your graduate's ceremony will be held. More information can be found on the Commencement website.

Order a Kitchen Away from Home Cookbook!
The Kitchen Away from Home Cookbook was created by YOU—parents and family members of our students—to help our student chefs begin to learn their way around the kitchen. It is a perfect end-of-year gift for your student, especially if they're preparing to move into an apartment next year! Cookbooks cost $10 and will be shipped to the address of your choosing. On-campus pick-up is not available. All proceeds from sales will go to the RIT FoodShare.

Academics—Managing Finals Stress
Everyone experiences stress – it’s completely normal, especially during midterms and finals. Over the next few weeks, your student will likely be balancing projects, papers, and exams, all while fighting the urge to enjoy the nice weather! Help your student understand that stress is normal and think about how to manage by sharing these strategies:

• Eat extra healthy to provide your body with nutrients that help it function at optimal levels
• Exercise to help your body release pent up energy, relieve tension, and release endorphins natural to your body
• Get plenty of sleep to help restore the body and mind and help you be rested for the day to come
• Make a list or journal to help organize your thoughts and make a plan on how to tackle the projects you have to do 

Conversation starters

• How many finals do you have? Are they spread out? 
• What methods are you using to manage your time? 
• What are you doing for stress relief?

Campus Engagement—Public Market Bus
The City of Rochester Public Market, located in Center City, has served the community since 1905 and offers a huge assortment of fresh seasonal produce direct from area farmers as well as from around the country and world, meats and seafood, eggs and cheese, baked goods and pasta, specialty and prepared foods, dry goods and general merchandise, clothing and jewelry, and much more. The market runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and RIT students can grab the RIT Public Market Bus on Saturdays to experience this Rochester gem.  

Conversation starters

• Have you heard of the Rochester Public Market?
• What are your favorite fresh vegetables and fruits?
• What opportunities do you have to go into Rochester?

Campus Life—Goodbye, Goodbuy!
Every year, RIT students throw out tons of goods during move-out, which we collect during the end of spring semester. The following fall, students purchase the same items at our student-led Goodbye, Goodbuy! thrift sale. As your student moves out this spring, they can leave unwanted items that are still in good condition at collection locations all over the residence halls, Global Village, and apartment areas to be cleaned, stored, and then purchased for reuse by students next fall. This sustainable cycle reduces waste, ensuring usable items find new homes instead of ending up in landfills. All proceeds fund the administration of the program. 

Conversation starters

• Do you have any items in your room/apartment that you won’t need next year and can donate? 
• Have you considered volunteering with Goodbye, Goodbuy!?
• What will you need for your room/apartment next year that you may be able to purchase at Goodbye, Goodbuy!?

Wellness—Good Samaritan Protocol and Party PAWS
RIT wants to ensure that students make responsible and safe decisions, especially as the weather turns warm and some feel the sense of freedom that may lead them to engage in risky behaviors. You, as a parent, can have discussions with your student about responsible and informed consumption while also making sure they are aware of campus resources. Supportive messages about making safe and healthy decisions go further with students than warnings about the dangers of alcohol and drugs; meaningful discussions with parents are valuable and important. Party PAWS is a comprehensive education and awareness program created to help students of the RIT community better understand alcohol and cannabis use. This website includes helpful information and things to consider for students, and may help you in your conversations with your student. 

Please make sure your student is aware of the Good Samaritan Protocol. This policy encourages students to contact Public Safety, RIT Ambulance, Residence Life staff, or other RIT staff if they notice an individual who has passed out or shows signs of serious effects from alcohol or drug consumption. This policy protects the caller, the person in need of assistance, and any witnesses involved from receiving disciplinary sanctions. This protocol is designed to provide education rather than discipline when a student voluntarily seeks medical assistance related to alcohol or other drugs. 

Conversation starters

• How will you decide whether or not to drink when at a party?
• What reasons or excuses can you give your peers if you don't want to drink?
• What will you do if you find yourself at a party with only alcohol to drink?
• What will you do if your roommate or a neighbor passes out from drinking too much?
• How will you get home if the person you rode with is too drunk to drive?

2024-25 FAFSA Update
Although the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has started to release FAFSA data to schools, many of the processed FAFSAs are pending further review from the DOE. After RIT receives final FAFSA data we anticipate generating 2024-25 financial aid offers for continuing students in late spring.

The DOE has advised that the ability for students/families to make updates and corrections to the FAFSA has been pushed back to mid/late April. In advance of this implementation, the DOE will provide detailed information to students/families on how to correct the most common FAFSA form errors including missing signatures. 

Please note, until RIT receives and is ultimately able to process student FAFSA applications however, we cannot answer questions about an individual’s FAFSA status or federal aid eligibility. Despite the continued challenges of the 2024-25 FAFSA roll-out however, RIT remains committed to supporting students through their degree program and taking steps to ensure we are ready to serve them.

Learn more on the 2024-25 FAFSA Updates and FAQs website. 

Philanthropy Graduation Cords
As Commencement approaches, your soon-to-be graduate can make an impact on RIT and show off their Tiger Pride with a philanthropy cord at Commencement. With a gift of $24 or more, your student will be recognized with a special orange and black cord to wear at Commencement. Gifts may be designated to your student’s favorite area of interest at RIT—such as a club, scholarship, or academic department—and will help other students have the same great college experience in the future. In addition to receiving a cord, those who make a gift by April 27 will be invited to a donor-only reception with President Munson at the end of the year.

Students can make their gift until April 27 to receive a philanthropy cord. Philanthropy cords may be picked up at the You’re Impactful! Class Gift Donor Reception (May 8) or from the Alumni Office (May 9-10).

Summer Term
The upcoming summer term will begin on May 15 and will be offered in in-person and online formats. Undergraduate and graduate students can take advantage of a 12-week session (May 15-Aug. 13) and two six-week sessions (May 15-June 26 and July 1-Aug. 13). Graduate students can also enroll in a targeted seven-week session (May 15-July 5). The complete list of course offerings is available on the summer semester website.

The RIT Master Plan
Your student has earned an RIT undergraduate degree and built a solid resume full of creative and innovative experiences. Now is the perfect time to add a master’s degree to their already impressive credentials. The RIT Master Plan includes a special scholarship covering 40% of graduate tuition for qualifying master’s degrees. With 65+ graduate degrees in everything from the arts and design, business, computing, engineering, science, health sciences, and the liberal arts, your student has their choice of exciting programs. RIT graduates from December 2019 or later who begin a master’s degree program by January 2025 are eligible. For more information, please visit The RIT Master Plan.    

Parent Poll
Each month, we ask parents to respond to our Parent Poll and provide feedback on a topic related to RIT, your student, and you. In March, we asked if your student attended the Career Fair. You were split pretty evenly with yes and no! Please take a moment to answer our April question.

Featured Photo
In case you don’t follow the Parent and Family Programs Facebook page, here’s what you’ve missed: as seen on RIT's main page-students enjoyed the total solar eclipse last week!