• News and Deadlines
  • Seeking Parent Feedback
  • Change of Major Fair
  • Orientation Leader Positions
  • Spring University-Wide Career Fair
  • Imagine RIT Save-the-Date
• Let’s Talk About It
  • Academics—RIT Writing Center
  • Campus Engagement—Horizons
  • Campus Living—Tunnels
  • Wellness—Patient Chat
• Information and Updates
  • 2024-2025 FAFSA Update
  • Religious Holiday Accommodations
  • Spring Break
  • Summer Storage
  • Parent Poll
  • Featured Photo

Last week, RIT and Rochester experienced some very un-February like weather with sunny days and temps in the 50s! It was a wonderful reprieve as winter returns this week. Along with all of the events and updates for your student this month, we are also asking for your feedback in our biennial RIT Parent Survey. Please take a moment to respond!

Seeking Parent Feedback
The Parent and Family Programs office seeks your input as we assess our services and plan for future communications and programming for families of RIT students. Please take a moment to respond to our 2024 RIT Parent Survey. Your responses will help us better understand how you use family resources to support your student.

If you have multiple students at RIT, please respond with the youngest in mind.

Change of Major Fair
The Change of Major Fair is an opportunity for students to learn about the available majors on campus and the resources offered to change majors. Representatives from all nine colleges, Career Counseling, and the School of Individualized Study will be at the fair to talk with students about their options. The Change of Major Fair is on Tuesday, Feb. 20 from 2-4 p.m. in the Student Alumni Union (SAU), 1829 Room. Students can register on CampusGroups. 

Orientation Leader Positions
RIT Orientation is currently recruiting student leaders to serve as Orientation Leaders. The position is an extremely competitive student leadership opportunity at RIT that provides an opportunity to play a key role in welcoming new students and their families into the Tiger family during RIT Orientation 2024. The application will be open until March 23. Interested students can find more information on the Orientaiton website and can join an Orientation Leader Info Session.

Spring University-Wide Career Fair
The Spring Career Fair will be held on Wednesday, March 6. The Career Fair, held in the Gordon Field House, draws a variety of companies, ranging from small tech firms to Fortune 500 companies. Students need to bring their student ID to the Career Fair to be admitted. More information on the Career Fair and Career Services resources is available on the Career Services and Co-op website. 

Imagine RIT Save-the-Date
Imagine RIT is on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. This annual campus festival is a special event that showcases the creative and innovative spirit of RIT students, faculty, and staff. 

Academics—Writing Center
The Writing Center is a great resource for all students that offers guidance on academic and professional writing at any stage of the writing process. Consultants support students in becoming confident, inventive, and dynamic writers with everything from research papers to lab reports. Students can schedule a one-on-one appointment (either one time or recurring) or attend a group session. In-person and virtual appointments are available.

 Conversation starters

• What types of writing have you had to do in your courses (e.g., research papers, reflections, lab reports)?
• What are your biggest challenges with writing? 
• What feedback on your writing have you received from professors? 

Campus Engagement—Horizons
As your student encounters new people and ideas while at college, they are likely to be challenged by the beliefs of others and have their own views challenged. Learning how to communicate effectively and have dialogue about issues is an important aspect of student development and the goal of a program on campus, Horizons. Based on the National Issues Forums model for deliberative dialogues, the goal of Horizons is to promote active listening and dialogue rather than debate on difficult topics. In a space where students, faculty, and staff can approach what may seem like a difficult conversation in a respectful, educational, and constructive manner, attendees will come away with a greater understanding of others who hold diverse views and be able to form an educated opinion on challenging and complex issues our society faces today. Students can learn more and look for upcoming events on the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement CampusGroups page.

Conversation starters

• What opinions have you heard at RIT that you never encountered before?
• How has hearing new perspectives made you think about your own ideas?
• How do you talk to your friends or roommate when you disagree about a topic?
• How can you work with RIT faculty and staff to address difficult problems?

Campus Life—Tunnels
February is cold, and students will find ways to avoid being outside as much as possible. Luckily, RIT has a tunnel system to help them do so! The dorm side tunnels allow students to travel between residence halls, including getting to Gracie’s and NTID. This is also where students will find laundry rooms, the DSP post office, the Corner Store, and more. These tunnels are also decorated by years of RIT student art (check out this video about the murals). The academic side doesn’t have an underground tunnel like the dorm side, but most buildings are connected in a way that students can use the system of hallways and stairwells to avoid stepping outside. 

Conversation starters

• What is your favorite mural in the tunnels below the residence halls?
• Have you explored the academic side tunnels?
• Do you have warm enough winter clothing? 

Wellness—Patient Chat
We know one of the worst calls you can get is that your student is sick on campus and doesn’t know what to do to get help. Understanding the services provided at the Student Health Center will help you support your student if you get that call. Please make sure your student is aware of the patient chat available in the Wellness Portal, which is the fastest and easiest way to make an appointment. Students can also use live chat to speak directly to a nurse to discuss any medical concerns they may have and get recommendations for care. Patient Chat is a live chat available Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Students can use the live chat to ask Student Health Center staff questions regarding immunizations, required forms, insurance, or appointment scheduling. In addition, there is an after-hours nursing line (585-475-2255).

 Conversation starters

• Have you been sick at all this winter?
• Do you have any over-the-counter medications in case you get sick?
• What would you do if you had to miss classes from being sick?

2024-2025 FAFSA Update
Major changes and improvements were made to the 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, however, the U.S. Department of Education has acknowledged challenges during its roll-out. 

Although students can now submit the FAFSA, RIT will not start receiving FAFSA data from the U.S. Department of Education until mid-March, delaying 2024-25 financial aid offers for continuing students until late spring.

Until RIT receives and is ultimately able to process a student’s FAFSA application, we cannot answer questions about the status of the FAFSA or the student’s federal aid eligibility. In addition, changes and/or corrections that a student needs to make to their 2024-25 FAFSA cannot be completed and submitted back to the US Department of Education until late March/early April.

Learn about changes for all students from the 2024-25 FAFSA updates.

Despite the challenges of the FAFSA roll-out, RIT is committed to supporting our students through their degree program and is taking steps to ensure we are ready to serve them. 

Religious Holidays Accommodations
Spring is a season of many holidays for those of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Pagan traditions. These holidays may be important events for your students. Please note that RIT’s attendance policy does not automatically excuse absences for religious reasons, but students can make arrangements with professors ahead of time if they must miss class. For more information about spring holidays, visit the Spirituality and Religious Life page.

Spring Break
Spring Break is on March 10-17. If your student is traveling, please have a discussion within the next month about Spring Break safety and health. RIT Housing requests that students who are leaving their RIT housing for the week prepare by emptying trash cans and cleaning out fridges, locking windows and doors, and unplugging electronic equipment (fridges can remain plugged in). Dining hours and locations during the week can be found on the RIT Dining website.

Summer Storage
It’s only February, but we know you may already planning for the end of the semester move out. A local storage company offers a full service for students needing to store belongings over the summer. Rochester College Storage (The UPS Store) provides supplies including tape, labels, boxes, and bubble wrap along with on-campus (and surrounding area) pickup and delivery. There is no charge for pickup and delivery during peak move-out and move-in days. If you make your reservation by March 31, you will receive 10% off the storage cost using the promo code SB10. Refer to the website for more information and call 585-427-8080 for additional questions.

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 January, we asked what your student is most looking forward to in spring semester. Most were interested in getting back to classes and seeing friends. Please take a moment to answer our February question.

Featured Photo
In case you don’t follow the Parent and Family Programs Facebook page, here’s what you’ve missed: check out this year's FreezeFest ice sculpture!