• News and Deadlines
  • Parents of Incoming Students
  • Summer Term
  • Updates to RIT Dining and Meal Plans
  • Help Needed from Rochester Families
• For Parent of Graduates
  • Commencement Ceremonies Digital Downloads
  • RIT Master Plan
  • Career Services for Graduates
  • Post-Graduation Plans
  • Graduates Returning Home
• Information and Updates
  • College Restoration Program
  • Satisfactory Academic Progress
  • Unsubscribing from This List
  • Parent Poll
  • Featured Photo

May is a month of transitions—graduates leaving RIT and transitioning to full-time work or graduate school, returning students transitioning into a summer job or co-op, and our soon-to-be Tigers transitioning from high school to RIT. But first, pat on the back—congratulations to you and your students for making it through this year!

Parents of Incoming Students
Welcome to RIT! I’ve been seeing a lot of new subscribers to this newsletter, and am happy you found your way to Parent and Family Programs. You will begin to receive a Welcome Newsletter specifically for parents of new RIT Tigers at the end of May. This weekly newsletter will outline all the ways to engage this summer and learn about RIT and how to support your student. Keep an eye on the RIT Orientation website for details and calendars—more information will be added throughout the coming months. 

Summer Term
The upcoming summer term will begin on May 18 and will be offered in in-person and online formats. Undergraduate and graduate students can take advantage of a 12-week session (May 18-Aug. 15) and two six-week sessions (May 18-June 30 and July 3-Aug. 15). Graduate students can also enroll in a targeted seven-week session (May 18-July 6). The complete list of course offerings is available on the RIT summer semester 2023 webpage.

Updates to RIT Dining and Meal Plans
A few changes have been made to dining options on campus and meals plans:

• Gracie’s will become an all-you-care-to-eat venue and will be open each day until 10 p.m.
• First-year residential students will be able to choose from two meal plans that include both Gracie’s meals and Dining Dollars. Students living in apartments, RIT Inn, 175 Jefferson, and commuters will be able to choose from a number of meal plans that include Gracie’s meals or are Dining Dollars only. Meal plan options can be found on the RIT Dining website.
• Effective May 2024, Dining Dollar balances from the spring semester into the summer or fall semesters will be capped at $1,000. In other words, all balances from any fall semester will rollover into spring. Once the spring semester is over, any amount up to $1,000 will roll over into the next semester. This change does not impact any Dining Dollar balances from spring 2023 or fall 2023.

 Read more about these changes here.

Help Needed from Rochester Families
RIT Dining is committed to making our restaurant menus 50% plant-based by 2025. They have partnered with the Humane Society of the United States, hosting a plant-based tasting prepared by RIT Dining chefs and are looking for 3-5 parents to come to campus, try the food, and share thoughts. The tasting will take place on May 23, 2023 at 2 p.m. on the RIT campus.

If you are available, please complete this form indicating your interest and someone will reach out to confirm your participation. Space is limited. 

Commencement Ceremonies Digital Download
Digital downloads of each college ceremony and the Academic Convocation will be available to purchase on May 31. The digital download of the Academic Convocation will include the official conferral of degrees as well as all platform speeches. The digital downloads for each college ceremony will include all platform speeches and the individual recognitions of graduates. Each download costs $20 and includes taxes and fees. 

You can order a digital download beginning May 31 on this 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 45% 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 Dec. 2019 through Dec. 2023 who begin a master’s degree program by Jan. 2024 are eligible. For more information, please visit The RIT Master Plan.

Career Services for Graduates
Graduation can be a stressful time for students who are answering the question “What are you doing after graduation?” Some students are proud to say they have plans of employment, graduate school or military, etc. Other students have leads but haven’t made a decision yet. There are also students who focused on getting to graduation and haven’t put much thought into what happens next. 

The Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education is here to help. Career Services Coordinators are available to assist upcoming graduates with post-graduation plans. Additionally, alumni have access to Career Connect,  Career Fairs, webinars, RIT Alumni Network, and more. Students and alumni can make an appointment by logging into their Career Connect account or by emailing careerservices@rit.edu.

Post-Graduation Plans
Please encourage your graduate to fill out the First Destination Survey. The survey captures information regarding plans and also lets us know that a student is still looking. Students who report that they are still looking are forwarded to their Career Services Coordinator for individual follow-up.

Graduates Returning Home
It has become increasingly common for young adults to move home with parents following graduating from college (commonly called boomerang families). While going home may not be everyone’s first choice, there are also many benefits to students and families, including saving money, exploring career options, having help around the house, and getting in some family time. After four or more years away, adjustments will have to be made for all parties. Here are a few suggestions for parents and grads from others who have gone through it: 

Suggestions for parents

• Set boundaries for both yourself and your adult child. Remember that it is important to balance boundaries with mutual respect and independence.
• Establish expectations about finances. If you’re going to charge rent or ask for contributions to household expenses, clarify the amount, the due date, and consequences if payment is not made.
• Discuss household responsibilities. Ensure that all family members are contributing to the upkeep of the home.
• As you interact with your graduate, remember that they have experienced a lot and changed while in college. Take advantage of the boomerang period to get to know your graduate as the adult they have become.

Suggestions for graduates

• Remember that your return home requires an adjustment for parents and siblings as well. Be understanding as the family navigates this transition.
• Living with others brings responsibilities—expect to contribute to your parents’ household as you would your own apartment.
• When young adults return home, there is always a tendency to revert to pre-college behaviors and patterns. Make a commitment to yourself to maintain your adult status, and when necessary, have calm conversations with your parents about your maturity.
• Establish a plan for next steps—finding a job; moving out—and work on these goals daily.

College Restoration Program
The College Restoration Program (CRP) is an intensive, one-semester academic intervention program for students facing academic suspension and probation. For many students, CRP is the chance to acquire the skills needed to be successful at RIT. As a parent, you hope that your student will not have any academic challenges, but if so, CRP might be an option.

CRP staff work with students to set and accomplish goals, increase self-esteem, manage daily living, self-advocate, and live a healthy and balanced life. CRP does this through two specialty courses: Academic Strategies and Motivation and Wellness. They also include weekly mentoring for additional skill development. In addition, students take up to ten credits recommended by their current department. Students must receive a referral from their academic program. For additional information, please visit the College Restoration Program website. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress
Each semester after all grades have been recorded, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships reviews all students’ academic progress (SAP) based on information from the Registrar’s Office. Academic progress for Federal aid measures a student’s semester GPA, cumulative GPA, and progress toward student’s degree. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will notify students only if they are not meeting requirements or if they are unable to determine the SAP status. Notification will go out to students RIT email and the students SAP status will also be viewable in eServices. For more information, please visit the Satisfactory Academic Progress website. 

Unsubscribing From this List
If you are the parent of a graduate and no longer wish to receive the RIT Parent Newsletter, you can unsubscribe on the Parent Newsletter website. You can also use this site if you would like to change the email address we have in our database.

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 April, we asked what your student primarily does for self-care. Most responded spend time with friends or play videogames. Please take a moment to answer our May question.  

Featured Photo
In case you don’t follow the Parent and Family Programs Facebook page, here’s what you missed: spring has hit RIT!