• News and Deadlines
  • Order Your Cookbook
  • Thanksgiving Break Guide
  • Let’s Talk
  • Finals Preparation
  • Winter Break Plan
• Let’s Talk About It
  • Academics—Finals Prep
  • Campus Engagement—Volunteering
  • Campus Living—Off-Campus Living
  • Wellness—Thanksgiving Tips
• Information and Updates
  • Spring Billing
  • Academic Success Courses
  • Preparing for Post Graduation 
  • Giving Tuesday
  • Parent Poll
  • Featured Photo

This last month has been a difficult one, both on our campus and in the world. We acknowledge the pain our community feels as we mourn the loss of three of our students while processing what is happening across the globe. During these times, we know it may be difficult for some of our students to gear up for finals while pre-occupied by global events and personal stressors that impact their own well-being. Now more than ever, it is especially important to make time for self-care and check in on those around you. Please check in on your student, remind them of resources on campus, and encourage them to care for themselves. Keep an eye out next week for a special edition of this newsletter that focuses on wellness, including resources, tips, and conversation starters centered around how to stay educated, connected, and engaged. As we head into Thanksgiving, please know that we at RIT are incredibly thankful for YOU, the parents, family members, and supporters of our students. 

Order Your 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. Order yours today for delivery in early December. 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.

Thanksgiving Break Guide
If your student will remain on campus for Thanksgiving break next week, please refer then to our Thanksgiving Break Guide, which outlines adjusted building and service hours for dining, wellness services, Wallace Library, and more.

Let's Talk
Everyone needs someone to talk to. Let’s Talk is a series of events where students can drop in to talk with a professional counselor from Counseling and Psychological Services to talk about stress and anxiety, academic distress, adjustment to a new environment, family problems, identity exploration, and much more. While these brief and informal conversations are not intended to be a replacement for individual therapy, they might be just what students need as they’re feeling the stress of the end of the semester.

Let's Talk is available the following days and times through the end of the semester:

• Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m. in Sol Heumann Hall, 47-1033
• Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m. in Frank Ritter Ice Arena, A358
• Fridays, 1-3 p.m. in Student Alumni Union Lounge, 1100

Finals Preparation
It's not too early to start preparing for final exams! Students can join the Academic Success Center for Finals Week Preparation Workshops that provide students with strategies and techniques to plan, organize, and study for final exams.

Winter Break Plan
All students currently living in RIT Housing must complete the End of Semester - Winter Break Plan. This form allows RIT to better serve our students during this time and includes the end of semester instructions and important information regarding on-campus circulation over break. Students that do not complete this form may experience swipe access interruptions.

RIT Housing, including the residence halls, will remain open through the break between fall and spring semesters. Students who are eligible may remain in RIT housing throughout the winter break. Eligible students are those who currently live in RIT housing, will remain in RIT housing for spring semester, and will be registered for spring semester classes. 

For more information, please visit End of Semester and Winter Break.

Academics—Finals Prep
Finals will come up quickly following Thanksgiving Break. The last day of classes is Dec. 11 and finals are held on Dec. 13-20. Ask your student to review the final exam policy. If they are experiencing time conflicts or more than two exams in one day, they should contact their professors. Many courses have final exam prep sessions so encourage your student to take advantage of these when offered. The Academic Success Center is also a great resource for finals prep. Students can meet with an academic coach or a tutor in our study centers, make an appointment or just walk in.

Finally, remind your student that during stressful times like finals, it is particularly important to take care of themselves. A workout, break to have a good meal, and an extra hour of sleep will help them be more successful in the long run, even though it can be hard to take the time away from studying. 

Conversation starters

• Have you checked your final exam schedule? When is your last final?
• Are there any exams you are worried about and how will you prepare for them? 
• What campus resources have been helpful? 
• What will you do to take care of yourself and unwind during finals?

Campus Engagement— Volunteering
An RIT Parent Poll last year revealed that nearly 80% of RIT parents felt it was important that students get volunteer or service experience while in college. Volunteering is a not only a great resume builder, but an excellent way to make friends while serving their community. And RIT students are very active in this realm—last year, 2,000+ students completed 18,865 service hours equaling an economic impact of $581,042. Additionally, students reported giving $123,124 in philanthropic donations to local and global causes.

One resource for students interested in engaging in this way is the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement (CLCE). This office offers a number of fun ways for students to volunteer, including their On-Campus Service Projects, held twice a year. The sixth annual Hunger Project took place yesterday and 250 volunteers packaged 30,000 meals in just three hours, reaching the milestone of having packaged 275,000 meals over the past six years! During spring semester, students can look for the opportunity to participate in Framing Frenzy where RIT works with Habitat for Humanity to frame two houses for the Rochester community.

CLCE also has resources for students to find places to volunteer in the Rochester community.

Conversation starters

• What kind of volunteer opportunities have you found at RIT? 
• What populations/areas would you be interested in supporting in the community? 
• What kinds of skills do you feel would help you in your future career? 

Campus Living—Off-Campus Living
As students are thinking about their living arrangement for 2024-25, some might consider the option to rent off campus. While this is an excellent option for many, there are additional considerations to moving to non-RIT housing, including:

• Paying for utilities
• Transportation to campus
• Managing time between classes
• Working with a landlord
• Grocery shopping and cooking
• Less flexible lease agreements

The last bullet is particularly important if your student is scheduled to go on co-op. Many landlords will not release student from leases for any reason, which greatly limits their co-op search. 

Conversation starters

• Have you thought about where you want to live next year?
• What have been some of the best parts about living on campus?
• What are some things about independent living that excite you? That make you nervous?
• Do you know when you’re scheduled to go on co-op? Where would you like to complete your co-op?

Wellness—Thanksgiving Tips
We know you look forward to having your student home for Thanksgiving vacation, but the reality of holiday reunions frequently fails to match expectations. It is not easy to slip back into traditional family patterns when students have been gone for a few months, and they have likely changed quite a bit in that short time. Be sure to communicate with your student about your expectations before they come home, including use of the family car, curfews, meal time, and other household expectations. It is also helpful to let your student know of any big changes around the house, and ask of any big changes in their life (you don’t want to be surprised by a new tattoo or diet change!)

Conversation starters

• What plans do you have while you’re home? Will you see any high school friends?
• Will you have any studying to do over the weekend?
• What are you most looking forward to about being home? What will you miss about RIT?
• How much laundry are you planning to bring?

Spring Billing 
Spring semester billing notices will be generated during the first week of December and are due by Jan. 15, 2024. More information about payment options can be found on the Student Financial Services website.

Academic Success Courses
The Academic Success Courses offer students an introduction to develop and refine learning strategies in study skills, time management, and academic organization. Applied Study Strategies, Essential Study Techniques, and Study Strategies Lab are zero credit, pass-fail courses and open to all RIT students. Students should check the Student Information System for section start dates and to enroll. Three different courses are available, and prerequisites may apply. 

Preparing for Post-Graduation
Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to join Counseling and Psychological Services therapist Jacquie Compagnoni on Mondays for Becoming a Self-Sufficient Adult: Preparing for Post-Graduation, a workshop aimed to help RIT students explore concrete steps for preparing for life after graduating from college, including preparing mentally and emotionally. There are two remaining session this semester:

• Nov. 20, 1:30-2:30 p.m. in Campus Center 1010/1015
• Nov. 27, 1:30-2:30 p.m. in Campus Center 1010/1015

For parents looking for how to support your graduating student, check out Post-College Ready: Expert Advice for Parents to Support Their College Senior. The goal of this book—written by professionals in the fields of family engagement, career services, leadership and civic engagement, graduate education, and alumni relations—is to help you start conversations with your student now as they plan for life after college and support them with whatever path they choose. It covers topics such as the job search, graduate school, volunteering post-college, and social aspects such as findings friends as a college graduate and continuing hobbies. Each chapter focuses on how you as a parent can support your student through this next big transition.

Giving Tuesday
As Giving Tuesday draws near, we share the story of RIT parents and Sentinel Society members Erin and Mark Minichiello, whose commitment to giving back is a testament to the enduring impact our university has on our students. Giving Tuesday is on Nov. 28, and you can read the Minichiellos' statement and make an annual gift on the RIT website. 

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 October, we asked where most of your student’s spending money (for non-academic expenses) come from. Nearly half of you (46%) said from summer job savings; another 23% said your students work during the academic year. Please take a moment to answer our November question. 

Featured Photo
In case you don’t follow the Parent and Family Programs Facebook page, here’s what you’ve missed: check out the page on Mondays and Thursdays for wellness conversation starters and tips!