• News and Deadlines
  • Immersion and Minor Fair
  • Change of Major Fair
  • ROAR Day
  • Housing Selection 2022-23
• Let’s Talk About It
  • Academics—Looking Beyond Fall Semester
  • Campus Engagement—RIT Hockey
  • Campus Living—Tiger Safe
  • Wellness—Self-Care Check-In
• Information and Updates
  • Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend
  • Roar the Vote
  • Counseling and Support Services
  • Attendance Policy
  • Parent Poll
  • Featured Photo

Fall is in the air at RIT! If you are coming to campus this weekend for Brick City Weekend, you will be greeted by the beautiful colors of Western New York in the autumn.

Immersion and Minor Fair
Immersions are a required portion of the general education curriculum for every undergraduate student at RIT. The Immersion and Minor Fair offers your student a chance to explore options and connect with faculty teaching in areas of interest. Faculty from the College of Liberal Arts, College of Science, College of Art and Design, and Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences will be available to answer questions and share information about immersion, minor, and double major offerings. The fair will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 19 from 3-5 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge.

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, Oct. 25 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the MAGIC Spell Studios Sound Stage. Students can register on CampusGroups. 

ROAR Day
RIT's 17th Annual ROAR Day-our most philanthropic 24 hours-is on Oct. 27-28. By supporting RIT on ROAR Day, your gift will join with gifts from other parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends to help ensure that each and every student has the RIT experience they hope for. You can give towards a specific area that means the most to you and your student, such as scholarships, athletics, performing arts, or student clubs. Gifts of all sizes make a big difference to our students! Visit the ROAR Day website on Oct. 27-28 to make your gift. 

Housing Selection 2023-24
Housing Renewal will begin on Oct. 31. Housing Renewal is the process that your student should participate in to renew their current RIT housing for the 2023-24 academic year.

Students currently living in Perkins Green, Riverknoll, University Commons, and the RIT Inn who want to renew their contract should complete a contract between Oct. 31-Nov. 6 by going to mylife.rit.edu. If there are any vacancies in the space, students will be instructed to request a roommate between Nov. 11-20.

Room Selection for all other students will take place in spring semester. This includes students who are currently living in the residence halls, Global Village, 175 Jefferson, and Greek Circle, as well as students who do not renew their contract for their current space.

For more information, visit the RIT Housing website.

Academics—Looking Beyond Fall Semester
October is a great time for students to start reflecting and planning for the spring semester and beyond. First-year students will need to meet with their academic advisor before they can register for spring. If they haven’t had their meeting yet, students can still build their spring shopping carts. When shopping carts opens, students will also be able to see the day/time when spring registration opens for them. Spring enrollment begins Nov. 7.

Conversation starters

• What are you planning for next semester’s schedule?
• Have you met with your academic advisor?
• Have you identified or declared an immersion?
• How are you feeling about your academic progress this semester?
• What campus resources have been helpful? 

Campus Engagement— RIT Hockey
While RIT is proud of all of our Athletic teams, Hockey is a tradition that we love! Games in the Gene Polisseni Center are a great way for students to get engaged and have fun, from cheering in the Corner Crew, listening to the pep band, and enjoying favorite concessions. RIT students can attend the Men’s Hockey games for $5 and Women’s Hockey games for free!

Conversation starters:

• Have you been to a hockey game yet?
• Are you going to the Brick City Weekend Hockey game in downtown Rochester?
• Are there other RIT Athletic events that you’ve attended?

Campus Living—Tiger Safe
RIT is a very safe campus. As the semester goes on and your student becomes more comfortable with their surroundings at RIT, it’s important to remind them that, while a safe place, they still need to be aware of safety concerns and available resources. One of the most useful is the Tiger Safe app, which gives users access to an emergency button, Public Safety phone numbers, escort services, lock services, and more.

Conversation starters:

• How do you get home when you have an evening class?
• What do you do with your laptop when you are studying somewhere and have to use the restroom?
• Do you and your roommate always lock your room/apartment door?
• Have you downloaded the Tiger Safe app? 

Wellness—Self-Care Check-In
It’s hard to believe that it’s already mid-semester! This is a common time for students to feel the pressure of coursework and other activities hit. It is also a good time to check-in with your student about self-care.

Self-care can look very different to each individual. For some, it is working out every day. For others, it is participating in a club or taking time for personal hobbies. However your student chooses to care for themselves, check in and make sure they are making time, even if their schedules are busy.

Conversation starters:

• What are you doing to stay active this semester?
• How are you spending your free time?
• What campus activities have you joined?
• Are you still working on (hobby)?

Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend
Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend is this weekend, and it’s not too late to join us on campus for events including entertainment, Hockey, tours, open houses, and much more! Visit the Brick City Weekend website above for event details and registration information.

ROAR the Vote
Election Day is just around the corner and voter registration deadlines are rapidly approaching. The deadline to register in New York state is Friday, Oct. 14 (postmarked or online through your County Board of Elections website); you can check your home state’s deadline online on the RIT Turbo Vote website.

RIT is doing a number of things to encourage participation in the electoral process this year including:

• Hosting multiple tabling events for students to register to vote, update their registration, and request an absentee ballot (specific dates can be found on CampusGroups). 
• Providing online voter registration and voter planning guides on Turbo Vote.
• Providing paper registration forms, absentee ballot printing, stamps, and envelopes as an alternative to the online system. Materials can be picked up at any ROAR the Vote registration drive or at the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement.

We encourage you to talk with your student about voting and encourage them to register today. Here are a couple prompts to get the conversation started:

• Did you register to vote in NY or at home?
• Have you thought about how you’re getting to the polls?
• What research have you done on the candidates you’ll be voting for?
• What issues are most important to you in this election?

We are Tigers, and we ROAR the Vote!

Counseling and Support Services
Midway through the semester, students may find themselves facing new challenges and struggles. Here are some key resources for students needing additional support:

Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS) offers a variety of programs to fit students’ needs, including short-term, solution-focused individual therapy and group drop-in connections, which allow students to receive multiple perspectives, support, and encouragement from other students

Students who are currently seeing a mental health professional or need long-term or specialized treatment should continue treatment with their provider if possible or connect with a mental health specialist in the Rochester area. Case Management can help link students to off campus services when the need arises.

Case Management is available to assist students in connecting to resources on and off campus, as well as helping students navigate complex personal problems, including but not limited to:

• Insurance
• Hospitalizations
• Financial issues
• Housing/food insecurity

Students are welcome to call or email the Case Management office for assistance: 585-475-3963; casemanagement@rit.edu.

Attendance Policy
If your student has to miss a class for any reason, including illness, please make sure they are aware of RIT’s attendance policy. If a student must be absent, they should inform their professors immediately and make arrangements to make up any missed requirements. This includes missing class due to personal obligations such as religious holidays, job interviews, athletic contest, etc.

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 September, we asked if your student has granted you guest access on eSerivces. Most of you (72%) responded yes and you use it. Please take a moment to answer our October question.

 Featured Photo
In case you don’t follow the Parent and Family Programs Facebook page, here’s what you’ve missed: Java’s on campus is finally open again!