Fostering Academic Success for New Graduate Students

RIT faculty and staff are committed to advancing the exceptional in our greatest resource – our students. This fall, the RIT Graduate School staff is thrilled to offer new programming to support the academic success of our new graduate students, a group of more than 900 pursuing Masters and Doctor of Philosophy degrees, joining us from over 39 countries.

During the 2023-24 academic year, the Graduate School collaborated with faculty and staff from several colleges as well as partners in the Academic Success Center, RIT Libraries, International Student Services, and more to share successes and challenges that our graduate students experience as they transition to graduate school and strategies to foster academic success as soon as students arrive on our campus.

Through lively discussion and Q&A, an inaugural Graduate Student Success Panel during Graduate Orientation provided a wealth of tips and strategies that new graduate students could begin to practice even before their first day of classes. The discussion ranged widely from what to expect in an RIT graduate classroom and expectations for communication and participation to important campus resources and how to connect with members of the campus community.

After the first couple of weeks of fall classes, another panel of experienced RIT staff and students convened to offer a Zoom session entitled “Successful Start to Graduate School” for new graduate students. This easily accessible event offered an informal environment for students to ask questions and get more information. The panel was inspired by the forward-thinking nature of the questions our students raised, such as how to make connections with faculty and students with similar interests, plan for capstone projects or thesis research, and network to prepare for co-op and career opportunities.

We can’t wait to continue to connect with our graduate students on their journey to both academic and personal success. RIT students are always on to something amazing, and the RIT Graduate School is proud to support and cheer them on!