Complementary Learning

Some kinds of learning are best accomplished outside the classroom, so an important part of the Honors Program is participation in activities that complement traditional academic work. Complementary learning activities typically involve service to the community, and participating in events that expose students to new cultures or challenge their ways of thinking about their relationship to the larger society.

SUBMIT COMPLEMENTARY LEARNING HERE

Complementary Learning Quick Guide

Tips for earning and submitting your complementary learning hours:

• All submissions must be made through the Honors webform
• Submit your hours contemporaneously - within 30 days of when you took part in the activity
• The maximum number of hours that can be submitted for one activity is 15
• Students are required to earn a minimum of 20 hours per year for the first three years, then 10 hours in their final year, for a minimum total of 70 hours
• If you are unsure if an activity will count for complementary learning send us an email first
• And always reach out to honors@rit.edu with any questions, or stop in the office to ask us about complementary learning

Check the Honors Handbook for more detailed information about what counts as complementary learning, how to report what you've done, and how many hours you need.

Current and Ongoing Opportunities:

Please see below events and activities that are approved by the Honors Program office for Complementary Learning. This webpage is updated regularly to add new opportunities - but they are in no way the only activities you can take part in to earn complementary learning hours. Please reach out to the Honors office if you have any questions. 

Join in on RIT's annual Giving Tuesday event on Tuesday, November 19th. 300 RIT volunteers will be teaming up with US Hunger to package and prepare 30,000 nutritious meals for RIT FoodShare & Rochester's FoodLink.

With music booming, lentils flying, and a sea of orange hairnets, volunteers will work together to create a truly dynamic experience...and the by-product? Healthy meals packaged for hungry community members along the way.

 Follow this link to register: Hunger Project 

When registering -Please be sure to include "Honors" in the section that asks: "Are you affiliated with an RIT Group? If so who!" - We want to make sure our group is well represented.

Sign up to decorate a chair for CHAIRity! Support the United Way through this unique and creative fundraiser. Design your own chair that will be auctioned off during the annual United Way campaign this spring. 

Click here to sign up to pick up your chair. Deadline to submit completed chairs is Monday, Feb. 24, 2025

Time spent creating your chair can be submitted for complementary learning.

Questions? Contact Lia Giasi or Wendy Hagele-Stapf 

Dr. Paul Turner will be speaking on the topic of developing phage theory against antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections. Phage therapy is an older technology that precedes discovery and widespread use of chemical antibiotics, instead harnessing bacteria-specific viruses (bacteriophages) to target and kill infecting bacteria. However, a limitation of phage therapy is the ability for target bacteria to evolve resistance to these administered viruses. One promising approach is to use phages that steer bacteria to evolve phage resistance that coincides with reduced bacterial pathogenicity. In particular, naturally-occurring phages can be used because they kill the target bacteria, while predictably selecting for evolution of costly phage resistance (evolutionary trade-offs): reduced virulence and/or increased antibiotic sensitivity. Dr. Turner will emphasize how ‘evolutionary medicine’ approaches are critical for developing modern phage therapy, and how collaborations among basic scientists, clinicians and physicians are crucial for safely developing biotechnologies that address the antibiotic resistance crisis.

Dr. Turner obtained his BA in Biology from University of Rochester, his PhD in Microbial Evolution from Michigan State University, and did postdocs at National Institutes of Health, University of Valencia in Spain, and University of Maryland-College Park. He is currently the Rachel Carson Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University, and Microbiology faculty member at Yale School of Medicine, having joined Yale in 2001.

This lecture will be in Gosnell A300 from 1 pm-1:50 pm on 11/22/24. Registration is not required.

Girls on the Run is looking for volunteers for the Fall 5K Celebration. Volunteer Commitment Time: 8am-12pm. Volunteer roles include: Photographers, Sparkle Runners (10 spots available/$50 donation to participate in this role), Course Marshalls, Water Stations, Finish Line Attendants, and Star Power Hour activity stations such as shirt signing, photo booth, face painting, temporary tattoos, and more! The race begins at 10am.
Fall 5K Registration: https://bit.ly/3BjDqOb or https://www.gotrrochester.org/5k

Would you like to meet with Rochester Mayor Malik Evans to discuss his approach to leadership in the 21st century. What led the mayor to this role? What are the challenges and opportunities Mayor Evans sees for Rochester? What initiatives is the city undertaking to address pressing issues like poverty, crime, and under-employment while championing our best qualities in the arts, culture, and our long history as part of the social and racial justice movements?

We are looking for 10-12 students who will prepare for the meeting by doing some preparatory reading and attending a planning meeting prior to our time with Mayor Evans to discuss what issues are most important to you and what you would like to get out of the exchange.

Students will carpool to this event.

Students will receive an hour of complementary learning for attending. 

December 3rd from 4:00-5:00pm
Rochester City Hall, 30 Church St, Rochester NY 14614 
RSVP for this event here! 

RIT Cosplay Troupe runs a 100% student-led cosplay convention and is looking for student volunteers to help run the event. Tasks may include checking badges, checking in with panelists, working with special guests, and helping with artists in the 'merch market'. SnowFest is January 25, 2025 from 9am-10pm in RIT SAU and Campus Center.

Applications to volunteer are open until January 1, 2025. Cosplay SnowFest - Volunteer Application

Learn more about SnowFest here: Cosplay SnowFest

Deborah Archer is the eighth President of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), she leads America’s premier civil rights and civil liberties organization. But it’s not the first time this civil rights lawyer, scholar and teacher has fought for what’s right. In fact, she has been doing it since she was a child.

The first person of color to lead the ACLU, Archer is a leading civil rights and civil liberties advocate, civil rights lawyer, professor, writer and commentator. Her talks explore the intersection of race, civil liberties and the law — challenging audiences to confront America’s legacy of racism and injustice. She also helps audiences understand how systemic racism impacts all aspects of American life, from our workplaces and campuses to transportation, education, housing, economic opportunity, criminal law and more.

In addition to serving as the eighth President of the ACLU, Archer is Professor of Clinical Law at the New York University School of Law, and Faculty Director of the Law School’s Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law. Previously, she was an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the ACLU, where she litigated in the areas of voting rights, employment discrimination and school desegregation. Archer was also a member of the faculty at New York Law School and an associate at the international law firm, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 | 12:00-2:00PM
RIT Gordon Field House and Activities Center
RSVP for this event here! 

With direction from Humanities NY, Honors program Assistant Director Garth Freeman will be leading a series of reading and discussion sessions meant to engage students in dialogue around what it means to serve. This text-based discussion forum will use selections of poems and excerpts from larger works taken from The Civically Engaged Reader to generate dialogues about our roles and responsibilities as citizens and members of our local, regional, and global communities. These sessions will activate ideas about how we can individually and collectively address social challenges and work towards positive change in our personal and professional lives. These one-hour sessions will count towards Complementary Learning. 

Upcoming dates:
11/4 @ 6:00pm - Pizza - CPC 1010 / 1015 - The Eleventh - Henri Barbusse
11/21 @ 4:30-5:30 pm - Pizza -SAU 1829 Room- The Lamb and the Pinecone - Pablo Neruda
1/17 @ 12:30 pm No Pizza - SAU 1829 Room MLK’s sermon - The Drum Major Instinct

Tora-Con 2025 is seeking leaders for their team! 

Tora-Con is an annual two-day convention in Rochester, NY celebrating anime, cosplay, and nerd culture in general. Help run a full weekend of guests, performances, anime-themed events, games, and convention fun!

RIT Anime Club is currently looking for the following leadership positions: Revenue, Media, Operations, and Events. If you're interested in any of these roles, learn more at an RIT Anime Club's General Meeting, Fridays at 7pm in Gosnell A300.

Registration link: Registration Link

Attend an Honors Council meeting to learn more about getting involved in the Honors Program! Council meetings are a great way to meet and talk to your college's delegate, hear updates on Honors events, and provide feedback and suggestions for what you want to see. Honors Council meetings are every other Monday. The next meetings for the Fall semester are 11/18 and 12/2. 

Attending Council meetings counts for 1/2 hour of complementary learning.

Connect with Rochester!

The CLCE has an ongoing list of local organizations looking for volunteers that can be found here. They have a variety of focuses to explore, including Food Justice, Housing, Community Development, Environment, Animal Welfare, Activism, Youth Development, Health and Wellness, and Parks and Recreation!

Volunteer at the MAG

“Ask Me” volunteers are the backbone of all MAG events. They help contribute to MAG’s mission by welcoming and providing a friendly atmosphere for guests of the museum during special events. Prospective volunteers must be 18 and older and apply by filling out the application below. There are no educational requirements, but one should have an interest in art, strong communication skills, commitment to a short training session, and a minimum of a 2-3 hour assignment each month.

Fill out the Volunteer Form here!

Volunteer at the National Kidney Foundation

🌟 The National Kidney Foundation of Upstate and Western NY is on the lookout for passionate volunteers! Whether it's diving into administrative roles or capturing the heart of their events with photography - there's a spot for you! 📸
Connect with Kristen West Ryan for more information

• 📞 : 585.598.3963 x373

kristen.ryan@kidney.org
By volunteering, you’re not just helping out - you're championing the Kidney Foundation’s vital programs and showing immense love to our local Kidney Community.
🌐 Learn more: National Kidney Foundation

(Please note to submit hours to CLCE and select Honors as your associated club/org to receive comp learning!)

Volunteer with Shift2

🌟Shift2 is a non profit organization on a mission to maximize the usefulness of existing technology to make a positive impact on people’s lives. They are conveniently located on Jefferson road.

Volunteer Duties Include:

• Wiping hard drives
• Troubleshooting devices
• Installing Operating Systems
• Physically cleaning computers
• Dismantling and recycling parts
• Sorting RAMs for resell
• Matching Computer Monitors

Available Monday- Friday anytime from 9am-6pm
📧Contact Lisa M. Muhammad at lisa@shift2nfp.org for more information.

Volunteer at Deaf Refugee Advocacy

Seeking enthusiastic volunteers to further their mission. Presently, they have openings for the following positions:

1. Teacher Resource Aide: Assisting in teaching ASL, English, and other subjects to our students.
2. Special Projects: Involvement in various special initiatives.
3. Transportation Provider: Offering support to clients requiring transportation to and from the office or specific locations.

Should you have any queries about volunteering, training, or require further information, please don't hesitate to contact them at
📧 (inquiry@deafrefugeeadvocacy.org) or via video phone 585-286-3440.

Volunteer with Tru-impact

Join TRU-Impact Inc. and Empower Rochester's Youth!
🌟 Passionate about making a difference? TRU-impact is looking for student volunteers to tutor and mentor local youth. Be a part of a dynamic team, helping children reach their full potential!

📚 Schedule: 1-2 times a week, 4:30-6 pm, Mon-Thurs.

Contact TRU-impact:

📩 Deanna Baddley:
deanna@truimpactroc.org
🌐 Learn more: TRU-impact

The YWCA is a powerful resource in our community, helping women and girls by empowering them to regain control of their lives and get on the path to a healthy, successful future. YWCA is seeking volunteers who want to make a difference.
For more information, please reach out to April Allen at allen@ywcarochester.org or sign up here

Volunteer at the Willow Center

Willow Center is the only New York State certified domestic violence service provider serving Monroe County. Our mission is to prevent domestic violence and ensure every survivor has access to the services and supports needed along the journey to a safe and empowered life.
If interested, reach out to volunteer@WillowCenterNY.org

Volunteer at the League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. Volunteers help set up registration tables and engage in activities like postcard writing and distributing non-partisan literature.
If interested in volunteering, please fill out this form.

Volunteer at the the Agape Haven

We are a growing grassroots organization meeting needs of the under-served population, especially women and girls. We empower our community using a holistic approach by providing access to educational resource, social emotional support and food security. 

To volunteer, contact Julia Oakley at info@agapehavenofabundance.org or Sign up Here!

Volunteer with Flower City Pickers

Flower City Picker's mission is to support the local community with free food through the recovery and redistribution of safe but otherwise landfill-bound food. By enriching other hunger relief agencies and local farms, Flower City Pickers strives to establish and grow a platform for waste prevention and civic engagement. Since our start, we have recovered and redistributed one million pounds of food, keeping it in our neighbors' hands and bellies instead of the landfill.

Volunteers meet at the Rochester Public Market Saturdays between 2:30-4:00 pm to collect unsold food from the vendors that would otherwise be thrown away. These items are packaged and are then distributed to local agencies that directly serve the people in our community that can benefit from these donations. Follow this link for more information and to sign up: VOLUNTEER — FLOWER CITY PICKERS | FEEDING PEOPLE, NOT LANDFILLS

Volunteer with Rochester Greenovation

Rochester Greenovation helps people in Rochester NY keep things out of the landfill by running a second-hand store where you can donate items others can use, and where people on a budget can buy things at a very reasonable price. They sell a huge array of items needed for every-day living: furniture, clothes, tools, plates and glasses, pots and pans, as well as records, artwork, and odd bits of Rochester history and culture.

Volunteer at the store or to help with special projects by visiting: Volunteer — Rochester Greenovation (rocgreenovation.org)

Volunteer with Generation Two (G2)

Generation Two (G2) is a program run through The Strong National Museum of Play that connects community volunteers with kindergarten and first-grade students for one-on-one, child-directed play sessions in Rochester-area elementary schools. The sessions are designed to help the children practice social-emotional skills, build self-confidence, and forge intergenerational relationships—all while having a lot of fun doing so! They would love to welcome any interested individuals as either weekly or one-off play buddy volunteers. You can find more information here: Generation Two

Volunteer with Jewish Family Services

JFS volunteers are a diverse group of Rochesterians, united by their passion for serving the community in meaningful ways – from delivering meals, providing companionship to older adults, supporting new moms, providing literacy services, and much more. You can volunteer with JFS in many different capacities and programs. Check out their opportunities here: Jewish Family Services of Rochester

Volunteer with R Community Bikes

Volunteer as mechanics at the Rochester community bike shop where you can restore donated bikes that are given away to people in need. No prior mechanical skill/bike knowledge is required. They conduct training/orientations about every 6 weeks at 226 Hudson Ave, Rochester, NY 14605.
Interested students can visit the website here: R Community Bikes

Volunteer with Rochester Education Foundation

REF is looking for college student volunteers to help guide and inform high school and middle school students on career opportunities and options! You can learn more about College Connect and other opportunities here: Rochester Education Foundation