Policies and Procedures for Conference Housing

Conference Housing Dates

Guests can be accommodated beginning Friday, May 23, 2025. The final day for housing conference guests is Sunday, August 3, 2025.

Application for Use of Conference Housing

To begin the formal process, please complete the Application for Use of Conference Housing. Upon receipt of the application, the Associate Director of RIT Housing will contact you to schedule an initial meeting and discuss further details and special arrangements.

Final Attendance Guarantee

A final attendance guarantee, if different from the number of participants indicated on the Application for Use of Conference Housing, must be received in writing ten (10) days prior to the conference arrival date. If the total headcount increases after the 10-day deadline, new attendee requests will be pending approval. If the total headcount decreases after the 10-day deadline, a $50 no show fee per attendee will be charged. Event planners are responsible for meeting all due dates listed (See Event Planner Checklist). The Conference Housing Office cannot guarantee arrangements requested after deadlines. Internal groups should feel free to contact the Associate Director of RIT Housing regarding any questions and to keep us informed of your needs.

Residence Halls

RIT offers double-as-single, double, and triple (if available) rooms in the residence halls. A double-as-single room refers to one person only being assigned to a double occupancy room; double means that two people are assigned to one double room (rates are based on per person, per night charges - not per room). Double rooms are furnished with 2 twin beds, (2) 33”x79” mattresses, 2 dressers, 2 desks, 2 chairs, and 2 closets. Triple rooms are furnished with 3 sets of the previously listed furniture items. Each room has a micro-fridge, which is a combination refrigerator, freezer, and microwave. 

For summer 2025 RIT Housing will be offering suite-style floors featuring three double rooms with a shared bath and standalone triple and quad rooms with access to single use bathrooms exclusively. 

Global Village

Global Village provides suite-style housing with lounges, community kitchens, meeting spaces, and laundry rooms. Each suite offers four to five single bedrooms, which include a bed with storage unit underneath, a twin XL mattress (7.25” x 36” x 80”), desk, chair, wardrobe closet, and window shades. There are two full bathrooms and a common living area within the suite. Some suites are equipped with kitchens, while others are not. For conferences involving minors (under 18), the stoves in the suites will be disabled during the stay. The complex also features a number of services nearby, which include a post office, Shear Global hair salon, restaurants, The Market at Global Village, and Shop One, a contemporary design shop.

Room Assignments

For the majority of groups, room assignments are made prior to arrival. In order to make room assignments and to ensure an accurate record of participants, the Associate Director of Housing must receive a roster of your conference participants no later than 10 days prior to the first day of your conference. Rosters provided after the 10-day deadline will be charged a $25 late fee. This list must include first and last name, age, gender, roommate preference if applicable, and ADA accommodation if applicable. If no roommate preference is listed, we will pair guests on a random basis according to their gender. Please also indicate early arrivals or late departures by date. Any special requests for room location must be submitted along with the final roster (e.g. separation of males and females on the floor, placement of chaperones, or the need for housing three guests in a triple).

Global Village suites consist of 4-5 single bedrooms. Each suite requires a minimum of 4 people to remain exclusive to one group. If there are fewer than 4 people in a suite, participants from another group may be assigned to the same suite. We understand that emergency situations may require room changes, however, please note that after the ten (10) day deadline we may not be able to accommodate housing changes. Should we be able to accommodate such changes, there will be a $10 administrative charge per change.

Check-In Procedures

All groups will have a check-in time where the Conference Housing staff will set up a table to issue keys, building access cards, and linen (if applicable) on the day your group arrives. Check-in days/times are established by the conference/camp leader. Specific arrangements must be made for individual participants arriving after 11 p.m. A $25 charge will be applied to the conference bill for every late arrival after 11 p.m. Any participant who unexpectedly decide not to attend will be charge a $50 no-show fee to the master invoice. Any concerns between 11 p.m.– 8 a.m. can be addressed with Public Safety. Conference staff will follow-up with concerns/issues the following morning. It is your responsibility to inform your participants of check-in and check-out information and provide clear driving directions to the predetermined locations. Please notify the Associate Director of Housing in advance if your group requests additional information to be distributed at the time of your group’s arrival.

The Conference Housing staff will host check-ins outside of office hours (8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) for each conference group at a charge of $15 per conference staff/ per hour. The number of employees assigned to each check-in is at the Associate Director's discretion. 

Linen Packages

Requested linen packages will be available for pick-up at the check-in table. Any missing or damaged linens must be reported within 24 hours of the group's arrival. Requests for additional linens, or other amenities, must be made during business hours from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. All linen packages must be returned in the linen bag to the check-out location upon departure.

Early Arrivals or Late Departures

Early arrivals are participants who want to arrive on-campus before the conference program begins. Late departures are participants who want to remain on-campus after the conference program has ended. Requests must be made in advance to the Associate Director of Housing. Requests are not guaranteed. An additional housing charge will be assessed. Please note these individuals on the participant list. We are not able to accommodate early arrivals or late departures without prior arrangements. We must be notified in writing of their estimated arrival time on-campus, especially for those arriving after 4:30 p.m.

Late Arrivals or Early Departures

Late arrivals are participants who will be staying on-campus for your conference but do not arrive at the planned check-in time. Early departures are those who stay on-campus, but do not stay for the entire conference. Late arrivals and early departures will be charged the full conference room rate. For late arrivals, please inform the Associate Director of Housing of the date and approximate time your participant will arrive. A $25 charge will be applied to conference bill for every late arrival after 11 p.m.. Early departures must return their room key, building access card, meal card, and linens (if applicable) to the Conference Housing office before leaving campus.

Keys

All keys must be returned in a key return envelope with each guest’s name. A replacement charge will be assessed for any keys and access cards not returned to the Conference Housing office at the end of the conference stay.

The cost of replacement is $150 per unreturned key, and $5 per unreturned access card. The group will be billed for each missing/unreturned key/access card even if it is found and returned at a later date. Guests are responsible for all keys provided to them. If a guest is moved to a new location for unforeseen reasons, they are responsible to return both sets of keys to RIT Housing in a key return envelope.

Master keys or sub-master keys for residence halls will not normally be issued because of security reasons. These keys will only be issued to the event planner (no student or chaperone). If any master (floor or building) key is lost, the event planner will be held responsible for all charges associated with the key replacement, door re-coring, and total hours of labor involved with these modifications. Special arrangements for these keys should be made with the Associate Director of Housing.

Check-Out Procedures

Check-out time is by noon on the day of your departure. Special arrangements must be made prior to your arrival for those needing additional time to check-out. Late check-outs may result in additional charges. Check-outs take place at the Conference Housing office, in Grace Watson Hall, unless prior arrangements are made. All keys must be placed in a completed key return envelope. All keys and envelopes must be returned to the Conference Housing Office. A check-out meeting with a staff member will be required to confirm all keys have been returned. The check-out time will be set up with Conference staff to accommodate the group. Charges for a person’s stay is based on when the Conference Housing Office receives the keys back for each participant. If a person leaves unexpectedly; it is the responsibility of the conference leader to return the keys to the Conference Housing Office to ensure no additional charges are added. Groups will be billed $25 for each improper check-out if these procedures are not followed. Prior to departure, you may also request a walk-through with a Conference staff member for a housing inspection.

The Conference staff will host check-outs for each conference group outside of office hours (8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.) at a charge of $15 per employee/ per hour. The number of employees assigned to each check-out is based on the Associate Director’s discretion.

Conference Housing Staff

The Conference Housing Office is available for your convenience and is located in Grace Watson Hall. The Conference Housing Office hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office will only be open on the weekend during a conference group check-in/check-out. Extended hours may pertain to particular conference groups.

Conference staff is on-call each night between 4:30 p.m. - 11 p.m. If their services are required, they can be contacted by calling 585-734-4410. Conference staff is available to assist guests arriving late and are on-duty to respond to all emergency situations until 11 p.m. Emergencies or concerns between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. must be handled by Public Safety. Conference staff will follow-up with the concerns/ issues the following morning.

Security

The residence halls are locked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for security purposes. If your group consists of youth (under the age of 18), it is recommended that chaperones are the only participants to receive exterior door/elevator card access in order to monitor and control the activity of the group. It is the chaperones’ responsibility to handle their participants’ lock-outs. Extra security can be arranged for an additional fee through Public Safety.

Conference Rooms

Conference rooms are scheduled based on your application. Please call or schedule a meeting with the Associate Director of Housing regarding specific needs, requests, additions, and/or changes. We reserve the right to change meeting rooms if necessary. You will be notified prior to your arrival if a change has been made regarding a meeting room. You are encouraged to visit our facilities to ensure that they will meet your needs. Our expectation is that your group will leave the meeting rooms in the same condition that they found them. If any furniture is moved, please restore it to its original location. You may make arrangements in advance to have the Conference staff move furniture for you and be charged an hourly labor fee. Your group will be charged for any extraordinary cleaning required.

You must specify who will need access to the conference room by filling out the name of the individual on the application form. For event planners who work at RIT, access to conference rooms can be programmed into their RIT identification card with notification of their UID number. External guests must sign out an access card from the Conference Housing Office and are responsible for returning the card at check-out. If any conference room access card is lost, the event planner will be held responsible for all charges associated with the card replacement, door re-coring, and total hours of labor involved with these modifications.

Linen

We provide linen packages for an additional cost: (1) Full Set: $36 (pillow & pillow case can be added for an additional $10). Requests for extra linens, such as blankets and towels, can be accommodated for an additional charge. Groups that do not request linen should remind their guests to bring bedding and towels.

At check-in, linen is distributed in a bag and should be returned by the guest in the bag upon check-out. Requested linen packages will be available for pick-up at the check-in table. Each guest receiving linens will need to provide their signature to confirm they received the linen requested. If a guest fails to return their linen at check-out, charges will be applied to the master bill. Please see our rate sheet for more information.

Laundry

All the residence halls are connected by tunnels (also known as A-level) where several laundry facilities are available for guests to use during their stay. Global Village has laundry facilities on the first floor of each building. Laundry facilities are free, however guests must provide their own laundry items (e.g. detergent).

Dining Information

All event planners are required to make arrangements with RIT Dining for all guest meal plans. Most guests of the residence halls eat in Gracie’s located in Grace Watson Hall. The Corner Store, a convenience store located in the tunnels of Fredericka Douglass Sprague Perry Hall and vending machines are located on the residential side of campus. RIT Dining can be contacted at help.rit.edu to set up meal arrangements for your group.

Cooking of meals in residence hall rooms is not allowed. Appliances or items that create excessive heat or open-flame/open-element are prohibited in all areas of the residence halls. This includes, but is not limited to toasters, toaster ovens, hot plates, heaters, incense, candles, etc. Each room is equipped with a microfridge, a microwave, refrigerator and freezer. Personal refrigerators and microwaves are not allowed.

Copy Center

The Hub Xpress is a printing and copy center, located in Monroe Hall inside of the Digital Den. There are two post offices on campus. The DSP post office is located on the A-level in Fredericka Douglass Sprague Perry Hall, and the Global Village postal hub is located in Global Village. Visit rit.edu/fa/hub/ or call 585-475-2117 to answer any questions regarding printing or a temporary mailing address.

Contract Expectations and Guidelines for Conference Residents

Program directors and staff of all programs agree to abide by the rules and regulations of Rochester Institute of Technology and comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the event, including but not limited to, state and federal statutes with respect to the proper supervision of minors. Groups must sign the Expectations and Guidelines for Conference Residents prior to their arrival. It is the responsibility of the event planner to collect the signed agreements and deliver them to the Associate Director of Housing prior to check-in on the day of the group’s arrival.

RIT ITS Guidelines

• ITS provides access to RIT’s wired and wireless Internet networks and computer labs on campus.
• Please advise all of your event attendees that they are not allowed to use their own wireless network (e.g. wireless routers or access points) without pre-approval from ITS. Failure to inform ITS about using your own wireless network could result in your own network connection not working and/or being blocked on RIT’s network.
• Guest wireless is provided on the RIT campus for public use and for access to non-RIT resources. In order to access the guest network you must be able to receive SMS/text messages to complete authentication.
• All event participants requiring use of RIT computer labs or the wired network on campus will be required to obtain an RIT sponsor. The sponsor will be allowed to create a temporary account(s) for their participant(s), which are required to login to RIT owned machines. Each participant will be required to abide by the RIT Code of Conduct for Computer and Network Use.

Emergencies/Fire

In addition to building fire alarms, each room is equipped with its own smoke alarm and sprinkler. There are lighted exit signs at the end of each floor. All guests must evacuate the building by use of stairways only in the event of a fire alarm.

Health Services

Guests should notify group leaders of any health concerns. Any accommodations that are to be made for participants with disability-based needs must be communicated to the Associate Director of Housing at least 30 days prior to the group’s arrival on-campus. Areas to consider include transportation, parking, and dietary needs. RIT is responsible for providing an accessible facility, e.g. rooms, handicap parking, and restrooms. You, however, are responsible for assessing the needs of your participants and making your program accessible to people with disabilities.

Parking Arrangements

It is the event planner’s responsibility to inform the conference participants of all parking arrangements. Visitors are subject to all parking and traffic rules and regulations while on RIT property. Violation of rules or regulations may result in ticketing or towing of the vehicle. If a citation is issued, it is the responsibility of the participant to work with the Parking Office. Any RV, motor home, trailer, bus, truck or other vehicle exceeding regular passenger car length or width must obtain clearance from the Parking and Transportation office to park on-campus.

Transportation Service

A free campus shuttle runs seven days a week looping the campus. A separate shuttle travels off-campus to the local grocery store, mall, and local plazas. Bus schedules are available online at https://www.rit.edu/parking/ campus-shuttles

Signs

Campus maps are posted at a number of locations on-campus. A residence hall map will be provided at check in and can also be found at maps.rit.edu. We suggest that you send a map to your conference guests detailing the location of check-in and on-campus activities prior to their arrival.

The Conference Housing Office will post signs around the perimeter of the designated housing check-in/key pick-up location only. RIT employees may contact Facilities Management Services (FMS) at 585-475-5000 or rit.edu/fa/facilities/ for campus-wide signage to assist your conference guests in navigating their way to the check-in and/or program’s opening activities.

Removal of Personal Property

The event planner agrees to advise and assure that all conference participants remove personal property from the university’s premises on the day the conference ends. If property has been left beyond this time, it will be considered abandoned and be donated or disposed of.

Maintenance & Construction

Periodic maintenance projects and construction occur in and around RIT housing during the summer. This is unavoidable if we are to keep our facilities and grounds in good condition and provide for future growth. We will work very closely with other campus units to minimize the impact of these projects on your conference and to keep you informed. Please feel free to visit our Facilities Management website at rit.edu/fa/facilities/ for an overview of construction projects.

Damage Billing and Additional Charges

Prior to a group’s check-in, the Conference Housing staff assesses the condition of each room and makes note of any room/furniture damages. The rooms are then reassessed after a group’s departure. Any damages that were not noted prior to the group’s check-in will be charged to the group. In addition, excessive cleaning above and beyond what is considered normal, excessive trash removal, and the removal/replacement of moved residence hall room furniture will also incur an additional charge to the group.

Additional Rules and Regulations

Alcohol is strictly prohibited in the residence halls and Global Village regardless of age. Furthermore, residents of RIT housing shall abide by Rochester Institute of Technology policies, procedures and regulations and local, state, and federal laws regarding alcohol and drugs use.

• Smoking Policy: Smoking, including cannabis, is not permitted in RIT housing including.
• Monroe County requires that smoking not be allowed in any public area.
• No pets or animals are permitted in any building.
• Removal of furniture or furnishings is strictly prohibited.

RIT Internal Groups

You will receive a master bill within 10 business days after your guests’ departure. Please review the bill and contact the Associate Director of Housing within 5 days if you disagree with the bill or require additional explanation of information. Otherwise, the bill is due as presented and funds will be withdrawn from the account number you provided on your Application for Use of Conference Housing. All account numbers must be provided with the submission of the application to ensure your space will be reserved. If an account number is not provided, then the application cannot be processed.

External Groups

For external clients, you will be billed by the department who coordinates your on-campus arrangements and contract within 30 days of the event.