Student Resources

If you are beginning your first year here at RIT, and you are coming to us without AP or transfer credit for a first year composition class, you will (seats permitting) likely be placed directly into UWRT 150.  

Directed Self Placement (DSP) is a process that provides information about the curricular options available to you that will aid in success with your First Year Writing experience.  

For example, if after taking the DSP survey and examining the course materials for 150, you feel you would like more training in some of the skills necessary for success in academic writing, we offer UWRT 100, a three credit, general education elective that will prepare you to meet the challenges of First Year Writing.

We also have intensive, one on one training and consultations available to you in our Writing Commons.  To find out how we can meet your needs, email wpe@rit.edu and/or take the DSP survey and view the UWRT 100 and 150 course materials at the website below.

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This means that the course section has enrollment requirements in effect. Seats may be reserved for a particular program or minor which may either be temporary or permanent. Please check the student information system for the course criteria for enrollment. If you do meet the criteria and are still unable to enroll, please contact the Office of Student Services in the College of Liberal Arts for assistance.

In many circumstances, an instructor may be unable to accept additional students due to the size of the classroom and/or nature of the particular curriculum. As class enrollment can fluctuate during pre-registration and drop/add periods, please add yourself to waitlist and continue to monitor SIS for openings that will permit you to be waitlisted and/or enrolled.

Log in to SIS and click on the My Academics link on the left side navigation bar. Once you enter that menu, select the link that says Declare/Change Immersion. Select an immersion from the drop-down menu and click submit. You will receive a confirmation message that the immersion has been added to your student record.

Generally, students should declare an immersion by the end of their second year of study.  If you need assistance with choosing an immersion, talk to an advisor.

Please schedule a meeting with your academic advisor to discuss adding an optional minor to your academic plan. Once your advisor approves, you'll need to complete the Minor Authorization Form. This form requires signatures from both the minor advisor and the head of your home department. Make sure the form is completely filled out and signed before you submit it to the Registrar’s Office.

Please check the RIT directory website at: http://www.rit.edu/directory

Students may also call 475-2444 for more information.

Students should see an advisor when they have questions regarding:

• a liberal arts double major, minor, or immersion
• changing your program to a liberal arts major
• pre-law, counseling, or becoming a teacher

The College of Liberal Arts Student Research Fund supports research by students enrolled in CLA degree programs. Projects may include, but are not limited to, Master’s theses, senior projects, senior theses, or independent studies conducted in any CLA department. Funded projects must have a faculty sponsor who is a member of the faculty in the College of Liberal Arts. If the faculty sponsor is not from the College of Liberal Arts, the student’s department chair must approve the faculty sponsor participation.

Students may use these grants ($500 maximum) to cover the expense of, for example, materials, software, postage, copying, and research travel. Grant money may not be used for tuition, secretarial assistance, entertainment, or for compensating each and every participant in a study. When the project is completed, applicants must submit a copy of the research to the Assistant Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.*

How to Apply for a Small Grant for Independent Student Research

College of Liberal Arts Student Research Application and Budget (pdf document) >

First, talk it over with a sponsor
You must discuss your research idea with a faculty member who agrees to serve as sponsor. Working closely with your sponsor, determine:

• the problem to be explored
• the objectives of the project
• the activities to be undertaken
• a budget

Then, write the proposal
Your proposal should be brief—no more than 1000 words, or four double-spaced pages—yet informatively specific and rigorously organized. The proposal must include five sections: Problem, Objectives, Activities, Budget, and Contact Information. You must also include an approval form signed by your faculty sponsor and your department chair.

1. Problem: Describe the problem you wish to explore, or the question to which you seek an answer.
    
2. Objectives: Describe the anticipated outcomes of your project (“To learn …” “To discover…” “To create …”). If appropriate, describe the social and/or scholarly benefits of the project.
    
3. Procedures: Describe what you will do to complete the project. Be sure to aim this description toward generally educated readers who will not be familiar with your professional jargon. At the same time you should thoroughly describe your methods so it is clear how you will be able to answer the problem described in Section 1. Include a timeline with estimated date of completion.
    
4. Budget: Itemize the costs of completing your project. All items requested in the budget should be accounted for in your Procedures. Please remember that grants are limited to $500.

5. Contact Information: Please include your e-mail address.

Finally
Every proposal must be signed by the applicant, the faculty sponsor, and the Chair of the sponsor’s department. Submit your application electronically to Assistant Dean John Smithgall at jssgla@rit.edu.

Deadlines for Submission of Proposals

There will be two deadlines for submitting applications for awards during each academic year. For projects submitted on September 18 and to be completed during the academic year (October 1-June 30) all funds must be expended by June 30. Proposals submitted on February 15, for projects to be completed from March 1 to June 30, all funds must be expended by June 30.

The funds cannot be applied retroactively, so students are encouraged to plan ahead with their faculty sponsor.

*All applications are to be submitted electronically to Assistant Dean John Smithgall  at jssgla@rit.edu.

The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) Student Travel Fund has two main purposes:

1. To support student travel to present original research/papers at conferences, up to a maximum of $500
2. To encourage study or research abroad, up to a maximum of $750

Application Process (Conference Presentation)
College of Liberal Arts Student Travel Fund Application and Budget (pdf document) >

Submit an application which details travel to present a paper at a professional conference. The proposal must include:

• The titled of the conference, dates, and location
• A detailed budget; eligible expenses include conference registration, transportation, accommodations and meals. (If presenting with other students, shared accommodations will be preferred, when possible.)
• Written evidence that the paper was accepted for presentation
• Approval form signed by your sponsoring faculty or your advisor and home department chair

Please note, these funds cannot be applied retroactively, so please plan ahead with your faculty sponsor.

Application Process (Study Abroad/International Research)
College of Liberal Arts Student Study Abroad Application and Budget (pdf document) > 

Submit an application which details the following:

• A brief description of no more than 300 words regarding the travel, its purpose and its value to your educational or professional enrichment
• The duration of time to be spent abroad
• A budget itemizing expenses
• Proof of acceptance into a study abroad program or approval of the research project if working with outside sponsors at the time of this application. Note the degree of your language preparation, if applicable.
• Approval of your advisor and department chair

Timeline

**All applications are to be submitted electronically to Assistant Dean John Smithgall at jssgla@rit.edu.

The Clark Internship Support Fund supports internships and co-ops for students enrolled full-time in the degree programs of the College of Liberal Arts. It is intended to provide partial financial assistance to students who wish to accept professionally valuable internships and co-ops that do not include sufficient levels of financial support. Awards shall be based on academic merit or financial need, at the discretion of the award committee, and though the award is available to both men and women, preference shall be given to women enrolled in the programs of the College.

The College of Liberal Arts reviews applications for Clark internship assistance each fall and spring. (See application dates below.) Applicants must be Liberal Arts degree program students who plan to go on a co-op or internship during the upcoming fall, spring, or summer semesters.

How to apply 

Clark Internship Support Application and Budget (pdf document) >

• Complete an application form and send it along with verification of co-op/internship offer to Assistant Dean John Smithgall (jssgla@rit.edu). 
• Deadlines: October 31 (for spring co-ops/internships) and March 27 (for summer or fall co-ops/internships)

*All applications must be submitted electronically to the Assistant Dean Smithgall at jssgla@rit.edu. Deadlines are subject to rolling availability of funding. Students may email Gail Merritt at cgmgla@rit.edu to inquire about availability of funding after the deadlines have passed.

If you receive an award, please note that you will be required to:

• Write a "thank-you" note to donors who made this award possible. Details on donor names and titles will be provided by the Office of Student Services, which will also handle postage and mailing of the notes.
• Write a brief summary (2-3 pages) of your experiences. This summary is due within three weeks of the start of the semester following completion of your internship.

The Alumni & Friends Endowed Scholarship supports students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities in the College or RIT, are enrolled full time in a Liberal Arts undergraduate degree program, and are in good academic standing. Eligible students must have a GPA of at least 3.0 in their degree program. The scholarship rewards students who have exercised leadership in improving the life of the RIT community.

The deadline for applications is the first Friday in April.

The Alumni & Friends Endowed Scholarship is administered by a committee appointed by the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. Applications must include the following:

• A letter of support from the Chair of the student's program attesting to his or her good academic standing.
• Either a letter from a faculty member who can speak to the student's performance in a particular course or a letter from a member of the RIT community who has observed the student's work in a leadership capacity.
• A short essay of 250-500 words. In this essay the student should describe a specific event or activity in which she or he took a leadership role, explain that role, and discuss the benefit to the College or RIT community.

Examples of leadership include but are not limited to: serving as an officer in an active club or student organization, organizing an important event, or making a significant contribution to the College or RIT community independently of any particular club or organization.

Completed student applications and letters of support (chair and faculty or RIT community member) should be submitted directly to: John Smithgall Assistant Dean, Director of Student Services (jssgla@rit.edu)

RIT alumni and friends of the College, John and Kristine Simmons wish to expose high-performing RIT undergraduates to government and public policy careers through co-ops and internships in public policy, government affairs and issue advocacy. This fund creates the opportunity for students to learn first-hand about government service and operations and to deepen their understanding of democratic institutions and citizen engagement.

Open to students of any College of Liberal Arts major or double major. Selection for this scholarship will be based on:

• Full-time undergraduate enrollment in the College of Liberal Arts with an interest in public service and public policy
• Must secure an internship at the federal, state or local level in public service
• Good Academic Standing

Awards are intended to support stipends, relocation costs, housing, and/or some discretionary expenses. The awards are granted to make public service internships accessible to qualified applicants.

How to apply 

Simmons Fund Application and Budget (pdf document) > 

• Complete an application form and send it along with verification of co-op/internship offer to Assistant Dean John Smithgall (jssgla@rit.edu)
• Deadlines: October 31 (for spring co-ops/internships) and March 27 (for summer or fall co-ops/internships)

*All applications must be submitted electronically to the Assistant Dean Smithgall at jssgla@rit.edu. Deadlines are subject to rolling availability of funding. Students may email Gail Merritt at cgmgla@rit.edu to inquire about availability of funding after the deadlines have passed.

If you receive Simmons Scholars Internship Funds, please note that you will be required to:

• Write a brief summary (2-3 pages) on your internship experiences, including highlights, responsibilities, and overall impact of the internship. Statements will be submitted to Assistant Dean John Smithgall and shared with the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and the Office of Career Services to help other students learn about the opportunity and experience. This summary is due within three weeks of the start of the semester following completion of your internship.

Past Simmons Scholars in the News:

• Political science and marketing double major completes co-op at U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
• Student earns internship with U.S. Rep. Joseph Morelle

The Liberal Arts Multidisciplinary Scholars program gives financial support to students in STEM majors who are interested in adding a second major from the College of Liberal Arts. The program was designed to enable students to double major and enrich their educational experience at RIT, while also ensuring they will graduate on time.

The program was created in 2022, thanks to a gift from Joyce Pratt, chair of RIT’s College of Liberal Arts National Council. When Pratt was a college student in the 1960s, she wanted to double major in math and Slavic languages and literature. At the time, her university said that her choice was not a viable option. Now, she is passionate about giving other students the opportunity that she didn’t have.

For more information about the program, email the COLA Office of Student Services.