Newsletter FOSN July 14, 2020

Prepare Your Student

RIT Ready
RIT has launched a new website and newsletter, RIT Ready, which serves as a central repository of news and information as we ready ourselves to welcome students back to campus in August in accordance with New York State’s New York Forward guidelines. You can find information on campus cleaning and safety upgrades, details on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19, an update on how instruction will proceed this fall, and the RIT Ready weekly companion newsletter archives on this site.

Move-In Information
For the safety of all students and staff, additional days are being offered for move-in to allow for physical distancing. All students will be required to select a move-in appointment time. RIT Housing will be communicating with your student this week to their RIT email account regarding actions to select a date and time.

Appointment times will be available August 12-15 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Please take note that to ensure RIT is practicing physical distancing protocols and proper safety precautions, that it is essential to arrive on your selected day and time. The appointment time portal will prevent roommates from selecting the same appointment time.

Students will be allowed one adult guest to accompany them into the building during move-in for one hour to assist with move-in before being required to vacate the building. If other guests come to campus, they will need to wait elsewhere on campus to limit the number of people in the drop zones and in the building. If other guests wish to assist in the drop zones or inside the building, they will need to trade places.

A few other items to note:

• Early arrival requests cannot be accommodated.
• Returning students will be moving in between August 16-18.
• All RIT mandated safety protocols must be followed.

Immunization Reminder
New York State law mandates that all college students provide proof of vaccinations. If you haven’t already, make sure your student is up to date on immunizations and submit completed forms to the Student Health Center prior to arrival in August. Forms and information can be found on the Student Health Center website.

Student Class Schedules
At RIT, academic departments register all incoming students for fall term classes. Students will be able to access their preliminary schedules in August by logging into the Student Information System (SIS). Schedules will be adjusted as official Advanced Placement (AP) scores, official college transcripts, and RIT placement test scores are received.

If your student has a question about their schedule, they can reach out to their academic advisor when schedules are released. They can find the name and contact information of their advisor on SIS.

Today's Parent Tips

Family Orientation—Academic Support
Along with these newsletters and upcoming opportunities, we are happy to share our 2020 Family Orientation video series. Each week, we will share interviews with RIT staff that will introduce you to campus resources and life on campus. We hope that these videos not only help you understand the support systems available at RIT, but open conversations with your student about what to expect in the fall.

This week, join my colleagues and I as we discuss Academic Support, including the resources, services, and staff that are available to help students be successful in the classroom.

Fridges and Microwaves
A micro-fridge (microwave/refrigerator/freezer) will be provided in all residence hall and RIT Inn rooms to allow students to prepare and warm their food. Students are not allowed to bring their own refrigerators.

University Advising
The new academic workload in college can be a shock for many students; some struggle with developing and implementing time management and study skills. There are many academic support services at RIT. One primary resource your student can rely on is their academic advisor. Advisors help incoming students transition to RIT, navigate their curriculum, connect to resources, and integrate into the community. Students new to the university are required to meet with their advisor during their first year in order to build their advising relationship and plan for success. Students can find their advisors listed on SIS. 

Textbooks
All textbooks are available at Barnes & Noble @RIT—our campus bookstore. Students can purchase these at any time (book lists will be available in SIS when class schedules are created), but most students would recommend waiting until classes start. There are daily shuttles to Barnes & Noble, making it easy for students to get their books. There are many options for textbooks (e.g. online vs. print; bookstore vs. library; rent vs. buy) but don’t be overwhelmed—students will have time during Orientation to learn more and will have it down quickly!

Watch our Ordering Textbooks video to see the process for finding and ordering books.

Ask Your Student About...

How are you planning to keep yourself and the community safe when you arrive at RIT?
Everyone will need to do their part to keep our community safe! We want our students to be prepared to follow safety guidelines—include wearing a mask, washing hands, and watching their distance—when they arrive on campus.

Have you emailed your advisor? What did you talk to them about?
We want students to have a healthy relationship with their advisor, and they should never hesitate to reach out with questions.