Newsletter July 2021

News and Deadlines

Second Year Re-Entry Experience
Our incoming second year students had a very non-traditional first-year experience. Many chose to study remotely and are coming to campus for the first time this fall. The experience of those who were on campus was limited due to COVID-19 safety restrictions and compliance. RIT is committed to informing our sophomores about opportunities designed to help them acclimate to campus and a typical on-campus experience.

\While we are not able to provide a Second Year Orientation for these students, sophomore students will be invited to specialized social programming and traditional campus events with the goal of providing an opportunity to meet other students and feel connected to RIT. Please remind your students to check their RIT email, RIT social media sites, and CampusGroups for events and opportunities.

Move-In Information
All students living on campus are required to select a Move-In appointment time. Students have already received an email with instructions to select a time. Your student’s move-in appointment time is 30 minutes—this is not the time you have to check in and unload but the time frame in which you should arrive on campus. Students are allowed two guests to help them move in. Additional family members or guests are welcome, but we ask that only two are in the room at a time to be respectful of the tight spaces. 

More information about Move-In can be found on the RIT Housing website. 

Goodbye, Goodbuy!
Goodbye, Goodbuy! is a student-run initiative that provides both new and returning students the opportunity to furnish dorms and apartments at affordable prices. Last spring during move-out week, Goodbye, Goodbuy! collected over 20 tons of goods left behind from students, which will be on sale during move-in week. Inventory includes items such as: furniture, clothing, fans, lamps, fridges, televisions, and speakers, as well as items that students might have forgotten to bring to campus (hangers, school supplies, and kitchenware). The sale will be on August 16-20 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Gene Polisseni Center.

RIT Ready Updates

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement
If your student has not begun the COVID-19 vaccination process, please help them schedule an appointment immediately as the length of time between shots will vary for two-dose vaccine series. After they’ve completed the vaccination process, students should complete the COVID-19 Vaccine form on the Wellness portal and upload a photo or scanned copy of their vaccination card or receipt with name, date of birth, name of the vaccine, and the date(s) of the shots. It is expected that all students will make every effort to complete a COVID-19 vaccine series and provide proof of full vaccination by August 1, 2021.

As in the case with other required immunizations, there is a process for accommodating medical and religious exemptions. Students seeking a philosophical exemption to RIT’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement must complete the Request for Philosophical Exemption Form. RIT requires this form to be notarized.

More information on vaccines, including FAQs, can be found on the RIT Ready website.

Requirements for Non-Vaccinated Students
Students who are not fully vaccinated at the time of their arrival, including those who have an approved exemption, are expected to have a COVID-19 test prior to or upon arrival on the RIT campus and will be required to participate in weekly testing starting the first week of classes. Community members who are not fully vaccinated will also be required to wear a face mask (minimum of two-ply cloth) while indoors in the presence of others, indoors moving through space occupied by others, or outdoors in crowded outdoor settings. Full vaccination occurs 14 days after the final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Daily Health Screen
One of the ways we monitored the health of our campus over the past year included the Daily Health Screen. It was a key indicator of COVID prevalence. With vaccination rates on the rise and revised state guidance, we have decided to discontinue the Daily Health Screen as of Friday, July 9 (last day required to complete). Please remind your student that if they are feeling ill or have been in direct contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, they should contact the Student Health Center.

Information and Updates

Family and Emergency Contact Information 
Please remind your student to update family and emergency contact information in SIS (Student Information System) by going to www.rit.edu/studentcontact. This official record must be updated by your student and does not impact your email preferences for this newsletter. To change your email address for the Parent Newsletter, please do so on the Parent & Family Programs website. 

Commuter Students
If your student will be commuting to campus this year either from home or an off-campus apartment, there are some new things to consider. Here are some tips to pass along to your commuter student on how to prepare:

• Know the best route to campus. It may be a familiar drive, but make sure you know what traffic will be like during the time you are heading to class. If you will be taking the bus, familiarize yourself with the bus schedule, including alternative routes. 
• Get a parking permit on the Parking and Transportation website. This is required for all vehicles that will be parked on campus.
• Consider getting a commuter meal plan for those long days on campus.
• Check out the RIT Off-Campus Commuter Services website and learn about the support resources available to commuter students on campus.

Campus Employment
Students seeking on-campus employment will need to produce several forms of unexpired, original identification. A driver’s license AND social security card together or a passport on its own are common acceptable forms of ID. Find a complete list of acceptable documents on the Student Employment Office website.

Parent Poll
Each month, we ask parents to respond to our Parent Poll and provide feedback on a topic related to RIT, your student, and you. In June we asked on what topic you contacted RIT. Half did not contact RIT. Those who did primarily reached out about billing and financial aid. Please take a moment to answer our July question.