Newsletter June 2021

News and Deadlines

Digital Downloads of 2021 Commencement Ceremonies
Free digital downloads of all 2021 Commencement Ceremonies are now available. Links and download instructions can be found on the Commencement website.

International Fellowship Awardees
RIT students have had a banner year in securing awards from the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program. RIT has a record four Fulbright finalists plus three alternates for the 2021-2022 academic year. Students from the Kate Gleason College of Engineering, College of Science, College of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Liberal Arts, and School of Individualized Study will travel to Germany, Nigeria, and Turkey for immersive global learning experiences in the coming months. Read more about the Fulbright finalists in this article.

Health Insurance 
RIT expects all students to have health insurance. Health insurance coverage ensures that your student receives the appropriate medical care in the event of an injury or illness that requires prescription medication, a referral to a specialist, or even hospitalization. Health insurance may be obtained through the university, or through family or individual policies.

If your student will use a family plan, please contact the company to determine what coverage your student has in Rochester, as many companies have limited out-of-network coverage. If your student currently has insurance through a Medicaid based plan, please know that most Medicaid based insurance plans only provide emergency level coverage outside of the area they are issued in. If your student will not be on a family plan, RIT offers a robust student health insurance plan with an expansive provider network across the U.S. and out-of-network benefits. Learn more about health insurance requirements here.

College Tuition Insurance
This elective insurance plan provides coverage for tuition, fee, and housing charges in the event of an unexpected withdrawal from classes due to an illness or accident.

RIT Ready Updates

RIT’s COVID-19 Alert Level Returns to Green
We are pleased to announce that RIT’s COVID-19 Alert Level has returned to GREEN, meaning the prevalence of the virus in our community and on campus is low. We should all be proud of this accomplishment as we finished the academic year strong. As we begin our transition to summer, it is imperative that we adhere to safety protocols and remain vigilant.

Campus Mask Updates
Effective immediately, people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do not need to wear a face mask outdoors or indoors — nor physically distance on campus — except within the Student Health Center and while on public transportation, as stipulated by the revised RIT Safety Plan. Fully vaccinated individuals who are unmasked should be prepared to show proof of vaccination via a copy of their immunization card or the New York State Excelsior Pass.

People who are immunocompromised or not fully vaccinated should continue to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing while indoors in the presence of others, or moving through space occupied by others, and must maintain at least six feet of distance between themselves and others indoors or outdoors.

We will reevaluate these measures by August 1, prior to re-population of the campus for the Fall semester.

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.

Information and Updates

Fall Billing 
The fall 2021 billing statement will be generated the first week of July. All billing notifications are sent electronically to students at their RIT email address. Reminder that parents do not get this notification unless they have been granted access by their student. Please visit the Student Financial Services website for more information about billing and an optional payment plan. 

Changes in Family Circumstances for Financial Aid Purposes 
If your family’s 2021 income will be significantly different than 2019, or if you have other unusual circumstances, please complete the 2021-2022 Changed Family Circumstance Form found on the Financial Aid website.

Unsubscribing From this List 
If you are the parent of a graduate and no longer wish to receive the RIT Parent Newsletter, you can unsubscribe on the parent website. You can also use this link if you would like to change the email address you have in our list.

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 May, we asked how much influence do you think you, as a parent, should have on your student’s career choice. Half of you responded a little; only 2% felt you should have a lot of influence. Please take a moment to answer our June question.

RIT Parents Facebook Page
If you don’t already, please like the Parent and Family Programs Facebook page! Starting this week, we will be sharing a new weekly post—Tiger Traditions. This past year we were not able to host the many great events that RIT Tigers and their families love. Check out these posts to learn about favorite campus traditions that your student will be able to experience!