Newsletter October 2021

News and Deadlines

Kitchen Away from Home Cookbook
We are excited to announce the third edition of the Kitchen Away from Home Cookbook! This cookbook—created with your recipes!—is a great way for students to begin to learn their way around the kitchen. Cookbooks make a great holiday gift and will be available for you to purchase for your student later this fall. 

We are seeking recipes in six categories: 

• Breakfast of Champions: Easy-to-make breakfasts to help Tigers get their day started.
• Microwavable Meals: For Tigers living in residence halls, these meals require a microwave or less.
• Delicious Dinners: Recipes with only a few ingredients for Tigers just learning to cook.
• Sweet Treats: Sweet treats, baked goods, and general desserts to complete your meal!
• Simple Snacks: Meals and snacks to prepare ahead and grab on your way out the door.
• For the Pros: Advanced recipes for cooks with a little more experience in the kitchen.

To submit a recipe, please fill out this form. Recipes are due on Oct. 22. Ordering will be open soon-please watch the RIT parent website and Facebook page for the link to order your cookbook! Cookbooks are $8 for campus pickup and $10 to have it mailed to you.

Immersion and Minor Fair
Immersions are a required portion of the general education curriculum for every undergraduate student at RIT. The Immersion and Minor Fair offers your student a chance to explore options and connect with faculty teaching in areas of interest. Faculty from the College of Liberal Arts, College of Science, College of Art & Design, and Golisano College of Computing & Information Sciences will be available to answer questions and share information about immersion, minor, and double major offerings. The fair will be held virtually on Tuesday, Oct. 19 from 3-5 p.m. Students can register on CampusGroups.

Change of Major Fair
The Change of Major Fair is an opportunity for students to learn about the available majors on campus and the resources offered to change majors. Representatives from all nine colleges, University Exploration, Career Counseling, the School of Individualized Study, and the Library will be at the fair to talk with students about their options. The event will be held Tuesday, Oct. 26 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Magic Spell Studio Sound Stage. Students can register on CampusGroups.

Housing Selection 2022-23
Housing Renewal will begin on Nov. 1. Housing Renewal is the process that your student should participate in to renew their current RIT housing for the 2022-23 academic year. Students currently living in Perkins Green, Riverknoll, University Commons, and the RIT Inn who want to renew their contract should complete a contract between Nov. 1-7 by going to mylife.rit.edu. If there are any vacancies in the space, students will be instructed to request a roommate between Nov. 12-21. 

Room Selection for all other students will take place in spring semester. This includes students who are currently living in the residence halls, Global Village, and Greek Circle, as well as students who do not renew their contract for their current space.

For more information, visit the RIT Housing website.

Let's Talk About It

Academics—Looking Beyond Fall Semester
October is a great time for students to start reflecting and planning for the spring semester and beyond. First-year students will need to meet with their academic advisor before they can register for spring. If they haven’t had their meeting yet, students can still build their spring shopping carts beginning on Oct. 25. When shopping carts opens, students will also be able to see the day/time when spring registration opens for them. Spring enrollment begins Nov. 8.

Conversation starters

• What are you planning for next semester’s schedule?
• Have you met with your academic advisor?
• Have you identified or declared an immersion?
• What campus resources have been helpful?

Campus Engagement— RIT Hockey
RIT is proud of all of our Athletic teams and Hockey is a tradition that we especially love! Games in the Gene Polisseni Center are a great way for students to get engaged and have fun, from cheering in the Corner Crew, listening to the pep band, and enjoying favorite concessions. RIT students can attend the Men’s Hockey games for $5 and Women’s Hockey games for free!

Conversation starters:

• Have you been to a hockey game yet?
• Are you going to the Brick City Weekend Hockey game in downtown Rochester?
• Are there other RIT Athletic events that you’ve attended?

Campus Living—Tiger Safe
RIT is a very safe campus. As the semester goes on and your student becomes more comfortable with their surroundings at RIT, it’s important to remind them that, while a safe place, they still need to be aware of safety concerns and available resources. One of the most useful is the Tiger Safe app, which gives users access to an emergency button, Public Safety phone numbers, escort services, lock services, and more.

Conversation starters:

• How do you get home when you have an evening class?
• What do you do with your laptop when you are studying somewhere and have to use the restroom?
• Do you and your roommate always lock your room/apartment door?
• Have you downloaded the Tiger Safe app?

Wellness—Self-Care Check-In
It’s hard to believe that it’s already mid-semester! This is a common time for students to feel the pressure of coursework and other activities hit. It is also a good time to check in with your student about self-care. Self-care can look very different to each individual. For some, it is exercising every day. For others, it is participating in a club or taking time for personal hobbies. However your student chooses to care for themselves, check in and make sure they are making time, even if their schedules are busy.

Conversation starters:

• What are you doing to stay active this semester?
• How are you spending your free time?
• What campus activities have you joined?
• Are you still working on (hobby)?

Information and Updates

Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend
Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend is this weekend, and it’s not too late to join us on campus for events including entertainment, Men’s and Women’s Hockey, speakers, escape rooms, axe throwing, a zip line, tours, open houses, and much more! Visit the Brick City Weekend website above for event details and registration information.

Counseling and Support Services
Midway through the semester, students may find themselves facing new challenges and struggles. Here are some key resources for students needing additional support:

Counseling and Psychological Services offers a variety of programs to fit students’ needs, including short-term, solution-focused individual therapy and group drop-in connections, which allow students to receive multiple perspectives, support, and encouragement from other students.

Students who are currently seeing a mental health professional or need long-term or specialized treatment should continue treatment with their provider if possible or connect with a mental health specialist in the Rochester area. Case Management can help link students to off-campus services when the need arises.

Case Management is available to assist students in connecting to resources on and off campus, as well as helping students navigate complex personal problems, including but not limited to:

• Insurance
• Hospitalizations
• Financial issues
• Housing/food insecurity

Students are welcome to call or email the Case Management office for assistance: 585-475-3963; casemanagement@rit.edu.

Attendance Policy
If your student has to miss a class for any reason, including isolating due to a COVID diagnosis, please make sure they are aware of RIT’s attendance policy. If a student must be absent, they should inform their professors immediately and make arrangements to make up any missed requirements. This includes missing class due to personal obligations such as religious holidays, job interviews, athletic contest, etc.

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 September, we asked if your student has downloaded the Tiger Safe app. Nearly one-quarter of you said yes, but over 60% did not know. For more information about this app, please see the Campus Living section of Let’s Talk About It above. Please take a moment to answer our October question.

Featured Photo
In case you don’t follow the Parent and Family Programs Facebook page, here’s what you’ve missed: construction on the SHED continues, with notable progress!