Newsletter September 2021

News and Deadlines

Study & Work Abroad Fair
The Study & Work Abroad Fair will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 21 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Student Alumni Union Lobby and Fireside Lounge. This fair gives students the chance to meet organizations that will jump-start their international experience, including opportunities to study, co-op, and volunteer abroad. Representatives will also be available from each college to help your student best understand program options for their major.  

Students can visit the Study & Work Abroad Fair website for more details about the fair.

Fall University-Wide Career Fair
The Fall Career Fair will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 29. The Career Fair, held in the Gordon Field House, draws a variety of companies, ranging from small tech firms to Fortune 500 companies. Students need to bring their student ID to the Career Fair to be admitted.

The RIT Career Connect Virtual Fair is on Oct. 14. This event will be held through RIT Career Connect's Career Fair module. Employers will host one-on-one video chats with students on a first-come, first-serve basis.

More information on both Fairs and Career Services resources is available on the Career Services and Co-op website.

Career Fair Clothing at Bern’s Closet
Bern’s Closet, run by the Division of Diversity & Inclusion, offers students professional clothing items donated by RIT staff, faculty, and Greater Rochester community members. Bern’s Closet is open year-round at the RIT FoodShare, and the special Career Fair event will take place on Sept. 20 at 12-3 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge (Student Alumni Union). Clothing is free to students on a first-come, first-served basis.

Flu Shots
RIT is partnering with Wegmans to provide on-campus flu vaccine clinics for RIT students. Flu vaccine clinics will be offered:

• Thursday, Sept. 30, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Fireside Lounge
• Wednesday, Oct. 6, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Fireside Lounge
• Wednesday, Nov. 3, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Fireside Lounge

If your student’s insurance is not accepted by Wegmans, they can get the vaccine at the Student Health Center for $20. Students can register for a flu shot online. 

My Bus Home
My Bus Home arranges round-trip and one-way transportation for all academic breaks in private, fully-insured motor coach buses with restrooms, Wi-Fi, and a DVD player. 

The buses pick up on campus and go to/from central locations in:

• Plymouth Meeting & Allentown, PA; Bridgewater, NJ  
• NYC; Jericho & Islandia, Long Island  
• White Plains & Albany, NY  
• Ludlow & Newton, MA; Londonderry, NH  
• Mechanicsburg, PA; Elkridge, MD; Arlington, VA  

The estimated round-trip fares are between $174 and $214 depending on the stop and the number of students who take the bus. A one-way fare is always half of a roundtrip fare. The deadlines to reserve a spot for upcoming breaks are:

• Fall break: Sept. 21
• Thanksgiving break: Oct. 24
• Winter break home: Nov. 24
• Winter break return: Dec. 17

Please sign up at My Bus Home for more information and to reserve seats.

Let's Talk About It

In this new section of the RIT Parent Newsletter, you will find timely tips and conversation starters about academics, campus engagement, campus living, and wellness.

Academics—Feedback and Alerts
This is a common time in the semester for faculty to begin offering feedback to students about course performance. Many, but not all, use the Starfish system, which allows instructors to offer feedback in the form of alerts or kudos. It is also a convenient way for students to schedule an appointment with their advisor. Parents are important supporters of students’ academic success, and you can encourage your student to pay attention to feedback and meet with their advisor and professors as needed.

Conversation starters

• What types of feedback have you been getting about your coursework? Have you received any Starfish alerts or kudos? Any other communication from instructors?
• Have you talked with your instructor and academic advisor about any recommendations they have for you?
• What tricks have been helpful to you as you manage your time?
• Where will you seek help if you are struggling in a class?

Campus Engagement—Visiting Your Student
We know you are excited to come back to campus to visit your student this fall. Before you do, however, you should check in to make sure it’s a good time for them. You don’t want to visit during a time when they have a big assignment due or a social event they don’t want to miss! Brick City Weekend is a great time to return and participate in campus events. If they ask you not to visit, don’t take it personally and know they are making their home on campus.

Conversation starters

• What kinds of things do you want to do when we visit?
• What assignments/exams do you have coming up?
• Do you have plans with your friends over Brick City Weekend?

Campus Living—Roommates 
Meeting a new roommate in August is very exciting for most students. Over time, the novelty can wear off and conflicts can arise. This typically will subside over time as roommates learn how to live with one another. As a parent, you should support your student by listening and helping them think of strategies to handle their roommate relationship, but let them handle roommate conflicts on their own or with the help of an RA.

Conversation starters

• How are you and your roommate compromising about how you use your space?
• What do you and your roommate do together for fun?
• What is your RA like? How have you been meeting other people on your floor?

Wellness—Emergency Planning
You don’t want to think of the worst happening to your student, but it’s good to have conversations so that in the event of a wellness-related emergency, you’re all on the same page. Make sure your student understands how to use their insurance, campus resources and who to call in an emergency, and how to support friends and roommates if they need help.

Conversation starters

• Who have you put down as your emergency contact?
• Who would you call if your roommate was too sick to leave the room?
• If you need a prescription, how will you get it filled?

Information and Updates

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 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. 

Essential Study Techniques
Some students find once the semester starts that their current study habits are not adequate for college success. The Academic Success Center (ASC) is offering Essential Study Techniques, a free course, to help students in this situation. Essential Study Techniques meets twice a week for seven weeks. Classes begin either September 20 or October 14. Students can contact the Academic Success Center for more information and to register for either section. 

Into the ROC
Into the ROC gives students the opportunity to explore the unique challenges, cultural treasures, and diverse communities in the greater-Rochester area. Participants spend an evening during the week or a few hours on the weekend either doing community service with a local non-profit, interacting and learning from local Rochesterians, or enjoying a local play, comedy show, museum, or other cultural experience in the city. Interested students can register on the Center of Leadership and Civic Engagement Campus Groups page.

We recently toured the Erie Canal and volunteered with Flower City Pickers, and will soon visit Rochester’s first annual CollegeFEST, restore trails at one of the city’s largest green spaces, and much more!

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 August, we asked what information was most important when your student was choosing their major. Most of you (73%) said interest in subject; another 24% said career possibilities. Please take a moment to answer our September question.

Featured Photo
In case you don’t follow the Parent and Family Programs Facebook page, here’s what you’ve missed: We were so excited to welcome our Tigers back for the first day of classes!