Fall is in the air at RIT! If you are coming to campus this weekend for Brick City Weekend, you will be greeted by the beautiful colors of Western New York in the autumn.

Get your tickets now to see Alaqua Cox at Brick City Weekend! 

Alaqua Cox is an up-and-coming actress known for her breakout role as Maya Lopez/Echo within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since the announcement of Alaqua’s casting in the MCU, she has become an inspiration to many and continues to be a strong advocate for the deaf community worldwide. She was born and raised on the Menominee Indian Reservation in Keshena, Wisconsin and is of the Menominee and Mohican nation.

We have room for a few more teams to join us for Ritchie's Runaround during Brick City Weekend! Ritchie's Runaround is a campus-wide scavenger hunt that will test your knowledge about RIT, highlight hidden gems and favorite spots, and entertain your family all while earning opportunities for prizes. Ritchie's Runaround is on Saturday, Oct. 19 beginning at 10 a.m. If you can't join us on campus, keep an eye on the Parent and Family Programs Facebook page for a virtual version!

RIT, named as a top “National University,” has climbed to No. 91 in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings. The publication also cited RIT as being among the best universities in value, experiential learning with co-ops and internships, highly engaged faculty, and overall return on investment. Read more about this and other RIT rankings in this news article.

If they haven’t already received their flu shot, students have a couple more opportunities to enroll in the on-campus flu vaccine clinics. Students can find specific dates and locations, as well as the link to register, on this page. If your student’s insurance is not accepted by Wegmans, they can get the vaccine at the Student Health Center for $20. 

Housing Renewal will begin on Oct. 28. Housing Renewal is the process that your student should participate in to renew their current RIT housing for the 2025-26 academic year.

Students currently living in Perkins Green, Riverknoll, University Commons, the RIT Inn, and 175 Jefferson who want to renew their contract should complete a contract between Oct. 28-Nov. 3 by going to mylife.rit.edu. If there are any vacancies in the space, students will be instructed to request a roommate between Nov. 8-17.

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 and for students living in non-RIT housing, on co-op, or study abroad.

For more information, visit the RIT Housing website.

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 October 21. When shopping carts opens, students will also be able to see the day/time when spring registration opens for them. Spring enrollment begins November 11.

While RIT is proud of all of our Athletic teams, Hockey is a tradition that we 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!

Your student might have mentioned seeing various animals on campus, such as students walking dogs or hearing about a peer with a new cat. The only animals permitted on campus are Service Animals or Assistance Animals, also known as Emotional Support Animals (ESAs). Service Animals perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities, while ESAs provide emotional comfort and support to help manage a disability. Any other animals are considered pets and are not allowed in any campus buildings, including residence halls. This includes families bringing pets to campus for a visit. 

Students who are in need of a Service Animal or ESA must work with the Disability Services Office (DSO) for proper documentation and to obtain the necessary accommodation. Students cannot bring any animal to campus without prior approval from DSO. Doing so could result in the animal being removed from campus.

Please encourage your student to think critically before requesting an ESA, as there is significant responsibility involved in caring for a pet on campus. Having proactive conversations with your student can help set them up for success and ensure they make the best decision for their well-being while at RIT.

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 working out 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. 

Commencement for the Class of 2025 will be held on May 9-10, 2025. Ceremonies include Friday morning’s Academic Convocation, a celebration of all graduates with a keynote address, and individual commencement ceremonies on Friday afternoon and Saturday, where students walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. Please check the commencement schedule to see when your graduate's ceremony will be held and make your travel arrangements now.

Remind your student that they must complete the application for graduation on SIS by Apr. 1, 2025.

Find more information on the Commencement website.

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 (CaPS) 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:

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

Every Wednesday evening, students gather at No Voice Zone to learn and improve their ASL (American Sign Language) skills and learn about deaf culture. This long-running campus tradition welcomes student of all ASL skill levels. No Voice Zone is from 9-10 p.m. each week in the Student Development Center, rooms 1300/1310. Families can join a special edition of No Voice Zone at Brick City Weekend!

RIT’s 19th annual ROAR Day is just around the corner and fellow RIT parents, Henry and Lisa Houh have committed to matching parent gifts to the RIT Fund up to a total of $3,000. ROAR Day runs for 1,829 minutes from noon on Oct. 31 through 6:29 p.m. on Nov. 1. You can also make an early gift. 

Additionally, Alok Kapoor will make a gift of $5,000 to RIT if five new RIT parents become Sentinel Society members in support of the Student Life General Fund. Annual support to this fund creates opportunities for students to participate in intramural activities and clubs, attend movies and guest lectures, join volunteer efforts on campus and in the Rochester community, and more. For more information or to join please reach out to Martie Staser, Senior Director of Advancement at masdar@rit.edu.

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 where or how will your student vote on November 5. Most of you (66%) said an absentee ballot from their home precinct. 

Please take a moment to answer our October question. 

In case you don’t follow the Parent and Family Programs Facebook page, here’s what you missed:

Every once in a while, you will find odd things in Spirit the statue's mouth! This month, it was a beautiful autumn flower. 

Sincerely,

Chelsea Petree, Ph.D.
Director, Parent and Family Programs
Rochester Institute of Technology
parents@rit.edu

rit.edu/parents

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