We definitely had a cold and snowy winter so far in Rochester! We hope your students have been finding ways to stay warm and enjoy the winter wonderland on campus. Please note the first piece below-we'd love to hear your feedback in our 2026 RIT Parent Survey! 

We want to hear from you! As we plan future programs and communications for RIT families, your feedback is essential. Take the 2026 RIT Parent Survey and help us better support you and your student. Your perspective matters!

Would you like to hear a student's perspective on a specific topic? Parent & Family Programs student staff will respond to parent questions about life as a student and post on our Facebook page throughout the semester.

Topics can include:

-Academics (working with an advisor; study tips; choosing classes)

-Campus life (dorm/apartment living; dining; weather)

-Co-op and careers (finding a co-op; what it's like on co-op; the job hunt)

Engagement (clubs/organizations; making friends; finding a job; staying active)

-Any other questions you have! 

Submit your question on this form and keep an eye on the Facebook page for a response!

RIT Orientation is currently recruiting students to serve as Orientation Leaders. Orientation Leaders (OLs) play a vital role in introducing new students and their families to life at RIT. Each OL will guide a group of students during Orientation, representing RIT through their leadership skills. OLs create an inclusive and engaging atmosphere for incoming students while attending to students’ needs.

Applications for Orientation Leaders will be accepted until April 3. If your student is interested in welcoming new students and their families and have a desire to impact RIT in a positive way, they can learn more and apply on CampusGroups.

Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival is a signature event that showcases the imaginative and inventive spirit of RIT students, faculty, and staff.

The 2026 festival is on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m and is is open to the community. 

The Writing Center is a great resource for all students that offers guidance on academic and professional writing at any stage of the writing process. Consultants support students in becoming confident, inventive, and dynamic writers with everything from research papers to lab reports. Students can schedule a one-on-one appointment (either one time or recurring) or attend a group session which provides the opportunity for a small group of students working on a shared writing project to talk collaboratively with a writing consultant. In-person and virtual appointments are available. The Writing Center is located on the first floor of Wallace Library in the Knowledge Marketplace.

The Women, Gender, and Sexuality Resource Center (WGSRC) provides advocacy, education, and celebration to foster inclusive community and belonging, while acknowledging and supporting the diverse identities and lived experiences of students. The programs, services, and resources are open to all.

Services include:

Signature programs include:

February is cold, and students will find ways to avoid being outside as much as possible. Luckily, RIT has a tunnel system to help them do so! The dorm side tunnels allow students to travel between residence halls, including getting to Gracie’s and NTID. This is also where students will find laundry rooms, the DSP post office, the Corner Store, and more. These tunnels are also decorated by years of RIT student art (check out this video about the murals). 

The academic side doesn’t have an underground tunnel like the dorm side, but most buildings are connected in a way that students can use the system of hallways and stairwells to avoid stepping outside. Watch this video on the Parent & Family Programs Facebook page where staff find their way from the SAU to University Services Center without going outside!

We know one of the worst calls you can get is that your student is sick on campus and doesn’t know what to do to get help. Understanding the services provided at the Student Health Center will help you support your student if you get that call. Please make sure your student is aware of the live chat available in the Wellness Portal, which is the easiest way to make an appointment. Students can also use chat to text directly with a nurse to discuss any medical concerns and get recommendations for care. Chat is available Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Students can use the live chat to ask Student Health Center staff questions regarding acute illness, immunizations, required forms, insurance, or appointment scheduling. Your student can call the main number for the Health Center 585-298-1280 anytime. After hours, this number connects to the nurse advice line.

In preparation for the University Wide Career Fair this month, students should be thinking about their elevator speech—a 60-second pitch that will showcase who they are to potential employers. An effective pitch is concise, clear, targeted, and should include the following:

Their elevator speech should include their major, what related extracurricular activities they have engaged in, any work or previous co-op experiences, and what skills they have developed that apply to the job they are seeking. Employers will hear from many students that day, so finding ways to stand out is key.

Students should also remember that the time they have with potential employers is a two-way conversation, and they should take the opportunity to gather information about the company. It is beneficial if students can do research on the companies they wish to speak to ahead of time in order to personalize their questions. Students can find lists of example questions to ask on the Career Services website.

Spring is a season of many holidays for those of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Pagan traditions. These holidays may be important events for your students. Please note that RIT’s attendance policy does not automatically excuse absences for religious reasons, but students can make arrangements with professors ahead of time if they must miss class. For more information, visit the Spirituality and Religious Life page.

Spring Break is on March 8-15. If your student is traveling, please have a discussion within the next month about Spring Break safety and health. RIT Housing requests that students who are leaving their rooms/apartments for the week prepare by emptying trash cans and cleaning out fridges, locking windows and doors, and unplugging electronic equipment (fridges can remain plugged in). Dining hours and locations during the week can be found on the RIT Dining website.

This spring break, over 40 students are choosing service over vacation—traveling to New Orleans, Florida, Virginia, and Memphis to support communities in need with Alternative Spring Break hosted by the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement. The Alternative Spring Break Fund supports travel expenses for students, who are responsible for funding their trip costs. By donating to this fund, you can help these students travel and make a difference in communities across the globe.

It’s only February, but we know you may already planning for the end of the semester move out. A local storage company offers a full service for students needing to store belongings over the summer. Rochester College Storage (The UPS Store) provides supplies including tape, labels, boxes, and bubble wrap along with on-campus (and surrounding area) pickup and delivery. There is no charge for pickup and delivery during peak move-out and move-in days. If you make your reservation by April 30, you will receive $25 off the storage cost using the promo code Save25. Students can also store bikes for $99.

Visit the website for more information and call 585-427-8080 (ext 9) for questions.

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 January, we asked where is your student planning to live next year. Most of your students will live in an off-campus apartment (33%) or on-campus apartment (29%).

Please take a moment to answer our February question.

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

Check out our new series about RIT Hidden Gems! So far, our students have highlighted free popcorn courtesy of Student Government, the tunnel murals painted over the years, and resources-including a semester calendar- students can pick up from EDGE: Center for Experience and Growth. 

What is your student's favorite RIT hidden gem? Follow us and comment on our next post! 

Sincerely,

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

rit.edu/parents

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