Fall was beautiful and now we're onto winter here on campus! I know many of you are looking forward to seeing your students soon—if your student is staying on campus over Thanksgiving, please see the Thanksgiving Break Guide section below for information on what is open on campus that week. Happy Thanksgiving!

Students do not have classes on Nov. 26-28 for the Thanksgiving holiday. The University will close at 2 p.m. on Nov. 26 through the holiday weekend.

If your student will remain on campus for Thanksgiving break, please refer them to our Thanksgiving Break Guide, which outlines adjusted building and service hours for dining, wellness services, Wallace Library, and more.

While preparing for finals, it’s important for students to take some time for fun and de-stressing activities! On Reading Day, Dec. 9, students can stop into Wallace Library between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for DeStress Fest and find coloring sheets, bookmark making, and other relaxing crafts.

All students currently living in RIT housing must complete the End of Semester Winter Break Plan. This form allows RIT to better serve our students during this time and includes the end of semester instructions and important information regarding on-campus circulation over break. Students that do not complete this form may experience swipe access interruptions.

RIT housing, including the residence halls, will remain open through the break between fall and spring semester. Students who are eligible may remain in RIT housing throughout the winter break. Eligible students are those who currently live in RIT housing, will remain in RIT housing for spring semester, and will be registered for spring semester classes. 

For more information, please visit End of Semester and Winter Break.

Finals will come up quickly following Thanksgiving Break. The last day of classes is Dec. 8 and finals are held on Dec. 10-17. Ask your student to review the final exam policy. If they are experiencing time conflicts or more than two exams in one day, they should contact their professors. Many courses have final exam prep sessions so encourage your student to take advantage of these when offered. Students can also meet with a tutor and use the Study Toolkit to help them prepare for finals.

Finally, remind your student that during stressful times like finals, it is particularly important to take care of themselves. A workout, break to have a good meal, and an extra hour of sleep will help them be more successful in the long run, even though it can be hard to take the time away from studying.

An RIT Parent Poll last year revealed that nearly 80% of RIT parents felt it was important that students get volunteer or service experience while in college. Volunteering is a not only a great resume builder, but an excellent way to make friends while serving their community. RIT students are very active in this realm—last year, 2,000+ students completed 14,726 service hours equaling an economic impact of $444,430. Additionally, students reported giving $132,654 in philanthropic donations to local and global causes.

One resource for students interested in engaging in this way is the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement (CLCE). This office offers a number of fun ways for students to volunteer, including their On-Campus Service Projects, held twice a year. 

The eighth annual Hunger Project (pictured above) will take place on Nov. 18, where 300 volunteers will package 30,000 meals in just three hours, reaching the milestone of having packaged 585,000 past 8 years! Your student can register for this event by following this link.

CLCE also has resources for students to find places to volunteer in the Rochester community.

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 directly related to the support of an ESA. 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 need 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 and a referral to student conduct.  

If your student and their provider are discussing an ESA, having proactive conversations with both your student and with DSO can help set them up for success. Before making any decisions, it is important for your student to make an appointment to discuss the process and expectations that come along with bringing an ESA to campus. A great resource is our Service or Assistance Animal Policy with helpful definitions, an outline of the process, owner responsibilities, and more.

We know you look forward to having your student home for Thanksgiving vacation, but the reality of holiday reunions frequently fails to match expectations. It is not easy to slip back into traditional family patterns when students have been gone for a few months, and they have likely changed quite a bit in that short time. Be sure to communicate with your student about your expectations before they come home, including use of the family car, curfews, meal time, and other household expectations. It is also helpful to let your student know of any big changes around the house, and ask of any big changes in their life (you don’t want to be surprised by a new tattoo or diet change!)

Spring semester billing notices will be generated during the first week of December and are due by Jan. 15, 2026. More information about payment options can be found on the Student Financial Services website.

Now is the time to file the 2026-27 FAFSA. This is an annual process that gets easier as most information is pre-populated in the renewal application. Visit the Federal Student Aid or RIT’s Financial Aid and Scholarships website for additional information.

RIT students with valid 2026-27 FAFSAs who are continuing on to 2026-27 (summer 2026, fall 2026, spring 2027) will receive their financial aid offer notifications beginning in May 2026. 

Your student has likely heard of Bow Wow Wellness and Goat Yoga, but there are many other wellness-focused events and activities on campus! Health Promotion provides support for students in a variety of ways, including peer-to-peer interaction, reinforced proactive health messaging, and varied marketing efforts. There are various opportunities this semester for students to discuss wellness strategies with the Wellness Peer Educators. 

Students can usually find Wellness Peer Educators on the Breezeway or in the SHED Main Lobby. Or they can stop by Coffee & Company on Mondays in Fireside Lounge, where students can grab a warm beverage, meet new people, and chat with the Wellness Peer Educators about crafts, games, stress, and more!

Academic Success Courses offer students the opportunity to develop and refine learning strategies in study skills, time management, and academic organization. Applied Study Strategies, Essential Study Techniques, and Study Strategies Lab are zero-credit, pass-fail courses and open to all RIT students. Students should check the Student Information System for section start dates and to enroll. EDGE: Center for Experience and Growth offers three different courses and prerequisites may apply. 

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 October, we asked if you have asked your student if their budget is still on track. Nearly half of you (49%) said you have talked and they are on track. 19% said no, it's your student's responsibility and 13% said your student does not have a budget.

Please take a moment to answer our November question. 

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

Your students got into the Halloween spirit! We loved seeing their costumes and watching them participate in festive activities around campus, like pumpkin painting with Commuter Engagement!

Sincerely,

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

rit.edu/parents

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