I always know the semester has started when the newsletter gets LONG. We certainly keep our students busy in the fall, with events like FallFest, Brick City Weekend, the Fall Career Fair, and so much more.

Crisp air and crunchy apples mean it’s fall in Rochester! Student can kick-off RIT’s annual seasonal celebrations with FallFest, a long weekend of events and activities sponsored by different departments and student clubs and organizations.

FallFest will be held on Sept. 19-22.

In order to prepare for the Fall University-Wide Career Fair on Sept. 25, students may want to visit Bern’s Closet to find career-ready clothing. Bern’s Closet is a service through the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement which provides clothing for RIT community members in need of professional clothing and winter clothing. Items available include suits, dress shirts, blouses, dress pants, jackets, and shoes, as well as winter coats, hats, scarves, and gloves.  

Bern’s Closet is a great resource for your students who might need clothing to wear to the Career Fair or for interviews.

Bern’s Closet is located within the RIT FoodShare Center at 113 Kimball Drive in the Riverknoll apartments on campus, near Global Village. 

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 Advising Office, and the School of Individualized Study will be at the fair to talk with students about their options. The Change of Major Fair is on Thursday, Oct. 3 from 12-2 p.m. in the SHED Atrium, A950.  Students can register on CampusGroups.

Immersions are a required portion of the general education curriculum for every undergraduate student at RIT. The Immersion and Minor Fair offers students a chance to explore options and connect with faculty teaching in areas of interest. Faculty from the College of Liberal Arts, National Technical Institute for the Deaf, College of Science, College of Art and Design, College of Health Sciences and Technology, and Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences will be available to answer questions and share information about immersion, minor, and double major offerings. The fair will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 9 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge.

Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend, a longstanding RIT tradition, is scheduled for Friday-Sunday, Oct. 18-20. This RIT tradition features events for the whole family and is a great time to visit your student. With a large schedule of events to choose from, there is something for everyone at Brick City Weekend!

Family favorite events include:

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.

The 2024 election is quickly approaching! ROAR the Vote is a nonpartisan resource that supports students' involvement in electoral politics by helping to ensure that students understand the voting process, from registering to vote to understanding absentee ballots. Programming also aims to educate students about the significance of participating in local, state, and national elections. Events throughout the year also gives students the chance to engage in thought-provoking discussions about national issues, helping you understand different perspectives and connect with your peers on a deeper level.

Students can check the deadline to register to vote based on their state, register to vote using TurboVote, learn the steps to submit an absentee ballot, and more on this website. ROAR the Vote and the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement is available to support your student through this process.

Moving in with 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 their own roommate conflicts or with the help of an RA.

RIT expects all students to have health insurance. Health insurance coverage ensures that your student receives the appropriate medical care in the event of an injury or illness that requires prescription medication, a referral to a specialist, or even hospitalization. Health insurance may be obtained through the university, or through family or individual policies.

If your student will use a family plan, please contact the company to determine what coverage your student has in Rochester, as many companies have limited out-of-network coverage. If your student currently has insurance through a Medicaid based plan, please know that most Medicaid based insurance plans only provide emergency-level coverage outside of the area they are issued in.

Learn more about health insurance requirements here.

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 beginning on either Sept. 23 or Oct. 17. Students enrolled in this course will explore and practice essential study techniques and time management skills as they relate to the current credit courses in which students are enrolled. Students can register in SIS and reach out to the ASC (asc@rit.edu) with questions.

This fall, your student can attend and engage in programs that inform, support, and empower them throughout the 2024 Election Cycle and beyond. While exploring their civic identity through these immersive programs, it’s essential that students familiarize themselves with RIT’s political, legislative, and free speech policies. RIT stands by the principles of free speech, encouraging students to express their views while fostering respect and centering purposeful dialogue that strengthens our community and fosters an inclusive campus environment. We encourage you, as parents and family members, to speak with your student about their understanding of free speech principles and our shared responsibilities in supporting a campus in which everyone feels welcome and included.

Throughout the year, individuals in our community observe a variety of significant holidays from Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, and many other 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 about spring holidays, visit the Spirituality and Religious Life page.

RIT is partnering with Wegmans to provide on-campus flu vaccine clinics for RIT students. Flu vaccine clinics will be offered on various dates between Sept. 18-Oct. 29. 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. 

You can play a key role in our annual Giving Day, ROAR Day, by signing up to be a ROAR Day Ambassador. As an ambassador, you’ll help spread the word, rally support, make a real difference, and enhance your student’s experience at RIT. Sign up today to become an ambassador and help make this ROAR Day our most successful yet! Questions about this opportunity can be sent to Victor Santiago, Associate Director of Annual Giving (vssdar@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 August, we asked what information was most important when your student was choosing a major. Most of you (70%) responded interest in the subject, with another 15% responding career possibilities. Please take a moment to answer our September question. 

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

Parent and Family Programs partnered with our Residence Life team to capture the excitement and smiles of our students on their first day!

From the nervous first-years to the confident seniors, these photos are a beautiful reminder of the great community we have here at RIT. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!

Sincerely,

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

rit.edu/parents

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