Summer has arrived in Rochester! Even though campus is quiet, we are busy planning for the arrival of our new Tigers in August and an exciting year for all students.

RIT expects all students to have health insurance. Health insurance coverage ensures that your student will receive 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 review the Third Party Insurance Coverage information so you know what your insurance will cover and where prior to your student’s arrival on campus. We recommend contacting the company to determine what coverage your student has in Rochester, as many companies have limited out-of-network coverage. If your student will not be on a family plan, RIT offers a robust student health insurance plan with an expansive provider network across the U.S. and out-of-network benefits. Additional details about the 2025-26 student insurance plan will be available in late June.

Learn more about health insurance requirements on the Student Health Center website and by watching the How does student health insurance work? Series of Queries video. 

This elective insurance plan provides coverage for tuition, fees, and housing charges in the event of an unexpected withdrawal from classes due to an illness or accident. Visit this website for information on other types of student insurance, such as personal property and dental insurance.

All billing notifications are sent electronically to students at their RIT email address. Your student has the option of granting parent access to their eServices account. Once you’ve been granted access and created your own account, you will receive all notifications and have the option to view and pay tuition statements. Your student can also choose to grant you access to view final grades and view the status of financial aid.

The fall 2025 billing statement will be generated the first week of July. Please visit the Student Financial Services website for more information about billing and an optional payment plan.

Especially if your student is home this summer, you may hear them mention thoughts about changing their major. While this might be surprising, be open to the option and talk to your student about what is causing them to question their major choice. Some important things to have your student consider include:

Working on campus is not only a great way for your student to earn that late-night pizza money, but it’s also a way students can make friends, get to know campus, and engage in the community. There are many jobs available to students looking to work on campus, and these positions range from office work to dining to facilities to events. While looking for jobs, students should consider what they want to get out of it. Some office jobs, for example, will allow for students to do homework on the clock between their responsibilities. Positions for Tech Crew or Concessions will allow students to attend campus events while working. Note takers can earn money while attending class. A marketing job allows art and design students to boost their resumes with projects related to their major.

Working on campus (as opposed to off campus) has many benefits. Students can work in between classes to maximize their time, and supervisors are generally very understanding that academics come first. While there are opportunities to work over breaks, it is not expected as it is in an off-campus job. The Student Employment Office is available to assist students in their job search. If your student will be applying for their first campus job, please make sure they have appropriate documentation to obtain their student employment card.

For a student's perspective on how to get a campus job, watch the How can my student get employed on campus? Series of Queries video.

It’s construction season on campus! If you visit RIT this summer, you will see a lot of work being done across campus, including the renovation of the University Services Center and the residence halls and progress on the Music Performance Theater and Tiger Stadium. Read more about summer construction projects here.

In a Parent Poll last year, we asked what life skill your student needs the most guidance. Your responses ranged from cooking to financial management to home maintenance. Summer is a great time to connect with your student about these aspects of independent living or “adulting.” If your student is heading to RIT this fall, make sure they know the basics—how to do their laundry, not burn the popcorn in the microwave, and when to change the oil in their car. As your student ages through college and becomes more independent, the skills they need will shift to knowing what to wear at a job interview, how to work with a landlord, and the preparing for financially independent living. 

While the co-op experience is something that stands out and draws students to RIT, there are additional ways for students to gain skills in career readiness–for those who do not have a required co-op or who want to build their skill set beyond a co-op. 

The Career Readiness website includes detailed information about the above opportunities, as well as a career-ready planning guide that outlines what students can focus on each year. Students can also meet with a career counselor to talk about their goals.

Undergraduate students with special circumstances that could not be reported on the 2025/2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may appeal for additional financial assistance by completing a 2025/2026 Undergraduate Changed Family Circumstance Form. Reasons to submit this form include (but are not limited to): 

If you have questions about this process or would like to request access to the 2025/2026 Undergraduate Changed Family Circumstances Form, please contact the RIT Financial Aid and Scholarships Office ritaid@rit.edu or 585-475-2186.

If you don’t already, please like the Parent and Family Programs Facebook page! We are focusing a lot this summer on information parents of new students need to know, including asking advice from experienced parents in our Parent to Parent posts. Please respond and support our new Tiger Families! 

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 May, we asked on what topic regarding your student did you personally contact RIT. Most of you (74%) did not contact RIT. Those who did primarily reached out about billing and financial aid. 

Please take a moment to answer our June question.

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

There's been a lot of progress on the Music Performance Theater! We can't wait to see the inside in January 2026 when it is complete.

Read more about all summer construction projects here

Sincerely,

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

rit.edu/parents

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