Happy spring semester! In typical Rochester fashion, we've had snow, rain, freezing days, and warm days in the past month. Whatever the weather later this month, we are excited to celebrate with one of our favorite RIT traditions: FreezeFest! 

The annual Expressions of King's Legacy celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be held on Jan. 29 at noon in the Gordon Field House. This year’s speaker will be Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr., a scholar, political commentator and author of the New York Times bestseller Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for our Own. Students and community members can register here.

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, Career Counseling, Pre-medical and Pre-law advising programs, and the School of Individualized Study (SOIS) will be at the fair to talk with students about their options. The Change of Major Fair is on Tuesday, January 27 from 12-2 p.m. in the SHED Atrium. Students can register here. 

Room selection for current students for the 2026-2027 year begins on Feb. 9. This process is for students currently living in Residence Halls, Global Village, or Greek Circle, students who did not renew their current room during housing renewal, or those who were not on campus this year. Students should keep these important dates in mind: 

Instructions and more information are available on the RIT Housing website.

The Spring University-Wide Career Fair will be held on Wednesday, February 25. The career fair, held in the Gordon Field House, draws a variety of companies, ranging from small tech firms to Fortune 500 companies. More information on the career fair and Career Services resources is available on the Career Services and Co-op website. 

Along with the University-Wide Career Fair in February, there are many other events happening this spring to help your student find a co-op or job. Please remind your student to keep an eye out for the weekly Career Connect e-Newsletter, sent to all students beginning in their second year. This newsletter shares the most current events, employer information sessions, and workshops that occur all semester, including these events:

No matter what year your student is, they are likely still learning how to advocate for themselves and ask for help when needed. Asking for help can be a challenge for anyone, especially younger individuals learning to advocate for themselves. Building connections with faculty, academic advisors, tutors, and other campus supporters can make a huge difference in your student’s success in the classroom and down the road in their career search. The key is to get through the door. 

Encourage your student to go to office hours, schedule a meeting with their advisor, or take advantage of the many academic support resources before any issues occur. In building these relationships early, they will be more comfortable if they have to have more challenging conversations in the future. While email is a necessary part of our lives, in-person conversations are more memorable and will give your student a leg up when they need to ask for advice or for a job reference. 

At RIT, we look for ways to celebrate winter! FreezeFest is RIT’s annual winter festival that encourages students to embrace the cold Rochester weather and enjoy many planned activities. FreezeFest 2026 is Jan. 25-Feb. 7. It is a great way for students to take a break from their academics, get out of their residence hall room or apartment, and experience many fun, diverse, and free activities, events, food, and giveaways. Students can learn more on CampusGroups and by following RIT Student Life on social media.

The Campus Connect initiative is designed to make residence halls more than just places where students live—they are places where students learn, connect, and thrive. By intentionally linking students’ living spaces with meaningful learning opportunities, Campus Connect builds community while supporting academic and personal success. 

During the fall semester, students had opportunities to connect with faculty and campus leaders in relaxed settings within their residence halls. Dr. Sandi Connelly from the College of Science hosted a session on stress and its effects on the brain and body. Another College of Science faculty member, Dr. Scott Williams, led a chair yoga and guided meditation session to promote student well-being. Additionally, Dean Andre Huson shared his personal journey and experiences, from being a student to his current role. 

Such informal interactions help students build relationships, ask questions, and feel more connected to the university community.

As part of the Campus Connect initiative, students also have access to four newly renovated Connection Hubs located in the Residence Halls. These spaces feature updated technology, comfortable lounge seating, and areas designed for both group collaboration and individual study. They have quickly become vibrant community spaces where students gather, attend programs, and connect with one another. 

Together, Campus Connect and the Connection Hubs reflect our commitment to creating supportive, engaging residential environments where students feel connected, supported, and set up for success. Your student can view the spring Campus Connect schedule here.

A start of a new year brings motivation to set new goals. Spring semester is a great time to reflect upon what went well last semester, challenges, and what will help students accomplish new goals in the areas of academics, involvement, health, relationships, etc. In helping your student think about their 2026 goals, remind them to:

The RIT Community is looking forward to celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2026! Commencement will be held on May 8-9. 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.

Use the FAQ section of the Commencement website to find information on tickets, photos, and all about your visit. You should make your travel arrangements now. Remind your student to check their email frequently and apply for graduation when notified—they must complete the application in SIS by Apr. 1. If you are traveling to Rochester, make your travel and accommodation plans soon!

1098-T tax statements will be sent to eligible students' permanent addresses by the end of January. The IRS Form 1098-T provides information to students which may be used in determining a student’s eligibility for education tax credits. Additional information can be found on the Student Financial Services page.

A student account credit balance results when the total of the credits posted to a student's account (e.g., payments, loan disbursements, scholarships) exceeds the total of the charges on the account. RIT’s policy is to resolve eligible credit balances as promptly as possible, in compliance with all applicable regulations, by issuing refunds to the student. Students should request their refund, through the Refund Request page of eServices, after Financial Aid has paid to their account. Visit the Refund of Credit Balance page for all details on requesting refunds and setting up direct deposit.

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 December, we asked what your student does for self-care. Nearly half of you (42%) said spend time with friends. Others said play video games (23%) and exercise (29%).

Please take a moment to respond to our January poll. 

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

Student Orientation Coordinators welcomed new Tigers to campus last week for Spring Orientation just in time for spring semester!

Sincerely,

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

rit.edu/parents

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