III. Getting Settled at RIT

Whether you are from the local area or from across the world, finding a place to live, arranging for transportation, and securing supplies and services will be the first task in beginning your graduate work. If you need help, feel free to stop in the Office of Graduate Studies or your program’s department offices. In the meantime, much of what you need to know about arriving at and moving onto campus is available on the Accepted Graduate Student Services website.

Maps to help you find your way around the campus and in Rochester are also available.

Housing Accommodations

Housing accommodations for graduate students are less formal than those for undergraduates. There is some availability on campus; however, RIT does not guarantee accommodation. Early application is helpful; housing may be available in the Residence Halls or in RIT Apartments.

Assistance is available in finding accommodations and roommates from Housing Connection.

Assistance in identifying community housing is also provided by the Off Campus and Apartment Student Association (OCASA). In addition to helping students find available housing, OCASA continues to offer information to students living in the Rochester community.

Parking and Transportation

Parking is available, by permit, for students living on campus and for commuters. The parking for which you are eligible will depend on your living arrangements. After you have established your residence, you should go to the RIT Parking Office. They will inform you of your options and will assist you to apply for your permit. The office is located in Grace Watson Hall (Bldg. 25), Room 1320.

RIT provides a network of shuttle buses to allow students to move between housing and classroom areas. Shuttles are also available to local shopping areas. Schedules are available at the transportation website.

For students living off campus who need public transportation, bus service is available through the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA). Maps and schedules, as well as assistance in planning your route, are available at their website.

The Transportation Office, in order to encourage more environmentally friendly options, also coordinates a rideshare and a bicycle alternative to auto transportation.

Health and Wellness

The Caroline A. and Kilian F. Schmitt Interfaith Center houses RIT’s Center for Religious Life. The Interfaith Center is located at the bridge between the academic and residential sides of campus (Bldg 16). Phone: (585) 475-2135. You are welcome to participate in one of the many religious communities on campus. Additional information on activities sponsored by the CRL and the center’s religions, affiliations, as well as service schedules, is available on their website.

RIT offers many opportunities for students to participate in recreational and athletic activities. Classes, sports teams and clubs, racquetball and tennis courts, and three pools are available to graduate students. All facilities are available to full-time graduate students, and there are opportunities for family activities as well. Information on resources and schedules is available at the Center for Intercollegiate Athletics & Recreation website.

Health care for matriculated graduate students is provided by the Student Health Center. A range of services is offered, including medical, psychiatric, and health education programs. Graduate students may choose to pay a quarterly Student Health Fee to be covered by the center services or may elect to "pay as you go." This medical coverage is not available to family members. Graduate students who do not have alternate coverage should also enroll in the Basic Student Accident and Sickness Plan. This plan provides insurance for accidents and serious health emergencies. To enroll in this plan, go to http://www.universityhealthplans.com/, complete the form, and pay the fee. In this plan, coverage is also available for members of a student’s family. The Student Health Center is located in the Student Life Center complex. Phone: (585) 475-5515; (585) 475-2255 (tty).

The Counseling Center can provide you with support in dealing with the stresses of your graduate study. Perhaps you have a diagnosed mental heath condition, or are stressed due to circumstances that have arisen at home or at work, or the stresses of your graduate studies are interfering with your ability to make progress on your degree. The counselors and physicians at RIT Counseling Center can assist you, individually and/or in group sessions, work through your problems. The Counseling Center is located on the second floor above the Student Health Services: the August Center (23A). Phone: (585) 475-2261 (v/tty).