Center for Engagement and Student Success | Access, Engagement, and Success

By building a community centered on trust, the Center for Engagement and Student Success is committed to fostering a strong sense of belonging and supporting the overall success of all RIT students. Through coaching sessions, programs, and workshops, CES engages with students to help them thrive academically, personally, and professionally.

There are numerous ways for any student to participate and engage with the Center for Engagement and Student Success, including one-on-one coaching, leadership development opportunities, cultural diversity education, and community building programming. Specifically, students may participate in:

Programs

Students in front of the RIT Tiger Statue

Division of Access, Engagement, and Success Summer Experience

An intensive four-week summer program that consists of two three-credit-hour courses, developmental workshops, academic coaching, and community building. This pre-collegiate program helps first-year students get acclimated to RIT, building confidence and bridges to resources before the school year begins.
Learn more about the AES Summer Experience

Destler/Johnson Rochester City Scholars Program

Designed for exemplary Rochester City School District and Urban Suburban students who are selected based on their academic achievements, leadership potential, and desire to make a difference in the RIT and surrounding community.

Learn more about the Destler/Johnson Rochester City Scholars Program

Division of Access, Engagement, and Success Tutoring

Offered for “traditionally challenging” courses, with a peer-to-peer tutoring model, as a best practice approach for helping improve retention and graduation rates for underrepresented students.
Learn more about AES Tutoring

Men of Character, Honor and Ambition (MOCHA)

is a one-year leadership development program with an emphasis on undergraduate men-identified, trans-masculine and non-binary students between their second and fifth academic years of study. Given educational disparities and underrepresentation in specific majors or careers MOCHA's programming is designed through the lens of men of color in order to close those systemic gaps. Students will participate in a series of monthly workshops offered by faculty, staff, and community leaders; foster a sense of community and bonding with each other and other men-identified role models of color through social outings; and support their health awareness and development through their participation in wellness activities. The MOCHA program is open to all eligible students regardless of gender or national origin.
Learn more about MOCHA

Women of Character, Honor and Ambition (WOCHA)

is a one-year leadership development program with an emphasis on undergraduate women-identified, trans-feminine and non-binary students between their second and fifth academic years of study. The WOCHA program aims to create an inspiring vision of the future by enhancing leadership ability, building sisterhood, and providing access to professional mentoring and networking opportunities. Given educational disparities and underrepresentation in specific majors or careers WOCHA programming is designed through the lens of women of color in order to close those systemic gaps. Students will participate in a series of monthly workshops offered by faculty, staff, and community leaders; foster a sense of community and bonding with each other and other women-identified role models of color through social outings; and support their health awareness and development through their participation in wellness activities. The WOCHA program is open to all eligible students regardless of gender or national origin.
Learn more about WOCHA

Unity House

CES and Unity House are committed to building a strong African American, Latin American, and Native American (AALANA) student community at RIT. In a dynamic and unique collaboration with Residence Life, CES serves as joint advisor for Unity House. In this role we work collaboratively to advocate for the floor, as well as advise and support the student leadership. CES and Unity House work together to ensure a full floor with robust offerings – we host Tutoring, collaborate on programming, and outreach to all RIT AALANA students.
Learn more about Unity House

Services

Financial Support and Assistance
Students may be eligible for various support resources, including academic opportunities and assistance with purchasing required course materials. These resources are available each semester and require students to meet specific eligibility criteria. Staff are available to help students plan and navigate access to these supports.

CES Programs and Events
The Center for Engagement and Student Success sponsors a series of educational, cultural, and social events designed to foster students’ personal, professional, leadership, and academic development.

Academic Support and Coaching
Professional staff are available to provide one-on-one academic coaching to students, to make referrals to other campus and community resources as appropriate, to monitor academic progress and recommend strategies for improving academic performances and to offer support with personal and social matters.

Location

CES Suite
Located on the Mezzanine level of the SAU (above Ben & Jerry’s and Nathan’s Soups), the CES Suite is home to professional staff. Stop by to schedule a Coaching session, do some classwork, or get to know the CES Team!