Recruit at RIT

This act prohibits citizenship status and national origin discrimination with respect to hiring, termination, and recruiting or referring for a fee. 8 U.S.C §1324(a)(1)(B). Employers may not treat individuals differently because they are, or are not, U.S. citizens or work authorized individuals. U.S. citizens, asylees, refugees, recent permanent residents, and temporary residents are protected from citizenship status discrimination. Employers may not reject valid employment eligibility documents or require more or different documents on the basis of a person’s national origin or citizenship status.

This act prohibits citizenship status and national origin discrimination with respect to hiring, termination, and recruiting or referring for a fee. 8 U.S.C §1324(a)(1)(B). Employers may not treat individuals differently because they are, or are not, U.S. citizens or work authorized individuals. U.S. citizens, asylees, refugees, recent permanent residents, and temporary residents are protected from citizenship status discrimination. Employers may not reject valid employment eligibility documents or require more or different documents on the basis of a person’s national origin or citizenship status.

Any postings which require U.S. citizenship only will be accepted if your organization is required by law, regulation, executive order, or government contract to do so.

All job postings are accepted with the understanding that the employing organization gives fair and open consideration to all applicants for employment regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, physical handicap, sexual orientation, or status as a disabled veteran of the wars including Vietnam. It is also agreed that students and graduates will be accepted and assigned to jobs and otherwise treated without regard to the factors identified above.

RIT’s Alcohol and Other Drug Policy (D18.1) and Faculty/Staff Alcohol and Drug Policy (C15.2) require that the university comply with local, state, and federal law. To the extent a proposed posting or internship involves the manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a substance defined as controlled by the federal government, RIT will decline all such postings and internship/co-op opportunities and will not allow recruitment of our students.

The objective of the Affinity Networking Reception is to bring together RIT special interest affinity groups and employers who are committed to recruiting a diverse and talented workforce. Typically the event last about two hours and gives students an opportunity to talk with employers prior to the career fair. Student groups will set up tables, and employers will walk around and interact with students. Some of the groups that attend include: ALANA Collegiate Association (ACA), American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES), Engineers of Color Creating Opportunity (ECCO) National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), Women in Engineering (WE@RIT), Women in Technology (WIT), Women in Computing (WIC), and others.

For employers that are interested in attending, please register here.

If you are interested in recruiting diverse talent, but cannot attend this event, please consider utilizing one of the following recruitment options, which are at no cost.  

Additional Recruitment Options:

• Access to the Affinity Resume Book
• Promotion of positions to diverse students via newsletter
• Promotion of Information sessions to diverse students via newsletter

We are always happy to set up a phone/zoom conversation and discuss other options to address an employer’s hiring needs.

If you have questions regarding the Affinity Networking Reception or recruiting diverse talent, please contact Diedra Livingston (djloce@rit.edu).

One of the most effective ways to reach students directly is to get involved with student groups and organizations. RIT has more than 25 career-related organizations including:

American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) 
Engineers of Color Creating Opportunity (ECCO) 
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) 
Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) 
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) 
Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Women in Business (WIB @RIT) 
Women in Computing (WIC @RIT)  
Women in Engineering (WE @RIT)  
Women in Technology (WIT @RIT)

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) encourages a broad definition of disability:

“A physical or mental impairment or medical condition that substantially limits a major life activity or if you have a history or record of such an impairment or medical condition.” This includes but is not limited to blindness, deafness, cancer, diabetes, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and asthma.

Hiring within the disability community can not only benefit the new hire but the organization as a whole.

• Increase organization retention
• Tax and incentive benefits
• Insight on a lucrative market

These benefits are also available to companies that hire people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Employees with ASD offer:

• High focus and reliability with tasks
• Strong analytical skills, accuracy, and attention to detail
• A diverse workplace that every employee can benefit from

If you and your organization are interested in recruiting students in this community, a support team is available. Our office alongside the Spectrum Support Program is here to assist you in creating an inclusive work environment, including recruiting qualified candidates, hiring, training, and maintaining employees with disabilities. 

Our team has provided resources that our office trusts for employers relating to:

• Accommodation options for applicants with a disability
• Disability etiquette in the workplace
• U.S. Department of Labor – Disability Nondiscrimination Law Advisor

International students offer employers the:

• Adaptability to work within a diverse, unknown workplace
• Tenacity to see a project through to completion and its success
• Capability to provide a new, multicultural perspective that will contribute to the team

Federal regulations permit the employment, or practical training, of international students on F-1 (foreign student) and J-1 (exchange visitor student) visas within certain limits. Students in these statuses may work off-campus after completing one academic year of full-time study and obtaining the proper authorization from their school or the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS).

The BCIS defines practical training as employment related to the student’s course of study.

CPT authorization allows students to participate in co-op, internship, and other experiential learning opportunities.  Provided by International Student Services at RIT, the organization will provide the student with a new SEVIS I-20 that employers use and the student’s passport as verification documents for the I-9.

Students may work on co-op for whatever period of time their academic programs designate. This can be as short as one term and as long as five terms.

OPT authorization allows students to participate in part-time and full-time work. Provided by the BCIS, the organization will issue an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) that students will use with their passport for I-9 verification.

Students may work part-time during the academic year or full-time work during vacation, after completion of course work, and after graduation.

Students on J-1 visas have somewhat different regulations regarding the length of their visas, the conditions under which they can work, and what they may do on completion of their visas. Students on J-1 visas must have the written permission of their program sponsor (the university or agency that wrote their DS-2019 form) to engage in any type of employment but do not need to obtain an EAD card from INS.

Students can engage in up to a total of 18 months of academic training during their studies and after they graduate.

Many international students are hired after completing their studies for long-term employment in the United States. A student who has completed the minimum of a bachelor’s degree and is entering professional level employment is eligible for an H-1B (temporary worker) visa. This will allow the graduate to work in the United States for six years.

Employers can simply make an offer of employment to the student and do not have to take additional steps within their company. Employers should note that each period of employment must be authorized and that students who return to the same employer for several co-op positions must be reauthorized for each one. 

All paperwork is handled by the student and RIT’s International Student Services. Students are instructed to bring the proper verification documents to the company personnel office when they begin their employment.