Welcome back, Tigers! We hope you had a relaxing fall break with time to rest and recharge for the remainder of the semester.

As we enter the second half of the semester, it’s normal to feel stressed and a bit overwhelmed. There’s a lot going on – you’re taking midterms among other homework assignments and due dates, and juggling extracurricular activities on top of that!

We wanted to take this time to remind you of our health and wellness services here on campus to support you throughout your time at RIT.

• The Student Health Center provides primary and urgent care services, ranging from support for acute medical concerns to sexual health and immunizations. If you’re not feeling well or poor eating habits are impacting your academic performance, schedule an appointment by contacting the office at 585-475-2255 or sending a secure message on the RIT Wellness Portal. Learn more >

• Counseling and Psychological Services offers short-term, goal-focused individual therapy, group therapy, crisis support, and psychiatric services in an open, safe, and confidential environment. If you are struggling with mid-semester stress and need someone to talk to, schedule an appointment by contacting the office at 585-475-2261 or sending a secure message on the RIT Wellness Portal (select “Counseling Services – for General Questions”). Learn more >

• The Case Management team assists students in connecting to resources on- and off-campus, as well as helping students navigate complex personal problems. If you have questions about health insurance, are experiencing food and/or housing insecurity, or have financial concerns, contact the Case Management team at casemanagement@rit.edu. Learn more >

• Disability Services employs an interactive, student-centered process to determine and approve reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Accommodations can help mitigate barriers in any facet of the RIT experience, whether academic, residential, or co-curricular. If you are unsure if you have a disability or which accommodations are appropriate for you, connect with the Disability Services Office team at dso@rit.edu. Learn more >

Manage your stress - put the phone down.

Being in college can be stressful enough without endless notifications popping up on your phone. For some, our phones decrease our stress but for many, it adds up. Even though technology helps keep you up to date, that doesn’t mean you can’t minimize your use. Try this:

• Don’t go on your phone for the first half hour you are awake, instead, try reading a book for ten minutes, making your bed, or getting ready, even if you have nowhere to go.
• Turn off as many push notifications as you can. 
• Take distracting or time-wasting apps off your home screen. 
• Set a goal to decrease your phone time by 15 minutes each day for a full week - see how you feel.

Each week, we are sharing a financial wellness tip to help you make the connection between financial management decisions, your overall wellness, and student success. Money touches every aspect of our lives, and a lack of financial literacy can cause unnecessary stress and negatively impact our mental and physical health.

Credit and Student Loans: Establishing and maintaining good credit is important for your financial wellness! One great way to positively build your credit score is to utilize your federal student loans. 

Having a loan in addition to other forms of credit, such as a credit card, will diversify your credit mix. Although having the loan plays a small part in your overall credit score, paying your loans on time and consistently is a great way to increase your credit score.

Hint: Start paying off your federal student loans before you graduate! Federal student loans do not have a penalty for paying early, and making a payment does not mean you have to pay every single month. Making small payments on either the balance or accrued interest will show up on your credit report and be counted as on-time payments, which will improve your credit history. Plus, you’ll be closer to paying off your student loans when you graduate!

Visit studentaid.gov to view your federal student loans, make a payment, estimate your monthly payments once you graduate, and complete Financial Awareness Counseling. Remember: Just a $20 monthly payment can make an impact and is a first step in your good credit journey!

For additional events and event information, go to rit.edu/events.