Family Orientation Newsletter July 28, 2026

In This Message

Move-In and Orientation
- Move-In Instructions
- Welcome Days Highlights
- RIT Housing and Residence Life
Reminders and Review
- Residence Hall Packing List
- Student Class Schedules
- Parent Access to Student Accounts
- Fall Billing and Payment Options
Let's Talk About It

White RIT family buttons scattered across a dark surface, featuring “proud RIT family,” “Mom,” and “Dad” designs with tiger paw icons.

Move-In and Orientation

Move-In Instructions

If your student is living in RIT Housing, please make sure they confirm their appointment time in the myLife portal. It is essential to arrive on your selected day and time in order to alleviate congestion and provide the best move-in experience for all.

Aerial view of move-in day, with multiple vehicles parked along a curb as students and families unload carts and bins filled with belongings. People are moving items between cars and a nearby residence hall entrance on a sunny day.

Video which shows the move-in process at RIT

Please review the detailed Move-In information available online, including maps, arrival instructions, and packing checklists. Keep in mind that the move-in process may vary based on whether your student is a first-year or transfer student, as well as their assigned housing location.

Welcome Days Highlights

Our Orientation program kicks off with our Welcome Days on Monday, August 17, and Tuesday, August 18. The purpose of Welcome Days is to introduce you to campus, provide opportunities to meet other new RIT families, and have time to help your student settle in. Programming is very flexible to accommodate each family’s individual needs. We encourage families to come to campus on Monday even if your student will be moving in on Tuesday morning, as this is when the majority of planned activities will occur. Welcome Days highlights include:

Monday, August 17

Resource Fair | 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Connect with staff, get answers to your questions, and explore the resources and services available both at RIT and throughout the Rochester community. Don’t forget to grab your $10 family t-shirt!
Orientation Check-In | 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Students MUST check in for Orientation in the Gordon Field House and Activities Center on Welcome Days.
Family Welcome Lounge 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Pop in to say hi to staff, write a letter to your student, grab some Proud Parent swag, or just take a break from your busy day.
Academic Advising: Tips for New Students and Families | Various times
Learn about Academic Advising at RIT and tips to make the transition to college learning.

Tuesday, August 18

Orientation Check-In | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Students MUST check in for Orientation in the Gordon Field House and Activities Center on Welcome Days.
Navigating Food Allergies and Dietary Restrictions with RIT Dining | 1-2 p.m.
Learn how to navigate various RIT Dining locations to safely manage food allergies and dietary restrictions.
Family Send-Off | 3-4 p.m.
If you haven’t already said your goodbyes, grab a snack for the road and hug your student one last time before they begin their RIT Orientation experience!

View the full Welcome Days schedule for families >

"Be sure to attend Welcome Days programming! There will be lots of opportunities for your student to connect with resources and clubs, as well as plenty of fun giveaways for the whole family!"
-Stelle

The Residential Experience

Students living on campus are supported by several teams that work together to create a safe, welcoming, and connected residential experience. Here's who to contact for common questions and concerns.

RIT Housing manages housing assignments, roommate selection, billing questions, and issues such as key losses and lockouts.
The Center for Residence Life helps students build community and make the most of campus living. Professional staff and Resident Advisors (RAs) support students through events, community-building activities, roommate concerns, and connections to campus resources. Students will meet their RA during Orientation.
Maintenance requests are handled by our dedicated facilities teams. Encourage your student to report any concerns in their room or common areas as soon as they arise.

Three orientation scenes: new students walking together, an orientation volunteer blowing bubbles, and students posing with move-in belongings and plants.

Reminders and Review

Residence Hall Packing List

While it’s helpful to prepare early, don’t worry if you don’t have everything your student needs right away. There are plenty of retail options near RIT, along with weekend bus service. Be sure your student packs required forms of identification, as a photo ID is needed for things like opening a bank account and obtaining an Employment Eligibility Card.

For a student's insights on what to pack, watch the What should my student bring for their first year? Series of Queries video.

"If you haven’t checked out the official RIT packing list yet, I’d highly recommend you do so. It’s really thorough and also lets you know what you can’t bring! Also keep in mind whatever you can’t fit in the car–you can buy it for cheap at Goodbye, Goodbuy or the Goodwill nearby!"
-Emmett

Student Class Schedules

Academic departments are currently registering incoming students for fall classes. Preliminary schedules will be available in the Student Information System (SIS) in early August, and students will receive an email at their RIT address when their schedule is ready.

Schedules may be adjusted as AP scores, college transcripts, and placement test results are received, so encourage your student to submit any outstanding materials as soon as possible.

Students with questions about their schedule should plan to meet with their academic advisor during College Connections Day at Orientation. Transfer students attending Transfer Orientation Program #1 should contact their advisor directly with questions about their first-semester schedule.

Parent Access to Student Accounts

As students take ownership of managing their RIT accounts, they can choose to grant parent access to certain information, including billing details, through eServices. Once authorized, you'll be able to log in with your own RIT username and password to view the information your student has chosen to share.

Fall Billing and Payment Options

All billing notifications are sent electronically to students at their RIT email address. To receive this notification, your student must grant you parent access to their eServices account. The fall 2026 billing statement was generated in the first week of July. Please visit the Student Financial Services website for more information about billing, due dates, and an optional payment plan.

To learn more about your student's bill, watch the What are all of the charges on my student's bill? Series of Queries video.

Let's Talk About It

What are you most excited about for the upcoming year?

There is so much to look forward to! Help pump your student up for the exciting year ahead.

What are you nervous about?

It’s also important to recognize that there may be nerves, and this is completely normal!

Sincerely,

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