Family Orientation Newsletter June 10, 2025

In This Message

Resources and Requirements–Health, Wellness, and Safety
- Immunizations and Health History Forms
- Student Health Insurance Coverage
- College Tuition Insurance
- Campus Safety
Navigating the Transition
- Family and Emergency Contact Information
- Health Resources
- Health Tips
- Tiger Parent Bootcamp
Let’s Talk About It

Resources and Requirements
Health, Wellness, and Safety

Immunizations and Health History Forms
New York State law requires all college students to provide proof of immunizations and health history. These essential forms must be submitted to the Student Health Center via the RIT Wellness Portal before your student arrives on campus in August. We strongly encourage you to complete this as soon as possible to allow adequate time for review and processing.

Your student can log into the RIT Wellness Portal using their RIT username and password. Learn more about immunization requirements and health history forms >

Student Health Insurance Coverage
RIT expects all students to have health insurance. Health insurance coverage ensures that your student will receive the appropriate medical care in the event of an injury or illness that requires prescription medication, a referral to a specialist, or even hospitalization. Health insurance may be obtained through the university, or through family or individual policies.

If your student will use a family plan, please review the Third Party Insurance Coverage information so you know what your insurance will cover and where prior to your student’s arrival on campus. We recommend contacting the company to determine what coverage your student has in Rochester, as many companies have limited out-of-network coverage. If your student will not be on a family plan, RIT offers a robust student health insurance plan with an expansive provider network across the U.S. and out-of-network benefits. Additional details about the 2025-26 student insurance plan will be available in late June.

Learn more about health insurance requirements on the Student Health Center website and by watching the How does student health insurance work? Series of Queries video.

College Tuition Insurance
This elective insurance plan provides coverage for tuition, fee, and housing charges in the event of an unexpected withdrawal from classes due to an illness or accident.

Campus Safety
While RIT is seen as a very safe campus, students need to remain aware of safety concerns and available resources. Please talk to your student about how to stay safe on campus: not to walk alone at night; not to carry valuables; lock their residence hall door; keep an eye on belongings when out; and pay attention to their surroundings. Students can also download the Tiger Safe app, which allows students access to an emergency button, Public Safety phone numbers, escort services, lock services, and more.

Navigating the Transition

Family and Emergency Contact Info
Please have your student review and update their parent and emergency contact information at www.rit.edu/studentcontact. This information is important should RIT ever have to reach out to parents in case of an emergency.

To better understand when RIT might call you, watch the When will RIT call me about my student? Series of Queries video.

Health Resources
RIT offers a variety of services and resources to help our students be their healthiest selves. It is important to understand the scope of care RIT provides in order to ensure that all students find the care they need on or off campus.

The Student Health Center provides primary and urgent care services for all students. For chronic health needs and conditions that are beyond the Student Health Center’s scope of practice, students should work with a primary care provider from home or a specialist in the Rochester community.
Counseling and Psychological Services mental health providers understand the complexities of student life and support students’ mental health needs through short-term, goal-focused individual therapy, group therapy, and crisis support in an open, safe, and confidential environment. Students who are regularly seeing a professional or need long-term or specialized treatment should continue treatment with their provider or connect with our Case Management team for off-campus options.
Case Management is available to assist students in connecting to resources on and off campus, as well as helping students navigate complex personal problems such as insurance, hospitalizations, financial issues, and housing/food insecurity.

Health Tips
This summer, have your student make their own doctor and dentist appointments. This is an important skill to have, as parents cannot make student health appointments at RIT. It is also a good idea to pack a basic first-aid kit for your student to keep in the residence hall. Over-the-counter medications are available on campus, but it may be more affordable (and convenient) to stock up at the beginning of the semester.

View Student Health Center packing recommendations >

“[I told my student] ‘You'll have to do the stuff that I do now. Pick up your prescriptions, make your doctor's appointments, buy your books.’ And he really stepped up.”

Tiger Parent Bootcamp
This summer, as you prepare for your student to head off to college, don't forget about the essential everyday skills they'll need for independent living.

Join current RIT students and staff for our Tiger Parent Bootcamp, where you'll get valuable tips on how to prepare your student for real-life tasks. We'll cover everything from:

Doing laundry
Staying safe on campus
Finding a campus job
And much more!

Choose the session that works best for you:

Let's Talk About It

What questions do you have for your doctor before heading to college?

This summer is a good time to let your student take the lead in making their own doctor appointments and going themselves. You can support them by helping them think of questions to ask.

How do you plan to practice self-care while at RIT?

Whether it’s exercise, maintaining a hobby, or relaxing, it’s important that students are mindful about their wellness and self-care practices.

Sincerely,