Complementary Learning

Complementary Learning

Complementary Learning is an integral part of the Honors experience at RIT that supports student participation in activities that complement traditional academic work.

There are three main categories of activity that are approved for complementary learning: service and volunteerism with a registered non-profit, leadership activity, and engaging in the intellectual and cultural life of the University. Activities that are academic in nature or are considered professional development are not approved for complementary learning. Check the Honors Handbook for more detailed information about what counts as complementary learning, how to report what you've done, and how many hours you need each year to maintain good standing in the program. Here are a few reminders to help you stay on track:

• The complementary learning cycle runs from Sept. 1 - Aug. 31 each year
• Complementary learning is an annual requirement that does not accumulate year over year (check your entry year handbook for specific information)
• The maximum number of hours you can submit for any one activity or for activities with a single organization is 15 hours
• Hours should be submitted contemporaneously, within a month of the activity
• Progress towards your annual requirement is checked after the cycle closes in August. If at that time you have not met the annual requirement you will be placed into conditional standing and will have one semester to make up any deficit from the previous cycle

Do you have complementary learning hours to submit? Record your activity HERE

Current and Ongoing Opportunities:

Please see below events and activities that are approved by the Honors Program office for Complementary Learning. This webpage is updated regularly to add new opportunities - but they are in no way the only activities you can take part in to earn complementary learning hours. Please reach out to the Honors office if you have any questions. 

Volunteers needed to support the 10th Annual Goodbye, Goodbuy event- August 14th - 21st - to help prepare the sale floor, assist customers, and deliver furniture.

Volunteers will receive either access to the presale or a $5 voucher for each shift worked, depending on the timing of their shift during the sale (Honors students cannot accept the $5 voucher if counting for complementary learning)

Exclusive Pre-Sale
The presale is an exclusive invite only event where previous volunteers get early access to our sale before the general public. Anyone who has volunteered with us prior to the start of the sale will receive a separate invitation to attend the pre-sale.

To sign up or learn more, please visit us at rit.edu/goodbyegoodbuy.

Meaning of Service - Reading and Discussion Group

Assistant Director Garth Freeman will lead a series of reading and discussion sessions meant to engage students in dialogue around what it means to serve. This text-based discussion forum will use selections of poems and excerpts from larger works taken from The Civically Engaged Reader to generate dialogues about our roles and responsibilities as citizens and members of our local, regional, and global communities. These sessions will activate ideas about how we can individually and collectively address social challenges and work towards positive change in our personal and professional lives. These one-hour sessions will count towards Complementary Learning. 

Upcoming dates will be sent out through the Wednesday email.

Honors Council

Attend an Honors Council meeting to learn more about getting involved in the Honors Program! Council meetings are a great way to meet and talk to your college's delegate, hear updates on Honors events, and provide feedback and suggestions for what you want to see. Honors Council dates and locations for the fall semester will be announced soon.

Attending Council meetings counts for 1/2 hour of complementary learning.

Volunteer this summer by getting involved in your community - in person or virtually! There are many online organizations that run on volunteers. These include transcribing documents for the Smithsonian, captioning TEDTalks, and contributing to conservation efforts by tagging animals in photos.

A list of approved virtual opportunities can be found here.

A list of approved nonprofit organization volunteer opportunities can be found here.

If you find an opportunity not listed and would like it checked, send an email to honors@rit.edu to see if its eligible for comp learning.

Connect with Rochester! The CLCE has an ongoing list of local organizations looking for volunteers that can be found here. They have a variety of focuses to explore, including Food Justice, Housing, Community Development, Environment, Animal Welfare, Activism, Youth Development, Health and Wellness, and Parks and Recreation!

Volunteer at the MAG

“Ask Me” volunteers are the backbone of all MAG events. They help contribute to MAG’s mission by welcoming and providing a friendly atmosphere for guests of the museum during special events. Prospective volunteers must be 18 and older and apply by filling out the application below. There are no educational requirements, but one should have an interest in art, strong communication skills, commitment to a short training session, and a minimum of a 2-3 hour assignment each month.

Fill out the Volunteer Form here!

Volunteer at the National Kidney Foundation

The National Kidney Foundation of Upstate and Western NY is on the lookout for passionate volunteers! Whether it's diving into administrative roles or capturing the heart of their events with photography - there's a spot for you! 
Connect with Kristen West Ryan for more information 
Phone: 585.598.3963 x373
Email: kristen.ryan@kidney.org
By volunteering, you’re not just helping out - you're championing the Kidney Foundation’s vital programs and showing immense love to our local Kidney Community.
Learn more: National Kidney Foundation

Volunteer with Shift2

Shift2 is a non profit organization on a mission to maximize the usefulness of existing technology to make a positive impact on people’s lives. They are conveniently located on Jefferson road.

Volunteer Duties Include:

• Wiping hard drives
• Troubleshooting devices
• Installing Operating Systems
• Physically cleaning computers
• Dismantling and recycling parts
• Sorting RAMs for resell
• Matching Computer Monitors

Available Monday- Friday anytime from 9am-6pm
Contact Lisa M. Muhammad at lisa@shift2nfp.org for more information.

Volunteer at Deaf Refugee Advocacy

Seeking enthusiastic volunteers to further their mission. Presently, they have openings for the following positions:

Teacher Resource Aide: Assisting in teaching ASL, English, and other subjects to our students.
Special Projects: Involvement in various special initiatives.
Transportation Provider: Offering support to clients requiring transportation to and from the office or specific locations.

Should you have any queries about volunteering, training, or require further information, please don't hesitate to contact them at
(inquiry@deafrefugeeadvocacy.org) or via video phone 585-286-3440.

Volunteer with Tru-impact

Join TRU-Impact Inc. and Empower Rochester's Youth!
Passionate about making a difference? TRU-impact is looking for student volunteers to tutor and mentor local youth. Be a part of a dynamic team, helping children reach their full potential!

Schedule: 1-2 times a week, 4:30-6 pm, Mon-Thurs.

Contact TRU-impact:

Email Deanna Baddley:
deanna@truimpactroc.org

Volunteer with YWCA

The YWCA is a powerful resource in our community, helping women and girls by empowering them to regain control of their lives and get on the path to a healthy, successful future. YWCA is seeking volunteers who want to make a difference.
For more information, please reach out to April Allen at allen@ywcarochester.org or sign up here

Volunteer at the Willow Center

Willow Center is the only New York State certified domestic violence service provider serving Monroe County. Our mission is to prevent domestic violence and ensure every survivor has access to the services and supports needed along the journey to a safe and empowered life.
If interested, reach out to volunteer@WillowCenterNY.org

Volunteer at the League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. Volunteers help set up registration tables and engage in activities like postcard writing and distributing non-partisan literature.
If interested in volunteering, please fill out this form.

Volunteer at the the Agape Haven

We are a growing grassroots organization meeting needs of the under-served population, especially women and girls. We empower our community using a holistic approach by providing access to educational resource, social emotional support and food security. 

To volunteer, contact Julia Oakley at info@agapehavenofabundance.org or Sign up Here!

Volunteer with Flower City Pickers

Flower City Picker's mission is to support the local community with free food through the recovery and redistribution of safe but otherwise landfill-bound food. By enriching other hunger relief agencies and local farms, Flower City Pickers strives to establish and grow a platform for waste prevention and civic engagement. Since our start, we have recovered and redistributed one million pounds of food, keeping it in our neighbors' hands and bellies instead of the landfill.

Volunteers meet at the Rochester Public Market Saturdays between 2:30-4:00 pm to collect unsold food from the vendors that would otherwise be thrown away. These items are packaged and are then distributed to local agencies that directly serve the people in our community that can benefit from these donations. Follow this link for more information and to sign up: VOLUNTEER — FLOWER CITY PICKERS | FEEDING PEOPLE, NOT LANDFILLS

Volunteer with Rochester Greenovation

Rochester Greenovation helps people in Rochester NY keep things out of the landfill by running a second-hand store where you can donate items others can use, and where people on a budget can buy things at a very reasonable price. They sell a huge array of items needed for every-day living: furniture, clothes, tools, plates and glasses, pots and pans, as well as records, artwork, and odd bits of Rochester history and culture.

Volunteer at the store or to help with special projects by visiting: Volunteer — Rochester Greenovation (rocgreenovation.org)

Volunteer with Generation Two (G2)

Generation Two (G2) is a program run through The Strong National Museum of Play that connects community volunteers with kindergarten and first-grade students for one-on-one, child-directed play sessions in Rochester-area elementary schools. The sessions are designed to help the children practice social-emotional skills, build self-confidence, and forge intergenerational relationships—all while having a lot of fun doing so! They would love to welcome any interested individuals as either weekly or one-off play buddy volunteers. You can find more information here: Generation Two

Volunteer with Jewish Family Services

JFS volunteers are a diverse group of Rochesterians, united by their passion for serving the community in meaningful ways – from delivering meals, providing companionship to older adults, supporting new moms, providing literacy services, and much more. You can volunteer with JFS in many different capacities and programs. Check out their opportunities here: Jewish Family Services of Rochester

Volunteer with R Community Bikes

Volunteer as mechanics at the Rochester community bike shop where you can restore donated bikes that are given away to people in need. No prior mechanical skill/bike knowledge is required. They conduct training/orientations about every 6 weeks at 226 Hudson Ave, Rochester, NY 14605.
Interested students can visit the website here: R Community Bikes

Volunteer with Rochester Education Foundation

REF is looking for college student volunteers to help guide and inform high school and middle school students on career opportunities and options! You can learn more about College Connect and other opportunities here: Rochester Education Foundation

Volunteer with Rochester Rainbow Union

Volunteering at the Lilac Library: RRU is looking for volunteers to help out at the Lilac Library for a few hours a week. Volunteers will greet visitors and work on library-related projects including:  checking in/out library books, reshelving books, folding clothes for the clothing closet, organizing, and general office work. Volunteers must have a commitment to serving the LGBTQIA+ community as well as a commitment to ending racism. 

Volunteer shifts are Sundays 2-4pm and Wednesdays 6-8pm.
50 Prince Street near the RBTL theatre and the MAG - parking lot and nearby bus routes available.
Contact: info@gayalliance.org

Volunteer with Foodlink

Food Access. Food Literacy. Career Empowerment. Foodlink’s mission is to end hunger, but their overarching goal isn’t to “feed the need” in our communities. They aim to “shorten the line” with upstream approaches to address food insecurity. Foodlink is currently seeking volunteers for Donation Sorting, the Curbside Market, and Kitchen Driver Support. There are shifts available nearly every day of the week!
Sign up and learn more here!

Volunteer with RIT Habitat for Humanity

Join RIT Habitat for Humanity on their Weekly Build with the Genesee County Habitat for Humanity. The weekly builds are Saturdays 8am-4pm.

Join their CampusGroups here!