Fall 2026 Orientation

Welcome to your new adventure! Join us for an unforgettable New Student Orientation experience that will set the stage for your success and help you feel right at home. 

Your Orientation experience is designed to get you RIT-ready. It includes three components:  

  1. Virtual Orientation: Your essential pre-arrival mission! You'll complete this online, on your own time, before arriving on campus. All modules must be completed before you arrive for Spring Orientation. You will receive more information about Virtual Orientation in May. 
     

  2. Welcome Days, New Student Move-in, and Family Orientation:  
    Monday, Aug. 17, and Tuesday, Aug. 18 
    During Welcome Days, you'll move into your campus residence (if applicable), check in for orientation, and participate in resource fairs and presentations alongside your family. After Welcome Days, parents and family members will depart, and the New Student Orientation program will commence, offering a variety of activities and sessions to help you acclimate and be ready for a successful start. 
     

  3. New Student Orientation:  
    Our formal Orientation program will begin on Tuesday, Aug. 18. It is designed to introduce you to other new students and all that RIT has to offer. Throughout the program, you'll have the opportunity to connect with and learn from current RIT Tigers, such as your Orientation Leader. Your Orientation Leader (also known as your OL) will help you navigate Orientation week, become familiar with the campus, and participate in a series of educational and social programs.  

     

    Note: Transfer students will have the opportunity to choose from two Orientation program options. Detailed information about these programs will be available in the coming months. 
     
    We are currently putting the final touches on this unforgettable experience. We look forward to sharing more information with you and your family in the coming months. If you have any questions in the meantime, please reach out to our team at orientation@rit.edu. 

New Student Orientation for students starting their RIT journey in Fall 2025 will kick off with Welcome Days on Sunday, Aug. 17, and Monday, Aug. 18.

Schedule for Welcome Days

Both Welcome Days have the same offerings. Feel free to attend one or both days, depending on your schedule. Detailed event descriptions and programming information will be available for you to view over the summer, but for now, here's a preview of what you can expect: 

Welcome Events:

  • First-Year Student Move-in
    8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Parking Lots G and H
    Learn more about RIT Move-in
  • Resource Fair 
    9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Gordon Field House and Activities Center (GOR)
  • Affinity Welcome Zone
    9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Gordon Field House and Activities Center (GOR)
  • Orientation Check-in 
    9 a.m.-6 p.m. | Gordon Field House and Activities Center (GOR), Mezzanine Level
  • Goodbye, Goodbuy!
    10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Gene Polisseni Center (POL), Lower Level Concourse
  • Academic Advising: Tips for New Students and Families
    Multiple sessions offered | Hale-Andrews Student Life Center (HAC), Rooms 1320-1325
    • 10-11 a.m.
    • Noon-1 p.m.
    • 2-3 p.m.
    • 4-5 p.m. 

Open Hours and Shuttles

  • Campus Shuttle
    7 a.m.-Midnight 
  • Campus Store
    9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Monroe Hall (MON), Room 1040
  • Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships: Open Office Hours
    10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Bausch and Lomb Center (BLC), Second Floor
  • Food Trucks
    11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Gordon Field House and Activities Center (GOR), Outside
  • Campus Tours
    11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Gordon Field House and Activities Center (GOR)
  • Retail Shuttle
    Noon-8 p.m. | Pick-up locations: F Lot and Greenleaf Court (near Residence Halls)
Text RITORI to 888777

Welcome Days Emergency Alerts

Important announcements regarding inclement weather emergencies on Move-In and Welcome Days will be communicated through our text alert system.

Text RITORI to 888777 to receive important information and alerts.

Please encourage any family members or friends who will be on campus with you to sign up for weather alerts, as well.

Our formal Orientation program will begin on Tuesday, Aug. 19. It is designed to introduce you to other new students and all that RIT has to offer. 

Throughout the program, you'll have the opportunity to connect with and learn from current RIT Tigers, such as your Orientation Leader. Your Orientation Leader (also known as your OL) will help you navigate Orientation week, become familiar with the campus, and participate in a series of fun educational and social programs. 

We are currently putting the final touches on this unforgettable experience, we look forward to sharing more information with you and your family in the coming months. If you have any questions in the meantime, please reach out to our team at orientation@rit.edu. 

Orientation Schedule

Here are a few highlights to give you a glimpse into the Orientation schedule. To view the complete schedule, visit the Fall 2025 RIT Orientation App.

  • Late Orientation Check-in
  • Orientation Kick-Off
  • Meet your Orientation Leader (OL)
  • Residential Building Meetings
  • Commuter Orientation
  • Night Social Programming

  • College Connection
  • Educational Programming
  • Night Social Programming
     

  • Class Photo and Tiger Walk
  • New Student Convocation
  • Orientation Group Time
  • College Connection Part II
  • Educational Programming
  • Night Social Programming
     

  • Connect and Serve Presented by RIT 365 and the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement
  • Night Social Programming
     

  • Orientation Fest Social Programming

Celebrate the end of Orientation and the start of your semester with fireworks and our TigerFest kickoff!

Learn more about TigerFest

A hand appears holding a phone in front of a white background. On the phone is the Orientation app.

RIT Orientation App

Navigate your Orientation journey through the CampusGroups app or by visiting campusgroups.rit.edu on your web browser. 

Follow the instructions below to view the Orientation schedule in the CampusGroups app.

  1. Download the CampusGroups app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store
  2. Search for and select RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) 
  3. Select RIT Orientation 2025
  4. Select RIT Orientation 2025 Login to log in using your RIT account
RIT Virtual Orientation displayed on a computer in front of a grey background

Jump start your Orientation experience with our RIT Virtual Orientation. The virtual orientation experience will provide you with important information; including an introduction to services and resources, to help you successfully launch your RIT journey.

You must complete all modules before your in-person Orientation begins. Feel free to go through this program at your own pace. If you need to take a break, you can log back in at any time and pick up where you left off.

Write down your questions and bring them with you to in-person Orientation. The orientation team is eager to answer any questions you may have about your RIT journey.