Safety Tips

Safety is important! Here are ways to keep yourself safe on campus.
RIT is very safe as it is, but knowing you have supports is useful.

Download TigerSafe App

This is the official safety app for RIT. You can press the virtual Blue Light to get immediate help, request a Public Safety officer to walk you to your dorm or class, and offers an easy way to contact Public Safety is needed.
Apple / Android

Add Important Numbers

In your phone contacts, add the numbers of public safety and hotlines for easy access. You can find some of them here.

Location updates with Family & Friends

When walking around or going out at night, sharing your location with friends or family can be very useful to keep yourself safe. Always do this with people you trust, and a commonly used app among friends is Life360. If you don't feel comfortable using apps, just make plans with others if you don't get back at a certain time.

Stay on lighted paths

Some paths on campus are darker or emptier than others. The Quarter Mile and middle of campus is the safest spaces, so it is good to plan walks across those paths.

Always keep an ear out

For those who use headphones walking alone, always keep one out or noise-cancellation off to ensure no one catches you off guard. It's also good to take a few moments while walking to look around yourself.

Stick with groups

Having people to walk with can be helpful to increase safety. It can also be useful to walk nearby groups of people too if you don't have someone.

Incoming FAQ

The answers, links, and so on to your burning questions.
If you have a question that is unanswered, feel free to ask online.

Can I cook in dorms?

No, the ability to cook & access to kitchens do not exist in dorms unless you have accommodations by a dietitian.

Can I bring something to cook with?

No, you cannot bring any cooking appliances to keep in your dorm other than an auto-shutoff coffee/tea maker.

Do I get my dining dollars & swipes refunded to me?

No, you will not be refunded any of the dining money you do not use by the end of the academic year. It will all be forfeited to RIT.

What happens if I run out of dining dollars & swipes?

You can add more money to your dining card using Tigerspend if you run out.

What happens if I don't do my housing contract?

If you don't do your contract, you will be unable to self-select for housing. RIT will choose your space and roommate(s) for you.

What are the best dorms?

They are basically all equal, you will get opinionated recommendations when you ask this based on experiences (which most people only live in one dorm during their time in residence halls)

How do incoming housing appointments work?

Everyone is lined up for selection based on the date of deposit, any notable accommodations, and certain statuses. You will be emailed an appointment time in late may to early June to select your housing. Once it is time to select housing, you (or group leader) enters into the myLife portal and selects a room/rooms.

What happens to my room over breaks?

It will stay untouched over small breaks + winter break, but you are required to move out for the summer.

What do I do if I have a problem with my roommate?

First, talk to an RA or Ombuds to see if there is a way to remedy the situation. If not, you are able to talk to housing and swap spaces if there are any available.

Can I bring my car to campus?

Yes, but you must purchase a parking permit for the semester or year and can only park in certain parking lots.

How do I select classes for my first semester?

You do not select your classes first semester, your advisor does so for you. In June, you will receive an email from your advisor to provide any preferences you may have that they can attempt to fulfill.
After first semester, it is up to you to do your own classes. A guide can be found here

How quickly can I get an on-campus job?

The easiest jobs to obtain when you arrive to RIT is in dining. You will be able to access Workday once you've arrived to campus.
These are the documents you will need to be able to work.

Course Recommendations

Collection of Courses recommended by students that are easy or fun!
Recorded recommendations come from RIT Maincord.
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All recommendations are General Electives or Perspective Electives.

Class Registration

How to register for your classes! All images are clickable.
To see the succession of course registration among years, Click here

Accessing SIS

Search up sis.rit.edu in your search bar. Click the first link: "Student Info System" and sign into your RIT account.

RIT Class Roster & Enrollment Page

Once signed in, click "Enroll & Search" to see your enrollment appointment, put classes in your shopping cart, and other things in regarding classes.

Appointment & Class Search

First, go to Enrollment Appointments. Here, you can see the span of time that enrollment occurs. When it is around the time for applying to classes, you will see your time slot at the top of the page. Once enrollment appointments are released, you will be given a time where you can enroll in your classes (The Red highlight within the pictures)Next, head over to "Class Search & Enroll." Here you can search classes that are available for that semester. It will prompt you to select the term you are looking to apply for, so make sure you take note of that. To start searching, you can either use the basic search bar or click "Additional Ways to Search." If you use the main search bar, use specific major codes to find things that are relevant to your progress: GRDE (Graphic Design), ARTH (Art History), etc.Always check in with your advisor to know the classes you need for that semester to stay on track. Using that information, you can head to the CSH ScheduleMaker to prepare and see options that work.

Finding Class Choices

Once you enter in the topic in the search bar, multiple classes will appear for the coming semester with different professors and different times. You can use the filters on the left to slim out options based days as well.Once you click on a class, you will be shown class options– some classes may have more than one section. It also displays the class time, section number, professor(s), and the open seats in the class.Another way to search for classes is through "Additional Ways to Search" which will provide you with ways to select specific classes for specific requirements (General Education, Wellness, etc.)

Adding to the Shopping Cart

Once shopping carts open, you can select a class and add it to your shopping cart (Reminder this does not enroll you into the class and is only to choose the classes you want to enter.)You will continue through the next steps and if you want you can select the option to be waitlisted if there are no open seats. Once you accept the addition to your shopping cart, you will be prompted with a validation and details.

Validating your classes

To check if your schedule works for the semester, head to the Shopping cart and select all the classes you chose. Click "Validate" and it will give you a brief of whether your classes work or not.If it doesn't, you will recieve an X marked next to the class does not fit and with details of why it may not fit.

Submitting your classes

Once your enrollment time has arrived, you will go to the shopping cart and select the classes you want to enroll in. You will then click "Enroll" and you will be enrolled into the classes that work.If any of your classes are rejected (the page you are taken to after clicking "Enroll" with explain), it will provide an explanation as to why.

Reasons why a class enrollment may fail:

Unable to enroll due to the lack of available seats. These seats may be reserved for the major, minor, graduates, or those with accommodations like interpreters.
Not meeting a prerequisite for the class you chose. Some classes require you to take other classes beforehand.
The class is full and the waitlist is full (if you have chosen to apply to the waitlist)
Your class conflicts with another class in your schedule.
You've already enrolled in the class.

Modifying your Schedule

If you dislike a part of your schedule, always discuss your changes with your academic advisor. Dropping, Switching, or Adding classes may effect your academic path; talk before taking action.

Class Swapping Function

The class swap function is good to use when you are actively on waitlist for another class and would rather not risk dropping a class to make space for the waitlisted one.At the time you enroll, before joining a waitlist you can go to the swap tab and set up the swap function for a class you're currently enrolled in. Once you are through the waitlist and accepted for the class, the class will automatically switch out.

Viewing your Schedule

After you've made your schedule, you can head over to TigerCenter to see what it looks like on a calendar. TigerCenter also gives you the ability to download the calendar so you can upload it to Google Calendar or any equivalent.

Special Interest Housing

The set-ups of Special Interest housing in Residence halls.
All houses have off-floor memberships if you are unable to be on-floor.

Layout Imagery

Collection of Student-opinion & Facts, along with imagery for better understanding of housing spaces to live in. Some are Upperclassmen-only.

The videos provided come from multiple different buildings and rooms may look different than presented when you arrive to your space. They are purely to display what the spaces tend to look like and their amenities. All videos are crowdsourced by different students; thank you for your help with this!

Apps to Download

RIT Mobile App

This app offers links to many RIT applications, such as dining, Shuttles, and FMS Work Orders. It also has Public Safety contact information.
Apple / Android

TigerDine

App designed by an RIT student that displays information about dining locations and their hours for the week or current day.
Apple / Not Available on Android

Duo Mobile

RIT uses Duo for their 2-factor authentication, which requires the phone app to allow you to access secure RIT websites such as MyCourses and SIS. This is required to access RIT content.
Apple / Android

RIT TigerSafe

Pulse/MyCourses

MyCourses has an app. Doesn't have everything, but allows you to see content tab, grades, and class schedule.
Apple / Android

Make It Big

Not everyone on campus is hearing, so having this app is very helpful when communicating quickly. It makes your text easy to read than using a notes app.
Apple / Android

CampusGroups

Required for Freshmen Orientation, this app allows you to register and check-in for on-campus and club events.
Apple / Android

FD Mealplanner

Viewing menus and ingredients of the food places at RIT.
Apple / Android

Stress & Coping Tips

Get fresh air daily

Go touch some grass! Getting out of a stuffy space like your room is so important for your brain. You often can be so engrossed in class work that you can forget to go out sometimes.

Be Social in the Physical World

Socialization can play a very important part. Even if it’s just talking with your classmate, RA, or professor, it can do wonders to have some sort of interaction so you aren’t isolated. If you don't want to always talk to people, you can also just sit in spaces among others– social presence can make you feel better as well.Attend events like Bow Wow Wellness or clubs from time to time. Those can help you find people and also get interaction with others.

Try Getting Off Campus!

RIT campus can feel real isolating. It is difficult to get off, but not impossible. If you have a friend with a car, go even just out driving. If you don’t, take the bus to the nearby marketplace to even just walk around shops. Sometimes its nice to see the world beyond and feel grounded.

Practice Time Management

College can really push your procrastination tendencies if you have them and not having structured time can burn you out. Develop skills, find resources, and reach out to others to keep yourself accountable.

Establish a professional therapist/support

Having someone to talk to through the challenges is important. Establish a therapist or support that you can talk to, whether it’s through RIT’s CAPS, being referred by the RIT Health center, or otherwise.Although talking to a friend is often helpful, it is not a full solution. It can easily be difficult and stressful for the other individual, who is also going through their own struggles being away from home.

Sleep and Eat!

Sleeping is so important for your brain. Get at least 6+ hours of sleep a night. Your extensive gaming can wait till the weekend, it is not worth sacrificing your sleep.Try your best to eat healthy and get in some food from all groups. Eating too much junk will reflect badly both on your health and your mind. If that’s difficult, just make sure to eat something 3 times a day– if you struggle to get outside to get food, make it a routine for you to go with your roommate or a friend to get dinner or lunch.

Be Open & Honest

Be honest about how you are feeling with friends, and even professors. Professors want to see you succeed, and they want to hear if you are struggling. Many of them have gone through college and struggled too, so they might have helpful ideas for you. Don't be afraid to express your feelings, especially when you are in a new environment without family. Upperclassmen experienced missing their family too.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! People want to help you.

Whether it's from online, in-person, or over email, the people at RIT want to help you succeed and be well. Please reach to those you feel comfortable with, and don't be afraid to ask a question.