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PULSE Newsletter

Hannah McCoy - Friday, August 28
 Events 

Hello RIT365 Facilitators!

Thank you for making both Connect & Serve and Training so amazing! We loved spending time with you as we welcomed our new Tigers and kicked off a new school year. Together, we packaged over 100,000 meals! 

As many of you know, PULSE is our weekly newsletter, designed to keep you informed with updates, ideas, and resources to help you support our newest Tigers at the start of their RIT journey.

In this issue: 

  • From your Semester To Do List
  • Training Follow-Up
  • Bi-Weekly Team Meetings - Starting Sept 2 
  • Important Reminders
  • Rubric Reminder
  • ROAR AND SOAR Weekly Student Emails 
  • Primary Points of Contact

FROM YOUR SEMESTER TO DO LIST

This was shared in your training folder and is shared again here as a reminder. Be sure to check out this list for things to do to keep on track. Many of these were accomplished at training on Sunday! 

  • Follow the First Class Plan, located in your Planning Workbook and Experience Guide Summary sheet.
  • Outreach to students who were absent from the first class
  • Plan ahead - the first Bi-weekly meeting begins week 2 - double check your group!
  • Reference the Facilitator Resources website for questions that come up
  • Every week, read the PULSE email newsletter. Past issues will be available in the PULSE Archive
  • Schedule a time to meet with your Co-Facilitator weekly
 

TRAINING FOLLOW-UP

  • Class Requirements Slide: A few facilitators asked that this slide be shared. 
  • First Class Profile: fun facts about our New RIT Tigers from our shared slides 
  • Check our "RIT students share advice for the incoming class" for insights that can help you connect with your students. 
  • T-Shirt Pick Up: NEW Facilitators, please stop by the YOP Office Suite to pick up your shirt. Here is the MAP to our office location. 

PLEASE COMPLETE OUTSTANDING TRAININGS
Please complete any remaining trainings by the end of the first week of classes, August 28th . For reference, Here is a link for the asynchronous training requirements. We appreciate your commitment and look forward to a successful semester together.

 

BI-WEEKLY TEAM MEETINGS- Starting Sept 2

Bi-weekly team meetings are a place for you to share your challenges and ideas, and support one another as Facilitators. Bi-Weekly meetings begin Week 2, Sept 2rd and are every other week.
  • 2026 Bi-weekly Meeting Schedule
  • Here is a copy of the updated Bi-weekly meeting assignments. We have included noted requests on this list. Please be sure to reference this and plan for your assigned day/time. 
  • Bi-Weekly Meeting Attendance policy: If you must miss a meeting, please inform us and we will work with you to make up the time. 
  • PD Partners will be contacted shortly with program specifics and follow-up information from the meeting at training. 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

  • Facilitator Resources Page: Don’t forget to bookmark the Facilitator Resources website! 
  • Coaching Note Links: These will be posted to the Facilitators Only content section of myCourses by the end of week 3. 
  • Adjunct Facilitators, don’t forget to get your University ID Card from the University Services Center if you haven’t already done so.
  • Classroom Reset Reminder: Please be sure to reset classrooms for the next class session if anything is moved. The Institute has specific policies regarding setup. In many cases, tables are discouraged from being moved. 
  • NEVER Cancel Class: If a need arises for class coverage, contact YOP to arrange for a substitute. 
  • ACTIVITY SUPPLIES AVAILABLE in the YOP Office. Sign out items according to the sign posted on the supply shelf. Reach out to Hannah McCoy at hmccrp@rit.edu with any questions.
 

RUBRIC REMINDER

(a new weekly feature!)

Thank you to everyone for staying engaged during our rubric training!

This year, the rubric is the standard approach for grading portfolio reflections. As you begin preparing for the first reflection cycle, plan to use the rubric when reviewing student submissions.

  • Simplifies grading and feedback in one place
  • Helps student recognize their growth
  • Supports meaningful feedback and reflection
  • Builds stronger connections between students and facilitators

Watch for additional tips, resources, and updates in upcoming newsletters.

Have a fun incentive, challenge, or recognition idea for rubric use? We'd love to hear it! Send your ideas to yop@rit.edu.


ROAR AND SOAR WEEKLY STUDENT EMAILS

Each Sunday, RIT Academic Affairs sends students a “Roar and Soar” email with timely reminders about campus resources and strategies for success.

  • We will share the upcoming content with you so you’ll know what your students are receiving.
  • Encourage them to use the email as a reference point and a guide. 
    • The goal is for students to practice navigating and wayfinding resources on their own, building skills they can carry beyond RIT 365.
  • Please do not distribute this information directly to students. 
    • Direct them back to the “Roar and Soar” email so they get in the habit of finding and using these resources themselves.

Roar and Soar Week 2 

Sent to Students on August 30
  • Reminder: Your role is to remind students that Roar and Soar emails are delivered every Sunday with helpful tips and links to keep them on track. You can pick from the information below as a way to get students interested in checking their email.
  • Theme: Get involved – Students are more successful when they get involved in the campus community.
  • Tips: 
    • Go to a club meeting. Yes, they can just show up! Students can find clubs on CampusGroups and look for their meeting day, time, and location to stop by.
    • Find events by college. Some student clubs are connected to a college so they should ask a staff member in the Dean’s office for more information.
    • Check out all of RIT’s clubs. Student clubs include Greek life, religious groups, sports, multicultural groups, and much more.
  • Event reminders:
    • Add/Drop Deadline: Monday, Aug. 31
      • Students should make an appointment with their advisor to discuss options for adding/dropping a course before Aug. 31.
    • Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 7
      • There are no classes at RIT on Labor Day.
    • RIT Events Calendar:
 

PRIMARY POINTS OF CONTACT 

For questions that cannot be answered by visiting the Facilitator Resources website or talking with your Co, feel free to contact one of us:
  • SAU-A510 Standard Office Hours: DROP IN!
    • Monday, Wednesday-Friday: 9-4:30
    • Tuesday: 9-10,12-4:30
  • Facilitator Support:
  • Course Logistics, Experience Weeks and/or myCourses:
  • Supplies:
  • General Questions:
  • Safety & Emergencies:
    • RIT Public Safety: 585-475-2853 (V/TTY) or text 585-205-8333
    • Emergencies: 911 or RIT Ambulance: 585-475-3333
    • Download the RIT Tigersafe App for quick access
THANK YOU for being part of what makes this all possible!
We're grateful to have you as part of our Fall 2026 team!
The YOP Team