Center for Engagement and Student Success
Center for Engagement and Student Success
Building a community centered on trust, the Center for Engagement and Student Success will strengthen the academic success of RIT’s AALANA (African, Latin, and Native American) student population.
There are numerous ways for any student to participate and engage with the Center for Engagement and Student Success, including one-on-one coaching, leadership development opportunities, cultural diversity education, and community building programming. Specifically, students may participate in:
Programs
Division of Access, Engagement, and Success Summer Experience
An intensive four-week summer program that consists of two three-credit-hour courses, developmental workshops, academic coaching, and community building. This pre-collegiate program helps first-year students get acclimated to RIT, building confidence and bridges to resources before the school year begins.
Learn more about the DAES Summer Experience
Destler/Johnson Rochester City Scholars Program
Designed for exemplary Rochester City School District and Urban Suburban students who are selected based on their academic achievements, leadership potential, and desire to make a difference in the RIT and surrounding community.
Learn more about the Destler/Johnson Rochester City Scholars Program
Division of Access, Engagement, and Success Tutoring
Offered for “traditionally challenging” courses, with a peer-to-peer tutoring model, as a best practice approach for helping improve retention and graduation rates for underrepresented students.
Learn more about DAES Tutoring
Men of Character, Honor and Ambition (MOCHA)
is a one-year leadership development program with an emphasis on undergraduate men-identified, trans-masculine and non-binary students between their second and fifth academic years of study. Given educational disparities and underrepresentation in specific majors or careers MOCHA's programming is designed through the lens of men of color in order to close those systemic gaps. Students will participate in a series of monthly workshops offered by faculty, staff, and community leaders; foster a sense of community and bonding with each other and other men-identified role models of color through social outings; and support their health awareness and development through their participation in wellness activities. The MOCHA program is open to all eligible students regardless of gender or national origin.
Learn more about MOCHA
Women of Character, Honor and Ambition (WOCHA)
is a one-year leadership development program with an emphasis on undergraduate women-identified, trans-feminine and non-binary students between their second and fifth academic years of study. The WOCHA program aims to create an inspiring vision of the future by enhancing leadership ability, building sisterhood, and providing access to professional mentoring and networking opportunities. Given educational disparities and underrepresentation in specific majors or careers WOCHA programming is designed through the lens of women of color in order to close those systemic gaps. Students will participate in a series of monthly workshops offered by faculty, staff, and community leaders; foster a sense of community and bonding with each other and other women-identified role models of color through social outings; and support their health awareness and development through their participation in wellness activities. The WOCHA program is open to all eligible students regardless of gender or national origin.
Learn more about WOCHA
CESS Library at RIT Libraries
Looking for textbook resources? There are roughly 100 titles in RIT Libraries for CESS student use. Textbooks can be signed out for two-hour time periods, within normal operating hours. Search "CESS" under Course Reserves to browse.
Unity House
CESS and Unity House are committed to building a strong African American, Latin American, and Native American (AALANA) student community at RIT. In a dynamic and unique collaboration with Residence Life, CESS serves as joint advisor for Unity House. In this role we work collaboratively to advocate for the floor, as well as advise and support the student leadership. CESS and Unity House work together to ensure a full floor with robust offerings – we host Tutoring, collaborate on programming, and outreach to all RIT AALANA students.
Learn more about Unity House
Services
Financial Support and Assistance
Students are eligible to apply for academic scholarships, emergency loan funds, and receive books through the CESS Reserved Library held at the Wallace Library. These programs are offered to students on a semester basis, but students must meet the eligibility requirements for each program.
CESS Programs and Events
The Center for Engagement and Student Success sponsors a series of educational, cultural, and social events designed to foster students’ personal, professional, leadership, and academic development.
Family Meeting
The Family Meeting is a fall semester event offered in collaboration with NTID. It is a gathering of Division of Access, Engagement, and Success students at the halfway point of the semester to share food, fun, and friendship. This event brings together the recent Summer Experience cohort along with returning Division of Access, Engagement, and Success students for a community-building event.
Division of Access, Engagement, and Success Dean’s List Celebration
The Division of Access, Engagement, and Success Dean’s List Celebration is an annual event held each spring. The event celebrates CESS, HEOP, CSTEP, McNair, LSAMP and Future Stewards Program students. Students who achieved Dean’s List for the fall and the previous spring semester are honored with a reception. Special recognition is given to students who are graduating and a commemorative pin is given to each student to attach their graduation stole.
Division of Access, Engagement, and Success Celebration of Excellence
The Celebration of Excellence is a Division-wide end of the year event that celebrates the accomplishments of Division of Access, Engagement, and Success students, collaborators, partners, and supporters. This premier event also presents awards recognizing the contributions of student, faculty, staff, and alumni leaders to clubs, organizations, and departments.
Academic Support and Coaching
Professional staff are available to provide one-on-one academic coaching to students, to make referrals to other campus and community resources as appropriate, to monitor academic progress and recommend strategies for improving academic performances and to offer support with personal and social matters.
Our Staff
Marykatherine Woodson
Imani Baker
Robert Bonfiglio
Alexandria Collins
Holley Gallo
William Walker
Gena Willis