This is an archived copy of the 2015-16 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.fitnyc.edu/.

Enrollment Management and Student Success

Business and Liberal Arts Center, Room B221, 212 217.3800
fitnyc.edu/studentaffairs

The Division of Enrollment Management and Student Success is essential to FIT’s primary goal: to promote the intellectual, cultural, personal, and social development of students, as well as to provide quality student services.

Counseling Center

David Dubinsky Student Center, Room A212B, 212 217.4260
fitnyc.edu/counseling

The Counseling Center provides confidential counseling services and educational programs to help students adjust to college life, deal with problems that can affect their well-being and academic success, and develop skills needed for personal and professional success. The center’s counselors assess students’ conditions and provide appropriate care, which can include support during a crisis, short-term counseling, or a referral to qualified and affordable treatment resources in the community. Students are encouraged to seek out counseling at the first sign of difficulty, since early identification of problems minimizes the impact of those problems on their personal lives and their academic progress. Students may call or visit the center to arrange an appointment, come by during walk-in consultation hours, or be seen immediately for emergencies.

In addition to personal counseling, the Counseling Center provides a variety of programs and resources to help students develop competencies needed for academic and professional success. These programs include educational workshops and freshman success seminars that focus on important aspects of student development and performance. The center also provides a variety of informational booklets on topics related to mental health, personal growth, and study skills.

FIT-ABLE: Disability Support Services

David Dubinsky Student Center, Room A570, 212 217.4090
fitnyc.edu/fitable

FIT offers students with disabilities the opportunity to seek individually determined reasonable accommodations and services for their studies. The college welcomes students with learning disabilities, mental health issues, hearing/vision impairments, physical/mobility issues, and chronic illnesses to meet with the coordinator to discuss participating at the college level with a disability. Current evaluations from certified clinicians are recommended to document disabilities. This department provides students with individual reasonable accommodations for their coursework. We encourage and provide technology training to enhance the student's ability to participate in all FIT events, and eventually become a self-reliant graduate. Assistive technology equipment is available on loan for students registered with FIT-ABLE. Self-advocacy is encouraged. 

Students with learning disabilities (LD) are offered academic, personal, and career-readiness development through the LD program. Students on the autism spectrum or who have nonverbal learning disorders or social anxiety disorders may benefit from coaching provided by projectTHRIVE, a collaborative effort of FIT and the Jewish Child Care Association (JCCA).

The Office of Disability Services, FIT-ABLE, is a confidential support service for FIT students, upholding the mandates of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Titles II and III.

The office is a National Voter Registration Act voter registration site, whereby students with disabilities can register to vote or can make changes to their current voter registration information.

Health Services

David Dubinsky Student Center, Room A402, 212 217.4190
fitnyc.edu/healthservices

FIT’s Health Services is an accredited primary care facility staffed by nurse practitioners and physicians, a nutritionist, an acupuncturist, a massage therapist, and a health educator. The office provides primary medical and gynecological care. A referral list of consultants is available in cases where a specialist’s evaluation and treatment are required. Health Services also provides counseling on topics such as family planning, nutrition, stress management, and health maintenance.

FIT has a mandatory health insurance policy. All full-time students (including international students) are automatically billed for health insurance. Students can be excused from the mandatory insurance if they have equal or better health insurance from another company. In order to waive the mandatory insurance, it is necessary to complete and submit a waiver form by the deadline. For deadline dates and other insurance information, contact Health Services.

New York State law mandates that all students must provide proof of immunity against measles, mumps, and rubella in order to attend classes. Students born prior to January 1, 1957, are exempt from these requirements.

Proof of immunity is defined for the following as:

Measles Two doses of live measles vaccine given on or after the first birthday, and after 1967, physician’s documented history of the disease, or serological evidence of immunity.

Rubella (German Measles) One dose of live rubella vaccine given on or after the first birthday or serological evidence of immunity. A physician-documented history for rubella will not be accepted.

Mumps One dose of live mumps vaccine given on or after the first birthday, a physician-documented history of the disease, or serological evidence of immunity.

New York State Public Health Law (NYS PHL) §2167 requires colleges and universities to distribute information about meningococcal disease and vaccination to all students registered for 6 credits or more, whether they live on or off campus. Students must notify Health Services if they will receive the meningitis vaccination, have received it in the past, or decline/refuse to receive the immunization. Please note that according to NYS PSL, no institution shall permit any student to attend the institution in excess of 30 days or to register for the next semester’s classes without complying with this law.

An immunization form and a health form, enclosed in the admissions packet, must be completed and returned to Health Services. Forms can be faxed to 212 217.4191.

International Student Services

Business and Liberal Arts Center, Room B103, 212 217.3700
fitnyc.edu/iss

The Office of International Student Services assists international students and offers an array of programs and services to international students and scholars representing 80 countries. The ISS staff works to promote meaningful interaction between U.S. citizens and nationals of other countries through educational and social activities. The ISS staff advises international students and scholars on immigration, cultural, financial, academic, and personal concerns.

Residential Life

Alumni Hall, first floor, 212 217.3900
Kaufman Hall, first floor, 212 217.3930
fitnyc.edu/housing

Full-time, degree-seeking students are eligible to apply for housing.

Our four residence halls—Coed Hall, Nagler Hall, Alumni Hall, and the George S. and Mariana Kaufman Residence Hall—provide single-, double-, triple-, and quad-occupancy rooms and suites, all with laundry facilities, cable TV, and wireless internet connections. FIT residence halls are 100 percent alcohol-, drug-, and smoke-free. Policies are strictly enforced.

Housing is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Help is also available in finding off-campus housing.

Staff

Residence halls are fully staffed to assist students. Professional staff, including the director of Residential Life, two assistant directors, counselors, and hall managers, live in the residence halls. Resident counselors and managers are on call for emergencies at all times when the halls are occupied.

A security officer is posted in each residence hall lobby 24 hours a day when the residences are open. Visitors must provide proper identification and be signed in by residents.

Resident assistants (RAs), students assigned to live on each floor, help to create an environment conducive to learning, socializing, and acceptable community behavior. RAs serve as liaisons between residents and the college and assist students with educational and personal concerns.

Activities and Programs

Students have many opportunities to participate in social, educational, and community service activities sponsored by Residential Life and the Residence Hall Community Council (RHCC). RHCC—the association of on-campus residents—sponsors trips, events, and other campus activities, including the annual spring block party.

Registrar

The Office of the Registrar exists to support the FIT community by providing information and services to support, facilitate, and promote the educational mission of the college. This role specifically includes providing information about the services related to academic programs and degree requirements, registration and enrollment verification, and maintenance of permanent academic records for students, faculty, staff, and external constituencies in a timely, accurate, confidential, and supportive manner in accordance with college policy and state and federal law.

Student Life

The Department of Student Life at the Fashion Institute of Technology offers a complete educational, cultural, and social experience. Student Life is responsible for clubs and organizations, student government, orientation/Weeks of Welcome, leadership workshops, and social programming. The department is the center of many extracurricular activities on campus. Through active participation in our diverse opportunities, along with the services offered through the department of Student Life, students become engaged in campus life, enhancing their learning, exploration, and sense of community.