IHNYC RC Programs Calendar — How It Works (for Residents)

What this is

The IHNYC RC Programs Calendar is a private calendar feed you can subscribe to so IHNYC programs/events appear automatically in your calendar app (Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, Outlook, etc.). Once subscribed, new events will keep updating without you needing to add them manually. Hopefully this helps with engagement.

How to subscribe

1. Go to: https://calendar.ihnyc-rc.org/subscribe-programs
2. Enter your name and email.
3. Complete any security verification (if shown).
4. Click Get Link.
5. Check your email for the confirmation link. Be sure to check your junk/spam folder if you don't see it in your inbox.
6. Open the confirmation link — it will bring you back to the Programs subscribe page, where you'll see buttons to add the calendar to:
   • Apple Calendar (one-tap add)
   • Google Calendar (opens in new tab)
     • Manual Google Calendar subscription: Open Google Calendar on a computer, click the + next to Other calendars, choose From URL, and paste your private ICS URL.
   • Outlook (opens in new tab)
     • Outlook subscription: In Outlook.com calendar, choose Add calendar → Subscribe from web, paste your private ICS URL and select Import. In Outlook desktop, choose Add calendar → From Internet, paste the URL and confirm.
   • Or Download / One-Time ICS (no automatic updates — for one-time import only)

If the one-tap buttons don't work, you'll see a "Copy Calendar Link" button. Click it to copy your private calendar URL, then manually add it to your calendar app. You can also expand the "Having trouble adding to your calendar?" section on the subscribe page for detailed manual instructions.

What the "magic link" email is for

The email link is a quick security step to confirm you control that email address. Once you click it, the site creates (or refreshes) your private subscription link and shows you the calendar add buttons.

📝 Note: The magic link expires after 30 minutes. If it expires, simply request a new one from the subscribe page.

⚠️ Important: If you request a new email link, it will revoke your previous token for this email address. Your existing calendar subscriptions will stop updating, and you'll need to re-add the calendar using the new links.

Your subscription link is private

Your subscription is tied to a private calendar link (a URL with a token in it). The links associated with the calendar buttons are private and unique to you. Treat them like a password:

• Don't post them in group chats
• Don't share them publicly
• If you think they were shared accidentally, request a new link from the same page

💡 Tip: You may want to bookmark the subscription page after confirming, as this lets you add the calendar to multiple apps or access your links again later without requesting a new email.

If you see "Sync Error" or the calendar stops updating

Sometimes a calendar app may show a message like "Sync Error", "Can't refresh calendar", or events may stop updating.

This usually means your subscription link is no longer valid.

🔧 Fix: Go back to https://calendar.ihnyc-rc.org/subscribe-programs, enter your name + email again, and follow the email confirmation link to generate a new subscription link. You'll need to remove the old subscription from your calendar app and add the new one.

How updates / refresh timing works

After you subscribe, your calendar app refreshes the feed automatically—but refresh speed depends on the calendar app. Calendar apps refresh at different speeds (minutes to hours depending on the app):

• Apple Calendar (iPhone/Mac): Often refreshes within minutes to a few hours.
• Google Calendar: Can take several hours, and sometimes up to 24 hours to fully refresh.
• Outlook: Typically refreshes within hours, but may vary by device and account type.

If you just subscribed and don't see events yet, give it a bit of time. If it still doesn't appear, try removing the subscription and re-adding it using your private link.

Subscription validity and event details

• Your calendar subscription is valid for approximately 4 months (about a semester) until it expires.
• Events default to 1 hour in duration (since the happenings email doesn't always include duration information), but actual events may be shorter or longer.
• If you need a specific event duration reflected in the calendar, or if you notice any corrections or amendments needed, please contact the RC using the contact form and select Technology.

RSVP links inside events

One-time download vs. subscription

• Subscription (recommended): Use the "Add to [Calendar]" buttons or copy the calendar link. This creates a live subscription that automatically updates when new events are added.
• One-time download: The "Download / One-Time ICS" option downloads a static .ics file. This file contains only the events that existed at the time of download and will not update automatically. You'll need to re-download if you want new events.

If something looks wrong

If you're stuck, please use the contact form and select Technology. Include:

• what calendar app you're using (Apple / Google / Outlook)
• what device (iPhone / Android / laptop)
• a screenshot of what you see
• whether you're using a subscription link or a one-time download