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Rensselaer helps educate “leaders of tomorrow” by providing a robust set of student life programs and services designed to:
Details on student life and services are offered in The Rensselaer Planner and Guide to Student Life, a publication of the Student Life office, and can be accessed from the Student Life and Services Home Page at http://www.rpi.edu/dept/student-life/www/. |
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Office of the Dean of Students Dean of Students Mark Smith (Interim) The mission of the Dean of Students Office (DOSO) is to support and assist students in the achievement of personal and academic success with an emphasis on student development, advocacy, rights and responsibilities, safety, and liability. The services and initiatives of this office include: counseling, advising, and referral information; policy development and implementation; the approval and processing of excused absences, leaves of absence, and withdrawals; and overseeing the Institute judicial system. Greek Affairs Greek Affairs provides counseling, advising, and program development for individual social fraternities and sororities, as well as advises the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils. In addition, this program reviews and approves applications for recognition, is involved in policy development and implementation, and is committed to positive alumni and community relations. Office of Minority Student Affairs The Office of Minority Student Affairs (OMSA) provides support services-academic, financial, personal and career—to students underrepresented in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering professions, and/or enrolled through the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP). Support services focus on recruitment (precollege initiatives), enrollment (summer programs), retention (academic initiatives, counseling, financial aid, and leadership development), and graduation (career development, graduate student support initiatives). International Services for Students and Scholars International Services for Students and Scholars (ISSS) provides educational programs and consulting, arrival information, orientation programs, counseling and advising, and immigration information for Rensselaer’s International community. ISSS also serÍes as liaison to government agencies, sponsors, and other campus offices. All Rensselaer students and exchange visitors who are not United States citizens or permanent residents must register with ISSS. Disabled Student Services Disabled Student Services (DSS) provides support services and referral information to current or potential Rensselaer students with disabilities. This service assists students in achieving access to the academic, social, and cultural programs offered on campus. Services are available to students whose disabilities may be physical/orthopedic, psychiatric, sensory (hearing, vision), or learning-related (including dyslexia, attention deficit, traumatic brain injury). Center for Dispute Resolution This center offers mediation and conciliation services for the Rensselaer student community and serves as a resource regarding dispute resolution. Student Conduct Regulations governing student conduct and a statement of student rights are contained in the Rensselaer Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities. These policies are intended to help maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning and personal growth, and to make the process of education positive and successful for all members of the community. Each student is expected to obtain a copy of the current handbook and to know its contents. Dean Lisa Tranan The Office of the First Year Experience The Office of the First Year Experience offers a comprehensive array of programs and initiatives for both students and their primary support persons that begin before students arrive on campus and continue well beyond their first year. Specifically, the Office of the First Year Experience sponsors the Navigating Rensselaer orientation program, Family Weekend, Campus Community Service Day(s), and the Information and Personal Assistance Center (IPAC) along with many other community service initiatives, programs, and publications designed to help students and families navigate Renssealer. Navigating Rensselaer consists of a two-day on campus orientation session for both students and families in July; on-line access to information and campus-based assistance throughout the summer, and a five-day program geared toward familiarizing students with the campus and surrounding area just before the start of classes in the Fall. Student Orientation Student Orientation is designed to aid new students in their transition, integrate them into the life of the Rensselaer community, and introduce these students to the broad opportunities available at Rensselaer. Essential components of the orientation program include an introduction to the academic and student life aspects of the Institute; opportunities for new students to interact with faculty, staff, and continuing students; and the opportunity to meet with an academic advisor and register for classes. The orientation process also includes a component that is designed to provide information to the immediate support group of each student (e.g. parents/guardians, spouse, etc.) who play an important role in the life of a new student. Navigating Renssealer & Beyond When students arrive on campus in the Fall, it is our hope that they are relatively comfortable with the campus and ready to get involved, connect with classmates, and explore the surrounding community. Navigating Rensselaer & Beyond is a five-day program full of skill building opportunities, interest specific activities, and interactive ways to connect with others. Information and Personal Assistance Center IPAC is a resource to the campus community, providing directory and general information. In addition IPAC offers several campus service programs each year designed to enhance the student experience at Rensselaer. Family Weekend Traditionally, Family Weekend occurs during the fall semester. It is a festive weekend for students and their families, which includes such activities as Honors Convocation, athletic events, faculty demonstrations, and special receptions. Director Thomas L. Tarantelli Career Development Center Home Page The Career Development Center (CDC) helps students take charge and manage their career development. The CDC offers a comprehensive program of career development, co-op, internship, and job placement activities to both undergraduate and graduate students. Rensselaer students have 24-hour access to many career services and resources via the World Wide Web. Graduating Student Services More than 500 companies conducted over 9,000 interviews on campus in 1999-00. Top employers of May 2000 graduates included American Management Systems, Andersen Consulting, Deloitte & Touche, General Electric, IBM, KPMG Consulting, Proctor & Gamble, Teradyne, The Boeing Company, and United Technologies. Co-op Program Rensselaer’s optional co-op program, which is open to both undergraduate and graduate students, provides an excellent vehicle for students to gain critically needed work experience while still in college. More than 800 students were enrolled in Co-op in 1999-00, working for leading employers such as General Electric Company, United Technologies, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The vast majority of co-op students obtain their jobs through the Career Development Center and can apply for a wide variety of positions in over 20 states. Director Robert F. Ducatte Athletics is an integral part of Rensselaer life. Varsity sports, intramurals, and athletic clubs provide students with an opportunity for instruction in sports for physical fitness, recreation, and development of leadership/followership skills. Intercollegiate Sports Rensselaer fields intercollegiate teams in 23 sports:
The men’s hockey team competes at the Division I level and in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) hockey league. The remaining teams play in Division III. In many of these sports Rensselaer also fields junior varsity teams. Rensselaer is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the ECAC, NYSWCAA, and the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association. Undergraduates manage a variety of athletic squads. With the aid of the staff, they supervise matters concerned with the care of equipment and the direction of contests, developing skill in management and initiative in leadership. The department also trains and employs student trainers, lifeguards, and equipment room attendants. Athletic Clubs Club sports sponsored by the Rensselaer Union include offerings such as Aikido Karate, Archery, Badminton, Ballroom Dance, Bowling, Cheerleading, Chung Do Kwan, Crew, Cricket, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Gymnastics, Isshinyu Karate, Judo, Juggling and Unicycling, Outing Club, Racquetball, Rugby, Sailing, Scuba, Ski Club and Team, Squash, Table Tennis, Tae Kwon Do, Tennis, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weightlifting, and Wrestling. Intramural and Recreational Program An extensive intramural athletic program offers competition in 20 sports: basketball, billiards, bowling, golf, gym hockey, ice hockey, indoor soccer, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, touch football, track, badminton, aerobics, water polo, baseball, wallyball, wiffleball, and volleyball. Two intramural leagues are subdivided into as many divisions as necessary to accommodate all who are interested and to provide a level of competition commensurate with abilities. Recreational opportunities of all descriptions, either planned or unstructured, are available to all students. Facilities Rensselaer’s athletic fields include five illuminated for practice after dark and one with seating for 3,000. The Ned Harkness Field and Track, a synthetic turf field and track, was opened in 1994. The ’87 Gymnasium contains two general-purpose gymnasiums, a swimming pool, seven four-wall combination handball and squash courts, a weight room, an indoor track, and a wrestling room. The Rensselaer Alumni Sports and Recreation Center houses the Robison Gymnasium, which has an indoor track; a physiotherapy room; basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts on a resilient surface; and locker facilities. The Robison Pool has eight lanes for competitive swimming as well as three-meter and one-meter diving boards. The Houston Field House has an artificial ice rink, locker and team rooms, and permanent seating for 5,300 spectators. The Mueller Center, housing cardiovascular, weights, aerobics, and other fitness activities, opened in 2000. Director Richard M. Hartt Every enrolled activity fee-paying student is a member of the Rensselaer Union, a self-supporting and self-governing body that controls, finances, and organizes student activities. The Union recognizes 130 service, media, religious, performing and visual arts, multicultural, athletic, and extracurricular clubs and organizations. The Union serves as a partner in intramurals and intercollegiate athletics, providing operating budgets for all varsity programs. Students are also responsible for the business operations of the Union, including the University Bookstore, a convenience food store, Post Office substation, a full-service bank, and a number of other retail operations. The Union also works with individual students and student organizations to identify and carry out internships and projects that benefit the greater Troy community. Student leaders at Rensselaer are elected in an all-campus student election each spring. The offices of grand marshal, established in 1866, and president of the Union, established in 1891, are the two most responsible positions. An executive board of students makes major budget and policy decisions for the Union. The Undergraduate and Graduate Councils represent their respective constituencies, and the Student Senate draws representation from the entire student body. The Archer Center for Student Leadership Development Director Linda McCloskey The Archer Center for Student Leadership Development conducts leadership/followership workshops for student organizations, manages a Professional Leadership Program, offers Lifeskills and other training programs, and works with faculty developing interactive formats for courses and laboratories across campus. Archer Center staff members also teach a required course sequence in the Lally School of Management and Technology and offer a part of the Professional Development program in the School of Engineering. Coordinator Edward Kacerguis Rensselaer has a combination of resident and part-time chaplains who represent major faiths and work with the appropriate student organizations: the Rensselaer Christian Association, B.A.S.I.C., the Rensselaer Newman Student Fellowship, Hillel, and the Islamic Student Organization. All chaplains are available for personal counseling regardless of the beliefs of the individual. The Rensselaer Newman Foundation and the Catholic Chaplaincy offer all the services of the usual parish and operate the Chapel and Cultural Center (C+CC). The Protestant Chaplain (who works with the Troy Area United Ministries), the local rabbis, and an imam on campus seek to involve students in the life of the local churches, synagogues, and mosques. The Catholic Chaplains conduct mass daily and four times on weekends when classes are in session, and the Protestant Chaplain holds services on nights chosen by the students. The Rensselaer Christian Association gathers each Friday for song, prayer, and sharing, and in small groups daily. The Rensselaer Newman Student Fellowship organizes varied activities and speakers. Hillel is a focal point for the Jewish student community, gathering for their activities throughout the year. The Islamic students meet throughout the day for prayer as well as on each Friday for Sabbath. A number of churches, synagogues, and mosques in the area welcome students to their communities. Director Peter G. Snyder Approximately 55 percent of the undergraduate student body lives in campus housing. Options vary from apartments to traditional double and triple rooms in residence halls. Institute policy requires that all noncommuting single first year students live on campus and participate in a Platinum, Diamond, or Gold dining plan. Single upperclass and graduate students may choose to live either on or off campus, to join a dining plan, or cook for themselves. Students selecting Burdett Avenue Residence Hall housing are required to enroll in either the Platinum or Diamond dining plan. Rensselaer’s Family Student Housing community is home to 93 families who reside in three individually styled apartment complexes. A closely knit and culturally diverse community, the family housing area offers plenty of green space and play areas, a community center, and access to campus and community resources. The Office of Residence Life is the focus for student housing programs related to living and dining at Rensselaer. In addition to providing clean, comfortable, and well-maintained residence halls and apartments, Residence Life strives to build a community that values the potential of each individual and encourages students to broaden their perspectives, enhance personal growth, and prepare for life beyond Rensselaer. A student staff of resident assistants, associates, family area managers, and learning assistants complements the professionals in the Residence Life office. General Manager John Fusco Rensselaer Dining Services, managed by the Sodexho Marriott Services, offers an innovative dining program designed to meet the diverse dining needs of the Rensselaer community. Meal plans range from unlimited meals anytime, in any resident dining hall, tü those with unlimited meals within specified hours or days. Students may also use Mealplan Advantage Dollars (MAD) at all resident dining halls and other Sodexho Marriott Services managed facilities on campus as well as Rensselaer Advantage Dollars (RAD), which can also be used at non-dining services food outlets such as Father’s, and Pizza Delivery Service. Students with special dietary concerns for religious, health, or personal reasons may make arrangements to meet with the dining services to see how their needs can be met. Rensselaer does not operate a kosher kitchen but can offer frozen kosher dinners to any resident student who requests them. Bag lunches are available for any meal plan participant who cannot attend a regularly scheduled meal due to class schedule conflicts by bringing their class schedule to the general manager or dining hall manager. For more information, refer to our web site at www.rpi.edu/dept/dining. Director Robert B. Athanasiou, Ph.D., M.D. FACEP The Student Health Service is a comprehensive, nationally accredited, physician-directed program providing outpatient ambulatory health care. Services include medical, gynecology, and allergy clinics, a counseling center, and health education and wellness programs. Specialty consultation referral and prescription delivery program are also available. The Student Health Service is fully certified by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). The AAAHC is an independent national organization that evaluates the quality of care at ambulatory centers such as outpatient surgery centers, clinics, and college health centers. Rensselaer’s commitment to seek and maintain AAAHC certification provides assurance of the quality of patient care and the appropriate organizational framework for providing care. The Counseling Center offers individual counseling sessions and group workshops for personal and academic adjustment problems. Confidentiality is strictly maintained except when a student’s behavior presents a clear and present danger to the student or to others. Located on the Troy campus, the Gallagher Health Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends during the academic semesters. Summer session and vacation hours are more limited. A 160-bed community hospital with a 24-hour emergency department is located two blocks from the campus. All matriculated students pay a Health Center Fee that provides access to the Student Health Service during each regular semester (see Tuition and Fees section). This is a mandatory fee that is not waivable. Coverage for summer sessions is included in the spring semester fee. Rensselaer students are required to have adequate health insurance. The Rensselaer Student Accident and Illness Health Insurance Plan uses a low-cost Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) that provides nationwide year-round coverage at a very reasonable cost (see Tuition and Fees section). This insurance plan, together with the services of the Student Health Service, provides seamless coverage for students while at school. The plan also meets J-1 visa requirements. Dependent coverage is available at reasonable cost. Students who have equivalent health insurance that provides nonurgent coverage in Troy, may request waiver of the PPO plan. All students, including part-time students, must submit a medical history and record of physical examination on a form provided by Rensselaer. No other form can be accepted. Students must show adequate evidence of meeting Rensselaer and New York prematriculation immunization and tuberculosis screening requirements. Student Records and Financial Services Director Sharon L. Kunkel This office combines the activities of the registrar, bursar, and financial aid offices to provide seamless services to students, families, alumni, and Institute faculty and staff. Student Records and Financial Services registers, provides advising support, awards and administers financial aid resources, and manages accounts for all Rensselaer students. This office maintains accurate student academic and financial records and preserves the confidentiality, security, and ethical handling of these records. It implements academic policy guidelines developed by the faculty as well as financial policies set forth by federal, state, and Institute guidelines. |
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