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Frequently Asked Questions
Safety Concerns | For
International Students | Health
 Safety
Concerns
How is Rensselaer protecting our safety?
The Office of Public Safety has increased campus patrols and observation and has put in place additional security measures for special events. The 24-hour personal safety escort service has been enhanced to include a point-to-point off-campus personal safety escort within a 5 minute radius of the campus from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., Monday through Friday. Call 276-6656 to request this escort.
How does Rensselaer respond to serious threats?
Every potential threat to public safety is responded to and handled according to guidelines set by local, state, and federal authorities. In the event of a campus emergency, call 276-6611. In a non-emergency, call 276-6656.
Is it safe to travel abroad?
You can find official travel information on the U.S. State Department
Web site at: travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html.
You can also find general overseas travel safety awareness information
on Public Safety's home page, www.dps.rpi.edu.
Have there been any ethnically motivated incidents
on campus?
There have been no incidents of consequence. Rensselaer celebrates its
diversity and its multicultural community. There is no tolerance for
hate. If you feel you have been the victim of a bias-related incident,
contact Public Safety at 276-6656.
Is my mail safe?
Rensselaer’s Office of Public Safety, the U.S. Postal Service,
and the FBI all have issued guidelines for suspicious mail. You can
find Rensselaer’s guidelines at: www.rpi.edu/dept/public_safety/mail.html.
For the latest updates go to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) Web site at www.cdc.gov/
For International Students
Tough scrutiny by Immigration officers is not new but more intense as a result of the attacks of Sept. 11. International students have always faced these issues; they are just more common now as a result of national security concerns.
If I want to go home for a visit, what do I need to do?
1. Make sure the ISSS Office has signed the back of your I-20/IAP-66
within the past six months.
2. Check the visa stamp in your passport to see if it is valid and will continue to be valid when you plan on returning to the U.S. If it is, you do not need to visit the U.S. Consulate while you are home.
If it is not, you need to apply for a new visa stamp
while you are home. To find out what you need to bring from Rensselaer
to apply for a new visa stamp, go to the ISSS
homepage "Leaving
and entering the U.S. and applying for a new visa stamp."
3. If you want information on the U.S. consulate in your home country, check out the U.S. Department of State home page. They maintain an index of many U.S. Consular office Web sites at: travel.state.gov/links.html. Please understand that these Web sites may not have the most up-to-date information. You will need to call the specific U.S. Consulate that you will be applying to for up-to-date information. These are only guidelines and do not guarantee re-entry into the U.S.
4. If you are close to the end of your program, take a letter from your adviser stating how important it is for you to come back and finish your program.
5. If you are really nervous about being refused a visa stamp,
do not travel.
Can I travel within the U.S.?
Yes. Make sure you have your passport with the original I-94 card, and either your original I-20 or IAP-66.
Does FERPA (the "Buckley Amendment" privacy act) apply to international students?
Yes. FERPA applies to the records of all students, regardless of immigration status. However, there are some very important exceptions. For a detailed discussion go to the practice advisories page under immigration advising resources on the NAFSA:Association of International Educators’ Web site: www.nafsa.org.
Where can I find information about new and proposed laws that might affect international students and scholars?
Both bills and laws are posted on the Library of Congress' Thomas Web site, at thomas.loc.gov/. The Thomas site has grouped legislative action related to the Sept. 11 tragedy together on one section of the site, at thomas.loc.gov/home/terrorleg.htm. Only items that have been officially proposed are posted on this site.
Remember that proposed regulations are not law until a final
(or interim final) rule is published in the Federal Register. To access
the Federal Register Web site, go to: www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/frcont01.html.
Health
What is SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)?
The CDC is working diligently to
find the cause and appropriate treatment for this illness. The most
accurate information about SARS is available from the CDC
and their SARS specific Web
site. The Student
Health Center staff is monitoring this site, as well as getting
updates from the American College Health Association.
Should I be tested for anthrax?
The nasal swab testing you hear about in the news media has been performed
on people who have highly suspect or confirmed cases. There is no test
or reliable screening for anthrax in a person who does not show symptoms
of the disease. Emergency response systems and emergency rooms in local
hospitals will report unusual illness directly to the New York State
Department of Health, and to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Is anthrax contagious?
Anthrax is not contagious in either form — inhaled or cutaneous
(skin).
Where can I get more information about anthrax or
other health-related issues?
For the most up-to-date health information, go to the Web sites of the
New York State Department of Health at www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/bt/bt.htm,
and of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov.
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