Legal Issues

Your Rights and Responsibilities

As a non-immigrant student, you are entitled to basically the same rights as any US permanent resident or citizen, as outlined in the US Constitution. These rights include freedom of speech and religion. Your working activities are restricted by your visa status and you may not vote. You are however guaranteed numerous legal protections. If you are arrested you may consult with a lawyer before making a statement to police (other than identifying yourself), you are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and you have a right to a fair trial and a lawyer, even if you cannot afford one.

These rights carry considerable responsibility as well. Areas in which students have experienced problems in the past are:

Political Harassment:
Harassing other students from your country or other countries because of their political views, or reporting information on their political views to your home country, violates US law and Rensselaer's Policy, and can result in your dismissal from Rensselaer and deportation from the U.S.

Sexual harassment:
Rensselaer has established very clear rules to protect the rights of men and women to work and study without being subjected to sexual advances or discriminatory treatment. If you have a complaint in this area please report it to the Dean of Students Office (276-6266).

Campus Rights and Responsibilities

As a private institution certain rights and responsibilities are regulated by the University. For example, we are a non-sectarian institution; that means that Rensselaer is not connected with any particular religion. Therefore, you have the right to religious freedom, but there are strict regulations on what group activities can occur on campus.

The Rensselaer policy on religious observances is:
"Because Rensselaer is a non-denominational university that welcomes all faiths, the decision regarding absence from classes and laboratories on religious holidays is left to the individual. In the case of conflicts between the university calendar and an individual's beliefs, students, faculty and administrative staff will make arrangements to assure that religious participatioin is not restricted."

For a full explanation of campus regulations consult the appropriate section of The Rensselaer Handbook. Pay particular attention to the campus definition of, and penalties for, academic dishonesty (also in The Rensselaer Handbook).

Campus Legal Services

The Campus Legal services are described in detail in the Student Legal Services Bulletin. Read it carefuly since you may have to use this service during your stay at Rensselaer. It is advantageous for you to know what services are available to you as a Rensselaer student so that you may turn to them if the need arises. As a student you have access to a lawyer at no charge to help with items such as speeding tickets, reviewing an apartment lease, etc. These lawyers cannot help with immigration problems. For more information or for attorney hours contact the Union Administration office on the second floor of the Rensselaer Union 276-6505. You can also visit Legal Counseling on the Rensselaer Union webpage.