Legal issues
New Students
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International Orientation
- Pre-Arrival Guide for New Int'l Transfer Students for Fall 2013
- Pre-Arrival Guide for New Int'l Freshman Students for Fall 2013
- Pre-Arrival Guide for New Int'l Exchange Students for Fall 2013
- Pre-Arrival Guide for New Int'l Graduate Students for Fall 2013
- Survival Guide to Rensselaer for International Students
- Exchange Student Registration Instructions
- Emergency Phones on Campus
- Conversion chart for weight U.S. to Metric
- Conversion chart for temperature - Fahrenheit to Celsius
- Conversion chart for Miles to Kilometers
- Take the CDTA bus for Free with your RPI ID
- Completing the form I-94 for nonimmigrant students - entering the United States
- How to Access Your Financial Information Through SIS (student information system)
- Check list for New Exchange and Graduate Students
- Culture Shock
- Adjusting To Classes At Rensselaer
- Popular American Foods
- Academy Hall
- Student Union
- Spring 2011 Orientation Activities
- Health Information
- How to Access your BILL= E-Bill
- Intramural Sports at RPI
- Smoking Policy Handout
- Alcohol Policy Handout
- SEVIS
-
International Students Handbook
- Adjusting to American culture
- Advisors
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
- Good housekeeping
- Health care
- Housing, utilities, and furnishings
- Immigration information
- International student clubs and organizations
- Issues related to children
- Legal issues
- Mail and the U.S. Postal Service
- Money and banking
- Opportunities for spouses in the Troy area
- Security / public safety
- Services in the Troy area
- Shopping tips
- Social services
- Transportation
- U.S. telephone system
- Working on- and off-campus
- Visa application information
- Office of Graduate Education (OGE)
- Office of the First-Year Experience (FYE)
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 as to which 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, please consult the appropriate section of The Rensselaer Handbook; pay particular attention to the campus definition of, and penalties for, academic dishonesty.
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 the Legal Counseling section of the Rensselaer Union webpage.