Responsible RPI is RPI’s campus-wide framework for harm reduction, healthy decision-making and student flourishing. Evidence- and trauma-informed, Responsible RPI helps equip students with skills, support, and strategies to navigate decision-making in college and beyond. Using a holistic approach, Responsible RPI collaborates with various campus partners to engage students in conversations around alcohol and other drugs, healthy relationships, hazing, interpersonal violence, sexual health, sexual violence, bystander intervention and emotional regulation.
We focus on 3 Domains:
By exploring the relationship someone has with themself, students understand and learn how to regulate their internal experiences by developing insight into emotional patterns, coping behaviors, and identity formation. This helps students build a strong sense of self-awareness; a cornerstone of responsible, values-aligned action. Programming around the relationship with self includes:
- Self-assessment of substance use
- Building emotional regulation skills
- Addressing loneliness
- Understanding the impact of stress
- Exploration of personal values
- Building confidence in personal identity and decision making.
Exploring one-to-one relationships and group connections, students learn ways to identify healthy and unhealthy relations and explore how to navigate relational dynamics related to power, conflict, and disagreement with care, equity, and integrity. Programming around one-to-one relationships and small groups includes
- Hazing identification and prevention
- Building respectful and emotionally safe relationships
- Learning communication skills, boundaries, and conflict management
- Cultivating emotional intimacy in romantic, sexual, platonic, and other relationships
- Navigating loneliness and belonging
- Practicing safer sex and sexual health hygiene
- Communicating affirmative consent
- Identifying and seeking support for sexual & relationship violence
Relationship with Community supports students in understanding how broader systems, cultures, and narratives shape individual and group relationships and campus life. Opportunities in this area challenge harmful norms and assumptions while building collective responsibility through voice and community. Programming around relationship with community looks like:
- Bystander Intervention trainings
- Narcan Trainings with the Rensselaer County Department of Health
- Mental Health First Aid with RecWell at the Mueller Center
- Exploration of stigma, stereotypes, and cultural narratives that impede belonging and success.
Responsible RPI hosts programming open to the campus community each semester. To view our programming calendar and get the latest updates (click here) or follow us on Instagram at @doso_rpi
Responsible RPI Neurons (Navigating Education, Understanding, and Resilience through Outreach, Networking, and Support)
The Responsible RPI Neurons are trained student leaders who connect their peers to resources and start conversations around harm reduction, wellness, and community care at the peer-to-peer level. Through events, opportunities, and everyday conversations, The Neurons help fellow students build healthier relationships with themselves, others, and the campus community.
Stay up-to-date with The Responsible RPI Neurons on Instagram @rpi_neurons
The Responsible RPI Neurons are Recruiting! Are you...
- Passionate about helping others and making campus healthier?
- A good listener who friends turn to for support?
- Interested and/or passionate about conversations around alcohol and other drugs, sexual health, healthy relationships, hazing interpersonal violence prevention, bystander intervention, or emotional regulation?
- Excited to plan events, spread awareness, and engage with the campus community?
- Open-minded and eager to learn new skills in a leadership role that makes a real impact?
If you say yes to the above, apply to join the RPI Neurons! This volunteer, peer-education position is open to undergraduate and graduate students who graduate later than Spring 2026 and are in good academic and judicial standing.
Apply at this link by Friday, September 12th 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
Are you interested in requesting the RPI Neurons to table at or collaborate on an event? Fill out the RPI Neuron interest form.
Program Requests and Support
Is your team or group interested in a private training or workshop? Explore our offerings below.
To request a program, fill out our interest form, and you’ll receive a follow-up e-mail from the Dean of Students’ Office. You may request multiple programs at once.
Program requests are fulfilled on a first-come, first-serve basis. While we will do our best to fulfill your request, completing the interest form does not guarantee we will be able to meet it. To ensure the best chances of meeting your preferred availability, please request your program no later than 2 weeks before your desired date and time.
Responsible RPI Programming
Style: Lecture-based with interactive components
These ready-to-go, facilitated programs cover specific topics that are frequently requested by students and staff. They can be scheduled when classes are in session and requested by any group or individual. They can typically seat 6-50 participants, depending on the program. To learn more about what these programs cover, review their descriptions in the program request form.
- Bystander Intervention Training
- Regulate to Relate: Managing Stress to Navigate and Strengthen Relationships
- Rest is Radical: Finding Balance within “Grind” Culture.
- Hocus Pocus Focus on Boundaries & Consent
- Let’s Get Digital: Maximizing Pleasure & Safety in Online Relationships
- What’s Your Why? Motivation Beyond Fear
- Excelling as a Student Leader with Neurodivergence in Mind
- Mental Health First Aid Certification (8-hour course, max 30 seats)
Is there a topic you’d like to discuss but don’t see listed? E-mail malesl@rpi.edu to discuss more.
These group/team specific sessions will be available soon. Check back for updates!
1:1 Health Education meetings with Responsible RPI’s Health Educators are available upon request. Please e-mail doso@rpi.edu or reach out directly to the Health Educator you wish to meet with to schedule a meeting. Our health educators are confidential resources for Title IX support.
