Flexible work arrangement policy

Timeline: October 31st, 2024
Departments should submit their final version of the Summer 2025, Fall 2024, and Spring 2026. 

Access: RPI Box
Each Department Head has been privately invited to a Box Folder that includes:
- Rollover from the AY 24-25 Schedule for reference 
- New document to collect and review the AY 25-26 Schedule
- Resources, Timelines, and Instructions on the process 

Once the Schedule is approved, all changes must go through the following review process. 

1. Faculty must first connect with their Department Head, clearly outlining the requested change and providing the rationale.
2. If the Department Head supports the requested change, they will then submit the change/rationale to the Student Services Manager.
3. The change will then be reviewed by the Dean and the Dean's Office for approval. 

Communication Intensive:

• Use this form to apply for Communication Intensive status for a course.
• Once completed, send the document as an attachment to CI_Review@rpi.edu.

HASS Inquiry Course (INQR):

• Use this form to apply for HASS Inquiry status for a course.
• Once completed, send the document as an attachment to HI_Review@rpi.edu.

Questions? Reach out to Kristin, Student Services Manager 

The Topics Course webpage will be shared with students, Hubs, and Advisors across campus. All the information requested in the form plays a part in advising, degree clearance, and how students ultimately select courses for their schedule to meet their graduation requirements. 
 

Objective: Outreach for Topics Courses via website

• Increase traffic to new and exciting courses
• Support advising conversations for students and advisors
• Support the degree clearance process 

It may take ~4 minutes to fill out this form (if your course description is complete). 
To submit your Topics Course, you will need:

• Course Title, Subject, and Course #
• Course Description- Prerequisites Information
• Restriction Information
• List of Majors, Pathways, Minors, and/or Grad requirements applicable to the course
• STS | If you list any STS programs, please provide a syllabus
   

Requirement Approval Process: Instructors are only responsible for Steps 1 and 2

1. List the requirements & requested materials related to this course based on program requirements (Majors, Pathways, Minors, and Grad Programs)
2. Submit form (link below for upcoming terms).
3. The Student Services Manager will work with departments to approve what requirements this course can fulfill.
4. Upon approval, information will be added to the HASS Topics Course webpage: https://hass.rpi.edu/advising/hass-topics-courses
5. Topics Course webpage will be used to support the Degree Clearance process.  

Submit Topics Course Information / begin approval process:

• Summer 2025 Courses
• Fall 2025 Courses 
   

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Institute Topics Course Policy:

• Topics Courses must only be taught for a maximum of 3 semesters (Institute Policy).
  • After its third semester, the course must be added to the Catalog or no longer added to the schedule.
• Topics courses must not be named courses in a Major/Program template, but they can fulfill electives.
• Do not assign the 4th number (296x) as it may change based on the scheduling process. 

To further advance our mission to create an environment where all students can thrive among a strong community of learners, we continue our proactive approach to safety by making our students aware of the part they play in ensuring that each individual can contribute to an inclusive environment and atmosphere.

Notice of Student Rights and Responsibilities

All Rensselaer students must understand and comply with the important policies, protocols, and requirements in the Handbook and all other related requirements set forth in Institute policies.

Rensselaer Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities

These guidelines define the term of appointment and appointment standards for Professor of Practice, Senior Lecturer, Lecturer, Teaching Fellows, Visiting Faculty / Scholar, and Adjunct.

Contingent Faculty Classification Standards

Per the Office of Export Control (ECO), every envelope and package being sent to a destination outside of the United States, or to a foreign national within or outside the US, must be logged through the ECO.BEFORE MAILING ANYTHING TO A NON-USA DESTINATION OR FOREIGN NATIONAL IN OR OUTSIDE OF THE US, please make a copy of the item’s mailing/shipping label (regardless of which courier is used), and fill out the Foreign Mail Form. Scan and send the mailing label and completed form to:Export Control.

RPI Foreign Mail Policy

Foreign Mail Form

Rensselaer uses the HelioCampus tool for Course Syllabus, Assessment, and Course Evaluation purposes. The Provost requires that faculty put their course syllabus in HelioCampus and students are asked to complete course evaluations in HelioCampus each semester for all courses.

HelioCampus Assessment Tool Support Resources

Your safety and well-being are our priority. In the event of severe weather conditions (snow, ice, wind damage, flooding, etc.) or a campus emergency, the Institute may determine that circumstances require a delay in operations, an early closure, Institute closure, or remote learning and working.

Please familiarize yourself with the emergency operation scenarios below. Furthermore, I strongly encourage you to sign up for RPI Alert to receive rapid communications about weather-related delays or closures as well as campus emergencies.

Emergency Operation Scenarios
A campus notification will be sent that will indicate the Institute is operating in one of the four scenarios listed below. In any of these situations, designated “essential staff” must report to campus unless otherwise informed by their supervisor. 

1. Institute Closure: All classes (remote or in-person) are canceled, and all offices are closed except for those delivering emergency services and supporting critical operations (e.g., Public Safety, Dining, designated research labs, etc.).
2. Remote Learning and Working: All classes are conducted remotely, when possible. Institute faculty and staff are expected to work remotely, when possible. If remote classes or work is not possible, faculty and staff should consult with their department head or dean, or direct supervisor, as appropriate.
3. Closing Early: All classes will be canceled, and all offices will be closed at the time specified in the campuswide announcement. Classes scheduled to begin after the specified time will not meet; this includes classes that are normally delivered remotely. Classes that do not meet remotely will not transition to remote delivery.
4. Delayed Opening: Classes are canceled, and offices are closed until a time specified in the announcement. Classes scheduled to begin prior to the time specified will not meet, even if those classes are normally delivered remotely. Classes that do not meet remotely will not transition to remote delivery. 

Students may hear directly from faculty, advisors, or coaches to address specific questions that may arise. Faculty and staff should consult with their department head or dean, or direct supervisor, as appropriate, for specific questions, and to make sure course contact minutes are met, whether in-person or remote.

RPI Alert
RPI Alert is our emergency notification system that provides rapid communications to campus constituents regarding weather-related delays or closures and campus emergencies. Notifications are delivered via text and email messages. Visit alert.rpi.edu to sign up or to verify and update your information.

When possible, a campus communication regarding next-day operations will be sent by 10 p.m., with follow-up or final messaging sent by 5:30 a.m. the next day.

General Preparedness
We also strongly encourage everyone in the RPI community to familiarize themselves and their families with emergency preparedness and severe weather safety. Visit New York State’s Learn About and Plan for Emergencies website for helpful tips.

revised: November 27, 2024

Rensselaer has devised The Rensselaer Intellectual Property Policy to benefit the public by encouraging and enabling technology development and transfer. The Rensselaer community is inherently creative, and Rensselaer’s physical and intellectual resources enhance the creativity of members of that community. This Policy reflects, in part, Rensselaer’s contribution to that creativity. It encourages creators to innovate by guaranteeing them a share in the benefits resulting from the Intellectual Property that they develop. At the same time, it also promotes
research and education activities at Rensselaer by allowing Rensselaer to retain a share of the benefits flowing from Intellectual Property developed under its auspices.

The Rensselaer Intellectual Property Policy

Defines appropriate use of campus electronic mail resources by Rensselaer personnel.

Email Policy

The following guidelines apply to the appointment, evaluation, and reappointment of faculty to endowed positions. In all instances, selection and operational criteria for appointments to endowed faculty positions will reflect the stated priorities and restrictions established when the donor agreement was signed and the position created.

Policy on Chaired Professor Positions

To define and establish a policy for providing additional compensation to tenured and tenure track faculty
and Non-tenured Instructional Staff.

Policy on Supplemental Pay for Faculty

The statements that follow have been prepared as guide concerning policies and procedures for conferral of the emeritus rank and the privileges afforded those tenured faculty who have officially retired from Rensselaer.

Policy on Emeritus Status for Tenured Faculty

Distinguished Professors at Rensselaer are awarded a scholars fund to augment their scholarly activities. The purpose of a scholars fund is to support the scholarly and professional activity of a distinguished chair holder to extend his/her impact to advance the University and/or the scholar’s field of research.

Policy on Distinguished Professor Scholars Fund

The purpose of this standard is to provide guidance in the appointment, evalua6on,development, promo6on, or re-appointment of world-class faculty who are appointed to the academic posi6on of a Constella6on Faculty at Rensselaer by the President

Policy on Constellation Faculty   

In order to fulfill the objectives and meet the goals outlined in the Rensselaer Plan, it is both prudent and desirable to have in place a mechanism by which faculty salary resources can be redistributed in an on-going basis, both to meet the changing needs of the Institute and to grasp new opportunities as they arise. 

Policy on Vacated Faculty Positions

The following guidelines should be used in the periodic review of Academic Deans being considered for reappointment

Policy on Reappointment of Academic Deans

Policy on Use of Endowed Chair Income

The significant increases in the research portfolio outlined in the Rensselaer Plan will require that faculty undertake new and sustained efforts in the research arena. One way to strongly encourage and motivate these types of activities while at the same time making proposals more competitive is through the implementation of a tuition cost-sharing program - the implementation of a procedure whereby a portion of the cost of the tuition for Graduate Research Assistants is provided by the Institute on externally funded, sponsored research projects.

Policy on Tuition Cost Sharing for Research Assistants on Externally Funded, Sponsored Research

The Faculty of Information Technology (FIT) is responsible for the academic oversight and operation of the interdisciplinary degree programs in information technology.

Guidelines for Appointments to the Faculty of IT

The following guidelines should be used in the three year review of Department Chairs being considered for reappointment.

Guidelines for Reappointment of Department Chairs

The purpose of this policy is to provide the timely process to be followed by the Dean of the school prior to the reappointment of Center Directors. These guidelines require that Center Directors be appointed for a period of three years.

Guidelines for Reappointment of Embedded Center Directors

The purpose of this document is to describe the guidelines, rights, and responsibilities of graduate students, faculty and departments with regards to graduate student teaching at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The goals of these guidelines are to ensure that teaching assistants are adequately prepared, given appropriate teaching assignments and workloads, and that there is appropriate oversight and mentoring by the department
and faculty.

Guidelines for Teaching Assistant Appointments

The New York State Education Department requires that communication with its associates is conducted through a designated institute liaison. Please contact Dennis Gornic, institute liaison for Rensselaer, at 518-276-6488 or gornid@rpi.edu for assistance with program registration questions, procedures, and for the appropriate forms to use.

Registration Process for New Programs and Changes in Existing Programs