Transitioning back to Rensselaer

Welcome back! We hope your return to Rensselaer goes as smooth as possible. Here are suggestions to help you along the way. Feel free to contact our office if you run into any difficulty or if you have questions.

Mandatory

All readmitted students will meet within the first two weeks of the semester with their Dean.  This is a very important meeting and failure to schedule may result in holds on your account or rescinding your readmission.  At this meeting we will discuss your leave and make a plan for your successful reacclimatization to campus.

Schedule your meeting with your Class Dean.

Your readmission may have conditions like providing final transcripts from other institutions, meeting with your Class Dean regularly, or making Health Center or Counseling Center appointments, etc. Be sure to address these as soon as possible.

If you live in a residence hall, this will be updated for you. Be sure your permanent address is accurate.

  • Log-on to http://sis.rpi.edu
  • Click “Update Your Address/Change Your PIN”
  • Click “Update your Address”

  • Log-on to http://sis.rpi.edu
  • Click “Update Your Address/Change Your PIN”
  • Click “Update your RPIAlert phone number”

Check your bill to ensure that your financial aid has been applied and your bill accurately reflects your semeter charges. 

Other "To Do's"

If you have been physically away from the campus for one year or more, you must complete a new health form. Documents can be loaded online. Please contact the Student Health Center at (518) 276-6287 for details.

Rensselaer students can access their RPI email at outlook.office.com using their RCS ID and password. 

  • How to configure an email client (Outlook, Mail app, etc.) to manage RPI email.
  • Rensselaer security protocols do not allow the configuration of Gmail with your RPI email.
  • Using a non-RPI email address to conduct Rensselaer work could result in email being mistaken for spam.

Mobile device setup

https://outlook.office.com

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Rensselaer's Virtual Private Network (VPN) service is available to all students, faculty and staff and is explicitly utilized to provide a secure connection between off-campus individuals and the RPI campus network, allowing remote connections to secured campus resources.

Please note that as of May 15, 2021, Duo multi-factor authentication is required for off-campus VPN access.

https://vpn.net.rpi.edu

If you were receiving accommodations from Disability Student Services prior to your leave or have a new diagnosis, please contact DSS to update your paperwork.

Check in with the ID desk on the first floor of the Rensselaer Union. They can reset your ID.

Contact the VCC Help Desk in person or email consult@rpi.edu with your RIN and RCS ID.

Work with the Registrar’s office. Forms can be found online at http://registrar.rpi.edu and can be turned in to their office on the 2000-level of Academy Hall or emailed to registrar@rpi.edu.

Things may have changed between when you made your academic plan and when you are approved to register. Be sure the classes you are taking are appropriate and will work towards your degree. 

Join or re-join clubs and activities to stay active. There may even be some new ones since you were last here!

Dining options may have changed since you were last at Rensselaer – head to http://rpihospitalityservices.com/plans/ for information on plans and how to sign up (you can even sign up online).

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