Revised August 15, 2022

Requirements to comply with health and safety requirements for students attending the Rensselaer campus and activities. 

The health and safety of students and other persons on the Rensselaer campus are of paramount importance. Considering the continuing global concerns with the COVID-19 virus, Rensselaer maintains requirements and restrictions designed to enhance the safety of our Rensselaer community. The requirements are focused on preventing an outbreak in our campus community. Key requirements include mandatory vaccinations (including boosters) for enrolled students and compliance with Rensselaer’s T3SQ protocols: Testing, Tracing, Tracking, Surveillance, and Quarantine/Isolation.

Responsibility for knowing and complying with current health and safety requirements rests with all Rensselaer students. These requirements supplement the Community Health Emergencies Statement included in the Rensselaer Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities, and apply when attending the Rensselaer campus or living on or near the campus, as well as to gatherings or events hosted by students, events or locations where members of the Rensselaer community attend, and Rensselaer events or any Rensselaer-sponsored activities.

As COVID-19 vaccination, and available boosters to those who are eligible, is a condition for enrollment, students who fail to show proof of vaccination and boosters (or have been granted an exemption in special cases) will have their enrollment revoked. Students who fail to comply with any of the policies or protocols may be required, as an administrative non-disciplinary action, to refrain from coming to campus, or immediately leave campus. Such action would be based on the decision of, and communicated by, the Dean of Students after review of the facts. Repeated, egregious, or intentional non-compliance shall be considered Grounds for Disciplinary Action (GDA), a violation of which may result in discipline, including but not limited to suspension or expulsion, and may give rise to an emergency suspension (suspended access to all instruction and activities) pending disciplinary action. The requirements are subject to change without advance notice, and details will be posted on Rensselaer’s website or otherwise communicated.

All Rensselaer students living in Rensselaer owned or affiliated housing (including Greek chapter housing), or in private housing in areas surrounding campus (within 25 miles of the Troy campus, or any other Rensselaer facility), present on the Rensselaer campus, interacting with members of the Rensselaer community in areas surrounding campus, or participating in any Rensselaer-sponsored activities, shall comply with communicated directives of the Institute designed to help protect the Rensselaer community from disease and contagion, including but not limited to the following:

1. Mandatory Immunization and Testing – which will include receiving vaccinations and boosters as authorized for use by the U.S. FDA or listed for use by the World Health Organization (WHO), and on-campus COVID-19 testing in accordance with prescribed schedules.
2. Social Distancing Requirements – including but not limited to applied restrictions or bans on events and gatherings, de-densified living arrangements, staggered in-person attendance at classes, dining or other activities, and restrictions on the number of individuals that may gather together or congregate.
3. Logging and Reporting – including any required reporting of potential exposure or symptoms to the Student Health Center, as well as logging or reporting, as required, regarding travel, contacts, and/or activities that may pose an exposure risk.  Use of a web-based app or other technology for tracking, tracing, and reporting may be required.
4. Provide and Maintain Accurate Contact Information to the Institute – to include mobile telephone number(s), emergency contact information and telephone number(s), and local address.
5. Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Safe Practices – if and as required for certain activities, which could include use of PPE in classrooms, labs, dining halls, and other areas.  Required safe practices may include practices such as regular disinfection of personal spaces and hand washing or sanitizing.
6. Compliance with Self-Quarantine or Isolation Directives - for persons who indicate actual or probable infection, have been in close contact with such person, or as otherwise required by Rensselaer to help ensure compliance with law and reduce risk.
7. Required Training – if and as required on T3SQ protocols and other requirements expected of students to reduce risk and mitigate consequences from the pandemic.
8. Compliance with all applicable government orders, directives, regulations, and laws.

   Current COVID-19 Related Policies, Requirements, and Information
   Current applicable policies, requirements and guidance related to COVID-19 can be found by visiting https://covid19.rpi.edu. 

A Word About Privacy
Rensselaer takes privacy of students and other members of our community seriously, and is required to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g.  Rensselaer’s FERPA Policies and Procedures can be found here. Rensselaer’s use of test results and other personally-identifiable data obtained as a result of these requirements will be used strictly to execute its communicable disease health and safety protocols. Use of personally-identifiable electronic data collected from students will be limited to use in tracing and tracking of contacts when a positive case appears. Such data will be retained only for the period reasonably necessary. Privacy-related concerns regarding the measures outlined in this document should be addressed to the Dean of Students Office.

Risk Acknowledgement
Responsibility for knowing and complying with the current health and safety requirements rests with all Rensselaer students, as consideration for and as a condition of enrollment at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. COVID-19 and related diseases are highly contagious. Participation in Rensselaer activities may increase one’s risk of infection, which could result in serious illness, and even death. Continued enrollment acknowledges that the student understands and assumes the risk, and that the risks can significantly increase if one has certain underlying medical conditions, which are discussed by the U.S. Center for Disease control.

Students who continue enrollment and participate in Rensselaer activities understand that Rensselaer does not offer any assurances that any or all the practices outlined above will be in place or will be consistently monitored or enforced. The student’s decision to be present on/near campus or in Rensselaer-owned or affiliated facilities is at their own risk. They also understand that action may be taken against them for failing to comply with Institute obligations hereunder.

The Institute’s vaccine and testing requirements are included in the COVID-19 policy posted at https://covid19.rpi.edu, which goes into effect on August 22, 2022. It will be reviewed and updated as circumstances change.

The DIAL application and the COVID-19 Dashboard will identify the current community transmission Tier. The first Tier will be announced in early September after all return-to-campus testing is completed.

Rensselaer senior leadership, consulting with the professional health care staff, may decide to implement testing protocols that vary from those associated with the described tiers. This may occur, for example, when the positivity rate on the Rensselaer campus differs from that of Capital Region counties. It may be required to utilize the DIAL application to schedule testing as directed.
 

Information on current policies, requirements and guidance related to COVID-19 can be found by visiting https://covid19.rpi.edu/.

It is required that all undergraduate and graduate students sign this agreement as a condition of being granted campus access.
Revised July 26, 2021

Agreement to comply with health and safety requirements for students attending the Rensselaer campus and activities.

The health and safety of students and other persons on the Rensselaer campus are of paramount importance. In light of the continuing global COVID-19 pandemic, Rensselaer maintains requirements and restrictions designed to enhance the safety of our Rensselaer community. The requirements are focused on preventing an outbreak in our campus community. Key requirements include mandatory vaccinations for enrolled students and compliance with Rensselaer’s T3SQ protocols: Testing, Tracing, Tracking, Surveillance, and Quarantine/Isolation.

Responsibility for knowing and complying with current health and safety requirements rests with all Rensselaer students. These requirements supplement the Rensselaer Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities, and apply when attending the Rensselaer campus or living on or near the campus, as well as to gatherings or events hosted by students, events or locations where members of the Rensselaer community attend, and Rensselaer events or any Rensselaer-sponsored activities.

As COVID-19 vaccination is a condition for enrollment, students who fail to show proof of vaccination (or have been granted an exemption in special cases) will have their enrollment revoked. Students who fail to comply with any of the protocols may be required, as an administrative non-disciplinary action, to immediately leave campus. Such action would be based on the decision of, and communicated by, the Dean of Students after review of the facts. Repeated, egregious, or intentional non-compliance shall be considered Grounds for Disciplinary Action (GDA), a violation of which may result in discipline, including but not limited to suspension or expulsion, and may give rise to an emergency suspension (suspended access to all instruction and activities) pending disciplinary action. The requirements are subject to change without advance notice, and details will be posted on Rensselaer’s website or otherwise communicated.

All Rensselaer students living in Rensselaer owned or affiliated housing (including Greek chapter housing), or in private housing in areas surrounding campus (within 25 miles of the Troy campus, or any other Rensselaer facility), present on the Rensselaer campus, interacting with members of the Rensselaer community in areas surrounding campus, or participating in any Rensselaer-sponsored activities, shall comply with communicated directives of the Institute designed to help protect the Rensselaer community from disease and contagion, including but not limited to the following:

1. Mandatory Immunization and Testing – which will include receiving vaccinations as authorized for use by the U.S. FDA or listed for use by the World Health Organization (WHO), and on-campus COVID-19 testing in accordance with prescribed schedules.
2. Social Distancing Requirements – including but not limited to applied restrictions or bans on events and gatherings, de-densified living arrangements, staggered in-person attendance at classes, dining or other activities, and restrictions on the number of individuals that may gather together or congregate.
3. Logging and Reporting – including any required reporting of potential exposure or symptoms to the Student Health Center, as well as logging or reporting, as required, regarding travel, contacts, and/or activities that may pose an exposure risk.  Use of a web-based app or other technology for tracking, tracing, and reporting may be required.
4. Provide and Maintain Accurate Contact Information to the Institute – to include mobile telephone number(s), emergency contact information and telephone number(s), and local address.
5. Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Safe Practices – if and as required for certain activities, which could include use of PPE in classrooms, labs, dining halls, and other areas.  Required safe practices may include practices such as regular disinfection of personal spaces and hand washing or sanitizing.
6. Compliance with Self-Quarantine or Isolation Directives - for persons who indicate actual or probable infection, have been in close contact with such person, or as otherwise required by Rensselaer to help ensure compliance with law and reduce risk.
7. Required Training – on T3SQ protocols and other requirements expected of students to reduce risk and mitigate consequences from the pandemic.
8. Compliance with all applicable government orders, directives, regulations, and laws.

A Word About Privacy
Rensselaer takes privacy of students and other members of our community seriously, and is required to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g.  Rensselaer’s FERPA Policies and Procedures can be found here. Rensselaer’s use of test results and other personally-identifiable data obtained as a result of these requirements will be used strictly to execute its communicable disease health and safety protocols. Use of personally-identifiable electronic data collected from students will be limited to use in tracing and tracking of contacts when a positive case appears. Such data will be retained only for the period reasonably necessary. Privacy-related concerns regarding the measures outlined in this document should be addressed to the Dean of Students Office.

Risk Acknowledgement, Agreement, and Release
I have read this document and I agree that I will follow the requirements as outlined above, as consideration for and as a condition of my enrollment at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. I acknowledge the highly contagious nature of COVID-19 and related diseases, and I understand and assume the risk that my presence on campus, in areas surrounding campus, or at Rensselaer activities may increase my risk of infection, which could result in serious illness, and even death. I understand that these risks can significantly increase if I have certain underlying medical conditions, which are discussed by the U.S. Center for Disease control here.

I understand that Rensselaer does not offer any assurances that any or all of the practices outlined above will be in place, or will be consistently monitored or enforced. My decision to be present on/near campus or in Rensselaer-owned or affiliated facilities is at my own risk. I also understand that action may be taken against me for failing to comply with my obligations hereunder. I release, discharge, and hold harmless Rensselaer, its employees, agents, and representatives, of and from all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs, or expenses of any kind (“Claims”) arising out of or relating to any of the matters addressed herein. I understand and agree that this release includes any Claims based on the actions, omissions, or negligence of Rensselaer, its employees, agents, and representatives.

It is required that all graduate and undergraduate students sign this consent form and participate in COVID-19 testing as directed as a condition of being granted campus access.

The SARS-CoV-2 Testing Acknowledgment and Consent form is your acknowledgment and consent for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Rensselaer) and external licensed labs working with Rensselaer to test you for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease known as COVID-19.

The enhanced requirements for the limited number of unvaccinated students who have been granted an exemption include the following, but additional requirements may be imposed as the status of the epidemic changes or Rensselaer experiences a significant increase in infection rates:

Unvaccinated students will:
1. Be required to submit to on-campus COVID-19 testing twice per week.
2. Not be able to participate in organized athletics (both NCAA as well as club/intramural) or student organizations which participate in similar travel and interactions, such as conferences or competitions.
3. Continue to wear a mask in class and all other indoor facilities. This is currently a requirement of all students. Bandanas and gators are not permitted.
4. Wear a mask at outdoor events and gatherings where more than [30] persons are in attendance.
5. Not be able to attend any campus events (indoor or outdoor), other than classes, where more than 100 persons in attendance.
6. Follow special dining hours, if so imposed, to limit clusters of unvaccinated students.

It is required that all graduate and undergraduate students log their interactions, activities, and symptoms in DIAL daily as a condition of being granted campus access.

DIAL is an important part of how Rensselaer can help to stop the spread of COVID-19 through a process called contact tracing which is designed to locate people who may have been exposed to the illness and to provide guidance that should prevent them from spreading it. Additionally, through DIAL, you are required to keep a daily log of any new health symptoms you have experienced in the past 24-hours that are not attributable to another non-COVID condition. Please be assured that the information you provide will ONLY be used for contact tracing. To help guide you through this process, watch the video tutorial.

One important precaution we are taking is to strictly limit physical contact between members of the Rensselaer community who have campus access, with those who do not have campus access, as well as people outside of our community. At this time, no visitors, including families, are allowed on campus. Additionally, only active students who are current in their participation in the Institute’s pool testing protocol may enter a residence hall or affiliated housing. Residential students are permitted to enter other residences at a one-to-one ratio of guests to residents.