Terra Dotta Software (TDS) is the software system ISSS uses to manage SEVIS records for F-1 students. TDS is used by ISSS to track changes to your information (such as your major or number of credits), complete required reporting to the government (SEVIS registration), and to process student requests (like transfers and OPT).
Every current F-1 RPI student and RPI alumni has an account to submit requests to ISSS. Submitting your request in TDS allows you to track its status.
ISSS emails sent through TDS will be sent from an email ending in "terradotta.email.rpi.edu". This is a valid email address. You can reply to the messages and your response will go to an ISSS staff member.
This page was lasted updated on: December 19, 2023
Accessing TDS
The login process for Terra Dotta (TDS) is different if you are a new student (have not started at RPI yet), a current student (enrolled at RPI), or an alumni (graduated from RPI). This system is only for F-1 students and alumni. Exchange Visitors (J-1) should use email for all requests.
If you are a readmitted student returning after a leave, contact ISSS for instructions on how to access TDS.
We recommend you use Google Chrome to access Terra Dotta (TDS).
Having issues logging in? Contact Assistant Director Emilie Buse at busee@rpi.edu and provide your RIN and screenshots of your issue.
You cannot access the system until after you have been accepted to RPI and have set up your RCS account. The RCS account is also used to access your RPI email.
After you have set up your RCS account, log in by going to the link below, click LOGIN in the top right corner, click the link to log in as a new/current student, and enter your RCS information.
- Website link: https://bit.ly/ISSS-TDS
Log in by going to the link below, click LOGIN in the top right corner, click the link to log in as a new/current student, and enter your RCS information.
- Website link: https://bit.ly/ISSS-TDS
One month after your graduation from RPI, you will be unable to use your RCS account to log in to TDS. Instead, use the alternate email address you provided us during your OPT application to set up your credentials.
- If you did not apply for OPT, please contact ISSS for help accessing your account.
Need to set up your credentials or reset your account? Go to the link below, click LOGIN in the top right corner, click the link to log in as alumni/staff, then click the Forgot your password? link at the bottom of the page to reset your account.
- Website link: https://bit.ly/ISSS-TDS
TDS Home Page
Terra Dotta (TDS) has a user home page. Here you can see all of your requests with ISSS and the status of each request. To get to your user home page, login and click the house icon on the top left of the menu bar, then click “User Home Page”.
There are three sections on this page: Records, User Profile, and Messages.
There may be information that is grayed out in some of these sections. This means that the data cannot be changed by you directly. If data is not correct and you cannot change it, please contact ISSS to inform us about the discrepancy.
- This section contains requests (called records in TDS) created by you and records created by ISSS.
- You can access records by clicking the red link with the name for the record.
- The status of your request is available in bold text to the right of each record.
- The status will only be updated after you have submitted your request to ISSS. If it has not been submitted, there is no status listed.
- The Academic Objective (F-M) is a record that you should not modify.
- You will see some records added by ISSS, such as SEVIS Registration. Do not make any changes to those records.
| Status You See | What The Status Means |
|---|---|
| Status: Student Action Needed | Something is needed from you (check your email) |
| Status: Assigned to Advisor | ISSS received your request and it has been assigned for review |
| Submitted to ISSS | Your request has been submitted |
| Status: Waiting for Readmission | Only applies to readmitted students: All I-20 documents are complete, but the readmission decision is unknown |
| Status: Waiting for Registrar | Your request is complete, and SIS must be updated by the Registrar before ISSS can process a new I-20 |
| Status: Ready to Process | ISSS has approved your request, and it will be processed soon |
| SEVIS-Processed | Your request was processed in SEVIS |
| Check-In Complete | ISSS has reviewed your Electronic Check-In and no changes are needed |
| SEVIS-Registered | Your SEVIS registration is completed for the term listed |
| Status: ISSS Processed | Your request has been completed by ISSS |
- This section contains your basic profile information.
- In the User Profile section, you are invited to add a CC Email Address in this section. That means that all communications sent to you by ISSS through TDS will go to both your RPI email and your CC (or carbon copy) email.
- Make sure to click the Update button at the bottom of the page to save your changes.
- In the Information section, most of this information comes from SIS, which is why it has been grayed out. If something is not correct, please notify ISSS.
- Changing information in your profile does not update SIS.
- This section contains copies of all messages sent to you from ISSS through TDS.
- To view the content of the message, click the red link with the subject line.
TDS Requests
ISSS is working to move all our requests into Terra Dotta (TDS). The Forms section of our website holds links to paper forms and/or TDS requests: https://info.rpi.edu/isss/isss-forms.
It is best for you to navigate to the ISSS website to access the direct link to a request. Each request will contain information you will provide through Questionnaires where you can type in answers or upload documents. Some requests may also have required Learning Content for you to review and/or Signature Documents for you to review and sign.
After completing all steps, you must hit the red Submit button at the top of the page. This is what submits your request to ISSS and updates the status on your home page to be Submitted to ISSS. ISSS cannot consider your request ready for review until it has been submitted through this process.
- If you are having issues with a request, please schedule a Virtual Advising appointment with ISSS to share your screen.
If you have already started a request, please do not start a new one. Instead, go to your home page to return to the request and submit it to ISSS.
If you no longer want to complete a request, please contact ISSS and we will cancel it for you.
TDS FAQs
Here are Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Terra Dotta (TDS).
Terra Dotta (TDS) is the software system that ISSS uses to manage your SEVIS record. Every current RPI student and RPI alumni has an account to submit requests to ISSS.
- Website link: https://bit.ly/ISSS-TDS
- New/current students: Log in with the RCS credentials used to log into your RPI email and the SIS.
- Alumni: One month after your graduation from RPI, you will no longer be able to use your RCS credentials to log in. ISSS will update your account to reflect that you have graduated and you will receive an automated email to the alternate email address we have on file (if you applied for OPT) to set up your account credentials.
- If you have graduated and did not apply for OPT, contact ISSS for help setting up your account
- If you are a current student, you will log in with the RCS credentials used to log into your RPI email and the SIS. You must have the Duo App to complete the required multi factor authentication.
- If you are an alumni, please send an email to ISSSoffice@rpi.edu with your RIN and a request to reset your password. If you wish to update the email address for your account, please include that in your message.
ISSS emails sent through TDS will be sent from an email ending in "terradotta.email.rpi.edu". This is a valid email address.
You can reply to the messages and your response will go to an ISSS staff member.
Terra Dotta (TDS) is available for those in F-1 status.
J-1 Exchange Visitors are not able to use TDS at this time.
- Choose the term that matches when you are submitting the request.
- Example: If you submit your request in Spring 2022, you will choose either Request 2022 or Spring 2022, whichever is available.
- Do not pick the term based on when you want the request to start; choose the term based on when you are submitting the request.
- ISSS is using TDS to manage your SEVIS record and make sure it is up to date. It is best for all your documentation and requests to live in TDS.
- You can see the status of your request. When you submit a request to ISSS, you will receive an automated email to confirm your request was received. You will be able to login and see the status of your application.
- Some requests can only be submitted using TDS, as paper applications are no longer accepted.
- We would love to hear from you, as the administrative side looks different from the student-facing side. Send us an email - include some screenshots too - and let us know what is confusing, doesn’t make sense, or what you want to see in TDS.
- Your feedback directly impacts how the system is built out for students and alumni, so please let us know what you think.
- Email us at ISSSoffice@rpi.edu or come in with your laptop during Open Hours and chat with us.