Class Dean Meet and Greet Fall 2021

Uhm, at three seconds it's going to start. Yeah, we got it. Hello transfers. Hello, students incoming students as we start to see the participants go up, your class teens are here. The people I've been talking about all week. This session is required by all students, so I'm going to give everybody a chance to come on in.

Come on in and it's loading it's loading and we are going to get started right away. We want to maximize the time that you all have with your class themes today and we want to make sure that everybody knows this session will be recorded so you will receive a survey at the beginning of next week at the Inner Transition Week. Just kind of talking through all of the different sessions you've attended this week and you will have the playback links as well. So for the students I know we have some students that are traveling in right now from.

Across the country internationally as well. So please make sure your sound is on and right before we get started. I just want to make sure I give everyone enough time so it's 101. Right now I do my best to respect everybody's time. So we're gonna go ahead and get started. I am going to turn it over to our class Deans again. My name is J Felder. I am over at student transitions. We've been on email. We've been on presentations all week basically so it is good to see some new faces.

In the faces that are going to carry you through the rest of your matriculation at Rensselaer. So without further ado, I will turn it over to our Deans.

Everyone, how are you? I hope everything is going well as if you are not already here preparing for your arrival so we're going to go in and introduce our so sorry. So there are four class teens. UM, my name is Isabel Norman. I am the junior class teen currently. I will also introduce Janelle is not here but I will just say she is the first year Dean working with the first year experience. She's not.

Here, she's obviously running around doing first year events and things like that, and then I will let the other class teens introduce themselves.

Yeah.

I guess I'll jump first, and since I'm the sophomore class, seen my name is Claire Gonyou, so I will be working with those of you who are designated as sophomores.

And my name is Caitlin Newsham and I'm the senior class team.

Alrighty so there that's us.

So just to go into a little bit, the role of the class teen is you may have not ever heard of this before, or maybe at your previous college, so this might be a new role for you. So what we do basically is really just to help you got get you. You know, throughout your college career getting you across from one year to the next. So the way that it works is if you depending on what level what cohort you are grouped into, that will be your class Dean from the day you start.

Two all the way through graduation. So if it's myself or Claire, or maybe it's Caitlin.

They will essentially stay with you and this will always be your point of contact through through your last day here, whenever that is some of the things that we assist with, our academic and personal mentoring. So maybe your you have some questions about.

You know, if you're happy here, maybe there's some personal things going on in your life that you need to talk about and need some help with.

We do also do class specific programming and communications, so we will send out notices that we send out a monthly newsletter to our entire cohort that you will also be a part of and you will receive that and it'll basically be news, events, updates and any other helpful information that we think is important for you to know as a as a cohort.

And we do also work a lot with other offices in regards to student support, intervention and general student success. So we do tend to work a lot with a lack which you may have already heard about our counseling center. We work with a number of faculty and department both as Department's be advising House as well as individual faculty, and then we do oversee some more administrative stuff, so the excuse absences. So if for whatever reason you need to miss a class for illegitimate reason, you can reach out to us.

Do to fill out an excused absence request, uhm?

If you need to get into a class, or if you need to take more credits than you are assigned to, not that we recommend that right now. So whatever your schedules are, they should be good. But as you move forward, if you feel like you are capable of maybe handling a heavier courseload, we would also talk you through that process as well and sign off on that and then if for whatever reason, again, hopefully not now that you need to take a leave of absence, or if you are withdrawing as well as your process to return.

Normally we would handle that process as well. So basically we are like in a starting point if you need it. If you are ever unsure where to go or who to talk to or what offices you know to follow up with, we would be where you would start with with that help.

So we wanted to provide a few examples of some reasons that you might contact your class Dean or maybe even hear from us. So the first is that you received multiple electronic academic warnings, so we have something at RPI called EWS and.

Sometimes it's it seems, sounds punitive to students. It's it's not punitive. The purpose of it is to notify you of your status. And of course, if things aren't going well so that you have the opportunity to take action and change things so students may get an EWS for attendance reasons, maybe because they did poorly on an exam or something and and we receive copies of those, and so particularly when when there are multiple of those.

We often are reaching out to students to see you know what we can do to help or what they need to be able to be more successful in, of course.

You know, if you receive an E WS at some point from one of your professors, we would certainly encourage you to take whatever action is being suggested there, and sometimes that might mean like reaching out to your professor or tas and having a meeting with them. Maybe it means going to office hours more, but you might hear from us about about some of those things as well.

God forbid you know a student experiences a tragic event in their life that can make navigating school extra difficult, and so we can assist with that. We can help to communicate with faculty if a student needs to be out for a short period of time and things like that. We just want to make sure that you know you were feeling supported. If something like that you know were to happen.

Uhm, the next is after a strong start at RPI. You want to do a credit overload so we don't allow this in your first semester 'cause we know that the transition is can sometimes be challenging and we want to make sure that you have a smooth transition to a new school. But let's say that this semester goes really great in your you know you you do great in all your classes and in a future semester you want to take more than 21 credits. Students do have to have.

Approval from both their advisor and their class team to be able to do that. So that could be something that you consider down the road.

You're in a difficult situation and you don't know who to speak to. Sometimes things are just complex and maybe involve multiple offices on campus or. Or maybe you're even just not sure who to go to were a constant.

Source of support for that to either connect you to the right place or to kind of coordinate those connections across multiple offices. Like I said, in some cases and then the last is, you know, maybe you're overwhelmed with classes and with school and you want to discuss options, I think you all know that this is, you know, it's one of the best institutions in in the country and it's a rigorous place and so sometimes.

That is a feeling that you might have, particularly maybe in your first semester, as you're getting used to the university, and so we want to make sure that you know that you we always. You always have a place to turn to. If you need support around any of around any of those feelings so.

Like we indicated here on the side, you know, we just want you to know that you do have a constant source of support and that you can, you know, turn to us for anything at any point.

Assist me.

Uhm?

So we're just going to talk briefly about the expectations versus the reality of being a student in RPI, which is that the expectation that college is hard, right? I think we sort of know college is hard. The reality is, is that RPI is probably much more difficult than you may anticipate or realize at this point, and that of course will depend on where you were previously at, but it's it's a hard school. It's a hard, very hard school. It goes fast.

The coursework is not light at all and it you know it can be a lot to learn to navigate for the first time, even for those students who have previous college experience, it can just be a large adjustment.

So some of the things that we recommend in order to help you succeed here is firstly to to communicate with faculty and staff as needed or as appropriate.

Is usually, say, particularly if it's with coursework. You definitely want to start with your faculty while the class teens are helpful, I do not know anything about electrical engineering, so it may not be helpful to reach out to me first regarding an assignment. And professors are actually much more helpful and supportive, I think.

Then students might think they are, and so they they don't know that you're struggling. If you don't reach out to them to ask questions to follow up. I know sometimes that can also be very daunting in the classroom. You know when you're surrounded by students. So definitely visit them in their office hours or just email them to ask to meet. If that time doesn't work with you.

But they are definitely a great support resource of support that you should start with and then after that depending on what the issue is, you can always reach out to the staff. That could include the class teams that might include your advisor or the advising hubs, which are amazing.

Maybe that is a transition in office with Jade. You know you wanna reach out. People don't know how to help you if you don't let us know. And I usually say if a class teen is reaching out to you first, things are probably pretty bad. Usually like after Caitlin was mentioning the EWS right? My usual point of advice is students has reached out to your class teen first before the classiness reaching out to you, because it might. It's a sign that like things are not going well, but if you get to us.

First.

We can sort of get ahead of the problem and try to help you out as much as we can before it before it really minimizes the options that are available to you.

Secondly, have some open communication with your family about some of the struggles that you are going through in college. They also don't know how to help. You can't help you if they don't know what you're dealing with, and even for those students whose maybe parents didn't go to college or are not stem students. So maybe don't really know they can still offer advice on, you know, learning to navigate a new environment, meeting new people, how to talk to your professors, they kind of open.

Communication, and if anything they can just always be a sounding board for any of the stresses that you might be dealing with in college, right? Sometimes we don't need people to fix our problems, we just need someone to listen and to vent too. And I think our family members are a great opportunity to do that so that things are not pent up inside and making things worse.

Uhm, definitely. I would say at the start of the semester you want to identify and utilize your resources. So becoming familiar with the library hours, becoming familiar with the Union hours, knowing how to set up an appointment with with your class team like, have that link sort of readily available. We utilize discord for our students, which is a great resource for questions and information. You know you want to make sure to join that community as well.

And then actually use them, right? It's not enough to just know how to reach your class teen if you never set up an appointment with us. So make yourself aware of the various resources on campus, know where different buildings are, and know their hours. Where is a good place to get coffee? You know at the end of the day, those are all helpful things that you want to sort of learn now so that you're not trying to figure out how to navigate these things when you're stressed and overwhelmed. And maybe you know, we all don't think best when we're.

Overwhelmed and say you want to sort of have this prepared so that you have it when you actually need it?

And then.

Tighten All in all into. All of this is self advocacy. It's so important that when you are struggling to say something when you aren't confused about something to say something, do not be afraid. Sometimes we will offer recommendations to students if you feel like that is not the best and you are thinking so for some other things, you can definitely let us know that as well. We're always open to hearing other suggestions and sort of working through that to see if it.

Excuse me, makes sense if it's the best option at that time, but you have to be. You know you need to be able to speak up to hear for yourself and advocate for yourself and the things that you need so that we can help you. The best way that we can I can. I don't know if I can repeat that enough is that you know if you feel like things are not right, or even if you're not sure, maybe you're just like this doesn't sound right, but I don't know why it doesn't sound right, like you can always come and say, can we talk through this for a second?

And you know answer some questions. Maybe it's just that you need you. Would like some questions answered.

Before you make a decision, and that's totally legit and understandable. But you know you do have to speak up and let us know 'cause as much as we like to think we are. We are not mind readers and certainly not mind readers for 1500 students. So sometimes we need a little help being amazing at our at our jobs right? And so if you like.

In the question box.

Just maybe briefly put, what immediate concerns do you have about adjusting to RPI? And we can start answering some of those questions.

And then you can also generally just add any maybe thoughts or additional questions that you might have.

Or concerns?

OK, so it looks like our first one is about course workload and navigating a larger campus.

Does anyone wanna team?

I did want to address as ease asked when you'll get your student ID's. Uhm, I know for students that are living on campus those should be available when you move in. So when you go to E Cav before you get tested, I believe that's when you'll get them. I I think that's what the rest of you will get them as well. Uhm, it looks like director Felder jumped off here, so I I can't refund.

Sort of poke her on this question, but absolutely, if you're moving on campus, you will get it. You should as long as you updated uploaded your ID card early enough. Get it then.

Yes.

Uhm, so just to go back to that other course workload and navigating a larger campus.

Uhm, I would say definitely some time management and prioritizing for that. If you don't have a planner or calendar of some sort that you utilize, you definitely want to get into the habit of using something that will help you manage it. There are a lot of you know not everything falls on the same date. I know that sometimes that takes place at other schools, but you really want to be mindful of the deadlines and so you know. Like I said, I don't know. Some people prefer digital apps and people prefer old school.

Planners like paper planners and things like that, so I would definitely get into the habit. We also will be sharing an actual like time management calendar for you all to help you plan out semester long. You know it sort of helps you give us like a snapshot of what your entire semester looks like, but I think just being able to visually see what your deadlines are and when things are due.

Will allow you to manage your time a little bit better in terms of navigating a larger campus and it is an RPI is very spread out so I can definitely understand that. You might want to get familiar with the map.

And start identifying different buildings, and I think once you have been cleared for from quarantine, you know maybe just take some time out yourself to walk the campus and get an idea of.

Uh, how far things are worth, how far things are spaced out? You know it might be helpful to know like how long does it take to get from UM?

The PCC over to the Union so you can sort of help navigate how much time you may have for.

To get lunch and things like that. So I would say if you have a moment, you may just want to familiarize yourself on your own time with the actual campus so you can make it a little easier to get around.

All these questions are coming fast, OK?

And really quickly I just wanted to answer. I'm in the background, but I did want to chime in about the ID's really quickly. So for the students who are commuters, I think that's what the question was right from. Nick yeah. So for commuter students you should be able to go to the bridge near Union on the first floor. We talked a little bit about this in orientation. You can upload your picture or once you get to the actual office at the Union you can have the picture taken, but it would be ideal to get that done.

Between today, tomorrow, so that when you start classes on Monday, you'll be able to access any of the buildings that you need to. If you're going to be doing, you know any labs or etc. I know for like Seabus for the library you're going to need your car to tap in, so the sooner you get it, the better. If you are going to be a commuter student.

NJ Do you know if they're available on Saturday? I think maybe that was further down as a question.

I know the card office is not open on Saturday, but what may be available is the residential Commons may have some ideas for pick up so I will email reslife in the background to see if we can get a quick response and then I'll type it right here in the chat. OK, I'll see what they'll have for Saturday.

Great thanks.

And if you're moving in on campus and you uploaded your picture a couple of weeks ago, it should already be ready. But if you were one of the more recent like in the last week or two, if you just got re-admitted or you are admitted and you hadn't uploaded your ID picture yet, then they probably won't have it available yet. I did put the link for the campus card office.

In the the questions, so we'll see what Doctor Felder is able to get now, but that's also another good resource for you. You know, even if you want to know for sure, and you can, you can always give them a call today or tomorrow.

Uhm, if you have sort of a specific situation.

Uhm?

Next question is what are some essential habits to have when entering our first semester? I think Isabelle kind of spoke to this a little bit, but do either of you have anything to add there?

I would say get on, figure out your sleep schedule as soon as you can.

And particularly for those of you who have some early morning classes, as I just mentioned, it is a large campus and you do not want to underestimate how much time it takes to get from like.

The, uh, the wraps. Let's say all the way down to the library or to the academic building, and so.

Yeah, that would definitely be it. You want to start working on some sleep habits now.

I would say be proactive about going to office hours, I think.

Right, by the time you're kind of like panicking that you're not sure what you're doing, it's sort of like a little later than the ideal, so I would try to sort of build some of those into your schedule. If you're able to do that right. If they don't conflict with other classes and.

I think that's definitely a good idea, and I think something we didn't mention before is.

Uhm?

You know we talked about asking for help, but knowing that lots of students ask for help right? The most successful students are often the ones who ask for help. I think there's this sort of belief that all the people who are doing well, they don't need any help there, just kind of sailing through here. They know everything.

But really, the students who typically do the best are the ones who are utilizing the resources, so I don't know if Jade talked earlier in the week about a lack, right? The advising Learning Assistance Center they put on tutoring for a lot of the classes for the first two years at least.

That's a great resource, and the students who use those are typically the students who do the best in the courses, so I don't want you to feel embarrassed or ashamed if you feel like you know you're having a little bit of a hard time keeping up, or you're like you miss kind of like a concept.

Don't be embarrassed, just get out there and ask for help, and remember that that's foundational stuff, especially earlier on in the semester. So you want to make sure you don't miss that stuff.

And I think the last thing I'd add from like a non academic perspective is you know really encouraging you to get involved on campus. I think a common fear for transfer students is you know I'm coming in here and like people already have their friends. I don't know anybody, but there's so many opportunities to get to meet people through clubs and activities. You know, even if you're living off campus and you don't have people you know nearby and residence halls to meet. So, so I would really encourage you to take advantage of those.

Opportunities you know. Get involved in some things that you're interested in, and it also helps you to build. You know, obviously, have balance in your life, but also build like a routine that would be helpful for you both academically and personally.

And I would also kind of like to build on that. Just having a little willingness to put yourself out there like I want to acknowledge that it's tough when you're starting in a new place and you don't know anybody. But sometimes just you know, taking the initiative right like the Union will put on the student activity fair.

Come challenge yourself to get out and go to that. That's a great way to connect with people who have similar interests. Similar interests to you to see what other groups there are out there to also meet other people so you know it might be a little you know, kind of little uncomfortable in the beginning, but I think you'll be really happy if you sort of do that and take some initiative in the beginning.

I.

So our next question is, what is the due date to add and drop a course? Dean Gonyer put further down in the chat a link to the academic calendar, but just so that people are aware of September 13th, is the ad deadline. So let's let's say you could add a course to your schedule.

But you actually can drop a course until October 22nd, and until we do have two different deadlines for those here.

And I saw another question about going home for the weekend. Once in awhile. They haven't made any UM statements about that yet in terms of expectations for folks traveling, I would sort of hang tight for now to see if there are any campus wide guidance on that. As of right now, there isn't any, but I think it may also shift throughout the semester, right? And as as we watch cases.

On campus and probably in like the region, I would say that could vary, so just hang tight for now on that.

How is my spot in here, UM?

I see I live off campus. Do I still need a parking ticket? You only need to get a parking pass if you would like to live on to park on campus if you want to just walk or take public transportation, you don't. You can follow whatever parking restrictions are present where you're living.

Up

Sorry, I'm trying to find the next question so it looks like somebody asked about work study positions. Will they be assigned or do we have to contact someone?

Do either of you know?

You're assigned.

I don't.

I guess I was looking up the next one. What was that question?

Oh

If you have work study, do you get assigned to a position or?

You

yes, they will be assigned. They haven't been done yet.

yeah.

Uhm?

I don't know about. I believe you actually pick up.

Parking passes at the Parking office, so I just put the link to their website there at the corner of Peoples and Burdett, but their address is right there on the bottom of the website.

Great and then our next question is so we do we need to go to the card office page and request an ID and never got info?

On this day, do you?

Yeah, 'cause you have to go on and upload if you're, especially if you're new student, you have to go in and upload your picture.

Right, so on Monday we talked about the transition to getting the ID card so you have to go on their site to upload a picture first. So if you haven't done that part of it then you won't have one actually printed. But I also put in the chat that we did hear back from Res life that they will have the ID's printed for you all on Saturday. So if you are moving in and I think that question from Joseph Joseph are you living on campus or are you going to be a commuter student? Either way they will have.

ID's on Saturday and I think Dean Ganga you put it in the chat, right? The campus card link so you would click that link that she provided. There it says here's the website to campus card office. You would go there, upload your photo and then if it's not available to you on this Saturday then most definitely it'll be available to you on Monday.

And can they have their photo taken here, Jade?

Yes, so the at the card office that it's kind of set up. You know, similar to like a DMV. They have like the background so you can go there and get your picture taken. Very old school but a lot of new feature is students being able to upload their picture because some students don't typically like the picture. They get everything. So that's a new great feature that you can upload a picture, but if you just happen to come to campus they can do it at the Rensselaer Union in the CART office as well.

Great thanks. So next we have to go ahead.

I did type in there, so go ahead the someone asked where the COVID-19 testing is, so for now it'll probably move in the next couple of weeks, but for now the COVID testing is if an ecab which is the East Campus Athletic Village, especially if you're moving in this weekend, you won't be if you'd get up to a cab, you won't be able to miss the building that everybody is going into, so don't panic.

Finding angle you cut out for a little bit there. Can you say it one more time for them? I know you're saying ekab, we caught it at the end but on my screen you cut out a little bit. I don't know if there was anybody up.

Moving in, you know thousand people a day so you won't miss it.

Oh

OK, yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's up in the East Campus athletic Village and will be once you get up there. It'll be very crowded. You'll see lots of people. You'll know exactly which building to go to. We're moving in about 1000 people a day over the next couple of days.

Jade, can you address derricks question, uhm?

Where is Derek? What does he have there?

About IDs for folks not living on campus well, they only have them for students living on campus or not.

At this point, I think if you have your ID card uploaded or the picture uploaded, they may have it available at the student living and Learning site, but I think because you're a commuter student, Derek for you, if you're not able to get to campus today or tomorrow, definitely just get your picture uploaded. Or you can do it first thing Monday morning. And if you need help as far as like navigating campus and getting to buildings until you can get your ID, then we can.

Help you with that, but I would say because your computer you should definitely check with the Rensselaer Union first because I think for res life they have the ideas of the students that are actually going to be moving in.

So that's the freshman or a few freshmen. All the sophomores, sophomore transfers, and the juniors that are living on campus.

And Derek just email me at the student transitions email if you get to Monday and you're not able to get your ID like early in the morning. If you need to have access to your buildings, 'cause I'm pretty sure your classes start at 8.

Most of them do. I don't know what time your first class is on Monday, but we can definitely make sure you're able to access your classes that you need to and get your ID on Monday.

Now and we have a question. If you have your photo taken at the student union, do you get your ID the same day now? Yes you do. Yep.

Yes, yes, they'll print it out that day as well.

I feel like my questions aren't loading.

I keep approving them over in the questions section. OK, so it looks like we currently have a non matriculate undercard ID that needs to be updated before I move in on Saturday, but I have not received a response from the Registrar's office.

So we.

Parent is not being accepted in the system.

And have made several attempts. Is there someone I can be in contact with directly?

Did you?

Read that one again. Caitlin, what does this say?

So they.

Millimeter.

They need to move in Saturday and Sunday, but they haven't received a response from the registrar's office, and their RIN isn't being accepted in our systems.

They were proof.

So that means they must be a brand new student. They must have just deposited maybe a day or two ago, and they probably still need to be in contact with us. So what's the student's name?

Nancy asanti

Oh no, Nancy has been with us. So Nancy, you're having trouble with getting your ID. Or is it your registration? Which one is it?

OK, so we may have to reset your SNES.

she says that the rent is not being accepted in this system, but let's see and that's the ID she says it's the ID.

Is the ID the rensler identification number OK?

So I'll make a note here.

Because we will have to do a reset, but it should be the same ring number. We just have to reset it.

Well, she said it's her ID.

Is that the ID card?

I'm at ID card, yeah?

Oh the ID card. OK OK, so that will be, UM, I'm pretty sure they can take a look at it at the ID card office. Where are you not able to?

Outlook, she just said Renshi just clarified.

OK, it is the rain. OK, so they're in we would just have to do a hard reset and then it should be just fine. So that's something that I can take care of with the registrar's office. We can get that done.

Right?

M. Jodi asked for the ID card. Can you get it before classes on Monday morning? It's going to depend what time your classes right? 'cause the ID card office opens at 8:30. So if you have an ATM class you may not be able to get it, but I feel confident if you get there a few minutes before you can follow somebody else into the building.

Yeah, it looks like you start at 10:00 AM. You said so I think you'll be fine.

Oh yeah, more than enough time.

Uh, someone asked about classroom assignments. Those should be done sometime today. None of them are in yet. The registrar has been working to finalize classroom assignments, so do not panic that you see TVA for now.

Blackboard will happen also in the next like before Monday it will happen.

Yeah, but again, that's that's for everybody not being able to see it right now. Not not just to you, so don't worry.

And it looks like someone wants to know how do we access blackboard?

I don't know if I've linked.

Just so you know, they call it LMS here.

Uhm, just so you're aware and it's lms.rpi.edu.

I have a question regarding meal plans. I didn't get any information or email about what it was when I was assigned to housing and have already moved in.

I think.

What's that one Caitlin read that one again?

Miller

Yep, so question about meal plans. They need that information or an email and they've already moved into housing.

well, if you aren't already in housing, then you just need to email. UM, I think it's dining.

Uh huh.

Yeah.

Miller

At rpi.edu because if you are in housing you should have a meal plan that is corresponding to your to your housing assignment.

You also, I think if you're if you're living on campus.

And I just also uploaded the.

I'm sorry, I'm just gonna say if you're living on campus, I think that you should have received an email about information for meals during your quarantine. So when you arrive you you have to get a negative antigen test right? And then you can move into housing, but since you're in quarantine they explain the meals and I believe it's that your first mule starts the evening of the day that you move in.

And like I said, they had some info there just about how to approach meals until your quarantine is over.

Any other questions?

What is the due date for paying our bills?

It actually for fall term. I believe it was last week.

And so we want to get those bills paid as soon as possible. And if you are experiencing any difficulty, these are your people, but also make sure that you talk with the birchers office because they may have payment plans available for the fall term. I know they typically have about four or five payments where you can stagger it throughout the fall term or spring term or whatever it may be. So if you have not been able to pay it, you definitely want to get it paid as soon as possible.

To avoid any sort of like late fees or anything like that on your account. But in order to do that, you want to email the bursar's office right away.

He also said, don't know, I don't know what the date was, but I know it's.

In the past.

Yeah I think was last week. I wanna say it was uhm last Monday I'm gonna say I'll find it and see if I can put it up there.

If I have in person classes on Monday and I haven't received the results of my COVID PCR tests by that time, should I still quarantine at my residence? Yes, so your negative test results will be uploaded into.

I believe it's the student health portal.

Uh, more dial, but I think it might be health portal. And until you have those negative results you should continue to quarantine. If your classes are beginning at the point when you are still in quarantine then I would just reach out to your professors right then and let them know that you're still in quarantine and ask how you can.

You know, if they're offering a an online version for a couple of days for you to watch it, or you know how they want you to make up that content.

Up and then also and it was asked earlier, but where do we pick up our parking pass? So Claire shared if you scroll up in the chat, the link to the parking office, and so I think if you if you're an off campus student, you just have to pick up the parking pass from their office.

Yeah, I just I'm Caitlin. I added the billing dates all of them into the chat so you all know what they are for fall and for spring and for next summer so fall just past the August 13th date was windfall. Bills were do so if you're having trouble just go ahead and email bursar at rpi.edu and ask them about you know possible payment plans or if you need to speak with financial aid. Financial aid about your current package. You also have a.

Financial aid counselor based on your last name that can help you sort through it.

And so we have another question about COVID test. Do I need to do the kovid test before in person class? Should I get an ID card first? Should I get that ID card will basically do you need the ID to get tested? I think is the question. So yes, you would want to pick up your ID first before you go to get testing because they are going to scan your ID to get tested. But also yes you have to have negative PCR results on your COVID test.

In order to begin accessing campus, you also need to complete the rest of the items on our checklist to return to campus and in regards to COVID. So there's like an online training. There is a two forms I think that you have to fill out, so just make sure that you have seen that checklist in your email and that you're getting all those things done. 'cause that's what's going to make your ID card allow you to get into buildings.

And then the last question I see here is can I get a COVID test on campus or do I have to go to a remote location? We do all of our testing here on campus. It is in the cab that we described earlier and I think I put link the link in here two directions via Google.

Should I get ID card first or COVID test card first so there's no?

I.

There's no COVID test card, you just use your ID at testing if you if you are talking maybe about your vaccine card, you do need to also upload that into the health portal.

So I see are we allowed to go to the dining halls during our quarantine after we get tested, you're allowed to everyone.

It.

I can't see the questions coming in, so I'm just I don't want to refresh the page and then it'll knock me out again so.

Uh, so you?

Just let me know once they once once the questions are done coming in.

You uhm?

What was the, UM, I lost it there, UM, dining halls. So for the first couple of days, you'll just go to the dining hall and pick up your food and bring it back to your room.

And then I believe it's Monday the dining halls will open like normal, but there is a reservation system, so you're going to want to make sure you look at the dining website and have that secret.

Anymore.

Oh

can someone? Does anyone have James phone number to?

She can't.

Trade can you can you hear me?

Yeah, I can hear you, yeah.

Oh no, I can't no no. OK I'm gonna.

OK, Claire is on and she's explaining something, but I think maybe you can't hear her or see her for some reason and we had we had that issue another time once but.

Go ahead, Claire.

Uh, so I think I got the question about the dining halls during quarantine and.

Let me see if I the next question is the email with a checklist I will look for the email with the checklist if someone can address the next question.

Sure thing.

I'm so the next question is I have my first vaccine dose but I cannot find where to schedule the second dose appointment at RP. I tried checking dial and the student health portal but the only options refer testing. I don't believe we are administering the vaccine on campus anymore, so you'll need to go to the there's tons of pharmacies in the area like there's one right on Burdett Ave. It's a Rite Aid and you know all the all the major pharmacies.

Are giving out the vaccine, so you could definitely just make your appointment for the second, or I don't. Maybe they even take walk-ins, I don't know, but you could just call them and check.

Uhm, can you test before you get your ID, uhm?

They may be able to look you up in this.

I work night.

You can you, might you have to just give them your grand number.

There you go.

Uhm, what else do we have? So we need to go to residential Commons to get our ID card before testing. So if you were living on campus you just go to regular check in at Ecab. They'll give you your ID. They'll check to make sure that you've been doing the things on the checklist, and then you'll walk directly in in the same building to go to your your testing and then you'll pick up your keys to move into your residence hall.

Yeah, if you're a residential student, it's like a one stop shop for you. Everything will happen all in the same place and you'll sort of go from one. You know the ID card table to testing and you know, so you don't have to worry about all these different places where it is a little different. As for the Off campus students, you all will have a little a few little different stops to make.

And I just uploaded the letter that one of the letters that went out about return to campus requirements. So it talks about testing, signing up for your tests throughout the semester, and the pre arrival checklist.

Can someone confirm that that link works for you?

Alright, I'll check.

Or let us know if it doesn't. Well, I know it will work for us 'cause we have to log in but.

OK.

Oh no, that's not the log. That's the from the IT would work for them.

Good good.

Uhm, we also have if the ID card office is closed on Saturday, how do we get tested without an ID? So it sounds like you can just give them your room number.

Do I have to wear a mask on campus? So if you are vaccinated you have to wear a mask inside of the buildings? If you are outside on campus then you do not have to wear a mask. Being vaccinated means that you are two weeks past the second dose or the single dose of Johnson Johnson. If you are unvaccinated, you had to have an exception from the Health Center or if you're currently, you know, somebody just asked about getting the second dose you're considered.

Unvaccinated until two weeks after your second dose. You have to wear a mask at all times except if you're living on campus you can take the mask off in your own room.

I.

So that includes inside and outside, though, and vaccinated.

I uploaded my forms to the health portal, but it appears that no one has approved it or viewed it, so it says it's still incomplete.

We can answer that clear.

Yeah, I was just going to say I'm not sure which forms you're referring to. 'cause there's multiple, I would say in terms of moving in, I would prioritize the Community health agreement and the testing consent form because you will not be able to test until you do those two things. You will not be able to move or attend anything on campus until you move. Do those things.

In terms of the other stuff, you have to upload, they have to review those one by one. So give him a couple of days to get through them up. If you feel like it's been, you know, like over a week I would recommend emailing health records at rpi.edu just to ask someone to review your case to make some sure something didn't get hung up.

If you're concerned that it's not showing as being like approved or reviewed by the time that you're moving in, that's OK. You can bring up those, you know, proof that you did it on your phone when you're checking in, just to show them so you won't have issues with that.

As long as you've done it, there is a delay.

I would say I was plugged in. If you when you come to go to ECAF to check in. So whether you're going to check in to move into a residence hall or you're just going for your first COVID test, you need to make sure. I just want to plug. I know I just sent you the message, but both of the help, the agreements in the Student health portal.

And your dial so your want. You need to start before you show up that day you need to enter your daily health update because we won't be able to allow you through to go to testing until you do your dial.

I'm so we're wondering about if this session is being recorded. Want to go over what I missed 'cause I have bad Wi-Fi? Doctor Felder is recording this and it will go out in the next email that goes to you shortly. Link to it.

Uhm Yes, City station is considered on campus.

And.

Though only part of City station.

Correct?

True, but the part that any undergrads are living in, I think would be considered on campus so.

And I wanted to quickly answer for Chris. Chris had a he said for financial aid was so the bill for tuition for transfers doesn't go out until September 1st. So just to explain that to you all, what happens is so on the first of every month there is an update to the billing process. So coming up in about 2 weeks, right? 'cause September 1st is around the corner.

Maybe that's next week, that's next. Posting is going to happen, so that is when you will see an update. So let's say one of your financial aid awards just posted today. Your student account will be adjusted based on that award for the September 1st state, so something may be subtracted. So what happens is it will then maybe be another update on October 1st. So your bill will continue to update as your awards for financial aid and maybe your student loans.

If you have them as they're posting, that's what will happen. So at any rate, if you ever have trouble with paying, just make sure that you get a payment. Planners of some sorts so that you are not. We don't want you to have to be placed on any sort of like financial legal action, so you want to address it on the front end instead of just kind of allowing it to dwindle and dwindle. So you want to make sure you stay on top of it.

If there's any confusion about like, how do I pay my bill now? If the aid isn't applied till later, you can look at your financial aid package and you can subtract those numbers off of a bill, even if they haven't been. They haven't come through on your account yet, so as long as you've been awarded that aid, you can subtract it and then you'll know what payment to make so that you're paid now or doing a payment plan or whatever for this semester. So, so you're not late.

Yeah.

Uh, he's about your measles vaccine. You're going to need to run that by the Student Health Center specifically. They deal with everything regarding immunizations. We can't give you an accurate answer for that.

COVID testing there's similar questions, so for the first Test you just need to show up on whichever day.

Off campus, students have to schedule an appointment.

Right, but you don't get assigned into, right?

Yeah, if you're yeah, if you're on campus you should have been assigned a time and it's in your email.

But for the rest of the semester, you do also have to make appointments. You can do that through dial. There's actually a button that says auto copy, and so you can click on that. And if you want it to be the same time every week, it'll auto copy them to every week for the rest of the semester.

I'm trying to locate the email about off campus student testing, so let me see if I can find that one.

I know it's only Stanley.

For the times I think I have the picture of.

But not the actual communication.

Can we register the date after next Monday and I'll so I think that means that all the time slots on Saturday are taken, so you'll have to schedule a time on Monday.

Take me to cook.

And in doing that, just make sure you notify your faculty right 'cause you won't be able to go to onto campus until you get a negative test result, which typically takes about 24 to 36 hours. And you know if there's a lab glitch, it could take longer. Just hang tight until you see that negative test result, but just email your faculty and say I'm moving in. You know, I'm I'm coming to campus, I'm not living on campus, there weren't any testing slots until Monday. I I can't come in person, you know.

Please let me know what I need to do.

To make sure I'm on the ball.

And yes, you can schedule your COVID tests for the whole semester. Right now I would advise you to do that.

And just to be clear, these are two separate appointments that you're making right. You need to do your initial tests for a campus arrival, and then you're doing your scheduling. Your weekly testing schedule. So these are not to one in the same appointments that you're making. I do just want to sort of make that.

And.

Difference is that you need to do your on campus with the one that it's gonna allow you to get access to campus and then your weekly testing for the remainder of the semester. So those are not the same appointments.

Miller

As in a student know I just asked about doing the fall COVID testing. Yes, you should do that. And Please note if you click the auto copy button, it'll take that time and schedule it through the rest of the semester so you don't have to go and schedule every week or twice a week. Whichever situation applies to you. You can use the auto copy tool.

and just a Protip. Whatever that time is, you may just want to add it to your own personal calendar so that you have a reminder. You do definitely want to pick a time that works with your class schedule and things like that, but as a as a sort of safety precaution you should put like put it on your own personal calendar with like a reminder so that you don't forget it.

I saw a question about applying for loans, so obviously any federal loans that are need based would be just awarded to you without applying it well. You have to do the FASA UM, but if you need, if you're looking for like alternative loans, I just put a link in there and.

Which you'll put in RPI and then it'll tell you which lenders work with RPI and you'll say you know do you want a parent loan or student loan so you can look through there.

So Nick wants know I thought the test that for when you arrived on campus was scheduled for you. So if you are living on campus, yes, it was scheduled for you on your move in day. You have to go to testing first. If you are an off campus student, you have to schedule your own initial COVID test and then everybody has to schedule their recurring.

Covert tests.

Uhm, Fatima? How do we pay our bills by our grants and scholarships? You would just subtract the amount of the grant or scholarship that you see in SSIS from where you see your bill. So you just need to do that manually.

And I just made a quick correction in the chat. Flywire is for international students that are transfers and domestic students. You can pay on the commerce.cashnet.com both links are there just so you have it?

Then

If you've asked about the link for scheduling COVID for the rest of the semester, it's in dial, you'll want to look for.

Something about fall testing?

I see.

Anymore questions.

I think we tired them out.

Well, that's good. That means no, that means they should feel really good about starting their semester and especially staying connected to their class team.

Hello Allison.

Anymore anymore I know Natalie asked how do we declare a minor or start the process that we do that one up Natalie when you are declaring a minor first? The first thing I would say is definitely speak with your faculty advisor. The folks that have helped you craft your fall schedule start there, but when you're ready to declare the minor, you'll do it within your department and that'll be in in well combination.

With the Registrar's office, so it's basically updating your academic record and updating your degree works 'cause that minor maybe will be potentially added to your degree works plan. So start with your faculty advisor or your hub first about potentially adding the minor, and then they'll walk you through the actual paperwork that needs to be submitted to the registrar.

And I did just upload that.

Paperwork to come.

The the chat there.

Look for.

Yes.

There's a question about the quarantine desault. Do all students have to do it? Absolutely yes.

Have to do it. Chris asked where are bills emailed to us. You will see it'll if you go into your SIS Chris under your student account. You should be able to access it. So on September 1st, which is next week next Wednesday, actually you will see an update there.

And it looks like Rhea had one last question. Where can we access the accurate campus map?

That should actually be on the IT should be on the admissions website they have there.

Worse.

I would yeah I was trying to look for one. I was like accurate accurate threw me off.

Like like there may be some updated and outdated maps I don't know, but.

Yeah.

Our admissions team does a lot of tours, so if you want to get a really nice map of the institute, you know that's something that you would be able to find on there. I'm pretty sure we have, uhm, it's also on the student transitions app on the guidebook it's on there as well. We have the one that admissions uses, so either way it's iaccessible. I think all of them are accurate.

Just depending on you know where you are on campus.

Yeah, I did just want to briefly go back to Marcus this question so everyone is required to do a quarantine for at least like a clear set for 24 to 48 hours or until you receive your negative test. If you do test positive though and particularly if you are residential student, they will contact you to move you into quarantine housing. If you are positive so you don't have to worry about that if you so you will know like if you will need need to do something longer than the.

The 24 to 48 hours if you are off campus, someone will also contact you about continuing your quarantine in your apartment, and just as an FY I if or whatever you know if you are positive and you have to quarantine for longer, again you will have to reach out to your faculty to let them know that you won't be able to make it to class because you're in quarantine until basically the Health Center will need to clear you.

So to be at least, I believe, two weeks, right? That's still the standard.

You know these.

It's a 10 days at least.

10 days.

Yeah, the same thing is.

Yeah, and so you'll have to work with your faculty for missing for not being in class for those ten days, and I think I read kid wins. Mind 'cause I just posted our contact information, so I believe Claire did also share a link where you can. It'll send you to our direct scheduling appointments, but also if you want to just send us an email, there are our emails for you and you'll also find that on our website as well.

So it looks like there's some sort of repetitive questions coming in, but I wanna make sure we get them all so you're able you can you still will move in and test. I would make sure if you're moving in on campus, make sure you notify student living and learning that you're going to not be able to make your original check in date. But yes, you should still go up to E Cav and get tested.

To complete the check in Process Eve, everyone has to quarantine until they test negative.

And so you cannot attend classes until your quarantine is done.

Right?

Can't go anywhere until your entire corner.

So yeah, at minimum, if you test negative, it'll it'll. You may just miss a day depending on when. If you're coming in Sunday or if you can't test on until Monday, so at best it'll be a day or two. If you are in a like if you need to be moved to isolation housing, it'll be a full 10 days.

Uh, so James. I've put a link before to the parking office. Uhm, if you just Google RPI parking, it'll pull up the parking and transportation website where you can learn information about getting your parking pass. There are side streets that you can park around campus. In the meantime, if you can't get your parking pass right away.

Uhm?

James, also, you said you've been having a hard time getting in touch with your advisor, and it looks like Dean Felder is going to help you out with that.

No, there will be no distance study. No classes have been assigned yet. The classrooms have been assigned yet they should be assigned in the next day or two, and any classes under 100 people will be in person and class is over 100. People will be hybrid. There will not be any remote courses.

And with those hybrid courses, that means that you're going one day and your friend is going the opposite day the week. But you're still have to go the day that you're in person.

I don't believe there are any asynchronous classes.

This semester

You know I'd be.

No, 'cause there's no remote classes.

if you feel like you, you know I would. If you have questions, uhm.

If you have a understanding that it's asynchronous, I would follow up with the professor because I'm not aware of any courses being done asynchronously this semester.

OK.

So it looks like there's clarification on there.

OK, I would make sure that you read the syllabus.

Uhm, and reach out to the faculty member.

And yes, Nancy, you can leave just to go when you're in quarantine, you can leave just to go get your food and go back to your room.

If you live on campus.

If you live on campus, if you live off campus, you cannot leave quarantine

Alright, there are few more coming through.

I.

Nancy sounds like you're living on campus, which means that you'll get your ID when you check in and get your keys. So that's how your meals will work.

Matthew, we already said the class location should be released in the next day or two if they go into the weekend, they'll have them done by Monday. As I said, they all have to be done manually and have to be entered one by one so they will. They will be done by the time you get up Monday morning and have to go to classes.

And another lesson for RPI, be patient.

Alright, I think we're at.

Well, it was lovely talking to you come your respective class. Dean will likely be reaching out to you within the next few weeks, but in the meantime, if you have anything more immediate that you think we could help you with, definitely don't hesitate to either. Just send us an email or set up an appointment with us.

OK.

Miller

And and Jade put in the chat. You can also reach out to her by transitions. Uhm, you know, we're all here to help support you and and hopefully make your transition as smooth as possible.

already I think we're all set have a good day everyone enjoy your last weekend and good luck with classes on Monday.

Bye.

It won't let me get out of here.