When to register and how - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute



BMEGC Quick Reference to Graduate Life at RPI

The following is a listing of things to know when entering the Biomedical Engineering Department as a graduate student.

BME People to Know:

• Lorrie Citarella: Coordinator for Student Affairs (Lorrie’s desk is in the BME main office JEC 7049 and in JEC 7048)

• Pam Zepf: Administrative Coordinator who also handles finances for the department (Pam’s desk is in the BME main office JEC 7049)

Helpful Abbreviations:

• RIN number (user ID): your student ID number which starts with 660

o RIN # necessary for SIS, Bursar, Health Center

• RCS userID: typically the first five letters of your last name and your first initial

• RAD $$: money that you can put on your ID card, can be used at all on campus food venders (incl. Java ++); all purchases made with your card are tax free

• SIS: student information system

Phone calls on campus: The number for all phones on campus is 518-276-extn. If you’re on campus just dial last 4 digits of the number.

RPI ID/access card & RAD Money:

• Go to the ID office (lower level of student union, across from games room)

o If you have your RCS number bring that, otherwise you should just need your drivers license

o There are also forms available there to put money into your RAD account (money can be charged to your student account, check, cash or credit card)

• Student ID card/Access card gets you into the Biotech & Mueller Center

RCS userID & Password:

• This is provided by RPI, and is the first part of your email address. To change your password, go to

• These items are necessary to log into webmail and to use VPN (which logs you into the RPI network when using wireless or if you are off campus).

Webmail:

• RPI’s email server ()

• If you prefer to use Outlook or another mail client on campus, the pop3 address is mail.rpi.edu for both ingoing and outgoing.

o Note that if you are trying to send an email from an off campus location, you can only send mail to rpi.edu email addresses, unless you are connected to VPN or have a separate account set up with your local servers outgoing pop3 address.

RPInfo: ()

• More helpful than rpi.edu – includes links to various resources (SIS, webCT, webmail, health center, mueller center, help desk, library, etc.)

• All postings for inclement weather including delays and school closings (or call x6600)

• Faculty/Student Directory only provides email addresses, not phone numbers

SIS: ()

• Registration/Account/Laptop information

o Registering for class

▪ When: After you arrive, talk with your advisor and then register

▪ Class search using SIS, tells you which classes are available and days/times they meet

▪ Class search using course catalog, just tells you general course info and which semester class is offered

▪ Register for BME Graduate Seminar

▪ Register for research

• Masters students w/o thesis: Register for Master’s Project Credits for your advisor (Course Number 6980), adjust credits as discussed with advisor

• Masters students w/ thesis: Register for Master’s Thesis Credits for your advisor (Course Number 6990), adjust credits as discussed with advisor

• PhD students: Register for Dissertation Credits for your advisor (Course Number 9990), adjust credits as discussed with advisor

• Check all financial information

• Update your address/change your pin (this only changes your SIS password, not your RCSid)

Graduate Student Lounges:

• BMED Graduate Student Lounge

o Located at JEC 7037

o Desks, a couch, LAN internet hook-ups

o TA office hours often held here

• Graduate Student Lounge in the CBIS

o Located in the CBIS, Room 2248

o Couches and a TV

Banks:

• Bank of America

o NOT the same from state to state

o Special out-of-state forms required

o ATM on campus in DCC

• HSBC

o Located on campus in the basement of the Student Union

o ATM on campus in the Union basement lobby facing the Quad

o Off-Campus on Hoosick Street near Wal-Mart

• Key Bank

o Price Chopper Plaza up Hoosick Street

• M&T Bank

o Intersection of Hoosick and South Lake Street

Post Offices:

• Student Union Post Office

o Located in the basement of the Student Union

o Monday – Friday 8:30-9:45AM, 10AM – 1PM, 1:40-2:45PM, 3-3:30PM

o

• Local Post Office

o Located on the corner of Broadway and Fourth Streets in downtown Troy

o Monday – Friday 7:30AM-5PM

o Saturday 8:30AM-1PM

Housing:

• On-Campus Family Housing available

• Graduate Student Housing available on campus

• RPI Off-Campus housing search

o

• Finding your apartment through Troy Student Housing () not recommended

Mailing Lists:

Department mailing list – Contact Lorrie Citarella

BMEGC – Contact Mary Beth Mulrane

Biotech Building – Contact Nancy Roberts

BMEGC (Biomedical Engineering Graduate Council):

Get on the mailing list. (Contact the current officers)

Meetings are held every other month.

Computing Help Desk:

Location: In the VCC. Phone: 276-7777 Website:

Software: Matlab, LabVIEW, Maple, Solidworks, Symantec Antivirus, & Cisco VPN (Necessary for connecting to the RPI network from off-campus and wirelessly) are all available through the Help Desk free of charge.

Printers: Lists of campus network printers, their locations, and how to install them is available at the Help Desk website.

General Help: Get help with networking, software, RCS accounts, or anything else related to computers.

Finance Info:

• Paychecks can be picked up on pay day at the Bursar’s office (located on the 2nd floor of Academy Hall). Paychecks can be picked up any other day of the week at the Rice Building (216 River Street, downtown Troy)

• Direct Deposit () Fill out form and return to Pam Zepf.

• Note that your paycheck will be higher in the fall than the spring. Salaries are divided on a semester basis, then that amount is divided over the number of weeks in the semester. For example, TA salary is $14,500 for 9 months of school, or $7,250/semester. Since the fall semester has fewer weeks than the spring semester, you will be paid more monthly for the fall than in the spring.

• Student account balances can be paid via mail, online via credit card (there is a surcharge) or directly at the Bursar.

• All other reimbursement forms can be found at the finance website ()

Parking:

• Street parking is available if you can find a spot. Be wary of which streets are affected by street cleaning days (typically Thursdays - You will be towed!).

• Parking permits are available for the Commuter Lots ($75/year) by the Field House. Shuttle services run continuously from 7am-11pm during weekdays to transport you from the field house.

• Limited spaces are available in the parking garage ($350/year) on College Ave.

• Register online for a permit using SIS.

• Public Safety does provide an escort service 24/7 (x6656)

Room & Equipment Reservations:

• To reserve a room in the JEC

o Contact Susan Valenti (valens@rpi.edu, x6553)

• To reserve the BMED projector, email/contact Pam Zepf (zepfp@rpi.edu, x6548)

• To reserve a room &/or equipment in the Biotech

o Contact Nancy Roberts (robern@rpi.edu, x4259)

Copying & Faxing:

• The BMED fax number is 518-276-3035 and is located in BMED office in the JEC

• Photocopiers are available:

o In the BMED office

o On the 2nd floor in the Biotech, in the mailroom

o Drop off to Susan Valenti on the 2027 JEC

• Must charge to an account, used primarily for TAs who need to photocopy handouts for a class at the professor’s request

Seminars:

• There are various BMED seminars throughout the semester. It is highly suggested that BMED graduate students attend all BMED sponsored seminars.

• There is also a weekly student seminar series through the Biotech center, as well as a weekly faculty seminar series, which all are welcome to attend.

• Graduate Seminar

o Meets several times a semester

o ~1–2 students present their research, ask advice, accept comments & critiques

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