All students who matriculate at Rensselaer are required to complete The Arch. This academic requirement includes completing The Arch summer semester after their second year of study on campus (first year for Early Arch students). Students are required to create a plan of study which includes a full-time (12 credits or more) summer of on-campus coursework. Students also complete the required away semester experience in the fall or spring term following The Arch summer semester. The away semester is registered and documented on the official transcript of record. 

• Students do not graduate without fulfilling and documenting the away semester requirement. 
• Students who are granted an exception, receive an exception from participating in The Arch summer term only and must fulfill the away semester requirement for graduation.
• All students, regardless of exception are registered and must complete The Arch Exploration and Planning Course during the spring term of the second year of study.

Students fulfill the away semester requirement by completing one of the following Individual Learning Experiences. Academic performance is based on a "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" grade and a final grade of “satisfactory” is required for graduation: 

1. ILE Internship – semester-long experience working with an organization to gain practical, applicable, and/or off campus research experience in your field. 
2. ILE Co-Op - a 6-8 month work assignment that allows for practical and applicable experiences in a chosen field. 
3. ILE International Programs/Study Abroad - connect with our affiliate and non-affiliate international programs for opportunities abroad.
4. ILE Study at Another U.S. Institution - take courses of interest at another U.S. institution of higher learning to gain further experience in industry and career goals. This option requires connection with academic advisor/HUB to ensure transfer equivalence where applicable. 
5. ILE Research - work with RPI sponsored programs and faculty remotely to pursue innovative research experiences related to your field.
6. ILE Civic Engagement - opportunities to work on service projects for community organizations. There is a 260-hour commitment for this option.  
7. ILE Self-Design - design your time to focus on a personal goal/interest of choice; areas of focus could include activities that are career centric, contribute to leadership development, or other. 

Table I.  The Number of Credits that Determines Class Status

Physical campus access will only be granted to students who have paid their Rensselaer student activity fee for two terms out of the school year. Students must also demonstrate they will be local to the Troy campus on a registered away term experience. 

Students on their Arch Away Semester will be able to retain their Student Health Insurance, and the fee will remain active during the away term. Students who wish to waive the Student Health Insurance for their away semester should contact Student Health Services at studenthealthcenter@rpi.edu.

All students will continue to have access to online portals and virtual platforms to remain tethered to the Institute. If an away-term student needs access to a campus resource, they should do so by utilizing platforms via WebEx, RPI email, or the registered away-term course on LMS/Blackboard. 

All students, regardless of an exception, are registered and expected to complete The Arch Exploration and Planning Course (ADMN 1030) during the spring term of the second year of study. This course is provided by the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD).

Course Objectives:

Throughout this non-credit course, students complete a series of assignments related to their short and long-term career development. Academic performance is based on a "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" grade and a final grade of “satisfactory” is required to graduate. Examples of content delivered include:

• Away-semester search strategies
• Effective resume/cover letter writing
• Employment correspondence
• Virtual and in-person interviewing strategies
• Intentionality with curricular and co-curricular experiences

ACADEMIC - Unable to participate in The Arch summer term due to course/academic conflict

• Acceleration (i.e., the student is one to two semesters ahead of their cohort and has no appropriate courses to take during the summer semester; students in BS/MD and BS/PhD programs).
• Delay in progress (i.e., the student is behind two semesters or more and has no appropriate courses to take during the summer semester).

ROTC - Unable to participate in The Arch summer term due to summer program participation requirements of the ROTC. Students complete Military training that is required for them to maintain their scholarship and good standing.

 ATHLETICS - Unable to participate in The Arch summer term due to involvement in a sport that competes in both the fall and spring semester, where the student-athlete has summer obligations in preparation for NCAA competition season. Each student-athlete must apply for an exception.

 CAREER - Unable to participate in The Arch summer term due to an approved, secured internship/co-op at a company that does not offer opportunities in the fall or spring semester.

(Note: Sub-categories of Transfer Students, Leave of Absence (MLOA) Students, Early Arch, or Exceptions granted may use the summer semester if approved, to fulfill the away semester requirement for graduation)

TRANSFER STUDENTS - who enter Rensselaer as sophomores (see Table I) are required to complete The Arch summer and away term. Transfer students who enter as juniors will be required to fulfill the away term requirement only. 

Table I.  The Number of Credits that Determines Class Status

1. Rising Juniors are required to complete an Arch summer term and semester away term, unless given an exception from the requirement. 
2. Students whose majors allow for a choice will be able to indicate a preference for semester away designation in SIS (See Table II). 
3. All Academic Policies and the Student Handbook apply during The Arch summer semester and the semester away term. 

1. Students must complete the Arch Exploration and Planning (ADMN 1030) course by the end of their sophomore spring semester. Please refer to your syllabus from CCPD for specifc module due dates.
2. During The Arch summer semester, students must be enrolled throughout the 12 weeks of the summer term. All students should be registered for a minimum of 12 credits or more during the summer term.
3. While students may not take classes at Rensselaer during their semester away, they can transfer in class credits from other universities per the transfer credit policy. 

Students can request a leave of absence during their summer semester on-campus. A Leave of Absence (LOA) request requires schedule a meeting with their class dean and filling out the form in the Office for Student Success. Student will also need to complete the readmission form upon return from their leave. 

Important Implications

1. If a student takes a LOA prior to the 2nd week of the summer term, the student will be inactive and eligible to reapply for the subsequent semester by the published deadlines.
2. If a student takes a LOA after the 2nd week, the student will not be eligible to enroll in the subsequent term.
3. If a student takes a LOA before their summer semester on campus, they are still required to complete the semester away term. Students should consult with their academic school about plan of study changes. 

Listing of Term Away by Major