Field Trips

A field trip is a university course-related, off-campus activity led by a faculty or staff member and designed to serve educational purposes. A field trip would include the gathering of data for research (such as at a geological or archaeological site), museum visit, participation in a conference or competition, or visits to an event or place of interest. The duration of a field trip may be a class period or longer, and could extend over multiple days. This definition does not apply to activities or placements in the context of a teacher preparation program, intercollegiate sports, or service-learning placements, all of which are governed under separate policy.

 

Field Trip Requirements

  • All academic field trips shall be listed in the course syllabi. 
    • Field trips planned after syllabi publication require notification and Department Chair approval.
  • The only authorized participants in a ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ field trip are:
    • ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ Students enrolled in course
    • ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ Extension Students enrolled in course
    • Faculty
    • Staff
    • Approved ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ Affiliate 
      • Any Volunteer, Volunteer Faculty, eLearning, Campus Guest, Visiting Scholar, Auxiliary Affiliate or Temporary Agency appointee must complete the requirements in the Campus Affiliation Request Instructional Guide. Please reach out to Human Resources if you have any questions about approved ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ affiliates.
  • Participants must complete and sign the Release of Liability Waiver.
    • The Release of Liability Waivers must be completed with wet signature.
    •  They should be retained in the department for three years after the event date.
  • Provide an alternate assignment for students unwilling to accept the risk of participation.
  • Include a plan to accommodate students with special needs. Any ADA issues must be considered. 
  • Ensure participant emergency contact information is obtained prior to the field trip. This information should be readily available on the trip, as well as kept on file in the Department office for one year.
  • Comply with the ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ  and the , where applicable. Please see Field Trip Travel Guidance for more information.
  • Complete a Field Trip Site Evaluation.
    • This should include a site visit and the written evaluation should be retained by the qualifying department and available for review. The pre-trip location visit can be bypassed if the campus can demonstrate and document sufficient knowledge of the field trip site. This could be accomplished by review online, published materials, or contacting the site to discuss the visit.
  • Provide students with an instructional agenda, health and safety information, emergency procedures, and the student code of conduct, prior to the field trip.
    • Consider the following:
      • Adequate supervision for the number of students involved.
      • Any risks or dangers that might be involved in the field trip (strenuous physical activities, falling hazards, dangerous animals, poisonous plants, crime etc.) and a plan of action.  
      • Environmental conditions (weather, any special clothing required ex. whether to bring sunscreen or rain gear) 
    • This information can be placed on Canvas
  • Provide training for any equipment that may be used on the activity.
  • Faculty should take roll at the start of the field trip and at various times during the field trip.