Faculty-Led Field Trip & Travel Risk Management Policy - Effective Date 2014/07/30

Sep 11, 2026

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Faculty-Led Field Trip & Travel Risk Management Policy establishes safety, risk, and liability expectations for off-campus academic travel involving students accompanied by responsible faculty. The policy defines its scope, distinguishing course-based and non-course-based field trips across domestic and international settings, while listing specific exclusions governed by other units or separate programs. It provides key definitions under ADA and trip leadership responsibilities, and sets requirements for how course-based trips must be explained in syllabi and add/drop periods. Non-course-based trips require sponsored registration through Professional Studies and Continuing Education to align with insurer coverage.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryForms

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Part 1. Rationale

Part 2. Scope

A. Applies to

B. Exclusions

Part 3. Definitions

Part 4. Statement of Policy

A. Course-based field trips

B. Non-course-based field trips

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OFFICIAL POLICY | Faculty-Led Field Trip & Travel Risk Management | EFFECTIVE DATE: 2014/07/30
REVISION HISTORY: New Policy | | --- | --- | --- | | RESPONSIBLE OFFICES: Professional Studies and Continuing Education; AVP for Finance | POLICY OWNER: Director, Professional Studies and Continuing Education; AVP for Finance | SUPERSEDES: N/A | PART 1. RATIONALE Field trips and other forms of faculty-led travel are an important part of the college experience and provide valuable learning opportunities for students. Safety, risk, and liability issues, however, necessitate the adoption of written policies and procedures for field trips and other forms of faculty-led travel in order to provide maximum protection for students, faculty, the college, and its governing board. This policy is meant to promote safety and reduce risk and liability for all concerned. PART 2. SCOPE A. This policy shall apply to all college-sponsored off-campus academic field trips or travel involving students and for which the responsible faculty member accompanies the students, including field trips or travel within the following parameters: 1. Course-based field trips. The trip could be either a required or optional part of a course or the course itself. a. International b. Domestic i. Local (no overnight stay) ii. Non-local (overnight stay necessary) 2. Non-course-based field trips a. International b. Domestic i. Local (no overnight stay) ii. Non-local (overnight stay necessary) B. Exclusions--This policy does not apply to the categories of travel listed below; however, such travel maybe governed by separate policies promulgated by the sponsoring unit. 1. Off-campus student travel under the auspices of any unit within the Division of Student Affairs including, but not limited to, Intercollegiate Athletics and Student Activities 2. Off-campus learning activities requiring travel where faculty do not arrange travel or travel with students (e.g., internship, service learning, practicum, fieldwork) 3. Any learning activity that requires the on-site supervision of students by a faculty member (e.g., nursing clinical placements, local field study) but for which faculty and students do not travel asa group 4. Study abroad, National Student Exchange, or any such program where students are not accompanied by a faculty member 5. Non-academic off-campus student travel under the auspices of Student Community Government or any student organization, even if accompanied by a faculty member or advisor 6. Off-campus student travel under the auspices of the Henry Barnard School 7. Off-campus travel, professional or personal, by one or more faculty or staff members, even if traveling together, as long as students are not on the trip PART 3. DEFINITIONS For the purpose of this policy, the following definitions shall apply: | academic program | Coursework in fulfillment of degree requirements | | --- | --- | | ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal law enacted in 1990 that prohibits discrimination based on disability; builds on language from Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 | | course-based field trip | Any faculty-led off-campus travel that is a required or optional part of any transcripted academic activity offered for college credit or Continuing Education Units (CEU) | | documented disability | Under the ADA, students with disabilities are responsible for documenting them with the college Disability Services Center. This documentation, which is a confidential record, establishes the disability and also provides adequate information on the functional impact of the disability so that accommodations can be identified and provided. | | non-course-based field trip | Any faculty-led college-sponsored off-campus academic travel activity that is not transcripted | | participating students | Students who are registered at Rhode Island College either full or part time, whether as undergraduates, graduate studen

FAQs

Who does the policy apply to for faculty-led off-campus travel?

The policy applies to all college-sponsored off-campus academic field trips or travel involving students when the responsible faculty member accompanies the students, covering both course-based and non-course-based activities within specified domestic and international parameters.

What trips are excluded from this policy?

Excluded categories include off-campus student travel under Student Affairs units (e.g., intercollegiate athletics and student activities), learning activities where faculty do not arrange travel or do not travel with students, certain group supervision scenarios without group travel, and study abroad or programs where students are not accompanied by a faculty member.

What requirements apply to course-based field trips before students register?

Course-based field trips must be described in the class syllabus and discussed during the add/drop period. The description must include minimum details such as dates, time, location, transportation, student costs, academic purpose, and—if international—required travel documents and any required or recommended immunizations.

Sep 11, 2026

Upload by Levi