Field trips are an integral part of some courses and a definite asset to many others. If a class will be taken on a field trip off campus, the Associate Dean should be informed with a brief memo. If funds to support the trip are being requested, then written approval must be obtained well in advance. You may not require participation in a field trip (or any other activity) that will force a student to miss other classes. If missing classes is a possibility, you should send your colleagues a notice of the trip, again well in advance. It is the student's responsibility to make any necessary arrangements with other instructors.
Any student who drives on a field trip, whether in a University vehicle or in his/her own, should be approved by the instructor. Check for a valid driver's license and use reasonable judgment regarding the student's maturity. Only University employees, including student employees, should drive University vehicles unless special permission is obtained from the Director of Student Affairs, Associate Dean, or the Dean/Director. Any person driving a University vehicle is required to use a seat belt and obey all traffic laws.
Each student participating in a trip should sign a Travel Release of Liability Form. This form can be downloaded here in PDF form.
Note: Nothing in this policy is intended to supersede the requirement that faculty members submit a Request for Leave form as part of the approval process.