Directives

PURPOSE

 To provide students an opportunity to observe, first hand, activities in the work place

SCOPE

All students

DEFINITIONS

POLICY

1. The College recognizes field trips as an important component of program learning.  Field trips provide students with the opportunity to observe firsthand the activities, equipment and systems used in the work place.
2. Field trips are off-campus visits under the supervision of a College employee, normally of no more than two days’ duration. In order to be considered a field trip, the visit must  enhance the course or program learning requirements for the students. A field trip is distinct from field placement, field work, or clinical experience.
3. Field trips are activities approved by the Academic Administrator and offered to students either as mandatory or optional activities.
   3.1     Mandatory Field Trips
   3.1.1  Mandatory field trips are listed in course outlines, meet specific learning outcomes and are an integral component of academic course offerings.
   3.1.2 Mandatory field trips are fully funded by academic departments. Students are not charged incidental fees for these activities. Students may, however, be required to pay for their own meals.
   3.1.3 Mandatory field trips are organized and supervised by College employees.
   3.2     Optional Field Trips
   3.2.1 Optional field trips enhance the educational experience of the students. Students will not suffer academically if they choose not to participate.
   3.2.2 Optional field trips may be budgeted fully or partly by the academic department.
   3.2.3 Optional field trips must be approved in advance by the Dean or the Vice President, Academic.
4. The Students’ Association establishes an annual budget to help defray the costs of optional field trips which have been approved by an Academic Administrator. Applications to access these funds are made directly to the Students’ Association.
5. Field Trip Requirements
   5.1    Every effort will be made to minimize conflicts with other classes when scheduling a field trip.  Where the schedule of an approved optional field trip conflicts with other classes, the department is to inform all affected professors teaching program and service courses and the Registrar’s Office (Scheduling Office) three weeks in advance of the scheduled field trip. Field placement and clinical experience are considered priorities and may preclude students’ participation in optional field trips.
   5.2    The transportation of students and staff for a field trip is to be by public transportation or rental vehicles.  The use of personal vehicles is strongly discouraged. If personal vehicles are used, the owner must provide the Academic Administrator responsible for approving the field trip, proof of public liability and property damage insurance. Individuals choosing to drive their own vehicles are cautioned that the College’s insurance will not cover costs in the event of an accident.
   5.3    The College may cover the mileage costs of a student who has been given permission to use  a personal vehicle for a mandatory trip.

PROCEDURE

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
None

RELATED POLICIES
AA 26    Course Outlines and Course Section Information
AD 12    Travel, Meals and Hospitality

RELATED MATERIALS
None