PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY

This policy establishes guidelines for student travel programs to ensure adequate University oversight, quality and consistency, and the ability of the University to communicate and respond appropriately in the event of a problem or emergency.

APPLICATION OF THIS POLICY

The Policy applies to all student, staff or faculty who are authorized to represent organizations and/or programs traveling domestically.

EXEMPTIONS FROM THIS POLICY

This policy does not apply to study abroad programs made available by the Center for International Programs and Inclusive Excellence, student academic internships/externships, and student travel managed by the Athletic Department.

DEFINITIONS USED IN THIS POLICY

1. Domestic Travel is any travel within the United States and its territories.
2. Travel Program is defined as all travel for Academic and Student Affairs programs, all approved University sponsored student travel, and extracurricular student group travel, which utilize funding from or are representing CSU-Pueblo.
3. Sponsoring Department is the department or unit within the Office of the Provost or the Division of Enrollment Management, Communication and Student Affairs that is organizing, administering, and/or financially supporting the Travel Program.
4. Responsible Administrator is the senior staff person responsible for the Sponsoring Department.
5. Coordinating Administrator is the person assigned by the Sponsoring Department to be responsible for planning and overseeing the Travel Program. This includes the department support staff, instructors, faculty, professional staff and advisors. A Responsible Administrator may be a Coordinating Administrator.
6. Trip Leader is any University employee – whether faculty or staff – or a student leader who is responsible for preparing the student group before the trip and accompanying the group on the trip. Student leaders affiliated with the University may serve in this role if approved in advance by the Responsible Administrator. The Coordinating Administrator may be a Trip Leader.
7. Primary Backup Person is the person designated by the Coordinating Administrator to be on call 24 hours a day during the Trip. The Primary Backup Person is not on the trip. The Primary Backup Person will have a copy of the roster, itinerary, and have a full understanding of the Travel Program/University Emergency Plan.

POLICY STATEMENT

In recognition of the many educational benefits of travel, Colorado State University-Pueblo regularly supports a variety of academic and extracurricular travel programs for groups of students that are organized by administrative units and student organizations. CSU-Pueblo is committed to providing a quality educational experience for all students while working to provide the safest environment for students. It is important to have travel pre-approved and consistent with all CSU System Fiscal Rules, and University policies. CSU-Pueblo recognizes that parents and family members of students may have a need to be informed of a student’s whereabouts and wellbeing. The appropriate university personnel will be informed of student travel plans, provide for monitoring of these plans and communicate with families and the community when appropriate and in compliance with law.

POLICY PROVISIONS

General Guidelines

All travel either for representing the University or that the University sponsors must be approved by the Sponsoring Department in advance of the trip and before making any financial commitments. Prior travel approval ensures that the Sponsoring Department approves of the activity; funds are available for reimbursement of expenses when applicable; travel is allowable with the funding source; and any staff, faculty, or organization advisor with benefits is covered under workers compensation insurance when applicable. In addition, approved actions while on official travel are actions by a University representative; without approval, the same actions could be considered as those by a private individual for which the traveler could be personally liable.

Each Travel Program must be organized and overseen by a Coordinating Administrator. The Coordinating Administrator must have the trip approved by the applicable Responsible Administrator prior to notifying any students about the availability of a Travel Program. The Coordinating Administrator, in conjunction with the Sponsoring Department, is responsible for managing all financial arrangements and obligations for each Travel Program as well as for ensuring that any fundraising for the program complies with applicable University procedures.

Each Travel Program must have a Coordinating Administrator and a Trip Leader approved by the Responsible Administrator. The Sponsoring Department will utilize best practices for their industry to guide trip leaders to student ratios. The Responsible Administrator must approve the number of Trip Leaders in advance of the trip. Students standing will be vetted through the Office of Student Conduct and Case Management prior to participation in a Travel Program. Coordinating Administrators will submit a list of students participating in the Travel Program to the Office of Student Conduct for review prior to accepting any funds from a student for travel or no less than one week in advance of the planned trip. The Responsible Administrator will determine student eligibility based on information provided.

Expectations of the Responsible Administrator

Each Responsible Administrator is responsible for ensuring compliance with this Policy within their department and approving all Travel Programs that are sponsored, managed, or conducted under the auspices of that department. The Responsible Administrator must also ensure that the following occurs:

• Ensure that a list of students’ names and emergency contact information is collected and kept with the Trip Leaders for the duration of the trip.
• A copy of these documents are provided to the Coordinating Administrator and a copy maintained with the Responsible Administrator in the event that the on-location documents are inaccessible.
• A copy of the roster, itinerary, and contact information of the Primary Back Up person/Coordinating Administrator and or Responsible Administrator will also be kept with the Parking and Safety Manager and the Office of Student Affairs.
• The Responsible Administrator, acting under the guidance of policies and procedures of the Sponsoring Department, may establish restrictions, or an absolute prohibition, concerning alcohol consumption during the trip. Students on a trip are still under the jurisdiction of the Student Code of Conduct.

Expectations of the Coordinating Administrator

When developing the Travel Program, Coordinating Administrators must consider the complications that could arise and develop contingency plans in advance. Examples include: a student needs to leave early because of a personal emergency; a student violates established rules, including the Student Code of Conduct; weather or transportation causing delays or cancellations.

The Coordinating Administrator is responsible to request and facilitate reasonable disability accommodations.

The Coordinating Administrator must report to the University’s Clery Coordinator (or their designee) the dates, times and addresses of the hotels (with room numbers) or spaces rented (controlled) by the institution.

Expectations of the Trip Leaders

Trip Leaders, in conjunction with the Coordinating Administrator, must host an orientation to establish expectations, develop skills, and clarify rules and remind students about University Policies for the Travel Program.

Trip Leaders must have access to University and Sponsoring Department policy and procedures with them at all times.

Trip Leaders must have access to emergency phone numbers to reach the necessary University personnel.

Trip Leaders must be informed of the sleeping arrangements in advance, have choice regarding roommate selection, sleeping space and in agreement to the arrangements.  Trip Leaders will do their best to accommodate individual preferences for overnight lodging situations.

Trip Leaders are to stay in close proximity and be readily available to student participants. In the case of home stays, or an accommodation in a local residence, Trip Leaders and students are to stay in the same community.

Trip Leaders, together with the Sponsoring Department, must establish and communicate to the student participants the expectations regarding independent student activities during any free time on the trip. Expectations of “official” and “personal time” will be designated prior to the trip. Students must follow the Trip Leaders’ instructions regarding independent activities.

The Trip Leader must report to the Director of Student Conduct & Community Standards (or their designee) any student conduct matter or other student behavioral concern that arises on a trip. All other conduct issues must be reported to the Director of Student Conduct & Case Management within 24 hours of the issue occurrence using the University Incident Reporting Form

Expectations of Students

Any and all students who travel with the University’s approval must comply with the laws of the State of Colorado (or any state in which the Travel Program occurs), the United States, and the policies, rules and regulations of the University. This includes violations of community standards as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct and other applicable policies. Students must assume primary responsibility for their own safety and well-being while behaving in a way that is socially acceptable, respectful of the rights of others, and must remove themselves from any behaviors that obstruct the work or mission of the University. Non-compliance with any University policy, federal, state or local law, or other applicable rules may be subject to any disciplinary or administrative actions.

No student is permitted to leave the group during scheduled activity and or class sessions, and no student will be left behind during a trip unless a safety issue arises in which the well-being of the group is paramount to those of the individual circumstances require, or a safety issue for the student. In the event that illness detains a student, arrangements will be made to leave an appropriate supervisor or designee with the student until they are transferred to definitive care or appropriate care giver.

Students involved in University-sanctioned travel, whether supervised or unsupervised, are required to:

1. Abide by federal, state and local laws as well as the policies and procedures of the CSU-Pueblo including the Student Code of Conduct and directions from Trip Leaders.
2. Respect the rights of others and to refrain from any conduct which can or is intended to obstruct the mission of the University or lead to the endangerment of any person.
3. Attend all scheduled events and activities. Permission to leave the group must be received from the Coordinating Administrator or designated Trip Leaders once all scheduled events and activities have concluded.
4. Arrive on time at all scheduled activities and events as indicated by school representatives and/or distributed itinerary.
5. Be responsible for all expenses they personally incur beyond what is authorized by the University.
6. Be financially responsible for any damages’ or loss to personal property that result from their misuse of such property i. e. damages to hotel rooms, theft of hotel linen, etc.
7. Follow lodging policies including, but not limited to, the number of guests per room.
8. Follow the guidelines set by the Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy. A student who violates these general standards of conduct may be subject to administrative actions, disciplinary sanctions, and/or legal action.
9. Carry state-issued identification and medical insurance cards.
10. Know how to contact the University from the site.

Any incident of misconduct may result in the dismissal of the student participant from the Travel Program. Failure to attend meetings prior to travel as required can be grounds for dismissal of the Travel Program. The possession or use of controlled substances by any trip participant will be grounds for immediate dismissal from the Travel Program. Any student removed from a Travel Program will be required to return to Pueblo at his or her own expense per the method determined by the Sponsoring Program.

RELATED LAW, POLICIES & PROCEDURES

The Student Code of Conduct

CSU-Pueblo University Fiscal Rules

CSU-Pueblo Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act or Clery Act

Disability Resource Center Manual

FORMS:

Required University Release of Liability Form

Approved by Dr. Timothy Mottet, President Oct 19, 2019