(adopted November 12, 1997)

The field experience is crucial to the student’s understanding of all subjects taught in the Earth Sciences Department. Therefore, all instructors are encouraged to create and lead field trips. It is also imperative that instructors do all that they can to ensure that field trips are run in an efficient and safe manner for maximum student learning and instructor/student safety. Protecting the instructor, department and college from liability is also of paramount importance. With these thoughts in mind the following are rules and procedures to be followed in conducting field trips:

1. The Authorization to Conduct a Field Trip form must be approved, by the appropriate Division Dean, at least 3 weeks prior to departure.

2. Instructors are NEVER to transport students in their own vehicles, except in an emergency.

3. Waivers of liability are to be obtained from ALL participants for ALL field trips (for lab classes, a blanket waiver for the semester is OK).

4. Students and instructors will meet in the field. Caravans to the first stop are to be discouraged whenever possible.

5. The field trip will also be officially dismissed in the field (do NOT caravan back).

6. Non-students are not permitted on trips. (Although the public roads are indeed public, try to discourage the attendance of non-students.)

7. During the trip, if caravanning is required, driving must be done in a safe and responsible manner obeying all traffic regulations.

8. A second Palomar employee should be on the field trip whenever possible, especially on overnight or long distance trips. This second employee may request reimbursement for mileage, if funds are available.

9. Students should be provided a written set of field trip rules to go along with the waiver.