| |
|
Appendix IV
(pending approval by the Board of Regents of The
University of Texas System)
Travel and Risk-Related Activities
Release Forms
The University’s Release and Indemnification Agreement and Medical
Information Release forms must be completed and signed by each student
or member of the public prior to participating in University-sponsored
travel or a risk-related activity (see Exhibits B4 through B4-E). There
are separate forms for adults and minors and for foreign travel. In
the case of a minor, the parent or guardian must sign the forms. A minor
is any person who has not yet attained the age of eighteen (18). A student
is any person presently enrolled in The University of Texas at Dallas.
A designated contact person in the academic or student affairs unit
that is sponsoring the travel or activity must maintain the completed
forms for a period of two years. When travel is involved, a Student
Travel/Off-Campus Activity Checklist form (Exhibit B14-A), indicating
that the required Release and Indemnification Agreements have been completed,
should be attached to the unit’s copy of Student/Team/Group Travel
Authorization (Exhibit B14) and must be provided to the Office of Procurement
Management. (NOTE: If the travel is to a foreign country, Exhibit B14
must be approved by the President.)
In those cases where participants in the travel/activity have multiple
events and the persons participating do not change, each participant
may complete the Medical Information and Release form once at the beginning
of a semester. Participants must update information on the form, as
necessary, prior to each trip/activity.
Applicability
These policies and procedures apply to all University sponsored travel
and other activities associated with high risks that involve one or
more students and members of the public. In general, the applicable
travel/activities may be categorized as follows:
- Activities associated with organizaed courses or officially recognized
independent study, either for credit (e.g., field trip courses) or
non-credit.
- Activities associated with individual work or research off-campus;
e.g., co-ops, internships, student teaching, and practica.
- Extracurricular activities including, but not limited to intramural
sports, intercollegiate athletics, and similar activities.
NOTE: This policy also applies to registered student organizations
if the activity or event is organized and sponsored by UTD and if travel
to the activity or event is funded and undertaken using a vehicle owned
or leased by UTD. Registered student organizations may not require members
to travel beyond 25 miles from UTD.
Activities sponsored by an academic unit are under the purview of the
Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost. Questions regarding
the policies, procedures, or forms should be directed to the Vice Provost
at extension 2791.
Activities sponsored by Student Affairs are under the purview of the
Office of the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean
of Students. Questions regarding those activities should be directed
to the Office of the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and
Dean of Students at extension 6391.
Notifications
Students should be thoroughly informed through the catalog, the class
schedule, and the course syllabus about all travel and other risk-related
activities required by or associated with a credit course. For non-credit
courses or programs, the course or program materials should provide
this information.
Students and members of the public engaged in travel or other high-risk
activities associated with the University should be informed of the
nature of such risks prior to participating in the activity. An attachment
to the Release and Indemnification Agreement that would be referenced
on the form may be appropriate for this purpose.
Prior to each travel of other risk-related activity, the administrator
of the unit sponsoring the activity must provide the Police Chief with
the name of the faculty or staff member in direct charge of the activity,
the name of a member of the unit not participating in the activity who
can be contacted if needed, and, for travel-related activity, the names
of the students and members of the public who are traveling. For the
risk-related activities not involving travel, the administrator must
notify the Police Chief regarding the site of the activity and the approximate
number of participants. The Student/Team/Group/Travel Authorization
form (Exhibit B14) and the Student Travel/Off-Campus Activity Checklist
(Exhibit B14-A) are used for these notifications.
Incidents of a serious nature should be reported immediately to the
administrator in charge of the sponsoring unit.
Safety Issues and Modes of Travel
General
Circumstances such as terrain, road conditions, length of trip, etc.,
may make it prudent that students and/or members of the public go with
available group transportation rather than travel by personal vehicle.
In some situations, it may be that travel with the group should be required.
The faculty, staff member, and/or supervisor in charge of the travel
should consider this issue as he or she would any safety matter. As
with all of these issues, the use of caution and common sense are an
important part of this process.
In all cases where an adult participant is permitted to choose to drive/ride
in private transportation, that circumstance should be described in
the Mode of Transportation line on the Release and Indemnification Agreement.
For minor participants, the key issue is giving notice to parents/guardians
exactly how their child is to be transported to/from the activity. The
Mode of Transportation information should provide notice. It would be
best to limit the transportation of minors who are not accompanied by
a parent/guardian to UTD owned/leased/rented vehicles, or vehicle driven
by UTD employees acting within the scope of their employment. Such a
requirement should be stated on the Release and Indemnification Agreement.
All Motor Vehicle Travel
The administrator of the unit sponsoring an activity involving travel
for students or members of the public must ensure that the following
safety precautions are followed:
- Seat Belts: Occupants of motor vehicles shall use seat belts or
other approved safety restraint devices as required by law at all
times when the vehicle is in operation.
- Weapons, alcohol, and illegal substances prohibited: Occupants of
motor vehicles shall not consume, possess, or transport any weapons,
alcoholic beverages, or illegal substances at any time when the vehicle
is in operation.
- Passenger Capacity and Hours of Driving: The total number of passengers,
including the driver, in any vehicle at any time it is in operation
shall not exceed the manufacturer’s recommended capacity.
- The distance to the destination and/or the number of participants
needing transportation should determine the type of transportation
to be used. On long trips, each vehicle should have a minimum
of two drivers certified by the UTD Safety Officer. Drivers should
rotate periodically, and no more that 10 hours of driving should
be completed during any one day. Trips requiring more that 10
hours driving to reach the destination will require overnight
lodging. There should be no driving between the hours of 11:00
p.m. and 6:00 a.m. without prior approval of the appropriate administrative
official. Van drivers must take a thirty-minute rest break every
four hours.
- For trips scheduled for longer than 2 hours, a navigator must
be assigned to assist the driver. The navigator must stay awake
while on duty.
- No more than nine (9) people, including the driver plus gear,
should be loaded on any one 15-passenger van. The weight of the
passengers and their gear should be distributed evenly throughout
the van. Luggage should be placed in the rear behind the last
seat and is not allowed on the roof when the van is being operated.
- On trips where the number of participants exceeds that which
can comfortably fit in two or three vans, a chartered bus should
be considered. All vehicles should have access to a cellular phone,
and the number should be indicated in the notification to the
Police Chief.
- Medical Insurance: Students traveling on a University-sponsored
overnight trip must have medical insurance. Student health insurance
is available at minimal cost through the Student Insurance Division
of UICI, a local company that provides tailored health insurance programs
for students enrolled in universities. Contact the representative
for UTD at 469-229-6700 for information on insurance for special events
such as field trips and off-campus activities. Insurance may be provided
by the sponsoring office as part of the cost of the activity, or may
be purchased by individual students.
- Driver Authorization: All University employees who drive University
owned vehicles or who drive a rental vehicle that is used to transport
students must be certified by the UTD Safety Officer as having met
the requirements for the authorization of drivers in this policy and
The U.T. System Business Procedure Memorandum No. 16-05-02. This does
not apply to employees who are driving rental vehicles on University
business but are not transporting students. Requirements for being
an authorized driver include a 36-month Motor Vehicle Record score
of 2 or less, as well as appropriate driver training. Van-specific
training, including on-the-road training, is required for drivers
of 15-passenger vans.
- Insurance Coverage: The U.T. System Business Procedure Memorandum
No. 16-05-02 includes information, policies, and procedures regarding
insurance policies covering the authorized use of owned, hired and
non-owned vehicles; requirements for the safe use of vehicles; requirements
for authorization of drivers; and procedures for reporting vehicle
accidents or occurrences which may lead to claims. This Memorandum
may be found at http://www.utsystem.edu/bpm/16.htm.
- Valid Driver's License: An employee who operates a University-owned,
rented, leased, or personal vehicle for official University business
at a time when his or her license was suspended or revoked, shall
be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.
- Emergency Procedures. Important: Copies of participant Medical
Information Release forms and the Emergency Procedures Checklist must
accompany the responsible faculty or staff member assigned to each
vehicle for University-sponsored travel.
For University-Owned or Rental Vehicles:
Accident:
- Notify local authorities @ 911.
- Notify UTD Police @ 972-883-2331 who will notify the Safety Officer,
the Risk Manager, and the administrator in charge of the sponsoring
unit. The need for follow-up with the participants’ emergency
contact persons or others is discussed at this time.
- Leave a cellular phone number with the University Police dispatcher.
For rentals, call the 800 number provided by the rental company.
- While at the scene of the accident, authorized drivers must attempt
to obtain as much information as possible, including:
o The license plate number of any vehicles at the scene;
o The names and telephone numbers of the other parties;
o Insurance information from the other parties involved in the accident;
o As soon as possible, the authorized driver will provide this information
to the fleet contact at 972-883-2249.
- Authorized drivers of the University-owned vehicles should advise
other parties involved in the accident that the accident will be
reported to the University’s insurance company who will be
in contact with the claimant.
- In the case of rental vehicles, the University has an insurance
policy that becomes applicable if the cost exceeds what is covered
by the rental agency’s insurance policy. Authorized drivers
of the University-owned vehicles should advise other parties involved
in the accident that the accident will be reported to the rental
agency and to the University’s insurance company.
- Authorized drivers should not make any representations regarding
insurance coverage to other parties involved in the accident, because
the insurance company’s adjuster will make the determination
of coverage available under the insurance policy. Should the other
party require some type of insurance information, a copy of UTD’s
insurance policy is in the glove compartment (University-owned vehicles
only) or they may contact UTD’s fleet contact at 972-883-2249
for assistance.
- Upon returning to campus, the fleet contact will provide you
with insurance claim forms to be filled out with all pertinent information
about the accident. The fleet contact will then forward the claim
form to the insurance company for handling.
Mechanical Breakdown (University-Owned Vehicles):
- Notify the dispatcher in the UTD Police Department @ 972-883-2331
who will the supervisor of the authorized driver.
- Contact some form of roadside assistance (local auto dealer service
department, garage, etc.)
- Leave a cellular phone number for someone to call you back.
- Do not attempt to make repairs, including changing a tire. Wait
for roadside assistance.
Mechanical Breakdown (Rental Vehicles):
- Call the 800 number provided by the rental company.
|
|
