Step 6: Student and Staff Document Overview

Off-campus activities provide meaningful and robust learning opportunities. Experiential learning opportunities also go beyond expected classroom work and regular academic activities and, therefore, come with increased inherent risk.

In the event of an injury or accident, the court would consider if the associated risks of activities were accurately represented in Waivers (PDF) and Informed Consent (PDF) forms and if safety was considered in student information forms and planning and reporting documents.

To ensure a safe and equitable environment, documents must be signed prior to arrival at your destination and:

  • Customized to the specific activity or risk.
  • Waivers/Informed Consent forms should be provided in advance and reviewed with participants prior to signing.
  • Transparent of external partners or groups organizing, hosting or sponsoring the activity.
  • Transparent in obvious or foreseeable risks associated with the activity and provide a description of the risks.
  • Signed in the presence of a witness; parental or guardian consent must be obtained for participants under 18.
  • Must be held for seven years after the end of the event or activity for which the form was signed.

To ensure RRU is mitigating possible risks, it is essential to understand RRU's risk management documents and processes, and which forms are used for the different off-campus activities.

What is the difference between Waivers and Informed Consent?

*A Waiver (PDF) is used for extra-curricular activities that are not academically assessed. They should not be used for curricular or co-curricular activities.

*Use an Informed Consent form (PDF) for all compulsory or academically assessed activities or with participants under the age of eighteen.

In the Student and Staff Document Overview Section in each of the Planning Sections below, you will find templates for the appropriate forms for your selected Off-Campus Trip or Activity.

  1. Potential Relevant Forms (tailored to the Off-Campus Trip or Activity within the Planning Section for that Trip or Activity):
    • Waiver or Informed Consent Forms
    • Emergency Contact and Student Medical Information Forms
    • Photo Consent
    • Assessment of Emergency and Medical Emergency Communication Plan
  2. Group Leaders must be knowledgeable and/or in possession of the following for each Off-Campus Trip or Activity:
    • Group Emergency Plan
    • Risk Assessment
    • The RRU EL Risk Management Handbook
    • *For Multi-Day Domestic or International Trips, the Team Lead Handbook