Local and Regional Field Trip Policy
The Local and Regional Field Trip Policy covers local field trips, local overnight field trips, and short regional overnight field trips in the U.S. This policy also applies to courses with regular off-campus meetings at museums, field sites, or other destinations. Student Affairs outings are exempt from this policy. Travel Study and External Study courses, which involve international travel or domestic travel beyond the parameters of a field trip as described below, are covered under other policies. Please contact travelstudy@otis.edu for more information about Travel Study courses.
Definitions
A Field Trip is broadly defined as a certain academic activity, and serves educational purposes, that a student is required and/or encouraged to attend and/or participate in as off-campus activity and/or field trip (collectively “Activities”). The “campus” is defined as any Otis College locations, including The Goldsmith Campus. For the purposes of this policy, there are three types of field trips:
- Local Field Trip – Non-overnight domestic travel normally within 100 miles of an Otis College location
- Local Overnight Field Trip – Domestic travel normally within 100 miles of an Otis College location with up to three nights’ stay
- Regional Overnight Field Trip – Domestic travel within 1400 miles of an Otis College location and up to four nights’ stay
Pre-Authorization and Chaperone Guidelines
In order to ensure that field trips fall within the scope of a course’s and the College’s mission and that student safety issues are fully addressed, field trips must be authorized in advance and be fully documented through the on-time submission of the forms listed on our website. All field trips must be led by a faculty or staff member, and student participants must adhere to field trip guidelines. Leader responsibilities and guidelines for students are described below.
Guidelines for Students
- Students participating in field trips are expected to adhere to the same standards of behavior as published in the Code of Student Conduct and in the Travel Study Behavior Code of Conduct. Any violation of the regulations or local, state, or federal laws may result in disciplinary action or sanctions by the College.
- Students, who choose to travel to the site of a field trip early or remain at the site after the planned activity is completed, or who willfully separate from the group, do so at their own risk.
- Students are responsible for carrying their own personal medication while on a field
trip.
Domestic and International Field Study Policy
The Domestic and International Field Study Policy covers domestic travel beyond 1,400 miles of campus and international travel outside the continental U.S. This policy also applies to college enacted initiatives with domestic field sites, or other international destinations. Student Affairs outings are exempt from this policy. Students are responsible for all of the courses in which they are enrolled, including attendance requirements and course work, while participating in any type of field study initiative.
Definitions
Field Study is defined as any independent academic/professional experience or academic
research trip that is an ungraded and non-credit bearing element of a course or Department
initiative for current students or alumni. The Field Study is linked to student projects
or student coursework initiated or recommended by instructors, Directors, or Chairs.
Field Study also includes Otis College related collaborations with outside institutions
that are ungraded and non-credit bearing and that involve domestic or international
travel beyond the conditions of local and regional field trip policy. Contact Travel
Study at travelstudy@otis.edu to discuss field study at least a month before it takes place.
For the purposes of this policy, there are three types of field study:
- Domestic Field Study– Domestic travel exceeding the Field Trip parameters that is not a Travel Study course.
- International Field Study – Otis College Collaboration– International travel initiated by instructor, Director, or Department Chair in collaboration with an outside institution
- International Field Study– International travel initiated by instructor, Director, or Department Chair.
Travel Study courses, which involve international travel or domestic travel beyond
the parameters of a field study or field trip, have associated learning outcomes,
are graded, and are covered under travel study policies. See For Faculty Leading Programs.
Please contact the Travel and External Study representative at travelstudy@otis.edu or (310) 665-6815 for more information about Travel Study courses.
Pre-Authorization and Chaperone Guidelines
In order to ensure that field study falls within the scope of the College’s mission and that student safety issues are fully addressed, field study must be requested a month in advance and be fully documented through the on-time submission of forms and required steps listed below. All field study must be initiated and coordinated by the responsible Otis College instructor, Director, or Department Chair initiating the Field Study. Student or alumni participants must adhere to field study guidelines. Leader responsibilities and guidelines for students are described below.
Student Responsibilities
Students/Alumni are responsible for working with the responsible instructor, Director, or Chair to fulfill the Field Study requirements as they relate to specific types of Field Study in which they participate.
Guidelines for Students
- Students participating in field study are expected to adhere to the same standards of behavior as published in the Student Code of Conduct and in the Travel Study Behavior Code of Conduct. Any violation of the regulations or local, state, or federal laws may result in disciplinary action or sanctions by the College.
- Students, who choose to travel to the site of a field study early or remain at the site after the planned activity is completed, or who willfully separate from the group, do so at their own risk.
- Students are responsible for carrying their own personal medication while on a field study.