Liability and Risk Management

With any assigned out-of-classroom experience, the University is exposed to liability issues.  As the person who is assigning students to work in the community, it is important that you are proactive in risk management. Risk management is the process we undertake to minimize risks and assure, to the best of our ability, a safe environment in which we live and work.  Community partner sites may pose certain manageable risks.

Waiver of Liability Form

Guiding Principles Of Risk Management For Service-Learning Faculty

  • Do provide an orientation to students that includes an overview of service-learning and the policies, procedures and risks involved in the specific service activities they will be providing to the community.
  • Do discuss the course syllabus with students so they fully understand their responsibilities, learning objectives and service objectives, and are informed of the risks associated with their service-learning placements. 
  • Do conduct site visits with all service sites to ensure their safety and suitability.
  • Do understand that faculty members can be individually named in lawsuits and should play an active role in ensuring safe and positive service-learning experiences for their students.
  • Do know that faculty members will be indemnified and protected by the university in the case of a lawsuit, so long as the faculty member was acting within the scope of his or her work.
  • Do offer alternative placements and/or opportunities for students in service-learning courses to avoid potential risks and meet the special safety needs of any student.
  • Do be aware that state and federal regulations exist regarding fingerprinting and background checks for those students whose service-learning placements place them in contact with vulnerable populations (children, elderly, people with disabilities).
  • Do know where emergency contact information for students is kept and what the emergency procedures are both at the university and the service site.
  • Don’t arrange travel for students!  Liability is greatly reduced if students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the service site.
  • Don’t assume that students are automatically covered for liability through the University of Utah or the community-based organization when they enroll in service-learning courses.
  • Don’t assume that students are aware of such issues as liability or sexual harassment policies.  Both campus and site orientations are necessary to familiarize students with any potential risks involved with service-learning activities.

Adapted from “Best Practices for Managing Risk in Service-Learning,” California State University (2002)