ASU Field Trip Process and Procedures
Definitions
A field trip is defined as an ASU sponsored, scheduled domestic trip/travel activity that is part of an academic program and where an ASU employee will be present to supervise student participants.
Field Research trips and International trips with students are exempt and should not be registered using this process.
Process
Field Trip review requests must be submitted 14 days prior to the Field Trip departure date.
Faculty members must:
- Complete and submit the Field Trip Review request form with the following attachments:
- Collect, review and store completed Indemnity Waiver Forms Waivers are required for all students and non-ASU community members attending the field trip.
Waivers do not need to be submitted to Risk Management, departments are responsible for collecting, reviewing each waiver for completion, and keeping them on file. - Register the trip in Concur or MYASU Trip if:
- The trip involves an overnight stay
- The trip includes airfare
- Include the field trip documents and approval with your trip request
- Ensure that staff and volunteers are in compliance with the following, as applicable, prior to trip departure:
- Volunteers. Any persons attending a field trip and will be performing official university activities while under the direction and control of an ASU authorized official and are not paid must register as a volunteer.
- Authorized Driver. Any persons attending a field trip and will be driving an ASU owned or rented vehicle during the field trip must be authorized to drive.
- Minors on Campus. If non-ASU enrolled minors will be attending a field trip and the minors’ parent, guardian, or K-12 teacher will not be in attendance, all ASU staff, faculty, and volunteers must be in compliance with the minors on campus policy.
- Interactions with Animals. For all trips involving interaction with live animals please review the following link and complete any requirements listed on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee website.
Once the Field Trip Review form is submitted:
- Risk Management will review and contact the organizer with questions.
- The organizer will receive auto-notifications of the review status.
Transportation
Required Field Trips
ASU faculty/staff should NOT organize carpools for students if they are not in the care, custody, or control of the students. A charter bus or other transportation is permittable for ASU faculty/staff to coordinate. Risk Management Services recommends using an approved transportation vendor whose insurance is already on file.
If a department must rent a vehicle for official ASU business, departments must:
- Use an ASU or State of Arizona rental contract (where available).
- Ensure the rental agreement includes the ASU or State contract number and states “Vehicle is being used for official ASU Business.”
- Take front, back, and side pictures of the vehicle at both pickup and drop off.
- Familiarize yourself with the ASU claims process in the event of an accident or damage to the rental vehicle.
- Keep ASU’s Auto Liability COI in the rental car in case of an accident.
- In any event where the rental vehicle is damaged submit an auto claim.
Insurance for U.S. rentals
Vehicles rented and driven within the U.S. border, used for official ASU business, and rented under an ASU or State contract are covered by the State of Arizona’s auto liability coverage and departments do not need to purchase the additional insurance offered by the rental car company. If an ASU or State contract is not used and the vehicle is damaged, the rental car company will need to submit a Notice of Claim directly to ABOR. Department needs to submit a vehicle loss report, the rental agreement, and the rental car companies information to insuranceservices@asu.edu.
Insurance for International rentals
ASU or State rental contracts are not available for international car rentals.
Departments must confirm with the rental company that full coverage insurance is included in their rental rates. If insurance coverage is not included, the departments must purchase the full coverage insurance offered by the rental car company.
If the country you are traveling to requires that you purchase local rental car insurance, then you must purchase the additional insurance. If you do not purchase the required insurance and the vehicle is damaged you run the risk of having your travel card or a personal credit card charged for the full amount of damages.
If the country to you are traveling to does not require you to purchase additional coverage, and you are traveling on official ASU business, in the event, the vehicle is damaged, the State provides contingent auto liability coverage that should respond if there is no local coverage in place.
Mexico Insurance
Renting a vehicle to travel to Mexico
ASU or State rental contracts are not available for Mexico car rentals. Departments must purchase additional full coverage insurance through the rental car company. Mexico has stringent insurance requirements and the ASU department must carry evidence of the Mexican insurance card in the vehicles during their travels and must follow the Mexico Claim Reporting Requirement in case the State of AZ liability coverage needs to be activated due to a claim.
Mexico Claim Reporting Requirements
Using a personal vehicle to travel to Mexico
Risk Management Services strongly advises against using personal vehicles to travel to Mexico as personal vehicles are not covered under ASU’s insurance on a primary basis. The State of Arizona only provides liability coverage on an excess basis and will not cover physical damage to a personal vehicle. If you choose to use your personal vehicle, you will need to reach out to your personal auto insurance carrier to obtain Mexico Auto Coverage to be compliant with local laws and you must familiarize yourself with what your insurer requires you to do in the event of a claim.
Insurance Coverage
Employees
Employees operating within the scope of their job duties are provided workers compensation. Coverage and claims issues should be directed to Human Resources Benefits.
Volunteers
Registered volunteers are provided insurance coverage, including liability for acts or omissions while serving in their authorized capacity in accordance with state law Arizona Revised Statutes § 41–621 et seq., Arizona Administrative Code R2–10–107(B). Volunteers are not provided Workers Compensation insurance. The State will provide a limited accident policy in excess over any primary insurance.
Students
A student’s health insurance is primary in the event of injury on a registered required field trip. The State will provide a limited accident policy in excess over any primary insurance.
Third Party
The State does not provide insurance coverage for third parties. Third Parties or non-ASU community members should not participate in ASU field trips unless first reviewed by Risk Management Services. Please call Risk Management Services immediately if a third party will be participating in a field trip.
Personal Vehicles
The State does not provide physical damage coverage for personal vehicles. In the event a personal vehicle is used to conduct ASU business, the owner’s auto insurance will be primary. If you are an employee and were injured while driving a personal vehicle on ASU business, please submit a Workers Compensation Claim through Human Resources Benefits.
Reimbursement
If ASU will be reimbursing anyone on the Field Trip be visit https://cfo.asu.edu/traveler-resources for more information.
Incident Reporting
In cases of injury or illness while on the Field Trip, familiarize yourself with ASU Incident Reporting site (https://cfo.asu.edu/incident-reporting). To report an incident electronically. https://cfo.asu.edu/webform/employee-and-non-employee-incident-report
Resources
Indemnity Waivers: https://ogc.asu.edu/forms/release
Reimbursement, Payment and Travel: https://cfo.asu.edu/myasutrip
Insurance & Claims: https://cfo.asu.edu/Insurance
Authorized Driver: https://cfo.asu.edu/authorized-driver-program
Volunteers: https://cfo.asu.edu/volunteer-insurance-services