Make a plan
Answer these questions:
- Where do you want to go and why?
- How does it meet your learning outcomes?
Your answers will be required when submitting forms for funding for the trip.
Connect with people at the location
Learn if the trip is possible, get their buy in, choose a date and time, and calculate any charges with that location.
Talk to your department chair
- Get their permission for the trip
- Get department finds to pay expenses
Plan out Transportation
- Motor Pool
- Larger Bus
- See the DSU Travel Information Page for reservation information.
- Student’s Own Transportation – Keep in mind that this type of transportation forces you to not require the trip as part of credit because of liability reasons, and instead can only be used for extra credit or something similar.
Admission Fees
If the charge for the trip is beyond feasibility of department expenses, you may require students to pay additional fees, such as adding a fee to the base fee of the course. Communicate with your department about these expenses, and make a plan with them on how they will be covered.
Food and Lodging
For multi-day trips, food and lodging will also have to be factored into the planning, as well as the expenses. For these trips, you will likely need to have an agreement for students.
For longer trips, it is also suggested that students be provided a suggested packing list and a suggested itinerary so they are prepared for trip conditions.
Travel Authority Form
Fill out Travel Authority Form and get it signed by department chair, then submitted to Sherri Phillips in Travel HCC 5th Floor
Syllabus
Put the trip in your syllabus with as much detail as possible.
Example:
Field Trip: An all day field trip is required. There are several dates to choose from. Sign up for a field trip date on a line of the signup sheets posted on the bulletin board in SNOW 128. Signing on a line guarantees you a seat on the bus that is reserved on that day. Meet the bus in the North Plaza Building parking lot (the same building the testing center is in, but in the front). Dress for the weather in layers and wear good walking shoes – please, no open-toed shoes. Bring a bottle of water, a lunch, and something to write with (pencil). The field trip log packet you will complete during the trip is meath to help you write your five paragraph essay for a discussion post on field trip material. Make certain you sign the role. Your field trip leader will give me a copy of the role. Just being a happy camper and participating during the trip earns you the points. The bus pulls out of the parking lot at 9:00 a.m. and returns at 3:00 p.m. Be there a few minutes early. Make arrangements for any other obligations you may have well in advance!
Class Announcement
Add it to your welcome announcement, or a separate announcement, in canvas. List the place, date, time range, transportation, appropriate dress, expectations, what to bring, activity level, and anything else students need to know there. Ask them to set reminders for the trip on their calendar if outside of normal class time.
Liability Waiver
Before you go, Each student needs to sign a DSU liability release form, which can be put as an assignment in canvas if necessary. For longer trips, students must sign an Emergency Medical form, which includes food allergies, medical insurance information, etc.
If you would like to make the trip a consistent part of the curriculum
- Change the course description in the university catalogue to read “Field trip required” for approval by University Curriculum Committee (UCC).
- Calculate the cost per student and fill out a Fee Request Form both for the fee committee and UCC.
- If the fee only applies to some sections of the course, as in situations where you, the instructor, do not teach all sections of the class, April Ficklin will need to be contacted before each semester so that the fees can be correctly applied to the right sections.