Guidelines for Using Liability Waivers
November 2003
The Office of Risk & Insurance Management recommends the use of waivers in the following circumstances:
- Activities of an athletic or physical nature where the participant may reasonably anticipate injury, including but not limited to: basketball, football, soccer, hiking trips, etc.
- Activities of Community Service where the participant may be in "harm's way." Examples may include projects such as Habitat for Humanity (construction projects) or survey work in high crime or industrial communities.
- Extended field trips (generally not day trips) away from the campus.
Visits to campus for projects, laboratory or classroom participation by others, even if under the age of majority, do not generally require waivers. Such waivers would not be valid unless signed by the parents and generally impose an administrative burden not warranted by the exposure.
RIM provides risk advice and assistance at all project stages to help university faculty, staff and students identify and reduce risks associated with their activities. Please contact us when you have questions or concerns regarding the risks involved in your activities. Reach us by email: risk@umsystem.edu or phone: 573.882.8100.
Reviewed 2016-09-12