Waivers and Releases

The University of North Georgia sponsors numerous voluntary travel, recreational, cultural, educational and physical activities for members of the university community which are not part of the university's core educational activities. Questions about the scope of insurance coverage should be directed to Risk Management. Approved templates can be found here.

Why Do We Need A Waiver?

Although offering these activities are important to the university, these activities also subject the university to increased liability. In order to ensure that participants fully understand and appreciate the risks associated with these activities as well as to mitigate the potential liability risk to the university, participants in these activities need to sign Waivers of Liability Forms.

The "Acknowledgement of Risk and Waiver of Liability" (Waiver) is used to:

Inform the participant of potential risks involved in an activity
Allow the participant to voluntarily choose to incur the risk
Hold the participant responsible for their own actions
Remind the participant that their personal insurance (health, personal liability, and medical benefits) is to be used if they are injured or if they are liable for a damage claim
Secure an agreement from the participant not to pursue claims against the University, in exchange for their participation in the activity

Signing such forms allows the participant, before participating in the event/activity, to consider their actions and to make any advance arrangements they need in order to provide insurance funds for any injuries they might sustain.

Planning for Events and Club Activities
• Itinerary and description of activities

• Risk planning

• Emergency plan

• Contact information

• Leave copies of plans and information with a responsible party
When planning your activity, consider the following:

Prepare a clear and detailed statement of what you are doing and where you are going

Is anyone asking you to sign a contract (i.e., for renting space or equipment)? All contracts must be referred to the Office of General Counsel.

Include the date and time you are leaving and the date and time when you plan to return

How many people will be participating in the activity?

What level of physical activity is expected of the participants (low, medium, high)?

Include a checklist of appropriate gear for your activities

Include safety and security in your planning

Appoint a "responsible party" who is not going on the activity, and leave records of your plans and information about your participants with this individual.

9. Brainstorm what you need to do about risks, including but not limited to:

Potential weather difficulties

Road and terrain hazards

Wildlife encounters

Backup location

Food-borne illnesses or reactions

Transport for the injured

Accommodations for the disabled

Presence or absence of participants with medical skills (i.e., CPR, First Aid)

What to do if someone misses the transportation

What to do if someone needs to be sent back home

10. Develop an emergency plan based on your ideas, including but not limited to:

Plans based on brainstorming session

First aid kit

Location of nearby hospitals, clinics or first aid stations

Location of a nearby emergency gathering point

A list of all participants and include their emergency contact information

Emergency contact information for your faculty advisor and responsible party

Leave copies of your plans and emergency contact information with your responsible party

Plan-Checking
Use other resources to review your planning:

For Clubs, check with your Faculty Advisor

For Academic Events, check with Andrew Pearl 678-717-3722

For help drafting Waivers check with Tamera Bardenwerper 706-809-8475

For questions about Risk Management check with Darren Martin 706-864- 1463

Requirements before leaving for an event/activity
Safety review

Behavioral expectations

Waiver Request form

Signed Waivers

Incident report forms

Vehicle request form

Review safety, security and your emergency plan with all participants before you leave.

Remind all participants that they are expected to conform to the Student Code of Conduct.

For each person, Acknowledgement of Risk and Waiver of Liability forms ("Waivers") must be on file with the Instructor/Event Organizer before you leave. Please note that these forms remind all participants that the participant's personal medical benefits must be used if the participant is injured. By signing the form, you agree to be responsible for your actions and you agree not to make a claim against the University.

It's a good idea to take some blank accident report forms with you. When it's hard to think in the aftermath of an incident, the forms can guide you through the informationgathering process.

Use of vehicles. The guiding principle in car insurance is that the insurance "follows the title of the car." That means that the title of the car determines whose insurance company will be involved in the claim for coverage.

If you are using a University vehicle, the University will submit claims on your behalf through the State of Georgia. According to the University's Motor Vehicle Use, the driver of this vehicle must complete University vehicle training, which is given by Department of Risk Management; have their driving record checked; and must have a signed Vehicle Use Agreement on file.

Choosing drivers. Choose your drivers wisely and carefully. Solicit the help of responsible and experienced drivers. Make sure you have backup drivers. Both the driver and the backup drivers need to follow the safety practices in the Vehicle Use Agreement.

Before you go, check and see if there is an Auto Accident Report Guide in the glovebox of the vehicle.

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Waivers and Releases

Why Do We Need A Waiver?