Christopher, when I was teaching, I carried a professional liability rider on my home owner's policy. I also was covered by my state chapter of the NEA, the Texas Faculty Association, when I worked in Texas. I also made it a point each semester to get a copy of the university statement on university liability from the university's Business Affairs division. Like all such statements, it was written by lawyers and contained a lot of weaseling, but I ran it by my own lawyer, and I felt covered, even if a student chose to do something not a part of the curriculum.
Given the nature of field work, I always wanted to make sure. mcneely ---- Christopher Ruhland <christopher.ruhl...@mnsu.edu> wrote: > Dear Ecolog Subscribers, > > I was wondering if anybody had any experience with Personal Liability > Insurance for class field trips and related activities. I am teaching an > extended field course away from campus, and it is my understanding that as > such I would be covered under the Universities’ general liability > insurance policy. However if a student was injured in an activity that > was not directly associated with the actual curriculum, I could be held > responsible. I have also been advised that should an accident/incident > occur, I could still be held legally accountable in a civil court and > would not be covered. > > Now we know that professors can’t realistically monitor college students > 24 hours a day for weeks at a time, so the potential for accidents exist. > I have been advised to look into Professional Liability Insurance and was > wondering if anybody on this list has advice. It is my understanding > that some professional societies offer this type of insurance, does anyone > have any suggestions? > > Thanks > > Chris > > > Christopher T. Ruhland, Ph.D. > > Associate Professor of Biological Sciences > Department of Biology > TS 242 Trafton Sciences Center South > Minnesota State University > Mankato, MN 56001 -- David McNeely
