Pre-semester planning and course prep:
Assess or review risks that students and instructors could encounter during field based teaching.
Write and use a field safety plan for the class.
You can use resources from the Field Safety Plans page.
Consider the role of identity-based risks for students (e.g., if traveling to communities/locations very different from their own/Berkeley).
If you already have a field safety plan, review and update the plan on a regular basis (e.g. annually) to make updates and incorporate student/GSI feedback.
Submit the field safety plan to the department (here) to help with emergency response and communication.
Post the field safety plan on bCourses or distribute to students in another way such that it is readily available throughout the semester. This should always be accessible online and in person.
First three weeks of the semester:
Obtain and carry emergency contact information for all participants.
Review the field safety plan with GSIs prior to field teaching.
Review the field safety plan with students prior to field teaching, at minimum ensuring they have an adequate understanding of the risks involved in participating.
Make a course code of conduct that includes expectations for how students will behave and other policies they are expected to abide by. Solicit feedback or contributions from students on developing this code of conduct.
Clearly articulate class policy/ expectations around drug or alcohol use off campus.
Throughout semester:
Provide students with alternative options from the default field-based learning if it is reasonable for some students to feel that the risks of participation are too high.
Remind students about your expectations for their conduct (what is / is not acceptable), and their opportunities to provide feedback or ask for help if something is not right.
Provide opportunities for students/GSIs to (anonymously) provide feedback on safety-related incidents or near-misses on trips.
Ensure that students can obtain necessary safety-related items without incurring additional out-of-pocket costs (e.g., sleeping bags, if required, are available through the instructor upon private request).
Ensure that details of sleeping arrangements, bathroom access, etc. promote participant safety (e.g., by asking for lockable doors), and communicate these details in advance with students.
You can find a printable version of this document here.
We have created three field course specific template safety plans.
The Comprehensive Field Course FSP is similar to the comprehensive research FSP. It is expected that not all template chunks will apply to your project, and you can delete whatever you deem irrelevant. This FSP can be used for international and domestic courses and aims to consider physical, personal, mental, and environmental risks you may encounter during work.
The Domestic Field Course FSP contains all potentially relevant planning chunks for domestic excursions. It is another comprehensive document that you can remove unnecessary sections from.
The Day Trip FSP is an abridged document that is appropriate for courses where you are doing excursions that last less than a full day. You should include details from all expected day trips in the one document to avoid submitting multiple plans per semester.
Please submit a FSP to the department prior to any field trips occurring.
If your students experience harassment while on the field course, it is important that you and your students know how to react. You should review reporting pathways and share relevant resources with your students prior to entering the field.
Berkeley Gold Folder: Berkeley's resource that provides information on how to identify students in distress, address concerns, and report misconduct.
A Guide to Preventing Sexual Violence and Harassment in Field Placements: provided by UC Berkeley's PATH to Care Center specifically to help graduate students prevent sexual assault, violence, and harassment.
Counseling and Psychological Services* (510)642-9494
CAPS supports the emotional, psychological, educational, social, and cultural development of all UC Berkeley students through a wide range of multiculturally based counseling, psychiatric, career, consultation, training, and educational services.
Campus Mobile Crisis Response* (855) 817-5667
Campus Mobile Crisis Response responds to non-violent calls of students, faculty and staff experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis on campus. CMCR provides crisis de-escalation, intervention and assessment. For immediate safety risks, call 911.
After-Hours Assistance Line* (855)817-5667
Call for consultation with a counselor and provide as a crisis resource to students outside of CAPS business hours.
PATH to Care Center* (510)642-1988
Call for affirming, empowering, and confidential support for those that have experienced gendered violence, including sexual harassment, dating and intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sexual exploitation.
Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (510)643-7985
OPHD takes reports alleging discrimination and harassment on the basis of categories including race, color, national origin, gender, age, and sexual orientation/identity, which includes allegations of sexual harassment and sexual violence.
UC Police Department Emergency 911; (510)642-3333
Call when concerned about students who may pose an immediate danger to self or others
Employee Assistance Program* (510)643-7754
Call when concerned about a colleague and for referrals to counseling.
Manager, Employee Relations, Human Resources (510)642-7163
Call for assessment of threatening or potentially violent faculty/staff behavior.
UC Police Department (Non-Emergency) (510)642-6760
Call for assessment of threatening or potentially violent faculty/staff behavior.
Alameda County 24 Hour Crisis Hotline (800) 309-2131
Call for immediate, confidential crisis support and intervention.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988
Call for immediate, confidential crisis support and intervention.