Risk Management Policy
In accordance with Texas state law, all Baylor University student organizations, with the exception of organizations that receive the 'Recognized' designation within the Student Organization Classification Model, are required to complete a risk management program offered each semester by the Department of Student Activities. Due to the low level of risk involved in their activities, organizations that receive the 'Recognized' designation within the Student Organization Classification Model meet all of the following criteria and are exempt from attending this risk management program:
- Exist solely for honorary, achievement-based academic purposes
- Induct new members without hosting recruitment events or activities
- Host only induction ceremonies (and not any other events throughout the course of the semester)
Content
In accordance with Texas state law, the risk management program may address any issue determined to be appropriate by Baylor University. The program must also address:
- Possession and use of alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs, including penalties that may be imposed for possession or use;
- Hazing;
- Sexual abuse and harassment;
- Fire and other safety issues, including the possession and use of a firearm or other weapon or of an explosive device;
- Travel to a destination outside the area in which the institution is located;
- Behavior at parties and other events held by a student organization; and
- Adoption by a student organization of a risk management policy.
Who Must Attend
All Baylor University student organizations are required to send officers and advisors to the mandatory risk management program. Representatives must include, but are not limited to, the organization president (or equivalent), risk management officer (or equivalent), and organization advisors. The risk management program is open to all students and is strongly recommended to all officers and advisors of all student organizations.
Attendance
The Department of Student Activities will maintain attendance records for the risk management program for no less than three years as mandated by Texas state law. Officers for organizations must demonstrate attendance at a minimum of one risk management program at the outset of their term in elected (or equivalent) office.
Advisors serving multiple years with a given organization must attend their first year of service and at least once every three years thereafter in order to familiarize themselves with changes and/or updates deemed appropriate by University officials.
Report to Organization
In accordance with Texas state law, student representatives and advisors are expected to report to a meeting of the full membership the content of the risk management program. This report must be conducted in a timely manner no less than three weeks following a risk management program. The Department of Student Activities may ask the student representatives and advisor(s) to verify that the report was given.
Failure to Attend
Organizations whose president (or equivalent), risk management officer (or equivalent), and advisor(s) fail to attend the mandatory risk management program, and are not exempted from doing so, will be:
- Prohibited from participating in and hosting all events (social events, priority events, student productions, intramurals, etc), with the exception of general business meetings, for the semesters in which attendance is neglected; and
- Placed on organizational probation. Failure to attend the mandatory risk management program for two consecutive semesters will result in the organization being declared inactive and losing recognition by the University and Department of Student Activities; and
- Posted on the Student Activities website on a list of non-compliant student organizations.