The University of Rhode Island is committed to protecting the health, safety, and well-being of minors participating in programs and activities. All programs involving minors must comply with the University’s Policy on Protecting Minors and its accompanying procedures.
This page provides a high-level overview to help program organizers understand their responsibilities. For complete requirements, visit the following:
Core Requirements (at a glance)
All programs involving minors must complete registration and meet safety requirements; however, specific obligations vary by program type. This table provides a high-level summary for URI personnel coordinating these activities. URI personnel should refer to the detailed procedures linked above for complete requirements and step-by-step guidance. Families should refer to program-specific materials for detailed guidance.
| REQUIREMENT | URI COVERED ACTIVITY | THIRD-PARTY COVERED ACTIVITY | K-12 SCHOOL-SUPERVISED ACTIVITY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who runs it? | URI department/program | External organization (even if URI employee acting privately) | Accredited K–12 school/district |
| Annual Registration Required?: | Yes (≥ 30 days in advance) Registration Form | Yes (≥ 30 days in advance) Registration Form | Yes (≥ 30 days in advance) Registration Form |
| Participant Forms Required?: | Yes | Third-party responsibility | No |
| – Assumption of Risk | Yes Assumption of Risk & Release Form | Yes Assumption of Risk & Release Form | No |
| – Health History | Yes | Third-party responsibility | No |
| – Pick-up Authorization | Yes | Third-party responsibility | No |
| – Minors in Labs | If applicable | If applicable | If applicable |
| Additional Required Form(s)?: | No | No | K-12 School–Supervised Covered Activities Attestation Form |
| Contracts Required?: | No | Yes – Athletics/recreation-only use: Contract issued by Campus Recreation. – Multi-department services (e.g., housing, dining, other facilities): Contracted through Conference Services. | No |
| Insurance Coverage?: | Covered under URI insurance | Organizer must provide Certificate of Insurance (COI) in compliance with Campus Rec/Conference Services contract Purchase Camp Insurance | K-12 school/district responsibility |
| Background Checks Required?: | Yes URI HR conducts employee checks | Yes Third-party responsibility, with the exception of URI employees, who are conducted by URI Human Resources | As required by accredited K–12 school/district (URI staff must comply separately) |
| Training Required?: | Yes | Yes | School/district staff training accepted; URI staff must complete URI training |
| Behavior Expectations Acknowledgement Form | Behavior Expectations Acknowledgement Form | Behavior Expectations Acknowledgement Form | |
| Shine a Light Video Training | Shine a Light Video Training | Shine a Light Video Training | |
| Transportation Rules: | Policy & Driver Authorization Golf Cart Safety | Organizer responsible; URI staff must be compliant with Policy & Driver Authorization Golf Cart Safety | Accredited K–12 school/district responsibility, with the exception of URI employees, who must be compliant with Policy & Driver Authorization Golf Cart Safety |
| Housing/Dining Coordination: | URI Housing URI Dining Services | Conference Services | Case-by-case |
| Record Retention (Forms): | 3 years | 3 years | Limited (since most forms not required) |
Reporting Concerns or Suspected Abuse of Minors
The University of Rhode Island is committed to the safety and well‑being of all minors participating in University‑related programs and activities. All members of the University community and all individuals involved in Covered Activities have a legal and ethical obligation to take action if they have concerns about a minor’s safety.
Mandatory Reporting Requirement
Under Rhode Island law, any person who has reasonable cause to know or suspect that a minor has been abused or neglected is required to report this information. Any doubt regarding whether to report should be resolved in favor of making a report.
How to Report
If a minor is in immediate danger or a medical emergency exists:
- Call 911 or URI Police Department: (401) 874‑4910
To report suspected abuse or neglect of a minor:
- Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) Child Protection Hotline:
(800) RI‑CHILD / (800) 742‑4453
University notification (required in addition to external reporting):
- Office of Risk, Control and Insurance: (401) 874‑2591
- Email: daniel.keating@uri.edu
Reports may be made at any time, including evenings and weekends. Individuals who make reports in good faith are protected from retaliation and from criminal or civil liability.
Additional Reporting Options
Sexual misconduct involving minors may also constitute a Title IX concern. Questions may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator: (401) 874-5780 or tixc@etal.uri.edu
Need additional help?
Contact the Office of Risk, Control and Insurance for guidance on program requirements, registration, or compliance.