Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Risk Management and Safety for Outdoor Recreation (Face-to-Face)

ORPT 3050-01

Course: ORPT 3050-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Kinesiology & Outdoor Rec
CRN: 30982

Course Description

Study of laws affecting recreation services and professional development of risk management protocols and procedures. (Fall) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

Required: None - Readings and media will be related to current info in the field, case studies, and will be provided via canvas
Recommended: Risk Management for Outdoor Leaders Notebook - NOLS


Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes*:
Students will increase their knowledge of risk theory and risk management by being able to:

  • Define and develop an understanding of risk from an individual, leader/instructor, and agency perspective
  • Define risk management as it relates to the outdoor recreation profession
  • Be able to conduct a hazard/risk assessment for a variety of outdoor recreation activities
  • Discuss legal concepts related to risk, including liability, inherent risks assumption of risk, and negligence
  • Explain the difference between techniques of managing risks in outdoor recreation
  • Write policies and procedures related to risk management planning and emergency action plans

Course Requirements

Students will develop their risk management skills by:
  • Analyzing risk management readings and case studies 
  • Discussing case studies and risk management topics in class 
  • Analyzing administrative documents related to risk management 
  • Creating risk management policies and procedures as part of a group 
  • Completing a review of the course as well as a final reflection of your learning and how you will use these skills

This will look like a total of 350 possible points through the following assessments:
  • Knowledge Checks: quizzes and reading response assignments - 50 points (5-20 points per assignment)
  • In class activities/participation/assignments - 100 points total
  • Case Studies and Risk Management Scenario - application assignments - 30 points (5-15 points each)
  • An in class midterm seminar style discussion of case studies - 30 points
  • Emergency Action Plan review - 10 points
  • Risk Management Plan/Emergency Action Plan and presentation- 50 points (group project)
  • Independent Interest Project - 20 points
  • Safety Minute - practical risk management topic (team project) - 10 points
  • Final review of course objectives - 20 points
  • Final Reflection - 30 points

Essential Elements: All ORPT classes are subject to our Essential Eligibility Criteria, which can be found on the ORPT webpage, here. All students should be prepared for face-to-face discussion of sometimes difficult topics, which will include injury and death. Students should be prepared for large group and small group work, discussion, and participation while contributing to a safe learning environment free from harassment of others for any reason. Classes will happen in and out of the classroom as well as outdoors in occasionally inclement weather.

Risks: By participating in this class, you are accepting certain inherent risks involved in outdoor recreation. Signed waiver(s) and assumption of risk form(s) will be a requirement of this class. For this class, you may be exposed to risks of falling, slipping, tripping, exposure to the elements, and equipment associated with outdoor recreation. There are inherent risks involved in outdoor recreation that cannot be eliminated from the course.  

Course Outline

Weeks 1-2: Class introduction, expectations, grading, and assignments; introduce risk as a positive and desired aspect of outdoor recreation; discuss risk management strategies; case studies; legal vocabulary related to risk management

Weeks 3-5: Case studies in outdoor risk management; Heuristic traps; Risk assessments and how to conduct them through scenarios; The importance of cultivating a culture of risk management in OR organizations; What is a risk management plan?

Weeks 6-10: Emergency action plans; additional case studies; developing judgement as an OR professional; risk management as related to specific areas of OR: transportation, equipment, training, hygiene, communication, marketing, and more; mid-term case study seminar.

Weeks 11-15: Develop risk management plan documents; How to write good policies and procedures; review and comment on an emergency action plan; present risk management plans to class; final reviews and reflection of learning. 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

In general, without prior approval, the following will apply: Each assignment will be given a due date and time. Assignments turned in within 48 hours are eligible for partial credit. If you turn the assignment in more than 48 hours after the due date and time, you should not expect partial credit (or any credit) for the assignment. Still, the assignments are designed to aid in your learning and help you meet the objectives of the class, which means you should do them, even if they are late and you don't get full credit! Note, if you turn in the assignment more than 3 days after the due date, grading/feedback on that assignment will likely be delayed. 

Attendance Policy

This class meets in person twice a week, and your presence and participation are essential to your success and the overall learning environment. You are allowed up to 3 free absences over the course of the semester. These are intended to cover things like minor illnesses, travel, or other personal obligations—so I encourage you to use them wisely.

If you find yourself needing to miss more than three class sessions due to illness, family emergencies, or other significant circumstances, please reach out to me as soon as possible. I understand that life can be unpredictable, and I’m willing to work with students who communicate and show commitment to the course.

Please note that excessive absences (more than 3) without communication will affect your ability to keep up in class and will result in a lower grade or difficulty passing. Make-up work is not guaranteed but may be offered in certain situations depending on the nature of the absence and the coursework missed.

Ultimately, I want you to succeed and stay healthy—physically and mentally—so please keep me in the loop if something comes up.

(note: 3 absences is 12% of class meetings. If you don’t communicate well or aren’t showing commitment to the course, expect at least a 12% reduction in your final grade for missing more than 3 class sessions)

Course Fees

$7.50 per credit hour

AI and Digital Media Policy

AI and Digital Technology Policy:

AI is a tool we honestly don’t know a lot about yet, especially as it evolves so rapidly. Like all major changes in technology (the internet, smart phones), there are some who want it to be abolished, and others who are using it for everything. I’m not sure where I stand yet, and as such will list specific AI usage policies on the individual assignments. But to keep it simple, let’s be honest about everything we do for class.

When thinking about this stuff, there is some evidence from research that I’d like you to consider:

  1. Writing things down by hand, and thinking and discussing ideas leads to better learning than just typing or watching a video. Consider ditching the tech for old school pen and paper and maybe a discussion with a peer or mentor. 
  2. The feeling of awe and accomplishment you get from walking/climbing up a mountain is much higher than if you are able to take a ride to the top of that same mountain. The discomfort, stress, sustained effort, and earned success sticks with you far longer and gives that experience a greater value. AI shortcuts may be similar according to this study.
  3. A study on using LLMs such as ChatGPT have found that “LLM users consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels. These results raise concerns about the long-term educational implications of LLM reliance and underscore the need for deeper inquiry into AI's role in learning.” article

How that relates to AI is that by taking shortcuts as a means to an end (a good grade in the case of college classes), or even as a way to make the process easier and more efficient, we are actually harming our ability to be resilient, anti-fragile, thoughtful, quick thinking, and empathetic humans, and these skills are SO important in Outdoor Rec, and risk management in particular. 

AI is fairly ubiquitous these days, in Google Searches or while using Canva to make a flyer. You may not even know AI algorithms are doing something in the background of your browser. That is different from copying an assignment’s instructions into AI with the intent to deceive. Use of generative AI as a means to complete assessments and assignments is Academic Misconduct under SUU Policy. 6.33. Any suspected use of AI to deceive or cheat will result in a zero on the assignment until we have a meeting to discuss. Egregious use of AI will result in a zero on the assignment as well as referral to academic integrity specialists on campus for academic misconduct violations, with all the possible consequences.

If you are anti-AI for ethical/environmental reasons, then you are certainly welcome to not utilize it at all, even when an assignment explicitly allows it. 

TL:DR
IN GENERAL
If the assignment does not explicitly list specific expectations for AI Use, these general restrictions apply.
Allowed: Brainstorming ideas, checking grammar, summarizing long readings, asking for a skill to be explained a different way.
Never Allowed: Generating text for discussions, copying and pasting directly from AI outputs, solving problems through prompts without critical analysis, fabricating citations, utilizing AI as an attempt to cheat or deceive.

More Information about how to be successful

Here is a little more information about how to be successful in my classes. It's a long read, but I think it will help you.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.