Participant Waivers and Releases

The university sponsors numerous voluntary travel, recreational, cultural, educational, and physical activities for members of the university and the community, which are not part of the university's core educational activities. For example, the university sponsors numerous non-varsity athletic activities, physical fitness programs, etc. It may be necessary, in providing those services, for the university to secure a written waiver from participants.

When is a waiver necessary? 

Although offering these activities are important to the university, these activities also subject WSU to increased liability. In order to ensure that participants fully understand and appreciate the risks associated with these activities, and to mitigate the potential liability risk to the university, participants in these activities may need to sign a waiver.

Does an activity I'm planning or organizing require a waiver?

The determination of whether a waiver is needed should only be made after consulting with the Office of General Counsel. If you are involved with organizing or planning a voluntary activity, it is important that you work with General Counsel to secure any necessary waivers prior to the event. It is imperative that you have each participant execute an appropriate form and that the university retains the original signed Waiver for the appropriate duration of time.