Prohibited Activities
Certain activities are deemed potentially dangerous to individual safety and program integrity; in addition, these activities are not covered by SIT’s student insurance. For these reasons, the activities listed below are prohibited. Participation in any of these activities is considered a violation of the student code of conduct and could lead to expulsion from the program.
• Driving of any kind, including off-road and all types of motorized racing
• Riding in private airplanes or helicopters
• Hitchhiking
• Jet Skiing
• Surfing
• Parasailing
• Scuba Diving
• Entering any body of water from height
• Outdoor Rock Climbing
• Spelunking
• White Water Rafting
• Bungee Jumping
• Skydiving
• Paragliding or Hang Gliding
• BASE Jumping
• Branding
In addition to the activities listed above, academic directors will inform students during orientation of other program-specific activities that are prohibited.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
All local motorized transportation must be done with registered and insured transportation options. Students are prohibited from renting cars, flying in private airplanes and helicopters, and riding on or driving motorcycles.
*Exceptionally, participants on our Vietnam programs are able to ride on mopeds upon completion of a safety course and adherence to our helmet policy.
WATER SAFETY
There are dangers inherent to any water activity including boating, wading, swimming and snorkeling. Some SIT programs include pre-approved water activities within the program itinerary. In such cases, SIT staff will provide marine safety guidelines for local conditions prior to the activity i.e. orientation to tides, currents, water temperatures, site-specific water hazards, marine animals that could pose a risk to students, and relevant weather concerns.
Any student who chooses to swim should never swim alone, should defer to local knowledge regarding swimming safety in various locations, and should limit swimming to locations where there is a posted lifeguard on duty, if possible. Students are prohibited from swimming or entering the water for any reason within 12 hours of consuming any alcohol or if they are intoxicated in any other way.
Any student conducting program-related marine work must stay within 5 meters (roughly 16 feet) of a swimming/snorkeling partner. The partner may be another student or SIT staff member. Any student who is not feeling well should stay out of the water and speak with an SIT staff member onsite. Any student who is required to carry an inhaler must ensure the inhaler is close at hand and that its location is known to the water partner, other students, and staff. Further detailed water safety guidelines for the local context will be covered by SIT staff onsite when relevant.