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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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Atlanta, GA | Posted: January 26, 2018
Kelly Cross
Youth Programs Compliance Specialist
Legal Affairs and Risk Management
Webinar Links:
Youth Programs Information Session
Tuesday, Feb. 6 – 11 a.m. to noon
Youth Programs Information Session
Wednesday, Feb. 14 – 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Youth Programs Information Session
Monday, Feb. 19 – noon to 1 p.m.
RSVP to register for an information session.
Summary Sentence:
The University System of Georgia (USG) and the Institute are requiring that all minor-focused programs be registered with Georgia Tech's Youth Programs.
Full Summary:
To help ensure a safe and healthy environment for all who participate, volunteer, or work in these youth programs, the University System of Georgia (USG) and the Institute are requiring that all minor-focused programs be registered with Georgia Tech’s Youth Programs.
Minors on campus It is estimated that, on an annual basis, more than 40,000 minors, 17 and under, attend programs sponsored by the Institute or conducted on campus. A special duty of care and supervision is required to protect Tech’s youngest learners. To help ensure a safe and healthy environment for all who participate, volunteer, or work in these youth programs, the University System of Georgia (USG) and the Institute are requiring that all minor-focused programs be registered at Georgia Tech’s Youth Programs.
Youth programs are activities for non-student minors organized and run by Georgia Tech individuals or units, outside of regular academic programs. These programs include, but are not limited to, working with minors in labs, internships, student organization youth events, camps on campus, and mentoring/tutoring in local schools. Campus/lab tours and school field trips to the Georgia Tech campus are generally not considered youth programs.
“There is an extensive breadth and depth of youth programs at Georgia Tech,” said Kelly Cross, compliance specialist for Youth Programs at Georgia Tech. “Through conversations with program organizers, internship supervisors, building managers, and human resources representatives, it is clear that there is a passion for excellence in youth programming and outreach at Georgia Tech.”
According to Cross, the exciting work occurring in these programs also presents unique risks. To help mitigate these risks, Youth Programs has been actively implementing the Youth Programs Policy which mandates program registration. In addition, the office has also been developing program operating processes to assist all involved in the working with minors pursue excellence, regardless of individual areas of expertise.
By registering, programs that work with minors will proactively receive information on the resources and policies developed for the protection of minors and for the program volunteers and workers. Programs are required to register every calendar year, and failure to do so may result in the cancellation of programming.
In addition to overseeing the registration of programs, Georgia Tech’s Youth Programs has been working with the campus community to develop resources to further assist organizers and managers of programs that work with minors — on and off campus — to better understand their roles and responsibilities.
This February, online information sessions (see schedule in sidebar) will be conducted to clarify policies, legal requirements, and how to register a program.
Visit Youth Programs website youthprograms.gatech.edu to learn more and register your program. Questions may be sent directly to Kelly Cross at kelly.cross@gatech.edu.
