Policy Definitions

Authorized Adult

Individuals, paid or unpaid, who interact with, supervise, chaperone or otherwise oversee minors in university-sponsored programs, recreational facilities and/or residential facilities. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Faculty
  • Staff
  • Volunteers
  • Graduate and undergraduate students
  • Interns
  • Employees of temporary employment agencies
  • Independent contractors

The Authorized Adults’ roles may include positions as counselors, chaperones, coaches, instructors and other similar roles. This definition does not include temporary guest speakers, presenters and other individuals who have no direct contact with program participants other than short-term activities supervised by program staff. Authorized Adults must be 18 years of age or older.

Authorized Person

Employees and volunteers of non-Stetson, Third Party Programs using university facilities who have completed appropriate background checks and training as certified by the Third Party Program.

Abuse

Per Florida Statute 39.01, “Abuse” means any willful act or threatened act that results in any physical, mental, or sexual abuse, injury or harm that causes or is likely to cause the child’s physical, mental or emotional health to be significantly impaired. Abuse of a child includes acts or omissions. Corporal discipline of a child by a parent or legal custodian for disciplinary purposes does not in itself constitute abuse when it does not result in harm to the child.

Child Abuse

Per Florida Statute 827.03, “Child abuse” means:

  • Intentional infliction of physical or mental injury upon a child;
  • An intentional act that could reasonably be expected to result in physical or mental injury to a child; or
  • Active encouragement of any person to commit an act that results or could reasonably be expected to result in physical or mental injury to a child.

Direct Contact

Providing care, supervision, guidance or control of minors and/or having routine interaction with minors.

Mandatory Reporters

Any person who knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that a child is abused, abandoned or neglected by a parent, legal custodian, caregiver or other person responsible for the child's welfare.

Minor

A minor is an unmarried person under the age of eighteen (18) who has not been emancipated by order of the court and is participating in a University Sponsored Program or Third Party Program. Under this definition, a minor is not enrolled in or accepted for enrollment in a degree-granting program and is not an employee at Stetson University.

Neglect of a Child 

A caregiver’s failure or omission to provide a child with the care, supervision, and services necessary to maintain the child’s physical and mental health, including, but not limited to, food, nutrition, clothing, shelter, supervision, medicine, and medical services that a prudent person would consider essential for the well-being of the child; or a caregiver’s failure to make a reasonable effort to protect a child from abuse, neglect, or exploitation by another person. Except as otherwise provided in this section, neglect of a child may be based on repeated conduct or on a single incident or omission that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, serious physical or mental injury, or a substantial risk of death, to a child.

One-On-One Contact

A type of Direct Contact involving personal, unsupervised interaction between an Authorized Adult and a Minor without at least one other Authorized Adult, parent or legal guardian being present. This type of contact is prohibited in University Sponsored Programs and Third Party Programs unless specifically addressed in the Protection of Minors policy.

Program Sponsor

Each program or activity, whether operated by the University or a third party, must have an identified university employee serve as the Program Sponsor.

Protection of Minors Advisory Group

A group comprised of representatives from the University’s offices of Human Resources, Public Safety, Risk Management and Title IX who oversee the implementation and maintenance of this policy.

Student

Any person currently enrolled, whether part-time or full-time, in undergraduate or graduate courses or programs at Stetson University.

Sponsoring Unit

The academic or administrative unit of the university that offers a program, administers a contract with the Third Party Program or gives approval for use of facilities.

Third-Party Program

Non-university individuals and organizations that wish to operate programs or activities involving children and minors at university facilities and off-site locations coordinated by the university. This includes programs run by University Community Members that are not university-sponsored and are outside the scope of their affiliation with the university. For the purpose and application of this policy, the VIP Rowing Concierge Program is considered a Third Party Program.

University Community or University Community Members

University faculty, staff, unpaid volunteers, interns, students, temporary employees, visiting scholars and any other university affiliates.

University Sponsored Program

Program and/or activities offered by various academic departments, administrative departments or student organizations of Stetson University. This includes but is not limited to workshops, sports camps (including lessons or clinics), academic camps, conferences, fairs, pre-enrollment visits and similar activities.