Georgia Tech provides educational and recreational opportunities to minors throughout the year. These youth programs range from athletic and science camps, to after-school programs, to enrichment classes and activities. 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, 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.

It is estimated that, on an annual basis, more than 40,000 minors, 17 and under, attend a program 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 Youth Programs by May 1 (youthprograms.gatech.edu/youth-programs-registration). This must be done on an annual basis. Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of programming.

“Georgia Tech prides itself on the great educational value of its youth programs — programs that challenge, educate, and mentor young people, as well as introduce them to the Georgia Tech campus and students,” said Mia Reini, director of Enterprise Risk Management. “It is important for the Institute to have a complete understanding of these youth programs so that we can identity these programs and provide the training and best practices for the benefit of all involved.”  

By registering, programs that work with minors will proactively receive information on the resources and policies developed for the protection of the minors, and the program volunteers and workers. These include:

• Code of Conduct for Youth Programs
• Safety and security planning resources
• Training programs, including required training such as “Mandated Reporters: Critical Links in Protecting Children in Georgia”
• Mandatory background checks and pre-screening

Join the growing list of registered youth programs at Georgia Tech by May 1, 2017. Visit Youth Programs to learn more and register your program.