Safety & Loss Prevention

General Information

Coverage for use of University-owned vehicles is restricted to our State Self-Funded Liability Program. It is a requirement of the State Self-Funded Liability Program that any student or volunteer driver must have a "Student or Volunteer Driver Authorization Form" on file in the Risk Management Office, prior to using a University vehicle.

INSTRUCTIONS:

A. All forms must be signed by the student's/volunteer's supervisor making the request.

B. The form must be sent at least ten (10) working days prior to departure to:

Risk Management Department
(Insert the proper address for your institution)

DEFINITIONS AND EXAMPLES:

"Student Driver" - All University of Wisconsin students, including student employees.

"Volunteer Driver" - An individual other than a student or employee.

Some examples of approved usage are:

  1. Field trips that are for educational purposes, and have on-site supervision by a UW employee.
  2. Education programs that require training to be taken outside of the institution's immediate area and are course-required. This would not include students who are required to train at some other site all day, every work day of the week, ie student teaching.
  3. Business errands for a department.
  4. Conference, meeting, events which are University-related.
  5. Research under the direct supervision of a principal investigator or instructor. (Note #1 below for exceptions.)
  6. Volunteer programs that are under the direct supervision of the University, the program provides substantial benefit to the University, and where an agent agreement has been approved by Risk Management.
  7. Student organization trips when the purpose fits the mission of the university.
Some examples of rejections are:
  1. Individual research projects or course work primarily for the personal benefit of a student in working toward an undergraduate or advanced degree.
  2. Field trips that do not have on-site supervision.
  3. Fraternity or Sorority business trips.
  4. Generally, student organization trips.
  5. Two or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents within a three year period.
  6. Less than 2 years driving experience.
  7. Assessment of 6 points in a three-year period; please note that no credit is given for Motor Vehicle point reductions.