General Insurance Information
MSU Indemnification Policy
Liability Insurance
Educators Legal Liability
- Covers defense costs and payment of claims
resulting from organizational errors and omissions including wrongful
employment practices and failure to educate.
- Covers defense costs and payment of
claims resulting from injuries to persons or damage to property
of others that arise from MSU operations. This coverage
includes police professional and liquor liability as well as
foreign liability for claims that occur outside the United
States.
- Report accidents/incidents resulting in
injury or property damage to the Office of Risk Management and
Insurance using the
Injury/Property Damage Report.
- Covers defense costs and payment of claims for injury or damage
caused by a medical incident arising out of the provision of
or failure to provide veterinary medical services.
- Report incidents using the
Veterinary Incident
Report
Guidelines for Automobile Use
The following outlines
accepted university policies and procedures related to vehicle usage when driving on
university business and for university sponsored events. These policies and
procedures have been established to support the safety of MSU students, faculty and
staff.
Vehicle Usage
University Owned Vehicles
- Automobile liability insurance provides coverage for the
University and its authorized drivers for claims of negligence
which result in damage to property of others or bodily injury to third
parties within the limits of the Michigan No-Fault Act.
- Physical damage (collision) insurance
covers damage to university owned vehicles, subject to a
deductible. Funding of the physical damage deductible is the
responsibility of the department. All accidents must be reported
to the Office of Risk Management so that a claim may be filed if
appropriate under the Michigan No-Fault Act.
- Departments are responsible for service, maintenance and inspection of
vehicles through Transportation Services. Failure to
comply with requirements may affect insurance charges.
- Individuals using privately-owned vehicles on University business
are responsible for obtaining adequate insurance to cover their
legal responsibility. The University's Auto Liability
insurance is excess of the owner's personal coverage.
- The University does not carry physical damage insurance on
a privately owned vehicle.
- The University's auto liability coverage is excess of any other
valid and collectible coverage. The University does
not carry collision coverage for rental vehicles.
- Employees are encouraged to use National Car Rental whenever
possible. MSU is part of a Big Ten Agreement which includes
coverage for damage to the rental vehicle and auto liability at no
additional charge.
- There is no need to purchase liability and collision coverage
from the rental agency when traveling in the US or Canada.
Insurance costs on domestic automobile rentals are not
reimbursable from the University. Because of unique
laws in foreign countries, complications in settling claims,
and personal policy limitations, the liability and collision
coverage should be purchased from the rental agency when
traveling outside of the U.S. and Canada. Insurance
costs on foreign automobile rentals are reimbursable from
the University.
- Rental expense for 12-15 passenger vans from outside agencies is not reimbursable.
Driver Responsibilities
- A person driving a University-owned
vehicle must have a valid, unrestricted U.S. driver's license, with
proper class and endorsements listed for the vehicle(s) to be
operated and must have a satisfactory driving record. The responsibility
for enforcing these requirements rests with the Department
Chairperson or equivalent. NOTE: Departments can
obtain driving records through the Office of Risk Management
& Insurance. There is no charge for Michigan
driving records. For large volume requests, allow 3-5
business days. Complete the
Michigan
Driver Record Request.
- Drivers on University business
travel are expected to observe all posted speed limits and to
operate the vehicles in accordance with applicable laws and
state regulations.
- Drivers and all passengers in vehicles
must wear safety belts.
- While traveling one-way more than
300 miles before reaching the planned destination, the driver is
responsible to see that at least one other passenger is authorized
to and acts as a relief driver. Trips should be no longer than 10
driving hours per day. No itineraries should be planned which
include driving between the hours of midnight and 4 a.m.
Itineraries must be reviewed and approved by the sponsoring
department.
- Use of 12-15 passenger vans is
restricted to a 15-mile campus radius. Travel on
freeways/expressways is prohibited.
- 12-15 Passenger van drivers must
hold a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with passenger endorsement.
Contact Transportation Services regarding the process for obtaining
a CDL. Seatbelts must be worn by the driver and all occupants at
all times. Failure to comply may jeopardize insurance coverage.
-
Use of cargo carriers and trailers must be approved by Transportation
Services.
Driver Requirements
- Employees, who are assigned to drive a University-owned vehicle to
perform any MSU assigned tasks, must complete the
Employee
Driver Certification form annually. Departments are
responsible for reviewing and maintaining signed forms.
-
University-owned vehicles may not be used by non-employed
students unless approved by the requesting Department Chair or
Dean after review of the individual driving record. To
obtain approval, complete the
Non-Employee Student Driver Authorization form
per instructions on the form.
-
University-owned vehicles may not be used by volunteers.
Student Clubs and/or Organizations
-
University-owned vehicles may not be used by student clubs or student
organizations, unless approved by the requesting Department
Chair or Dean after review of the individual driving record.
To obtain approval, complete the
Non-Employee
Student Driver Authorization form per instructions on the form.
Automobile Accident Reporting
- Report the accident to the appropriate authorities.
If on campus contact DPPS. If off-campus contact the nearest
police authority. Refer to the “Accident Kit” located in the glove
box of the vehicle for further instructions for
What To Do When an Accident Happens.
- The driver of the university owned vehicle, or an authorized
representative of the department, must complete the
Automobile
Accident Report and forward it to MSU Risk Management on the
day of the accident or as soon as practical. This
form can be found in the glove box as part of the “Accident Kit”.
- Accidents involving injuries to employees must also be reported to MSU
Workers Compensation.
Property Insurance
- Covers university buildings and contents for loss or damage as a
result of a sudden and accidental occurrence. Property covered
is
subject to a $5,000 deductible per occurrence. The following types of
property damage are not covered by insurance:
- Deterioration, depletion, rust, corrosion or erosion, wear
and tear, or latent defect.
- Settling, cracking, shrinking, bulging, or expansion of
foundations, floors, walls, ceilings, or roofs.
- Resulting from changes in temperature or humidity.
- Resulting from insect, animal or vermin.
- Pollution or contamination.
- Fungus, mold or mildew.
- Coverage includes property owned by, or loaned to, the University
with an established appraised value. Covered property includes (but
is not limited to) museum collections, jewelry, precious metals,
paintings, rare books, sculptures, rare coins and antiques.
Property must be scheduled (information provided to the
insurer in advance) for coverage to apply. Contact Risk
Management & Insurance for further information.
- Covers scheduled property leased or rented to University Departments
with a deductible less than $5,000. Contact Risk Management
& Insurance for further information and to schedule property.
Faculty, Staff
or Student
Property
- MSU property insurance does not extend to personal property of others.
Insurance maintained by the property owner is the applicable coverage.
For more information, students can refer to
Residents' Responsibilities.
- Reimbursement to departments or units for property loss or damage is
subject to the following guidelines:
- Incidents of vandalism, fire and theft should be reported
immediately to the MSU Department of Police and Public
Safety.
- For major property loss involving interruption in business
function, contact Risk Management & Insurance and
refer to
Guidelines to Recovery from a Major Property Loss.
- Property loss or damage must be reported promptly to the Office of
Risk Management using the
MSU
Property Loss Report form. Include photographs if available
to assist in describing the loss. Claims not submitted to
Risk Management and Insurance within 90 days of the loss becomes the
financial responsibility of the department or unit incurring the
loss.
- If the property item cannot be repaired or the cost to repair
is more than 50% of the replacement value, the item will
be replaced with either new or reconditioned property of
like kind, quality, and specifications. Damaged equipment
will be forwarded to the Surplus Store.
- Equipment must be repaired or replaced by the department before
any reimbursement can be made. Copies of original invoices
and/or purchase orders for both the original equipment
which was lost or damaged and for replacement equipment
must be provided to support the claim.
- If the loss involves theft or mysterious disappearance, a
deductible of $5,000 per item will be applied.
Claims will be held for 30 days from the date of
the report to allow time for the missing items to be
recovered. If recovered items are damaged, the loss will
then be treated as a damage claim. If items are not
recovered settlement will be based on the depreciated
inventory value at the date of loss.
- Written documentation and/or damaged items may be required for
review prior to the settlement of the claim. Failure to
provide documentation or damaged items may void the claim.
Miscellaneous Insurance
NOTE: Additional or supplemental
insurance purchased by University departments, regardless of the source of
funds, may duplicate or nullify existing coverage. No insurance policy
of any kind may be purchased directly with any insurance carrier by a University
department.
- Covers accidental injuries to children enrolled in sports and
academic camps at MSU. Contact Risk Management and
Insurance for enrollment information.
- Explanation
of Coverage
International
Travel Assistance
- Provides medical evacuation/repatriation and personal assistance services
through the MEDEX Program. Travelers eligible for coverage are
overseas business travelers with an authorized MSU travel form.
Please see the
MEDEX Brochure for a further explanation of coverage.
Coverage cards and brochures are available at Olin Travel Clinic,
University Travel Office, and Risk Management and Insurance.
International travel products can be purchased at
MEDEX
for those individuals traveling overseas on personal business.
- Insurance available for purchase by groups holding one time events
on campus who do not have insurance that meets the University's
requirements for private events. The policy provides the
required levels of coverage to use the facilities and protects the
individuals or organization holding the event. See
URMIA Tulip for details.
- Provides emergency assistance that includes health insurance coverage
for students in Study Abroad Programs. Participation is
mandatory. See
Student Health Insurance for details. For student travel
coverage, not arranged through the Study Abroad Program, contact
Risk Management and Insurance.
Services Provided & Request Forms
Charter Aircraft
Approval
- Contracts and agreements that obligate the University to maintain
specific types of insurance should be reviewed by Risk
Management and Insurance prior to signature.
Contractor Insurance Requirements
Criminal History Record Request
Michigan Driver Record Request
Claim/Accident Reporting Forms