Insurance & Risk Management
Insurance and Contracts
Quick Navigation: Insurance Types & Description | General Liability Insurance (who is insured) | Certificates of Insurance | Contracts and Agreements
1.1 Insurance Types and Description
Virginia Tech maintains the following insurance:
Worker's Compensation
The state's insurance program provides coverage
that fully conforms to statutory requirements.
Workers Compensation does not extend to volunteers.
Any injuries to volunteers are the responsibility of the volunteer's
personal healthcare.
Automobile Liability
The state's insurance program provides $2,000,000
per occurrence on automobile liability coverage through a program
of self-insurance for drivers of state licensed vehicles. For the
Commonwealth of Virginia or any of the individual state agencies
or institutions, the limit of liability is $100,000. The coverage
applies to state-owned vehicles and on an excess basis to rental
vehicles, to non-owned, borrowed, and hired vehicles. Accidents in
involving rental vehicles being used for personal travel are not
covered by the Commonwealth plan. If you use a rental vehicle for
personal business, you should check with your personal auto insurance
to ensure coverage exists under your personal policy. Accidents with
state vehicles and rental vehicles on official business of the university
should be reported in accordance with the checklist printed in this
document.
Accidents involving personal vehicles, even when being used for business purposes, are the responsibility of the owner. All accidents must be reported to the insurer of the vehicle. The university does maintain non-owned and hired automobile liability coverage, which is excess over personal coverage. This insurance would only apply if the personal automobile liability limits were exhausted and Virginia Tech was determined to be liable by a court of law because the representative was conducting university business.
General Liability
The state's insurance program coverage of general
liability for the Commonwealth of Virginia and Employees of the Commonwealth
provides defense, which is handled by the Office of the Attorney
General of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The program provides $2,000,000
per occurrence liability coverage as set forth in Section 2.2-1837
of the CODE OF VIRGINIA, which provides that a self-insurance program
may provide protection against liability imposed by law for damages
resulting from any claim made against any department, agency, institution,
board, commission, officer, agent, or employee thereof for acts or
omissions of any nature while acting in an authorized governmental
or proprietary capacity and in the course and scope of employment
or authorization... This plan provides for coverage of anyone representing
Virginia Tech, whether full time, part time, paid or volunteer. All
coverage for professional liability concerns are covered under this
policy as well. Violations of the law or willful acts outside of
the employee’s scope of duties are not covered.
Property
The state's insurance provides full coverage, less a $1,000 deductible, for loss of property due to theft, vandalism, etc. or destruction by wind, water, freeze, etc. Any loss or damage to University property should be reported in accordance with the checklists outlined in this document. This program provides coverage for any property in transit. Personal property is not covered by the Commonwealth
Insurance for property of others
Property insurance provided by the university
can be extended to cover the property of others, under the university's
care, custody and control. This includes any art on display or in
storage at the university. Documentation, which can be in the form
of a contract, letter or email, must exist prior to the date of any
loss, indicating the university has accepted care, custody and control
of the item, what the item is and an estimated value (if available).
A template for documenting this care, custody and control for the
property of others can be obtained from the risk management office.
Personal property of employees can be insured, if prior to the date
of loss, the employee’s job description has been modified to
include the requirement for their property as a condition of employment.
Medical Malpractice Liability
Update
The state's insurance program provides coverage up to $2,000,000 (as of July 1, 2008) per occurrence for medical staff at the University.
Boiler and Machinery
The state's insurance program provides for
full coverage, less a $5,000 deductible ($1,000 deductible for off
campus locations) for all boiler and machinery equipment that is
damaged.
Aircraft
The state's insurance program provides for
airport liability coverage, full hull coverage and liability coverage
for aviation related incidents.
Bonding
The state's insurance program provides up to
$500,000 per occurrence fidelity coverage on all representatives
of Virginia Tech which includes paid and volunteer staff conducting
Virginia Tech business.
1.2 General Liability Insurance-Who Is Insured Under The Program
The following information describes the liability coverage for University employees and volunteers.
The University's liability coverage is offered through a State self-insured plan. The State Insurance Program coverage of general liability for the Commonwealth of Virginia and Employees and Agents of the Commonwealth also provides defense, which is handled by the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia. Specifically, the program is:
University and Employees, or Agents - The program provides full self-insurance coverage as set forth in Section 2.1-526.8 of the Code of Virginia which provides that a self-insurance program may:
Provide protection against liability imposed by law for damages resulting from any claim made against any department, agency, institution, board, commission, officer, agent, or employee thereof for acts or omissions of any nature while acting in an authorized governmental or proprietary capacity and in the course and scope of employment or authorization...(Emphasis added)
The financial basis for this program is a trust fund contributed to by all State agencies and has a $2,000,000 per occurrence limit. At this time, we do not have limitations or exclusions that, in any way, limit the implementation of the University's programs.
As to who is covered, all State employees are covered, with the term "State employees" being defined as follows:
State employee means any officer, employee, agent or any person acting in an official capacity, temporarily or permanently in the service of the Legislative, Executive or Judicial Branches of the Commonwealth, whether with or without compensation and whether full or part-time. Specifically, this definition includes those persons serving as volunteers.
Please remember, our coverage extends to any agent of the University. At no time do we try to dictate the mission of individual University entities. Therefore, if the university supports an activity as part of its mission, then our coverage will be in place for our representative. Also remember, this coverage is for liability and not injury to the employees or volunteers. Any medical problem arising from the volunteer's work for Virginia Tech is the responsibility of the volunteer. Each volunteer should verify that they have health insurance and if injured while working for us as a volunteer would file the injury with their personal insurer.
1.3 Insurance Certificates
For official verification of university coverage to third parties, a Certificate of Insurance can be issued from the Office of Risk Management. Please provide as much notice as possible when requesting certificates. Information describing the activity, location, date of function, etc. will be requested in order to prepare the certificate. You may fax this form to 540-231-5064.
1.4 Contracts and Agreements
All contracts and agreements must be signed by an authorized university representative. These documents must be submitted to the appropriate University designee, for review, signature and return. Faculty and Staff are not authorized to sign a contract or agreement.