For staff

http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/fa/management/risk
A listing and description of the major categories of insurance coverage the University of Missouri carries, including automobile liability, general liability, professional liability, self-insured property program, workers compensation and miscellaneous coverage, can be found at the Risk and Insurance Management Web site.

County extension councils are created by state statute as entities of local government and not as departments of the University of Missouri, neither councils nor council members are covered by University of Missouri liability or insurance coverage. But, as governmental entities, liability is limited by state statues on sovereign immunity (see http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/c500-599/5370000600.htm) and also as members of not-for-profit, public-serving boards (see http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/c500-599/5370000117.htm).

Questions regarding a specific issue or occurrence can be directed to Callie Glascock (573-882-4522 or via e-mail).

General questions regarding workers compensation coverage can be directed to Tamra Robbins (573-882-7755 or via e-mail). Actual reporting forms for Workers Compensation claims can be found at the UM System Risk and Insurance Management site.

Rental Vehicle Insurance

When renting a vehicle for university business within the U.S. or Canada, under most circumstances rental vehicle insurance should be declined. Insurance only will be reimbursed in situations where collision/limited-damage waiver coverage is necessary:

Vehicles driven outside of U.S. or Canada
Vehicles with a passenger capacity greater than eight
Trucks or similar vehicles rented for the primary purpose of transporting cargo or property
Sports or utility vehicles that are to be used off of maintained roads.

For employees who have them, it is recommend that to use the university travel card when renting a car as it may provide physical damage coverage at no cost to the university.

Business property insurance

Beginning in 1997, Extension secured Business Property Insurance coverage through the University of Missouri allowing councils to eliminate insurance coverage for all university inventoried equipment. The per occurrence deductible is $1,000.

This insurance covers University of Missouri Extension property located in county extension offices or in the possession of MU Extension field faculty or staff. This includes cost-share items procured through the university. This coverage does not include items owned by the council and not procured through the university. The coverage insures against physical loss or damage due to theft, fire, windstorm, hail, smoke, flood, quake and collapse. However, laptops and LCD projectors are not covered in cases of mysterious disappearance. There must be evidence of forcible entry or severed tie-downs before coverage applies.

There is no premium cost to councils for this coverage, however, councils will be expected to pay a portion of the deductible or actual cost of repair or replacement as follows. In the case of losses valued in excess of $1,000, MU Extension will fund the full deductible ($1,000) for the first occurrence in any calendar year and one-half of the deductible ($500) for any additional occurrences in the same calendar year. Councils will be expected to pay one-half of the deductible, $500 per occurrence, for such losses after the first occurrence in any calendar year. For losses valued at less than $1,000, Extension will fund the full repair or replacement cost of the first occurrence and one-half of the cost for any additional such occurrences in the same calendar year. Councils will be expected to pay one-half of the cost of repair or replacement for such losses after the first occurrence in any calendar year.

Any loss should be reported to Callie Glascock (573-882-4522 or via e-mail) in the extension administrative management office. All property losses should be reported regardless of the presumed value of the loss. Reporting forms will be provided upon notification of a loss. Upon receipt of a completed loss report, the extension administrative management office will work with the University Risk and Insurance Management office and staff in the reporting office to determine if a repair or replacement is to be authorized and the handling of the deductible.

In the event of a loss, it is important to have maintained a non-consumable items inventory which includes the original purchase price.

Educators liability

The university’s coverage would be liable if it is determined a client has damages as a result of the program content provided by Extension faculty or someone officially representing the university (recognized volunteer).

Personal injury on property

University insurance coverage for personal injury on locations not owned by the university would be based on what the problem is that arises and who then is ultimately responsible for the issue. For example, if a field specialist takes a group of clients on a tour of a privately owned farm and one of the clients is hurt on the visit the circumstances of the accident would be reviewed and to the extent that the specialist could have prevented the accident or acted negligently the university would assume responsibility. If the individual is injured because of an unsafe condition on the property, the owner of the property is liable. This comes up fairly often with the Master Gardeners� program and if a property owner is concerned about potential liability of individuals visiting they could ask that individuals sign waivers of liability before they take the tour. These are fairly simple documents and they make the individual aware that if they twist their ankle in a hole they are responsible for their own safety. Farms can be fairly dangerous places and the university is not going to cover the liability associated with the conditions of the property that might be risky as the university has no control over those conditions.

In circumstances where the property owner demands/expects that extension accept personal injury liability associated with the activity, we can discuss with Risk and Insurance Management and possibly get a letter indicating the specific event is covered or we can work with Risk and Insurance Management to purchase additional insurance for a specific event. There is not a blanket statement that says the university will accept all responsibility for injuries at a site simply because extension is conducting a program there. Many times for 4-H events additional insurance is purchased.

Contact
Callie Glascock Glascockck@missouri.edu
Administrative Manager
University of Missouri Extension

Updated April 27, 2012