Policy Information

When traveling on business in your personal vehicle, your own personal auto insurance would apply to any damage or liability arising from an accident or collision. 

When traveling in a university-owned vehicle, you are afforded liability coverage in the amount of $500,000 per accident in the State of Kansas and $1,000,000 per accident outside the State of Kansas. KU does not carry comprehensive auto coverage on its vehicles.

When renting a vehicle, two types of insurance are relevant: (1) liability coverage, and (2) collision damage waiver (CDW), which is a “waiver” through which a car rental company waives its right to recoup cost for damage to their vehicle. Regardless of campus, all employees utilizing rented vehicles in the course and scope of their employment are afforded liability coverage in the amount of $500,000 per accident in the State of Kansas and $1,000,000 per accident outside the State of Kansas. CDW need not be purchased when renting a vehicle from Enterprise (in the US, its territories, or Canada).  The university strongly recommends the purchase of additional collision coverage when renting vehicles outside the United States and Canada.    

Helpful information for renting from Enterprise can found at KU Travel Services and KU Travel Services FAQs; or, KUMC’s Enterprise Rent-A-Car Vehicle Rental Policies and Procedures. Please also review Use of Automobiles and Rental Vehicle Occupancy and Insurance Coverage policies.

If an accident involving agency owned or rental vehicle has just occurred, take any emergency actions that are necessary and call 911 immediately so an official accident report will be prepared. Inform 911 of serious injuries that could require emergency equipment/personnel to be dispatched to the scene.

E-mail the Office of Audit, Risk, & Compliance at risk@ku.edu for more information.

The university does not purchase commercial general liability insurance because, as an agency of the State of Kansas, it and its employees (acting in the course of scope of their employment) are covered under the Kansas Tort Claims Act (K.S.A. 75-6101, et seq.). The limit of liability under the KTCA is $500,000 for any number of claims arising out of a single occurrence or accident.  

The issue of general liability often comes up in agreements. When you submit an agreement to the Office of the General Counsel for review, attorneys will likely propose changes to or removal of language pertaining to general liability insurance. In the event that the other party refuses to accept these changes (e.g., the venue where you’ll be holding a departmental event), it is possible to purchase a special events policy that can provide the general liability coverage being requested. Cost of the special event policy premium must be borne by the requesting department. Given that it takes time to place certain special events policies, please email Office of Audit, Risk & Compliance at risk@ku.edu as soon as possible if there is any likelihood your department will need such a policy.

The university purchases certain professional liability insurance policies on behalf of its faculty, staff and students. Students enrolled in the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Professions at KU Medical Center and students enrolled in the School of Social Welfare on the Lawrence Campus are afforded professional liability coverage for purposes of their clinical/practicum rotations. Medical residents and faculty physicians at KU Medical Center are afforded professional liability insurance through a combination of self-insurance funds and statutorily provided excess coverage through the Kansas Health Care Stabilization Fund. Professional liability insurance is also maintained on behalf of certain groups and providers on the Lawrence Campus.

For information about professional liability coverage contact Risk Management & Insurance Director, Ben Schultheis, at benschultheis@ku.edu.

If you are a medical, nursing or health professions student looking for information about your professional liability coverage, please email questions to Risk Management & Insurance Director, Ben Schultheis, at benschultheis@ku.edu.

If you are a current or former medical resident or fellow, you can find additional information about your coverage here. You may also email Risk Management, at risk@ku.edu to request verification of your coverage and/or a claims history (a.k.a. “loss run”). If you become aware of a claim or lawsuit against you related to your residency/fellowship training activities at KU Medical Center, please immediately contact Risk Management & Insurance Director, Ben Schultheis, at benschultheis@ku.edu.

KU purchases all-risk insurance on its property and business income up to $1B per occurrence. Notifications about damage to property or questions about coverage should be directed to risk@ku.edu. 

The University provides a comprehensive insurance program for authorized travelers including medical, security and natural disaster evacuation up to $500,000 per event. Emergency contact information and other details regarding this insurance package (relevant to KU Lawrence Campus, KU Medical Center and their respective reporting units) can be found on the KU Human Resources site. In order to trigger enrollment in this travel insurance, all procedures for registering your international professional or educational travel should be followed, details of which can be found at International Affairs (KU Lawrence Campus) or at the Office of International Programs (KUMC). 

In addition to travel insurance, it is also important to note that travel to certain countries for professional purposes could be denied due to U.S. State Department travel warnings. Whenever planning an international trip, it’s essential that departments/travelers work through International Affairs (KU Lawrence Campus) or International Programs (KUMC) and the Office of Global Risk & Security.

The Kansas Workers Compensation Act outlines the workers compensation coverage afforded to employees of the State of Kansas and the Kansas State Self-Insurance Fund (SSIF) administers this coverage. Any University employee injured during the course and scope of their employment, should immediately report accidents to Human Resources Management (KU Lawrence Campus) or Human Resources (KUMC) and ensure a report is made to the SSIF. Delays in reporting workplace injuries could result in denial of coverage.