2.16 Driving College Vehicles


2.16 Driving College Vehicles 2.16.1 Obtaining Permission to Drive College Vehicles

All Ithaca College faculty, staff, and students who need to drive a College Vehicle (College-owned, leased, or rented vehicles) for College business or a College activity must have their Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) checked and be approved as an Ithaca College driver prior to operating a College Vehicle. The required age for driving outside the boundaries of Tompkins County is a minimum of 21 years of age. The required age for driving in Tompkins County only is a minimum of 19 years of age. All drivers must have a United States driver’s license to operate a College Vehicle.

The MVR is a report that contains information about a person’s driving history, including information about traffic violations, accidents, etc. Faculty and staff who hold a New York State driver’s license must have their MVR checked by the Office of Risk Management. The process involves running the MVR, which will then be continuously monitored. Faculty and staff who hold a non-New York driver’s license must have their MVR checked every two academic years by the Office of Risk Management. A Driver Information form must be completed prior to driving a College Vehicle, which requests information needed to run an MVR. Allow 14 business days to process an MVR (PA license requires additional time to process).

Students must have their MVR checked annually, are required to complete an online driver safety course, be familiar and comply with all information and requirements in the Student Driver Handbook, and must have a minimum of two years driving experience after obtaining their driver’s license (a driver’s or learner’s permit does not count toward the two-year driving experience requirement). Students are allowed to operate a College Vehicle in the United States only. Instructions on how to become an Ithaca College approved student driver are located on the Risk Management website.

An individual’s MVR that indicates unacceptable risk may not be permitted to drive any College Vehicle. The criteria used to determine unacceptable risk include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • 2 or more moving violations during the past three years; or
  • 2 or more at-fault vehicle accidents during the past three years, including on and off-campus accidents involving property damage or injury; or
  • 2 or more non-moving violations during the past three years; or
  • a combination of moving violation, non-moving violation, or at-fault accident during the past three years; or
  • 1 or more DUI (driving under the influence), DWI (driving while intoxicated), or DWAI (driving while ability impaired) during the past five years; or
  • suspended or revoked driver's license or unlicensed operation of a vehicle.

If, at any time, a member of the College community meets any criteria for unacceptable risk (as stated above), the College reserves the right to deny, suspend, or revoke driving privileges of a College Vehicle for up to 5 (five) years following the date of the disqualifying infraction. Please note that denial, suspension, or revocation of driving privileges may adversely impact one’s ability to meet the basic qualifications of their job description.

The College reserves the right to deny the privilege or suspend any person from operating a College Vehicle at any time, for any reason.

Individuals will be notified by the Office of Risk Management only if their records do not meet the required standards.

2.16.2 Traveling with Individuals other than Ithaca College Employees or Students

As a general principle, only Ithaca College faculty, staff and students can occupy a College Vehicle. However, there may be special circumstances when a spouse, member of another college or university community, or other individuals will join the College representative to a common business purpose destination. These situations must be the exception, not the norm, and when they do occur the number of additional passengers must be kept to a minimum and the Office of Risk Management must be informed of them in advance for review. Only approved Ithaca College faculty, staff and students are authorized to operate a College Vehicle.

Last Updated: August 1, 2017