Event Risk Management

Risk Management

The Center for Student Involvement and Risk Management Services work together to support student organizations events that are considered higher risk. This includes ensuring your organization has sufficient insurance for your event, providing appropriate waivers and additional training if needed.

Insurance Info

The University of California has created an insurance program to cover Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) for most on-campus events. Events covered by the policy are paid for by the university; however, RSOs are responsible for making sure their event is covered. Event coverage is only available for registered student organizations covered by The University of California insurance program.

Does My Event Need Reviewed Insurance?

Provided your RSO is in good standing with the Center for Student Involvement and you have written permission from the appropriate campus department to use the space requested, your event will be automatically insured under the blanket RSO policy, unless any one or more of the following apply:

  • Is an event listed as a hazard class 4 in the hazard class chart? Some examples include:
    • Events of a political nature, such as conventions, lectures, rallies and speakers.
    • Events held by National Greek Life Organizations.
  • Involves more than 5,000 people.
  • Product coverage is needed: Covers costs to you associated with injuries or illness sustained by a guest arising from ingesting or using a food, beverage or souvenir. If the distribution or sale of food, beverages and souvenirs will be part of your event, you must purchase products coverage ($5 per $1,000 of expected sales). If the total expected sales are more than $10,000, an underwriting review is required.
  • Garage Keepers coverage is needed: Covers damages to your guests’ vehicles caused by you if you provide parking for their vehicles. If you are not parking their vehicles at your event, you do not need this coverage.
  • If a vendor, hired by your organization, is parking vehicles at your event, the vendor must provide a Certificate of Insurance naming your organization and The Regents of the University of California as Additional Insureds.
  • Auto Coverage is needed. Please call our service center for additional assistance.
  • Local police or outside armed security guards are needed (Campus security only does not require underwriting review).
  • Camps/Campus Tours with minors (under age 18) that are overnight.
  • Amusements.
  • Inflatables.
  • Large tents.
  • Liquor Liability Insurance is needed.
  • It is a sports event for which signed waivers have not been obtained and/or accident medical insurance has not been confirmed or obtained (some groups will qualify for the Accident Medical policy provided by the University of California).

If any of the above circumstances are applicable, your event will require additional underwriting which may take 7-10 business days. You may proceed with the online application. Your completed online application will be sent automatically to our underwriting team for review. Please be sure to submit your application at least 7 to 10 days prior to the event to allow for underwriting.

If you have any questions regarding your application for additional underwriting, please contact CampusConnexions at 866-838-9536.

Summary to Apply for Insurance

You will NOT have to pay for coverage for on-campus events. If you have questions or require assistance, contact the Marsh Customer Service Center at 866-838-9536 between 6 AM and 3 PM Pacific Standard Time.

Is Your Organization Covered by a National or Parent Organization?

RSOs are NOT eligible for insurance through Campus Connexions if either one applies below:

  • Covered through a national or parent organization 
  • Have their own liability insurance

Nationally affiliated Greek life organizations are required to apply for coverage via their national chapter first. If your national chapter declines coverage, CampusConnexions will then consider an application for the event in question. All of the underwriting criteria provided below must be met. These applications will be subject to underwriting approval.

  • Written declination of coverage from the national chapter is required to be provided with the CampusConnexions event liability application.
    • If the application was submitted online, you may email the declination to us separately at plsdsteam.service@mercer.com and state the following in the subject line of the email: Online App Submitted, the event date and the event name.
    • The written declination may be emailed to us with the paper application at plsdsteam.service@mercer.com.
  • The event is a philanthropic or community service-based event.
  • There will be limited alcohol exposure at the event.

 Events held by national Greek life organizations always require underwriting review. You may complete the online application and your completed application will be automatically sent to our underwriting team. Please be sure to submit your application at least 7 to 10 days prior to the event to allow for underwriting.

Alternatively, if the national chapter has approved coverage for your event, assuming the event requires evidence of insurance, the next step would be to contact your national chapter. They should be able to provide your organization with evidence of insurance coverage; it is required that you request to include your group and the University of California as Additional Insureds.

What requirements does my Certificate of Insurance need to meet?

  • Your RSO at UC Davis must be listed as the Insured or Additional Insured.
  • The REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA must be listed as Additional Insured.
  • The Insurer/Producer name and contact information must be on the certificate.
  • The policy start and end date must encompass the entire length of the event.
  • The policy must include General Liability coverage of at least $1,000,000.
  • The Certificate of Insurance must provide 30 days’ advance written notice to the University of any modification, change, or cancellation of any component of the insurance coverage.

Where to send your Certificate of Insurance

You may send the certificate in digital format (email) to getinvolved@ucdavis.edu or analog format (mail) to: 

Center for Student Involvement
UC Davis – Memorial Union 442
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616 

Please note that the official address to be listed on the Certificate of Insurance is:

The Regents of the University of California
1111 Franklin Street
Oakland, CA 94607

This second address is NOT the address to send your certificate to – refer to the very first address.

Participant Waivers

Check with your Reservation Coordinator if your event requires Participant Waivers.

Do NOT change any other language in the document as it is a legal document and alteration will make the waiver invalid.

Insurance for Non-Affiliates

Do Non-Affiliates need insurance coverage?

If non-affiliates (people who are not students, officers or employees of UC) will be providing any of the following goods or services at your event, they will need insurance coverage too:

  • Food (e.g. caterers, restaurants).
  • Entertainment (e.g. bands, bounce house owners, theatrical troupes).
  • Any other goods or services with serious inherent risks that can be reasonably foreseen.

If the non-affiliates already have insurance coverage, they must send the Certificate of Insurance to their facility manager. Certificate requirements are listed below. If they do NOT have insurance coverage, they can purchase insurance.

What are the requirements for Non-Affiliate Certificates of Insurance?

  • The Non-Affiliate must be listed as the Insured.
  • The REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA and your RSO must be listed as Additional Insureds.
  • The Insurer/Producer name and contact information must be on the certificate.
  • The policy start and end date must encompass the entire length of your event.
  • The policy must include General Liability coverage of at least $1,000,000.
  • If the non-affiliate is bringing a vehicle onto campus, the policy must include Automobile Liability coverage of at least $1,000,000.
  • If the non-affiliate is bringing employees onto campus, the policy must include evidence of California Workers’ Compensation coverage.
  • The Certificate of Insurance must provide 30 days’ advance written notice to the university of any modification, change or cancellation of any component of the insurance coverage.