Volunteer Fact Sheet
FOR DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTEERS
Appropriate Responsibilities for Volunteers: Volunteers are used for many activities at UW-Parkside. A department should not rely on volunteers to perform duties that are typically performed by permanent employees – other than on a short-term basis. Volunteers should be supplementing the work done by employees, not replacing the need for paid staff.
Letter to the Volunteer: To avoid any confusion about the terms of the relationship, the department should send a letter to the volunteer spelling out the begin date, end date (if any), time commitment, responsibilities, and whom to contact with questions and information about insurance coverage.
Sample letter and fact sheet, click on this link
Insurance and Liability Issues: Liability protection is provided to all officers, employees and agents of the University under Wisconsin Statute, Section 895.46(1). Volunteers acting under the direction and control of the University and for its benefit are considered agents of the University and thus covered. This statute authorizes the State to pay claims based on the negligent acts of employees or agents or to defend employees or agents against allegations of negligence, which may have caused injury or property damage to others provided the employee or agent was acting within the scope of his/her responsibilities to the University. It is important that volunteers acknowledge mistakes that could lead to potential liability claims and that such incidents are reported promptly by the department to the UW-Parkside Safety-Risk Management Office (262-595-2262).
Vehicle Use: Volunteers using university or personal vehicles for university activities must have a valid vehicle use form (a.k.a. driver authorization form) on file with the Safety-Risk Management Office and must review our vehicle use information.
Work Related Injuries: Volunteers are not considered an employee of the University and therefore are not eligible for any compensation or other benefits, including any Worker's Compensation coverage. If injured during the course of volunteer work, the volunteer would have the same legal rights as any visitor to the campus to seek compensation if the injury resulted from University negligence.