An Âé¶¹´«Ã½ Authorized Driver is any student, staff member, faculty member, or approved affiliate who is authorized to operate any vehicle on behalf of Âé¶¹´«Ã½ for official University business. You are required to be authorized under the Drivers Program if you:
- Drive a University-owned or leased vehicle
- Drive a rental vehicle for University business
- Transport students, staff, faculty, or guests to a University-sanctioned activity
- Operate golf carts, electric carts, or other specialty vehicles (on or off campus)
- Use your personal vehicle to transport others for Âé¶¹´«Ã½ business
Authorization is required before operating any vehicle for Âé¶¹´«Ã½ purposes, regardless of vehicle type. If you are driving for the University, you must be authorized in advance.
Not sure if you need authorization? If you are transporting others or operating a University or rental vehicle, you must be authorized.
Driver Categories
Students
Students may drive for Âé¶¹´«Ã½ only when tied to an official University role, such as:
- Student employees
- Student-athletes
- Recognized student organizations or clubs
Authorization is role-based, not blanket.
Staff, Faculty, Coaches & Visiting Scholars
Employees and affiliated individuals must be authorized when driving is:
- A core function of their role, or
- Required occasionally to support University business
This applies whether driving a University vehicle, rental vehicle, or personal vehicle.
Job-Required vs. Occasional Drivers
- Job-required drivers are typically designated through Workday as part of their role.
- Occasional drivers must still complete authorization before driving.
For role-specific questions, contact risk@scu.edu
Authorized vs. Excluded Trips
Authorized (Covered) Activities
- Academic field trips and research activities
- Athletic travel and sanctioned events
- Recognized student organization travel
- Departmental meetings, retreats, or off-site events
- University operations (facilities, equipment transport)
Excluded (Not Covered)
The following are not permitted using University vehicles and are not covered under the Drivers Program:
- Personal errands (groceries, pharmacies, retail stores)
- Convenience trips (coffee, lunch, snacks)
- Commuting between home and campus
- Unauthorized personal detours during business travel
How to Become an Authorized Driver
How to Become an Authorized Driver
Once designated by your department, Workday will guide you through a short set of tasks. Most people complete this in about 5 minutes.
You will be asked to:
- Enter your driver’s license information
- Review and sign the DMV Authorization Form
- Review and acknowledge the Authorized Driver Form
- Receive instructions for completing required driver training
You will continue to receive reminders until all steps are complete.

Driver Authorization Forms (In Workday)
DMV Authorization Form
- The driver grants Âé¶¹´«Ã½ permission to verify and monitor your driving record
- Required for all Authorized Drivers
- Information is handled confidentially and used solely for safety and compliance purposes
Authorized Driver Form
- Confirms your understanding of University driving standards
- Acknowledges that driving for Âé¶¹´«Ã½ is a privilege
- Required for insurance coverage while driving on University business
Training Requirement
After your license information is processed, you must complete a Defensive Driving course.
What to expect:
- You will receive an email from Âé¶¹´«Ã½’s training partner with login instructions
- The training is self-paced and takes approximately 15 minutes
- Completion is required before you are permitted to drive
You may be asked to submit certificates of completion.
Special Situations
Out-of-State Licenses
- You will still complete the Workday authorization steps
- You will be asked to upload a photo of your driver’s license
- Risk Management will manually complete the DMV verification process
Renewals & Re-Certification
- Authorization is not permanent
- Periodic re-certification, updated training, or re-verification may be required
- You will receive Workday notifications when action is needed
Short-Term or Non-Full-Time Drivers
This includes individuals such as:
- Part-time coaches
- Temporary or contingent staff
- Visiting scholars
- Individuals assigned to short-term roles requiring driving
These drivers are still required to be authorized before driving on behalf of the University, even if driving is limited or time-bound.
Because some short-term or temporary roles may not be set up in Workday, additional steps may be required to complete driver authorization. Please contact your department manager or Risk Management & Compliance at risk@scu.edu for guidance on how to be added to the Drivers Program.