Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Faculty, staff, student employees and approved volunteers who operate university-owned, leased or rented vehicles for official business must complete Stephen F. Austin State University’s driver authorization process and be aware of important safety requirements and processes.
By ensuring all drivers meet eligibility and safety requirements and adhering to proper incident reporting protocols, we uphold SFA’s commitment to safety, compliance and responsible fleet management.
You may apply for driver authorization if you are:
- a current SFA employee, student employee or approved volunteer
- at least 18 years old
- a licensed Texas driver or if you hold another valid U.S. driver’s license
- able to complete the required online driver training
- and able to pass a Motor Vehicle Record check.
Authorization process
Before operating a university-owned, leased or long-term rental vehicle, drivers must meet the requirements above and complete the authorization process outlined below.
Current SFA employees and student employees are eligible to apply for authorization to drive the vehicles indicated in the table below. Volunteers are eligible to apply for driver authorization as approved by the chief business officer or The University of Texas System’s Office of Risk Management. Students, visitors and contractors are not eligible to apply for driver authorization.
| Classification | Small utility vehicle | Licensed vehicle | Van |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee | eligible | eligible | eligible |
| Student employee | eligible | eligible | eligible |
| Student | ineligible | ineligible | ineligible |
| Visitor | ineligible | ineligible | ineligible |
| Contractor | ineligible | ineligible | ineligible |
| Volunteer | conditionally eligible | conditionally eligible | conditionally eligible |
- eligible
- Eligible for authorization when requirements are met
- ineligible
- Not eligible for authorization
- conditionally eligible
- Eligible for authorization when requirements are met and approval is given by the chief business officer or the UT System’s Office of Risk Management, per UTS157
Required steps
The following steps must be completed before an employee, student employee or approved volunteer may operate a university vehicle.
Step 1: Complete required training
All prospective drivers must complete SFA’s Driver Safety course available in the NEOED Training Course Catalog. Access the modules by following these steps:
- Log in to mySFA and choose NEOED Learn from the mySFA Training section.
- In NEOED, choose Training, then select Course Catalog.
- Choose The University of Texas System Driver Safety Training Online Course from the Learning Plans offerings.
The certificate of completion must be saved.
Step 2: Access and complete the Authorized Driver Application
Complete the Authorized Driver Application. Once the application is approved, you will receive an email with additional instructions and next steps.
Changes to authorization status
Driver authorization may be suspended or removed if:
- you are no longer employed by SFA
- your license is suspended
- your training certification, valid for three years from the issue date, expires
- your department withdraws your driving privileges
- you have four or more points on your MVR
- or any Type A violation is committed. Violations are listed in Appendix B of UTS157.
To request reinstatement or report a Type A violation, your supervisor must contact SFADriverAuthorization@sfasu.edu.
Additional requirements for certain vehicle types
Depending on your role and responsibility as a driver for SFA, you may need to meet additional requirements. Requirements may include:
12-15 Passenger vans
Requires completion of the separate UT System Multi-Passenger Van Safety Training NEOED module and hands-on van safety training. To access the module, you must be logged in to NEOED Learn, which is available in the mySFA Training section.
Every department will designate a van instructor who will conduct the behind-the-wheel training. This instructor must be van certified, and their van certification must be currently active.
- The completed checklist needs to be submitted after the application and training is complete.
- The checklist must be emailed to SFADriverAuthorization@sfasu.edu in order to update the driver’s authorization.
Motorized Utility Vehicles
In addition to the required training and authorization listed above, anyone required to drive an MUV, such as a golf cart, ATV or UTV, must complete the MUV Safety Training Program.
Reporting requirements
All accidents involving SFA vehicles, including minor accidents, must be reported within 24 hours. Additionally, there are reporting requirements for specific incidents and nonstandard vehicle accidents that authorized drivers should be aware of.
To review reporting requirements and access necessary contact information, visit the Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management web page.
For any questions about this process, you may contact SFADriverAuthorization@sfasu.edu.
Policies governing these procedures include: