What does the Research and Academic Liability Policy cover?
The Research and Academician policy is designed to protect psychologists in
college and university settings. The policy covers all aspects of a
psychologist’s academic work including teaching, research, test design,
disputed grades, committee work, consultation, and decisions regarding fellow
faculty and staff. The policy even protects you if you sit on the state
licensing board.
What does the "expanded protection for part-time clinical duties" cover?
The Trust offers an endorsement that expands the policy to protect you for
professional psychological services that are required by the University to
fulfill your academic, teaching, or supervisory responsibilities or
duties.
The Research and Academician policy, even with the expanded clinical duties
endorsement, does not cover direct clinical services. If you are
providing direct services to clients such as treating students in a university
counseling center, you should consider the Professional Liability policy.
How much does the Researcher and Academician policy cost?
Per Incident/
Annual Aggregate |
$100,000/ $300,000 |
$200,000/ $600,000 |
$1,000,000/ $1,000,000 |
$1,000,000/ $3,000,000 |
| Research and Academic Policy |
$70 |
$80 |
$103 |
$134 |
| With Expanded Clinical Duties |
$140 |
$160 |
$206 |
$268 |
When does the Researcher and Academician policy cover?
The policy covers you when the activity is part of your duty as an employee or
contractor for the academic institution.
Must I be an employee of the University?
No. You just need to be formally affiliated with the institution.
You can be an independent contractor or volunteer.
Does my university’s policy cover me?
That can be a difficult question with many answers. Generally speaking,
an employer is responsible for the employee and should protect the employee in
the event that he or she is sued for his or her actions as an employee.
However there are situations where the employer does not cover the
psychologist. The employer's coverage may not be solvent or the suit may
go beyond the employer’s coverage limits. The employer may argue that the
employee was acting outside his or her scope of employment or against the
interest of the employer and decide not to cover the employee. For these
reasons many psychologists working for large institutions such as universities,
prisons, and hospitals purchase their own individual policy as backup
coverage. The Trust policy would cover the psychologist where the
employer leaves off. The Trust policy may also cover the psychologist
when the employer’s policy does not (in situations such as private practice,
volunteer work, or licensing board investigations).
Does the professional Liability policy cover everything the Research and
Academic policy covers?
Yes. The Trust sponsored Professional Liability Policy covers you for
everything the Research and Academician policy covers. The advantage of
the professional policy is that it does not limit coverage for clinical
services or services independent of the academic institution.
When do you need the Professional Liability policy?
You should consider getting the Professional Liability policy if you are
providing any direct clinical services or are moonlighting or consulting
independent of your academic institution.
