General FAQs

The online training courses are offered through the CSU online Learning Management System called CSU Learn. The courses are assigned to you after you register for Defensive Driver and/or Small Vehicle Safety.  You will receive an email from the CSU Learn Training Administrator when you have access.

Once assigned the training, to manually access CSU Learn: Go to MyStanState, Scroll to the section called Employee Links, click on CSU Learn and login using your credentials. Select Stanislaus for the campus and click login.  Click on View My Plan and search for the courses: Driving Safely, Driving Smarter and/or CSU Powered Carts.  Click Launch to take the course.

Both Defensive Driver and Small Vehicle Safety certificates are valid for 4 years.  You must retake the online courses when the four years expire (if you plan to continue driving privileges).  The system will automatically send you a new notification email from the CSU Learn Training Administrator that it is due for renewal.

A DL or Driver’s License inquiry is a request from the Department of Motor Vehicles to look at your driving record to determine if you have any violations that would cause you not to be able to drive for University Business. Employers have the right to view your driving record through the Employer Pull Notification (EPN) program with the California DMV. When you complete the Defensive Driver registration process online for the University, you agree to have your DL reviewed.

The EPN or Employee Pull Notification Program is a program to allow the University to monitor driver’s license records of employees who drive on behalf of the University.  All individuals are automatically enrolled in the program. When you complete the Defensive Driver registration process online for the University, you also agree to have your DL reviewed.

Your certificate of completion is located within the CSU Learning Management System called CSU Learn. 

Go to MyStanState, Scroll to the section called Employee Links, Click on CSU Learn and login using your credentials.  Select Stanislaus for the campus and click login.  Click on View My Plan and search for the courses: Driving Safely, Driving Smarter and/or CSU Powered Carts.  Click on the course, Click More Actions, View Certificate.

Only University employees, enrolled students, and official volunteers age 18 and over who meet the following criteria may drive for University business:  You must have a Valid Driver’s License, Good driving record, Insurance, and complete the defensive driver training. Drivers for University business who will use a rental vehicle must be 21 years of age or older.

University employees are those persons who have completed all prerequisites for Stanislaus State employment.  This includes all faculty, staff, student assistants and those on volunteer status.

  The Driving Safely, Driving Smarter course is approximately 54 minutes long.

Defensive Driver FAQs

To register for Defensive Driver, please visit the registration form.

Drivers must report the accident immediately to their supervisor and the S&RM Director.

  • If the accident happened on-campus, the driver should call the University Police Department (UPD) at 209-667-3114, who will investigate the scene, take photos, and complete a Form STD.270.

  • If the accident happened off-campus, the driver completes the Form STD.270 within 24 hours following the accident, and submits it to their supervisor who will make copies and submit to S&RM.

  • The Supervisor must complete the State of California “State Driver Accident Review” STD. 274 form.

  • If the accident happened in a Rental Vehicle: Drivers must report the loss immediately to the rental car agency. The contact information should be located on the rental agreement. Refer the rental agency to the State Office of Risk and Insurance Management (ORIM) to expedite the claim.

The Department of Motor Vehicles states that you are required to obtain a California State Driver’s License within 10 days of relocating. 

If you are in the process of obtaining your CDL, but have not yet received it.  You will need to still register for defensive driving and/or small vehicle safety as well as provide additional information to S&RM to add you to the EPN Program.  A photo copy of your driver's license will need to be sent to risk@csustan.edu to proceed with the registration process.

April Dunham-Filson, Defensive Driver Program Administrator, can answer any questions about the Defensive Driver Program.

Small Vehicle Safety FAQs

To register for Small Vehicle Safety, please visit the registration form. You would do the same registration process as the Defensive Driver training.  If your defensive driver has not expired yet, you can still register for Small Vehicle Safety, just notate in the comments section that your defensive driver has not expired.

No, only employees and student assistants may drive small vehicles on campus. In addition, the department in which the employee or student assistant is employed must own their own small vehicle.

In the event that you have an accident in a small vehicle immediately contact the University Police Department (209-667-3114) to report and investigate the accident. The driver at the time of the accident must complete State of California “Vehicle Accident Report” STD. 270.  The Supervisor must complete the State of California “State Driver Accident Review” STD. 274 form. 

The CSU Powered Carts course is approximately 30 minutes long.

“Small Vehicles” include, but are not limited to: three or four wheeled electric or gas powered golf carts, utility vehicles, tractors, all-terrain vehicles, small maintenance vehicles, escort shuttles, or disabled transport carts.

In-Person Practical Exercises are offered at the request of the department.  Once both online courses are completed, the administrator will contact you to set a date for training.

Capital Planning and Facilities Management's Auto Mechanic Shop provides all maintenance for small vehicles on campus.  They assure proper mechanical maintenance and that any problems discovered during operation, safety check or in the course of routine maintenance are immediately scheduled for an Auto Mechanic diagnosis and they will report maintenance issues to S&RM related to their misuse.

It is the responsibility of the department to assure that small vehicles under the department’s control are properly and routinely maintained. If you have any problems with your vehicles, do not attempt to do the work yourself.  Mark the vehicle "Out of Service" and call Capital Planning and Facilities Management (209-667-3211) for assistance.

The 8-person small vehicle can be rented from the University Police Department for a fee. In addition, if an individual does not have a current and valid Small Vehicle Safety certification, drivers from the University Police Department must be hired to drive.

Yes, vendors or 3rd party renters of University Faculties who have completed all terms and insurance requirements of a lease or service contract may be allowed to drive small vehicles on campus; however, they must also comply with the safe operation and rules as set forth in the Small Safety Vehicle Program.  They must notify the University Defensive Driver and Small Vehicle Safety Administrator of all small vehicles brought to campus and they must ensure that vendors comply with all agreements as outlined in their rental contract, particularly insurance, as it relates to small vehicles on campus property.

Updated: May 08, 2024