Risk Management

Risk Management is a specialized decision-making process for mitigating, avoiding, and/or financing accidental losses that may befall an organization. A risk manager works with others to identify loss exposures connected with a given activity; to examine all alternative techniques to stop, avoid, or lessen the severity and frequency of losses; to select the apparent best technique(s) after analysis; to implement the chosen technique(s); and to monitor those results in order to make changes as it relates to results and activities standards. The dynamic process is ongoing and is most successfully accomplished in collaboration with departments.

Financing accidental losses is mostly always done through a combination of procuring commercial insurance policies that cover catastrophic types of losses an organization may suffer, combined with self-insurance that may be as simple as a high deductible, along with contractually transferring the liability exposure to a third party when possible. An example of the latter would be mandating that a vendor insure losses suffered as a result of the vendor or the vendor's subcontractors' work on campus, so as to protect the institution from liability that, rightfully, belongs to the vendor or subcontractors hired by the vendor.

The Office of Risk Management works with campus departments in addressing risk management concerns. Please see CONTRACT REVIEW and GENERAL CONSULTING (below).

Certificate of Insurance - Departments requiring certificates of insurance for off-campus games, meets, performances, rehearsals, auditions, TV or radio, etc., can get more information from the FAQ page or can download the CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE REQUEST FORM.

Contract Review - This office is responsible for contract reviews, as necessary, to be certain that indemnification and insurance language is acceptable to the College. We will make any deletions or additions required. NOTE: Contracts should be forwarded to our office as far in advance as possible for a timely turnaround.

Please be sure that all contracts are done in duplicate, so that each signing party can receive a fully executed (signed by each party) original for their records.

General Consulting - Assist staff and faculty on assessing risk and liability exposures related to college-related activities for themselves and students. Most often, we can make specific recommendations that will greatly lessen liability exposures while still maintaining the integrity of the desired outcome. In rare instances, we will recommend that the activity be avoided because it is deemed to be far too risky. We also advise when other expertise is required, such as referrals to Campus Safety and/or College Counsel.

We can help you better if you provide us with written details of the proposed activity as far in advance as possible. Please remember that we are often working with a number of departments simultaneously, and a tight timeline may preclude a timely answer.

Motor Vehicle Record Checks - We coordinate motor vehicle record checks with the College's insurance company for faculty, staff, and students 21 years of age or older. This involves a 14 business-day approval process. Go to FAQ page for more information or download the DRIVER INFORMATION FORM.

Student Film Shoot - Students requiring a certificate of insurance for municipalities or property owners, where filming will take place, can get more information from the FAQ page or can download the STUDENT FILM SHOOT REQUEST FORM.

Student Driver Safety Committee - Students 21 years of age or older are required to attend a two-hour driver safety class and must also pass a written, multiple choice test, prior to being allowed to drive College-owned or leased vehicles. Students who take the class will be eligible to drive vehicles for one year from date of class completion, as long as a current motor vehicle record check has been processed through the Office of Risk Management (see above). After one year, students will only be required to take a simple written test. Please check the DRIVER SAFETY CLASS SCHEDULE for the latest information, or call Risk Management to reserve a time for a retest, if you need to renew your driving privileges.