Colleges and universities are facing difficult choices as insurance companies cancel coverage or demand premium increases of up to 800 percent. The current crisis is blamed on the way the industry has been managed. Financial managers, rather than underwriters, took over the industry. (MLW)

Ten suggestions are given for administering an institutional insurance program and coping with recent changes in the insurance market due to increasing premiums and more limited coverage options. (MSE)

College business officers should take advantage of the industry's market to prepare their institutions for an upcoming hard market. Steps to be taken include evaluating the insurance broker; meeting with the company underwriter; negotiating; considering a renewal contract; negotiating pooling mechanisms; lowering deductibles; and implementing…

Discusses how higher education institutions can market their risk financing program to insurance brokers and insurance companies to obtain superior, cost effective coverage in the current buyer's market. Explains the development of a marketing package, the negotiating process, and the selection of brokers and insurance companies. (MDM)

The susceptibility of colleges and universities to computer crime is great. While insurance coverage is available to cover the risks, an aggressive loss-prevention program is the wisest approach to limiting the exposures presented by computer technology. (MLW)

Presents a model for evaluating liability insurance limits and selecting the correct limit for an individual institution. Argues that many colleges and universities may be making overly conservative decisions that lead to the purchase of too much liability insurance. Also discusses the financial consequences of an uninsured large liability loss.…

An institution's educators legal liability policy can provide very broad or limited protection to a college and employees. The college or university's insurance buyer or risk manager must understand the terms and conditions of the policies available and evaluate their specific application to the institution, giving coverage as much weight as costs…

Information is provided on early and phased retirement plans of about 20 academic institutions. Eligibility requirements for participation in early retirement plans vary from campus to campus. Most plans have a requirement ranging from a minimum of 10 to 20 years of full-time (or part-time equivalent) service. There are basically two types of…

In the process of restructuring its debt and taking on additional debt, Franklin Pierce College (New Hampshire) accepted the consequences of a downgrade in its investment-grade rating. This resulted in a successful bond sale, with bonds carrying an insured single-A rating. Events leading up to the restructuring and credit issues considered by the…

Results of a national survey of colleges and universities concerning hazardous waste generation, management, costs, insurance, and staffing are presented. (MSE)

Disaster response planning should be a high and ongoing priority in college administration. To ensure safety well before disaster strikes, administrators must select appropriate and adequate insurance coverage and prepare a written catastrophe plan, developed cooperatively with students, parents, and community members and reviewed by staff…

Information on provisions of group life insurance plans and the tendency of colleges and universities to provide this coverage is considered. There has been an increase in the percentage of institutions adopting group life insurance plans over the last decade. Absence of coverage is concentrated among smaller two-year and four-year institutions…

A survey of 148 college and university risk management officers and college executives investigated attitudes concerning the added value that risk management brings to the institution; insurance functions critical to the institution; critical loss control functions; communication of risk management issues; and professional development of these…