Risk Management team honored

Fort Worth, TX

10/21/2010

The University Risk Management and Insurance Association (URMIA) announced that TCU’s Risk Management team was a recipient of the third annual Innovative Risk Management Solutions Award. The award recognizes innovative thinking and problem solving, characteristics that allow risk managers to remain flexible in the protection of their institutions. The award, which was presented on October 11 at URMIA’s 41st Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, also recognizes the universities’ project submissions as potential resources for others in the profession of risk management.

Like many universities, the TCU Risk Management Team found that, unless you are on campus every day, it can be difficult to navigate to specific buildings, particularly in an emergency. To assist first responders, the team, including Jill Laster, associate vice chancellor for human resources and risk management; Randy Cobb, safety director; Paul Fox, director of risk management; and Jon Roark, director of business continuity and emergency preparedness, developed a database called Firefighting Information Data Organized, or FIDO. The database includes extensive information needed by first responders, including GPS coordinates, cross streets, floor plans, digital photos, information about faculty or students with special needs, and hazardous materials. The project cost just $2,200 and two employees entered all building information on a part‐time basis during the summer of 2010. This cost-effective, flexible, easy-to-use tool will help the university protect its faculty, staff, students, and physical resources for years to come and reduce response times.

URMIA also recognized the University of Missouri and JoAnne Flowers, assistant director of risk and insurance management, for an innovative solution to processing large claims. After analyzing its current process, the University of Missouri, one of the nation’s largest educational institutions, developed tools and resources to help individual departments gather data and increase communication at the time of a large loss. The university developed a SharePoint site to house extensive data, as well as blueprints, photos, and other needed documentation, maximizing communication and minimizing the need to collect the same data repeatedly. The project required only 100 hours of one staff member’s time and less than $50 for the SharePoint site. The office also developed a guide to share with departments at the time of a large property claim event. URMIA applauds this institution’s efforts to streamline and improve upon a vital university process.

For more information on the award, visit www.urmia.org or call 812-855-6683.