The role of the Risk Management and Insurance at California State University, Northridge is to mitigate the risks and reduce their associated costs that may have a negative impact on the mission of the University. Through daily interaction with faculty, staff, students, Colleges and Departments, legal counsel, third-party administrators and the community, the Risk Management Office provides administrative support and guidance in an effort to safeguard the University's assets thereby ensuring the preservation of academic excellence. Risk Management Policy #725-30 establishes the functions and scope of Risk Management activities and responsibilities and describes how the University complies with the provisions of Executive Order #715, dated 10/29/99.
Purpose:
The purpose of Risk Management is to develop programs and administer the policies and practices that are designed to reduce or eliminate losses experienced by CSU, Northridge.
The Office of Risk Management and Insurance shall:
- Administer the University's self-insurance and State insurance programs in conjunction with the California State University Risk Management Association (CSURMA).
- Serve as a resource to all University Colleges and Departments for utilizing insurance and loss prevention techniques and implementing risk management practices to eliminate or minimize losses and loss potential.
- Investigate and handle claims in an expeditious manner. The office coordinates the activities of the University's third-party claims administrator, monitors claim payments, legal expenses and conducts litigation management.
- In conjunction with the Purchasing & Contracts Administration Department and the University Licensing Department, consults with departments on insurance requirements for agreements, contracts and licenses.
- Review proposed contracts, licenses and agreements to ensure that CSU, Northridge bears only its proportionate share of any liability or claims that may arise from the agreements.
- Provide training, written procedures and guidelines to the campus within the scope of the risk management and insurance programs.
- Coordinate property and liability claims with General Counsel (OGC) and to be the channel through which information, questions and communications, concerning emerging claims, will be communicated to the OGC.
- Maintain the Risk Management website to reflect applicable current policies and procedures.
Procedures:
Risk Management oversight includes health, safety, security, insurance and legal issues. It is an on-going process that utilizes the following steps to effectively manage risk:
- Identification of Risk - The first step in the risk management process is the identification of potential sources of loss by conducting systematic evaluations of the exposure to risks, insurance coverages and/or retentions as they relate to those risks and the complete examinations of possible events that could occur by negligence, oversight or accident.
- Evaluation of Risk - Upon careful examination of an event or activity, etc., determines the seriousness of the exposure and proposes ways to mitigate the risk.
- Selection of Best Risk Management Technique - After determination and evaluation of a risk is made; a risk management technique (or combination of techniques) is selected to minimize the frequency or severity of possible loss. These techniques may include risk transfer by the purchase of insurance, risk avoidance, loss prevention, risk reduction, training, etc.
- Implementation of Best Risk Management Technique - Once the best risk management technique has been selected, the Risk Management Team, in conjunction with campus administrators, will ensure the technique is properly communicated and implemented.
- Monitor and Evaluate Results - Upon implementation of the best risk management technique or combinations of techniques, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the technique to determine appropriateness and whether any changes and/or modifications of techniques should be made.
Shared Responsibility:
Campus administrators are ultimately responsible for ensuring that faculty and staff employees are provided with the necessary training and information to enable them to act accordingly to minimize the adverse effect of loss to the campus.
All campus staff and faculty share in the responsibility to manage risk within the confines of the university's mission and to conduct their programs and activities in a manner that does not impose an unreasonable risk of injury or loss.
The Campus Office of Risk Management stands ready to consult with any campus department or employee to achieve these goals.
Contact the University Risk Manager at (818) 677-2079.