Highlights
Industry Support
Programs
Students
Faculty
Industry Support
- Insurance Advisory Board: Organizations represented on the Insurance Advisory Board include Afni, Allstate Insurance Company, Aon, Argonaut Great Central Insurance Company, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Business Insurance, Chartis, Chubb Group, Connor & Gallagher, COUNTRY Financial, Farmers Insurance Group, General Re, Harco National Insurance, Illinois Department of Insurance, Lockton Companies Inc, MARSH, Munich Re, Nationwide Insurance, Pekin Insurance, RIMS-Chicago, RLI, State Farm Insurance, Surplus Line Association of Illinois, Swiss Re, Travelers, and Zurich North America.
- Risk Manager in Residence: Roger Andrews, Director of Risk Management for Bullard, spent 2 1/2 days on the Illinois State University campus presenting to various insurance classes. He also met with University officials and shared his expertise and insights at a general session for business students and industry guests.
- Katie School Golf Classic: The 18th annual Katie School Golf Classic was held on June 15, 2009 at the Stonebridge Country Club in Aurora, IL. The program raised over $35,000 for enhancements within the Katie School and student scholarships. The 2010 Golf Classic will also be held at the Stonebridge Country Club on June 21.
- Executive in Residence: Michael Smith - retired Risk Manager for Growmark, Inc. - continues as the Katie School's Executive in Residence. He maintained office hours during the academic year and provided oversight to student insurance projects, including the risk management non-for-profit service projects highlighting the Katie School Student Leadership Certification Program.
- Scholarships: Grants and scholarships totaling over $100,000 were awarded to outstanding undergraduate students in insurance and risk management.
Programs
- Insurance Education Institute: Fifteen high school guidance counselors from Illinois and around the country participated in a three day in-service training program in insurance education during July of 2007. The program was funded by a grant from the Insurance Education Institute.
- Insurance Executive Forum: The 19th annual Insurance Executive Forum will be held in Chicago on October 20, 2009 for over 200 industry leaders. The topic of the panel discussion is "Change: The Only Constant"
- London Market Study Tour: A one-week training program focusing on the U.S. Property/Casualty industry was held for 20 individuals from the Lloyd’s of London and Bermuda markets in Chicago and on the Illinois State University campus during July 11-18, 2009. This is the 14th consecutive year this one-week course has been offered and it attracts underwriters, claims personnel, brokers and representatives from Lloyd’s, including the Corporation as well as the London insurance market and its service providers. The program offers interaction with an exceptional group of industry executives from the U.S. insurance market as well as with outstanding faculty from the Katie School.
- Minority High School Scholars Actuarial Academy for the Study of Actuarial Science: The one-week program was held on campus from July 12-17, 2009 and is designed especially for above average African-American, Hispanic and Native American high school students who excel in mathematics.
- Redbird High School Risk Management Challenge: During this program - last held July 26 - 31, 2009 - juniors about to embark on their senior year of high school competed on teams of four as senior risk management professionals. Each day the teams would strategically invest and make risk-related decisions while learning about various aspects of the industry through structured social activities such as bowling and games.
- Katie School Symposium: “The Economic Crisis and Its Effect on Insurance Regulation" was the topic of the symposium held on April 16, 2009 on the Illinois State University campus.
- Ken Smith Financial Regulators Program: The 2009 program was held from June 16 - 26. Topics covered include Risk Assessment and Regulation, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Reinsurance, and much more for the professionals in attendance. Faculty for this program was a mix of academics, industry professionals, and regulators.
- (PISA) Producer Development Program: A program created in conjunction with the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois to meet the needs of producers with less than two years experience. This program helped in understanding customers, initiating customer relationships, and developing customer relationships.
Students
- Gamma Iota Sigma: The professional insurance fraternity is an organization for students interested in a career in the insurance industry. This year's membership exceeds 100 students. During the year, Gamma sponsors events such as group golf lessons, company visits, industry speakers on topics of leadership and business ethics, a Peoria Chiefs baseball game outing with RLI, community service projects, and coordination of CPCU mentors. This year, eight officers of Gamma Iota Sigma represented the Katie School at the GIS National Conference in Richmond, Virginia in October.
- International Internships: With the funding provided, the Katie School was able to place and support six Illinois State University students in international internships in the Bermuda market (2), the Lloyd’s of London market (2), and the Zurich market (2). These interns gained insights and a valuable global perspective from working with underwriters, brokers, regulators, claims personnel, captive managers and many other insurance personnel during their internships. All of these students came back to campus with an elevated level of confidence and enthusiasm for pursuing careers in the insurance industry. With their acquired knowledge and skills, they will add value to any company they will work for in the future.
- Industry Conferences: Many Katie School students had the opportunity to attend industry conferences around the country. Sixteen students received the benefit of attending the REBEX Conference in October 2008 and twelve Katie School students attended the RIMS National Conference in Orlando, FL from April 18 - 22, 2009. Two students attended the Troy University conference on surplus lines and eleven students were privileged to attend the NAPSLO Symposium in Chicago in March 2009.
- National Awards: Katie School students received national recognition for the RIMS Anita Benedetti Scholarship, the Angus Robinson Jr. Memorial Scholarship, Spencer Educational Foundation Scholarship, and the Association of Professional Insurance Women (APIW).
- Student Leadership Certification Program: This program prepares top College of Business and Actuarial Science students for their careers in the insurance and financial services industry. The components of the program include communication styles assessment and feedback; assessments on character, personal risk profile, and motivators and rewards; team-building exercises at Upper Limits; group instruction by ISU faculty; leadership presentations by industry leaders; and group risk consulting projects for local non-profit organizations coordinated by a risk consulting expert.
- Internships: Over 80 students participated in internships with insurance companies, agencies, and brokerages in Illinois and nationwide.
- Professional Exams: Students are encouraged to take exams leading to professional insurance designations such as the CPCU, CLU, and INS. The Katie School offers funding for the first attempt at most exams as well as a financial aid reward if the exam is passed.
- Student Enrollment: Over 800 students enrolled in insurance courses including nearly 300 insurance majors and minors.
Faculty
- Edmondson-Miller Endowed Chair: Professor Richard MacMinn, BA, MA, PhD, holds the Edmondson-Miller Chair in Insurance and Financial Services at the Katie School. Prior to his current position he held the Swiss Re Chair in the Management of Risk. He is also an associate editor for the Journal of Insurance Issues and the Quarterly Journal of Economics and Finance.
