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Read about URMIA’s new award honoring risk mitigation strategies from all over campus

Every Day Efforts Added Together Make a Difference

URMIA is proud to introduce the Risk Hero Spotlight, a new quarterly recognition that shines a light on the people who protect our campuses through thoughtful decisions, everyday diligence, and creative problem-solving. This program celebrates those practical, risk-informed actions — big and small — that make our students, faculty, staff, and institutions safer and more resilient.

Overview

The Risk Hero Spotlight celebrates individuals who demonstrate passion, expertise, and leadership in higher education risk management. Risk work is not just about policies and plans — it’s also about the informal conversations that surface potential problems, the simple fixes that prevent incidents, the relationships that build a risk-aware culture, and the outreach that spreads good practices across campus and beyond. When we celebrate these successes, we share information and ideas that can, in turn, help other institutions.

Who to Consider Nominating

Think about colleagues who:

• Successfully mitigated or managed a risk event before it became an incident
• Developed or was instrumental in developing an effective strategy that improved safety or efficiency
• Created outreach initiatives (posts, guides, campaigns) that increased risk awareness
• Regularly facilitated risk management discussions and/or activities aimed at inspiring others to take action

Examples of Risk Hero Activities:

• Publishing guidance or resources that help campuses manage risk
• Leading awareness campaigns that improve the understanding of risk processes
• Hosting informal “coffee chats” to keep risk management front and center
• Forming cross-campus and cross-disciplinary partnerships that support lasting reductions in risk

Eligibility

Nominees must be an employee of an URMIA member institution in good standing, should have demonstrable impact in risk management – such as reducing risk, improving safety, enhancing processes, strengthening collaboration – and should be respected, positive advocates for higher education risk management.

Nominees need not have a primary role in risk management on your campus, but should be a champion of risk management.

Recognition

Recipients will be celebrated across the URMIA community through:

• Profiles and posts on the URMIAnetwork and social media
• Ribbons on their URMIAnetwork profile and conference badges
• Inclusion in URMIA Insights features and promotion at the annual conference
• A formal letter recognizing the recipient’s contribution

Selection and Timing 

The URMIA Honors Committee will select Risk Hero(s) to be spotlighted each quarter (March, June, September, December).

Nominations will be accepted quarterly and are open now for the June Risk Hero Spotlight. Nominations must be submitted by May 1.

How to Nominate

For more information on the Risk Hero Spotlight, including nomination criteria and the submission form, please visit the Risk Hero Spotlight webpage.

Celebrate everyday courage and smart thinking - take a moment to nominate someone today.

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