Insights

URMIA's recently released Core Competencies for Higher Education Risk Managers document lays out a framework of individual characteristics, including knowledge, skills, abilities and behaviors, which identify proficiency and excellence at different career levels and within the overall profession. By defining our profession's core competencies, URMIA hopes to further codify the extensive skill set required within the higher education risk management and insurance profession, ultimately creating a positive impact on outcomes and performance at institutions of higher education. Read on to learn more about this important document and how to get a copy for your institution's risk management office.

Definitions: What are competencies and what can they accomplish?

Competencies are the measurable or observable knowledge, skills, abilities and behaviors that are essential for successful job performance. Defining a profession's core competencies allows employers to recruit, select, maintain and train employees effectively. It also provides employees with a road map for identifying their personal proficiency needs and associated professional development opportunities to aid them in moving forward on their career paths.

URMIA envisions its Core Competencies project benefiting our members by providing the following:

• Personal development for career advancement
• Support for managers who can use the information to develop appropriate job descriptions for staff
• Support for managers as they develop or identify resources for staff development
• Assist URMIA's Annual and Regional Conference programming committees in creating programs that reflect identified essential competencies, behaviors and proficiencies
• Provide foundations for future risk management certification programs for members

The final product: How can I use this document?

The first step in any core competencies project is identifying those competencies, sub-competencies, behaviors and proficiencies. This document provides all this information in one place, offering a road map for assessing professional development opportunities and proficiencies based on career level. Examples of uses of this document include:

• Creating job descriptions
• Self-assessment
• Providing targeted development opportunities to employees who report to you
• Developing interview questions for hiring
• Building your own professional development plan
• Pursuing learning opportunities that address core topics
• Creating documentation to support promotion and career advancement

With the completion of this document, URMIA celebrates Phase One of the larger core competencies and professional development project. Phase Two will include research and design into bringing the concepts in this document to life for our members. We anticipate the creation of online tools and other resources to help our members connect with professional development opportunities that build their proficiency. We also look forward to providing tools that allow our members to seamlessly track their own proficiencies as they move through career levels and performance reviews. URMIA's end goal is for the competencies in this document to become the standard by which higher education risk management professionals can assess their own skills and areas for further professional development.

How to access the Core Competencies document

Members can download the Core Competencies for Higher Education Risk Managers document from the URMIA Library. Printed copies will also soon be available via the URMIA National Office for a small fee; contact urmia@urmia.org for more information.