Insights

As we get ready to celebrate URMIA’s 50th anniversary in Boston this September, we look to all that makes URMIA such an extraordinary association. Our major accomplishments over the last 25 years have shaped who we are as an association today.

Seven Milestones in the Last 25 Years

In this article, we highlight each of the seven major milestones URMIA’s leaders and membership have accomplished over the last 25 years — and how those milestones have positioned URMIA for future growth. From adapting to changing risks to establishing a National Office to focusing on professional development and much more, these milestones have also increased the benefits of membership for every one of our members.

These milestones are:

• Milestone 1: Adapting to Changing Risks
• Milestone 2: Strengthening Our Members’ Voices
• Milestone 3: Expanding URMIA’s Membership
• Milestone 4: Establishing a National Office
• Milestone 5: Creating Innovative Products and Awards
• Milestone 6: Centering on Professional Development
• Milestone 7: Supporting Diversity in the Profession

“Adaptability and creativity, while needed now, will become more prevalent in the future. Higher education has some very difficult risks, and more and more we are finding third party vendors reacting negatively to such risks with a knee jerk reaction to exclude protection. Risk managers are going to have find a different path to ensure that their institutions are protected. Salesmanship will also come into play as they are going to have to sell the idea to various internal (and potentially external) stakeholders.”

— Sandy Mitchell, Director of Insurance, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Milestone 1: Adapting to Changing Risks

In risk management, particularly in higher education, the only constant is change. Risk managers must plan and prepare for the unknown, and students, faculty, staff and other stakeholders keep risk managers on their toes with new and interesting ideas and innovations.

As we look back on the last 25 years of higher education risk management, though, risks seem to have grown in complexity at an exponential pace. The Internet and cyber risk, the emergence of enterprise risk management, terrorism, mass shootings, protection of minors on campus — higher education risk managers today must be agile, thoughtful, creative and adapt to ever-changing scenarios on their campuses.

In the next 25 years, what changes will face URMIA members and their institutions? Through community, innovation and education, URMIA will work to advance the discipline of higher education risk management by responding to members’ needs and providing innovative and effective risk management solutions to the challenges facing our members.

For a more in-depth understanding of URMIA's milestones, read URMIA's Historic Compendium: The Second 25 Years.