MEMBERS ENDORSE PROGRAM

Risk & Insurance Management Society Inc. members strongly support the development of the Fellow in Risk Management Program.

Response to a survey conducted last year prompted RIMS to continue development of the designation and two other programs, according to Karen Fleming, manager of risk management at Bell Atlantic Corp. in Arlington, Va., and chair of RIMS' Advanced Designation Task Force.

To gauge demand for the academic programs, RIMS sent out 8,000 questionnaires and received 1,600 responses. The respondents also indicated interest in development of a distance-learning master of business administration program and an executive management program.

"So, based on this, in December the task force submitted a proposal to the Executive Council proposing the creation of all three programs," Ms. Fleming said, with the "Fellow in Risk Management Program as our top priority."

"What really makes the Fellow in Risk Management program unique is the design of its curriculum. We envision that it will be developed by academics, but with input by risk managers, that it will be risk management-specific and that it will be application-based," she said.

She pointed out that RIMS' focus on education includes consideration of the development of a "separate educational entity." This entity will be monitored by RIMS, controlled by a board of directors made up of industry representatives and include an advisory committee that receives assistance from risk managers, Ms. Fleming said.