When risk management and insurance firms in Southern California and beyond seek incoming talent, they turn to Cal State Fullerton’s School of Risk Management and Insurance (SRMI). For nearly a quarter century, the CSUF insurance program has prepared students for industry careers, served as a vital connection between academics and the insurance fields, and facilitated applied research on the ever-changing world of insurance.

In February 2022, the school was ranked sixth in the nation by Best’s Review, an industry journal, based on a poll of risk management and insurance professionals.

From Small Beginnings to the Best in the West

It all began in 1998, when the Center for Insurance Studies was established with a $10,000 grant, a single course and a single professor, Weili Lu.

While much has changed, the goal of the program has stayed the same – to be the foremost program for risk management and insurance education in California.

“With the retirement of baby boomers in this evolving industry, there’s more need than ever for young, tech-savvy professionals in the risk management and insurance fields,” says Lu. “With a commitment to groundbreaking research, innovative teaching, and initiatives to support the success of each and every student, we believe SRMI has become the foremost insurance program in the western U.S. Our alumni are in demand by employers throughout the industry and around the world.”

Today, there are more than 2,000 Titan alumni in the risk management and insurance fields globally. More than 1,000 students are currently enrolled in 15 insurance and risk management courses within the undergraduate and graduate concentrations, including an Actuarial Science concentration offered through the CSUF Department of Mathematics.

Innovative Teaching and Research

A major strength of the program is the continual strengthening of the curriculum with industry support, including advanced-level courses using texts and materials from professional designation organizations, such as Armstrong Robitaille Riegle, whose president, Frank Robitaille, is a major donor and supporter.

Renowned as a teaching university for generations, Cal State Fullerton is now rising as a research institution, and SRMI is leading the way. Research grants and awards, donated by Mercury Insurance Company Chairman George Joseph, have supported the research of insurance-focused finance faculty members Xin Che and Xiaoying Xie, and their research is featured in prominent industry journals.

Connecting Students with Today’s Opportunities

Recognizing the strength of networking, SRMI ensures that there’s no shortage of opportunities for insurance students to connect with industry representatives and recruiters. The monthly Jim Gutmann Speaker Series, Insurance Day, and Excess & Surplus (E&S) Day are all events that bring together students and professionals for networking, mentoring and support.

Career counseling, internship and job postings, scholarship and grant resources (which have totaled $1.3 million over the years), and research opportunities are available to SRMI students, not only through the world-class offerings of Cal State Fullerton and the College of Business and Economics, but also through the school’s in-house career counseling. From mock interviews to résumé and LinkedIn account development, SRMI students are well-versed in what it takes to succeed professionally.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, SRMI continued its support for students. While all events went virtual, none were cancelled. The versatile and hardworking staff of SRMI made the seamless transition possible and are now pivoting back to in-person modalities while maximizing the benefits that virtual formats provided.

Thanks to the Empowered Student Professional Development program, students who successfully pass a professional exam can apply for grants that will reimburse costs. This helps ensure that SRMI grads are representative of today’s diversity. Many are the first in their families to earn a degree or go into the industry.

For More Information

For more information about SRMI, reach out to Director and Professor Weili Lu at [email protected]. Or read more of our articles on CSUF risk management and insurance studies.