Definition: | The policy of California State University San Marcos is to provide a safe and secure learning environment. The campus' Risk Management Program has been established to reduce the risk of financial loss and to preserve the human and physical resources of the University by identifying and analyzing risks, implementing loss control techniques and transferring financial responsibility where appropriate. The Risk Management Program requires participation, cooperation and involvement of all members of the campus community. The overall responsibility for the University's Risk Management Program is held in the Office of the President. The operational responsibility for coordinating the Risk Management Program has been delegated by the President to the Director of Risk Management and Safety. The campus Risk Management Program includes, but is not limited to: implementation of good risk management practices including those required by the Chancellor's Office or regulatory authority; the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP); development of appropriate campus procedures in conjunction with the Chancellor's Office and campus departments; implementation of campus claims coordination for workers' compensation and liability claims; review and purchasing of insurance coverage; contract review; campus litigation coordination; and participation with the CSU Risk Management Authority. |
Authority: | 29 USC 654 (OSHA Act Section 5(A)(1) and 5(A)(2)); Title 8, California Code of Regulations, Section 3203; Executive Orders 638, 715, 849, 1039; CSU Coded Memorandum 95-10; CSU Technical Letter HR/WC 6520 95-02. The campus President may authorize changes to this policy and/or related procedures. |
Scope: | This policy and any related procedures apply to all areas and members of the campus community. |
Responsible Division: | Finance & Administrative Services |
Approval Date: | 04/22/2009 |
Originally Implemented: | 04/12/1999 |
Signature Page/PDF: | View Signatures for Risk Management Policy |
I. INTRODUCTION
The purpose of the California State University San Marcos Risk Management Program
is to assist the President in preserving the environmental, health, safety and financial
well-being of the campus community, preventing and/or reducing exposure to accidental
loss, creating opportunities which support the goals and mission of the University.
The implementation of this program is dependent on the cooperative partnership of
all departments and services associated with the University, their students, employees
and auxiliaries.
Executive Order 715 states, "Each campus President shall develop campus risk management
policies and procedures that include an ongoing process by which appropriate administrators
identify risks, perform analysis of the frequency and severity of potential risks,
select the best risk management techniques to manage the risks without unduly curtailing
or modifying activities necessary to the CSU mission, implement appropriate risk management
techniques and staffing standards, and monitor, evaluate, and document the results.
The campus risk management policy shall include methods to prioritize risks and evaluate
costs which would be incurred to provide restoration for damages sustained as well
as the evaluation of funding options to ensure availability of funds. The method used
should be documented as part of the risk management policy and procedures. The campus
policy should include an evaluation process that includes the collection of relevant
data and an annual risk management report to the campus President."
II.RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS
The campus' Risk Management Program involves a five-step risk assessment process that
is similar to the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission
(COSO) Internal Control and the Enterprise Risk Management Risk Assessment (ERM) Integrated
Framework models:
III. CLAIMS COVERAGE AND FUNDING
The CSU Risk Management Authority (CSURMA), which includes California State University
San Marcos, provides a funding source to the campus should a loss occur. The campus
is responsible for any liability claim, up to a predetermined deductible, brought
against the campus and/or its employees, who are acting within the course and scope
of their employment. In addition to funding its deductible, the campus provides the
following insurance coverage:
Additional information regarding these programs is available from Risk Management & Safety at ext. 4502.
IV. RESPONSIBILITIES
A) Vice President, Finance and Administrative Services (VPFAS)
The VPFAS maintains operational responsibility for the overall campus Risk Management
Program. The VPFAS has delegated program implementation responsibilities to the Director,
Risk Management and Safety. The VPFAS will serve as the appointing authority for the
Risk Management Advisory Committee, which is charged with providing support and assistance
in establishing risk policies and procedures. Campus risk issues and policy recommendations
from the Risk Manager and Committee will be forwarded to the President and the Cabinet,
through the VPFAS, for review and approval.
B) Associate Vice President, Human Resources and Risk Management (AVP, HRRM)
The AVP, HRRM is designated as the campus coordinator for all litigation matters.
The AVP, HRRM is responsible for coordinating the efforts of the campus to assist
the Office of General Counsel, or their designee, with lawsuits that involve the campus
and/or its employees. As necessary, it is also the responsibility of the AVP, HRRM,
or designee, to serve as the campus representative during legal proceedings. The AVP,
HRRM represents the campus on CSURMA's Board of Directors.
C) Director, Human Resources and Equal Opportunity (HREO)
The Director, HREO is designated to receive and process protected disclosures by employees
and employment applicants regarding improper governmental activity pursuant to the
California Whistleblower Protection Act and reported complaints of retaliation in
connection with such disclosures. The Director, HREO is also designated to receive
employee complaints of discrimination or harassment.
D) Risk Management and Safety (RMS)
Through the leadership of the Director, RMS is responsible for assisting the campus
community in identifying, evaluating and mitigating environmental, health and occupational
risks associated with campus and work-related activities. The role of RMS is to assist
the process-owner by identifying the best risk management technique(s) to address
issues of risk and liability.
As most University injuries result from lack of safety training, integration of safety
procedures or employee accountability for safety, RMS will develop and implement safety
programs and training to disseminate information and guidance to campus employees
and students. Additional internal training and orientation should be provided to employees
and students at the departmental or program level.
Other responsibilities include:
E) Risk Manager
The Risk Manager is responsible for developing and maintaining campus risk management
policies and procedures and the implementation of an effective Risk Management Program
that includes:
F) Risk Management Advisory Committee (RMAC)
The RMAC serves in an advisory role and assists the Risk Manager in developing risk management policies and procedures. The Committee meets annually, or more frequently as determined necessary, to discuss current issues and trends. The Committee provides advice and information in support of the full performance of risk management functions. Committee members include the following:
G) Human Resources and Equal Opportunity
HREO is responsible for all employee-related benefit programs, including Unemployment
Insurance (UI), Non-Industrial Leave (NDI) and Catastrophic Leave. HREO manages training
and complaints pertaining to harassment, discrimination, retaliation, the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA), California Fair Employment & Housing Act (FEHA) and the
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). HREO is responsible for analyzing reasonable accommodations
under the ADA, for determining fitness-for-duty and for concerns regarding workplace
violence.
H) Payroll
Payroll is responsible for managing benefit payments to employees, campus benefit
reconciliation and coordinating reimbursement from CSURMA for Unemployment Insurance
(UI), Non-Industrial Disability Leave (NDI) and Industrial Disability Leave (IDL)
Programs.
I) Accounting
Accounting is responsible for offering a proactive approach to reducing financial
risk and providing reasonable assurance that the University's goals and objectives
will be achieved through internal controls. Internal controls are a means to ensure
regulatory and fiduciary compliance. This is accomplished through physical safeguarding
of assets; separation of duties; and accountability in delegation of authority, policies
and procedures, and trainings. Accounting applies the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations
of the Treadway Commission (COSO) Internal Control and Enterprise Risk Management
(ERM) Risk Assessment Integrated Framework when applying risk assessment and internal
control methods. This methodology is applied most commonly through internal and external
audits by the CSU, Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP), and the Financial
Integrity and State Managers Accountability Act(FISMA).
J) Procurement and Support Services (PSS)
PSS is responsible for verifying appropriate language in all procurement documents
including leases; student placement agreements; affiliation agreements; and service,
construction, and performance contracts to ensure that liability to the campus is
minimized. The Director of Procurement and Support Services, the Associate Vice President
for Business and Financial Services and the Vice President for Finance and Administrative
Services have been designated by the President as the only individuals who have authority
to enter into agreements, memoranda of understanding and/or contracts with an outside
organization on behalf of the University and its departments and programs. PSS must
be contacted prior to entering into negotiation of any type that may result in any
form of an agreement, memorandum of understanding, or contract.
K) University Police Department
UPD is responsible for protecting and serving the campus community while securing
the physical assets of the University. The specific risk management role of UPD is
to provide safe, pro-active law enforcement and establish and maintain programs for
emergency preparedness, fire safety and personal safety/crime prevention education.
L) Administrators and Supervisors
Administrators and supervisors are to assist in controlling the loss of financial
and human resources to the campus resulting from injuries to students, employees and
visitors; or losses or damages to persons, property or campus image. Administrators
and supervisors will conduct departmental risk assessments and implement policies,
practices and/or programs to eliminate or reduce the exposure to such losses. With
the assistance from RMS, administrators and supervisors are responsible for the following:
M) Employees
Employees are responsible for complying with campus policies and procedures as well
as identifying and managing risks in the scope of their daily activities. While on
the job or representing the University, employees are encouraged to avoid activities
that fall outside their usual course and scope of employment to avoid personal liability
that might be associated with such an activity.
V. INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS
California State University San Marcos' auxiliary organizations; Associated Students,
Inc. (ASI), Alumni Association, CSUSM Foundation, CSUSM Corporation and San Marcos
University Corporation (SMUC) are legal entities which are considered separate from
the University. Each has elected to individually participate in CSURMA's Auxiliary
Insurance Programs. Each maintains their own, separate insurance coverage for their
respective organizational activities. The auxiliary organizations should be contacted
directly for additional information about their Risk Management Programs.
VI. CAMPUS COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
The campus community is encouraged to report any incidents that they witness and to
inform the appropriate department(s) of any unsafe practices and/or conditions that
they encounter. If an appropriate department is unknown, then the individual should
contact UPD at x4567 or RMS at x4502 for assistance.