Anticipating Potential
Problems and Developing Solutions
Risk management director offers advice,
training and resources to allow campus to create and manage
programs and activities.
October 13, 2005
By Valerie Orleans
As director of university risk management,
John Beisner offers advice, training and resources to allow
faculty and staff to manage and balance risks without unnecessarily
limiting programs and activities.
“Learning and discovering new things
often requires risk,” said Beisner, a CSUF alumnus (B.A.
business administration-finance ’86) and former Associated
Student president. “My goal is to find a safe way to
acquire that knowledge.”
To that end, faculty and staff members frequently
meet with Beisner to determine how to reduce risks associated
with their programs or projects.
“There are several areas I focus on,”
Beisner explained. “The first is responding to and assisting
with claims and litigation filed against the university. For
instance, if a tree on our property falls and cracks a student’s
car windshield, that student would look to the university
to pay for the damage. The same is true for accidents on campus,
such as trips and falls. I manage these types of claims, while
Pat Carroll — our university counsel — takes on
claims that are litigated.”
Beisner is quick to point out that the hard
work of folks such as Tom Whitfield, director of environmental
health and instructional safety; Judi King, chief of university
police; and the human resources staff greatly reduces the
number of claims filed against Cal State Fullerton.
“The key is to anticipate potential problems
and develop systems to avoid or minimize the likelihood of
more serious problems,” he said. “It is a great
help when you are working with others who recognize the importance
of reducing risk.”
Beisner also works with contracts and procurement
personnel.
“I review contracts and insurance claims
to minimize any problems that could potentially affect the
university,” he said. “This includes ensuring
that the university assumes only those risks that are necessary,
and that any financial promises are supported by adequate
insurance. I review these agreements to make sure they address
all relevant issues.”
The contracts don’t necessarily relate
to university events or programs. Even contracts for such
things as renting out the baseball field to a minor league
team cross Beisner’s desk.
Risk assessment and consulting also are a part
of his job.
“This is where we look at potential risk
and determine ways to minimize it,” he explains. “That
is really the essence of risk management.
“The overarching goal is to figure out
how to empower faculty and management to use risk management
tools on their own,” Beisner said. “We look at
areas where we have to take risks — such as in labs
or on athletic fields — and figure out how to make that
environment as safe as possible.”
Beisner, who earned his law degree at Yale,
spent three years in private practice before returning to
his alma mater in 1992. He started in university advancement.
In July 1995, he joined President Milton A.
Gordon’s staff and in 2001 became acting director of
risk management — a position made permanent a year later.
Among the work Beisner is most proud of is
that on behalf of students and faculty involved in international
travel.
“After 9/11, I think we all became more
aware of the inherent risks in travel,” he said. “The
university now requires insurance for all international travel,
and risk management pays that cost.
“We also have created a travel database
so that we know where our faculty, staff and students are
around the globe.”
In addition, Beisner has been involved in developing
campus driving guidelines. For instance, if an employee is
driving his personal vehicle (even if the trip is for university
business), his insurance is primary, not the university’s.
“Not everybody knows that and they should,”
Beisner explained. “We also have developed programs
to encourage safe driving.
“My goal is to develop guidelines and
policies that not only reduce risk but that make sense,”
he said. “Risk is inherent in the university environment
but our goal is to minimize it as much as possible without
interfering with the learning process.”
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