Risk Management

Risk Management

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) provides risk consulting and risk services to the WOU community and coordinates claims between WOU and PURMIT (Public Universities Risk Management and Insurance Trust). PURMIT provides support to five of Oregon’s public higher education campuses through a comprehensive strategic enterprise risk management function that focuses on the risks associated with life safety, reputation, financial, compliance, and operational exposures.

PURMIT

The Public Universities Risk Management & Insurance Trust (PURMIT) provides support to Oregon’s Six public higher education campuses through a comprehensive strategic enterprise risk management function that focuses on the risks associated with life safety, reputation, financial, compliance, and operational exposures.  This is accomplished through the application of risk financing to include risk transfer and risk retention, and through the implementation of risk controls including risk assessments, training and compliance awareness and monitoring.

Through these programs, we provide a shared service to enhance the culture of risk awareness on our campuses in an integrated and sustainable manner through the three strategies noted below:

  1. Best Practices: the Risk Council will utilize best practices for communication, training, education, data collection, and processes to improve the execution and consistency of the management of risk within the Oregon University System.
  2. Accountability: the Risk Council will continue to hold people accountable for their successes and failures to mitigate losses.
  3. Return on Investment: the Risk Council will continue to track and monitor risk to better inform and determine the risk appetite of the institutions and align risk management strategies with the mission of the public universities.

The Public Universities Risk Management & Insurance Trust is overseen by a Board of Trustees consisting of one representative from each of the member institutions. This group provides the strategic oversight for the program.  The Risk Council, consisting of the Risk Management leaders from each member institution, conducts the day-to-day transactions and risk mitigation for the program.  These activities include integrating risk awareness with campus strategic partners including General Counsel, Internal Audit, Academic Strategies, Student Affairs, Student Health, Research, International Programs, Human Resources, Environmental Health & Safety, Procurement, Security, Facilities and Capital Planning.

Links to each of the University Risk Management Websites can be found below:

Claims and Tort Notices

Eastern Oregon University, Oregon Institute of TechnologyOregon State University, Portland State University, Southern Oregon University, and Western Oregon University are each separate legal entities and claims and tort notices involving any of them should be sent to the individual universities.

Contacts:

  • Jared Tripp
    Trust Administrator
    712-329-3619
Incident and Accident Reporting

Incidents or accidents for all events involving injuries or property damage to members of the general public, visitors, students, or WOU employees while on WOU property, should be reported within 24 hours of the event occurrence to Karen Sloan at sloank@wou.edu or 503-838-9471 in the Office of General Counsel.

In the event that a claim arises, the Office of General Counsel can guide managers and supervisors through the claims process. The deductible amount is $5,000 for property claims and liability claims. The responsible party’s department/unit will be assessed the deductible amount. The deductible applies to each occurrence.

  • General Liability:  The University has general liability insurance to protect the University, its officers, board members, agents and employees from actual or alleged negligent acts and omissions while acting in the performance of duties on behalf of the University.
  • Motor Vehicle/Automobile Liability:  Auto liability provides coverage for bodily injury and property damage arising out of the use of owned, hired and non-owned vehicles while on university business.
  • Property:  Property insurance provides protection against the risk of physical loss or damage to university property.
  • Workers’ Compensation:  Workers’ Compensation Insurance (SAIF) provides benefits for workers who are injured or suffer an occupational disease as a result of their work.
Certificates of Insurance

Occasionally the University will need to provide other entities evidence of insurance coverage. Such evidence is generally called a Certificate of Insurance or COI. A COI outlines the type of insurance, the limits of liability and the effective and expiration dates of the coverage.

Issuance of certificates requires specific information regarding the event, function, provision of services, or use of facility for which the certificate is to be issued. All such information must be submitted to the Office of General Counsel by the University faculty or staff member needing the certificate. Please use the link below to request a COI and allow at least 3 to 5 business days for issuance.

General certificates of insurance are found below:

IPL Proof COI 2024

Master Proof COI 2024

Liability Waivers

It is the policy of Western Oregon University to ensure students, student groups, and other participants are aware of activities and events that pose a higher risk of injury or accident.  With this policy, members of the WOU community can make informed choices and are made clear of their responsibility should there be an injury or accident.

An acknowledgement of risk and waiver of liability form (also known as a waiver) is used to:

  • Inform prospective participants of potential risks involved with an activity.
  • Allow an individual to voluntarily choose to incur risks.
  • Secure an agreement from the individual to hold harmless the University.

A waiver is not required for an event or activity in which faculty/staff is acting in the course and scope of employment. If you have any questions about liability waivers, please contact the Office of General Counsel at generalcounsel@wou.edu.

Volunteer Agreement and Partial Waiver and Release of Rights

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY (for students, non-students, and minors participating in events on WOU camps)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY – SPANISH VERSION(for students, non-students, and minors participating in events on WOU camps)

Volunteer Service

WOU appreciates the assistance of the many individuals who volunteer their services to help the University accomplish its mission. Departments/units are responsible for the oversight of all volunteer services and activities and for assessing the risks associated with volunteer services. Western Oregon University’s Volunteer Service Form provides departments/units and prospective volunteers with conditions of service, liability and insurance information, and the criminal background check form.

Camps and Clinics Insurance

Camps and Clinics Insurance is an accident insurance plan that provides participants with insurance coverage for Accident Medical Expense Benefits, Emergency Sickness (defined as an illness or disease diagnosed by a physician which causes a severe or acute symptom that first manifests itself suddenly and unexpectedly while participating in the activity) and Accidental Death Benefits.

The Camps and Clinics Insurance is available to WOU departments and programs that sponsor short-term events/activities involving participants, typically youth, who are generally not affiliated with the University. Such camps might include sports camps, music camps, science camps.

Departments and programs must enroll their youth programs in insurance coverage either through the Office of General Counsel or though the Conference Services. Please call the Office of General Counsel at 503-838-9471 to consult with staff about camps and clinics insurance and be prepared to provide the following information:

  • Department Name
  • Description of event/activity
  • Dates of event/activity
  • Contact name, phone number, and email
  • Estimated number of participants
  • Index number to be charged

Camps and Clinics Insurance Premium Costs

Youth Program Length Rate Per Camper: Day program Rate Per Camper: Overnight Program Rate Per Camper: Virtual Day Camp
Up to 2 Weeks $1.78 $2.78 $1.60
2 – 4 Weeks $2.95 $4.45 $2.66
4 – 6 Weeks $4.43 $6.93 $3.99
6 – 8 Weeks $6.50 $10.00 $5.85
2 Months, but < 6 Months $9.21 $17.21 $8.29
6 Months, but < 1 Year $18.21 $37.21 $16.39

 

Camps and Clinics Insurance Enrollment Form