The Office of Risk Management has asked all departments to assess potential risks that could significantly impact the university and formulate a report by March 1.

Mike Murphy, director of risk management, serves as head of the Enterprise Risk Management Committee, which will begin meeting to review 2011 assessments on March 10.

The 2011 risk assessment marks only the second university-wide risk assessment. The first was in 2009, producing some changes implemented in 2010, such as amendments to university driving policy for employees. Other risks identified in 2009 included those associated with university-sponsored international travel, Murphy said.

Murphy said hundreds of risks were identified in the 2009 assessment as departments, academic and non-academic, took a critical look at their activities for the first time. He said the committee hopes for an increase in focus this year, as they have asked departments to specifically determine risks that directly affect the overall mission of the university.

The Safety Committee, a separate division of risk management, is devoted to assessing departmental risks from the outside year-round. Risks such as volatile chemicals or art supplies stored on campus are addressed and mitigated by this committee, while the ERMC looks to assess risks at the university-wide level such as natural disaster response plans.

Guy Saylor, the university safety manager, describes his role on campus as different than Murphy’s. Saylor states that he is responsible for liaising with departments on a daily basis to help assess and mitigate their potential risks.

“We are not connected to the ACU Police or public safety and law enforcement,” Saylor said.

The 2009 ERMC identified four top risks that would most significantly impact ACU’s mission. These risks were international travel policy, data storage and preservation, compensation strategy and management training development, and a business continuity plan for the aftermath of potential natural disasters.

Some of the top risks of 2009 are still being addressed. The provost’s office is currently working on travel policy which will address international travel for all faculty, staff, and students for ACU sponsored activities. A carbonate system has been put in place to back up data on university computers, and Human Resources continues to develop management training and more effective employee evaluation processes.

The goal of the ERMC is to develop university-wide responsiveness to identified risks, according to the risk management website. Murphy said identifying potential risks is key to ensuring the university’s mission is met.

“We want to look at the strategic plan and vision of ACU and look at risks that affect that vision with tangible impacts,” said Murphy.

The ERMC plans to assess risks at least every other year and use alternating years to address top risks.

For more information on risk management and tools for risk assessment visit www.acu.edu/campusoffices/riskmanagement.