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College of Business

Insurance and Risk Acumen Development (I-RAD) Badge

Overview

The Insurance and Risk Acumen Development (I-RAD) Badge is a badge that shows potential employers that you as a student have gone above and beyond your coursework to become a more well-rounded job candidate upon graduation. It was originally developed as the Certificate in Leadership and Business Acumen (CLBA) by Katie School director Jim Jones with input from the Katie School Advisory Board, which consists of some of the top companies in the insurance industry. The purpose of its development was that although many of these companies liked the education received by Katie School students, they were still lacking in critical areas such as written communication, critical thinking, time management, and oral communication. NOTE: Both Katie School and Actuarial Programs scholarships give considerable weight to making progress on the badge. In some cases with actuarial scholarships progress toward I-RAD is a condition precedent for being eligible for a scholarship.

Requirements to Achieve the Badge

There are three (3) categories of the I-RAD Badge, titled as such (Category 1, Category 2, and Category 3). To achieve the I-RAD Badge, students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, as well as a minimum of 25 points in each category, have 100+ points in total, and attend a business writing workshop hosted by the Katie School (these do not occur frequently so be sure to plan accordingly!). For example, if a student has a 3.4 GPA, they have attended a business writing workshop, and have 30 points in each category they would not hit the requirements, as they would only have 90 total points. In another case, if a student has a 3.2 GPA, they have attended a business writing workshop, and have 40 Category 1 points, 25 Category 2 points, and 35 Category 3 points, their requirements would be met. Please note that successful completion of an internship counts for 15 points in any category/categories the student may wish to apply them to.

Category 1: Non-Course Technical Skills

The purpose of this category is to encourage a deeper dive into a specific technical area of Risk Management/Insurance. Some examples of how to earn points in this category are listed below.

  • Passing industry exams (CPCU, CIC, Actuarial Exams, etc.) - 15 pts. each *Please note that waivers for exams DO NOT count
  • Attending industry workshops – 2 pts. per hour (max 10 pts.)
  • Research projects outside of the classroom – 1 pt. per hour
  • Taking online RMI courses (not for class credit) – 2 pts. each
  • Computer software workshops – 2 pts. per hour
  • Conference sessions – pts. vary depending on length of conference.

Category 2: Big Picture Industry Understanding

The purpose of this category is to encourage students to acquire a broader knowledge base of the insurance industry to complement classroom education. Some examples of how to earn points in this category are listed below.

  • Lunch & Learns/Company presentation – 1 pt. per hour
  • Risk manager events – 1 pt. per hour
  • DEI events – 1 pt. per hour
  • Company visits – 2 pts. per visit
  • Gamma Iota Sigma General Meetings – 1 pt. each
  • Other RMI related presentations OUTSIDE the classroom – 1 pt. per hour

Category 3: Business Acumen Skills

The purpose of this category is to encourage students to participate in behavioral-based learning events that develop business acumen (soft) skills. Some examples of how to earn points in this category are listed below.

  • Teaching course on insurance at H.S or jr. H.S. – 3 pts. per session (max 9 pts.)
  • Team dynamics/conflict management activity – 1 pt. per hour (max 4 pts.)
  • Business Writing in insurance – 5 pts. *REQUIRED
  • Persuasive communication – 1 pt. per hour (max 6 pts.)
  • Risk consulting project with local non-profit – 10 pts.
  • Formal networking event – 1 pt. per hour (max 4 pts.)
  • Presentation at industry events – 10 pts. (max 10 pts.)
  • Gamma Iota Sigma community service event – 1 pt. per hour (max 4 pts.)
  • President role – 20 pts. for Gamma Iota Sigma president, 10 pts. for any other RSO
  • Professional conduct and work ethic seminar – 1 pt. per hour (max 8 pts.)
  • Business etiquette – 1 pt. per hour (max 4 pts.)

Benefits of Completion

While earning the I-RAD Badge may seem like a lot of work, there are numerous benefits to doing so. Those benefits include, but are not limited to:

  • Strong consideration/preference for Katie School scholarships for those who complete
  • Opportunities to gain knowledge and network with industry professionals
  • Opportunities to improve sought after skills
  • Resume builder that adds value and is highly regarded by employers
  • Proof of strong time management skills that many candidates lack