KID

TOPEKA –A new educational initiative coordinated through several Kansas schools of higher education, including Fort Hays State University,seeks to provide insurance companies in the state with a continual supply of educated, certified employees.

Beginning with the fall 2016 semester, students at four schools are taking core courses for an Insurance Certificate, which involves 12 college credit hours of insurance-related coursework. The courses required for the certificate program are seamless and transferable throughout the participating schools—Washburn University, Fort Hays State University, Johnson County Community College, and the University of Kansas-Edwards Campus.

Fall enrollment shows nearly 80 students potentially working toward the certificate at the four current participating schools.

Other universities establishing the certificate program on their campuses are Pittsburg State University and Kansas State University.

Championing the collaborative effort between the universities and insurance companies operating in Kansas are Ken Selzer, CPA, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance; the Kansas Board of Regents; and the Kansas Insurance Education Foundation (KIEF).

“The developed initiative will provide the Kansas insurance industry with the possibility of a steady stream of college-educated employees,” Commissioner Selzer said. The program allows the participating schools to offer the focus-area courses online or through traditional classroom instruction. Students can take the courses they are most interested in, even if they originate at another school within the program.

Commissioner Selzer and KIEF have been active in recruiting funds for use in program development and scholarships for students seeking the certificate. KIEF, the trustee of the funds, is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt charitable foundation administered by the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents, headquartered in Topeka.

More than $260,000 has been contributed to the program by insurance companies and financial institutions doing business in Kansas. Contributors so far:
· Health and Life pledges—Security Benefit and SE2; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City; AFLAC; Midwest Health, Inc.; Delta Dental of Kansas; Shelter Life Insurance; and American Home Life.
· Property and Casualty pledges—State Farm Insurance; Alliance Companies; Upland Mutual Insurance; KaMMCO; Kansas Mutual Insurance; American Family Insurance; Bremen Farmers Mutual Insurance; Marysville Mutual Insurance; Farmers Insurance; Nationwide Mutual Insurance; and FBL Financial.
· Financial Services pledges—Advisors Excel and Capitol Federal Foundation.

“We are excited about the possibilities of expanding this program,” Commissioner Selzer said. “The Kansas insurance industry is an $18 billion-a-year industry in the state. However, Kansas, as well as many other states, will soon be faced with a shortage of insurance industry employees. We think this initiative will help curtail the shortage and provide Kansans with good-paying, secure employment.”