New Approach for Managing Risk at the University
Chief Financial Officer John Arnold and Senior Advisor to the President for Operations Richard Cate announced organizational changes that will facilitate collaboration, reduce complexity and increase efficiencies in how the University of Arizona addresses risk.
These changes come after a review of the university's approach to managing institutional risk and the environmental health and safety of the campus community, including evaluating how all functional areas involved in risk management are organized to serve faculty, staff and students.
Creating a unified Environmental Health and Safety team
A new Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) unit has been established and will be comprised of the following units: Research Laboratory & Safety Services, Occupational Health, Campus Fire Marshal, Environmental Compliance, Code Compliance, Permitting, Occupational Safety, and Hazardous Waste Management. EHS will be led by Senior Director Leon Harris who will report to Josh Wright, Chief Facilities and Planning Officer.
This strategic alignment positions these functions alongside key operational areas such as facilities services, space planning and capital projects, which play an active role in supporting health and safety across campus.
By consolidating these functions, the university will eliminate duplicative services, streamline permitting and compliance systems, enhance programs and offerings, and make it easier for faculty, staff, and students to access the environmental safety and health services they need to thrive at the U of A.
Enhancing the Risk Management Services team
Concurrently, the university is strengthening its Risk Management Services team, which will report up to Business Affairs. The team will include a new enterprise risk management function that will focus on risk forecasting and mitigation to build institutional resilience.
Risk Management will continue to include insurance services and workers' compensation and will work in collaboration with other units in Business Affairs, such as Compliance, Privacy, and Internal Audit.
A national search is underway for a Chief Risk Officer who will oversee this team.
Working together to manage risk strategically
The Environment Health and Safety team and the Risk Management Services team will work in close partnership with each other and with other critical functions to develop a comprehensive and coordinated approach to risk at the university.
In the coming months, these teams will engage with departments and units across campus to refine processes, enhance services and strengthen communications. They will establish a service-oriented support model that makes it easier for faculty and staff to do their work safety and in compliance with regulations.
For Environmental Health and Safety matters, contact Senior Director Leon Harris, and for risk management matters, contact the Risk Management Services team.
Maintaining a culture of safety and effective risk management is an institutional-wide effort that requires continued partnership from all members of the campus community as we collectively advance the university's strategic imperatives.