The purpose of Risk Management & Safety (RMS) is to help the campus community make decisions and take actions consistent with a collaborative commitment to risk management, health, safety and environmental stewardship. In practice, our primary function is to manage health, safety, and environmental risks across campus while not impeding the academic progress and operational needs of the university. RMS helps individuals and units address potential risks and minimize impacts on human health and the environment. At the same time, we also help to reduce uncertainty related to compliance, public relations, and financial liability, all of which can undermine the primary objectives of our campus partners. As a department, our role is to work collaboratively with faculty, students, and staff to balance competing priorities, while always promoting excellence in safety and environmental stewardship.
MISSION
The mission of Risk Management & Safety (RMS) at Auburn University is to collaborate with institutional leaders to develop and implement effective programs to mitigate loss and maximize opportunities, promote healthy and safe operations on campus, protect students, faculty, staff, and visitors, promote environmental stewardship, maintain regulatory compliance, and strategically manage risks that may affect Auburn’s operations and objectives.
RMS supports Auburn’s mission of education, research, and outreach through the development, implementation, and administration of comprehensive environmental, health, safety, and risk management and insurance programs that protect Auburn’s assets (human, intellectual, physical, and financial) and resources from the consequences of losses. This is accomplished by eliminating, reducing, or minimizing risk exposures using innovative risk control, claims management, risk financing techniques, regulatory compliance, and a variety of strategic programs and strategies designed to provide a safe, healthy, and environmentally sound campus.
VISION
A knowledgeable professional organization that is a valued partner committed to promoting a culture where safety, health, and environmental stewardship are core values, adopted and practiced throughout all levels of the university.
VALUES
Integrity
As a unit and as individuals, we strive to make decisions and provide services that are in the best interest of Auburn, and to always act with honesty, dedication, and accountability. We are charged with the critical responsibility of supporting and safeguarding Auburn, including each individual employee, student, and visitor. We pledge to consistently engage with accountability, make transparent decisions based on the highest professional practices and standards of our profession, as well as what is appropriate for our community, and ethically serve with dedication.
Service
We are committed to loyally serving through listening intently to understand the needs of our communities, and then deliberatively and thoughtfully responding with purpose, respect, courtesy, and efficiency. We strive to have pre-eminent risk management and safety programs and are focused on meeting our duties with timeliness, innovation, and dependability to gain, maintain and protect the trust and safety of Auburn and the larger community.
Collaboration
Connected to our commitment to integrity, relationship building, and service, we seek to understand the diverse and important needs and perspectives of the Auburn community and to include those perspectives in our decisions and problem-solving. We work to build internal and external partnerships in support of Auburn and its goals and to transparently communicate about our projects, functions, operations, and vision.
Innovation
We embrace opportunities to reinvent and innovate for long term impact and to challenge the status quo. We are nimble and adaptable, continually striving to reach or exceed Auburn’s goals and to meet the needs of our students, employees, and visitors. We are both pragmatic in addressing the day-to-day needs of our institution and visionary in forecasting and proactively addressing emerging concerns.
Director’s Welcome
Auburn University Risk Management and Safety is committed to providing a safe education and work environment. We work closely with university personnel and other stakeholders to promote a safe and healthy environment for employees, students and visitors while the university conducts world class research, education, and outreach. Our staff is comprised of highly qualified technical experts, scientists, administrators, and technicians who apply their knowledge and expertise in assisting the university community to meet their goals. Risk Management and Safety is divided into four program areas: Environmental Health & Safety, Laboratory & Radiation Safety, Risk Management & Insurance, and Safety and Health Programs.
We provide many services to the university including consultations, training, loss prevention, loss control surveys, and insurance procurement and management.
We invite you to explore our web site to become familiar with some of the resources and services we offer. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance.
Regards,
Chris A. O’Gwynn, ’94, ARM
Executive Director, Risk Management and Safety
