Embracing the Unknown:
Decision Making in
Uncertain Times

The University of California has purchased the first sensor triggered parametric earthquake insurance policy in the U.S. This session will provide an overview of parametric insurance, earthquake sensor technology and how adding sensors to the parametric earthquake insurance policy can benefit UC’s disaster recovery and resiliency efforts.

This program aims to provide strategies on how to mitigate the risk of aberrational verdicts in this current unpredictable litigation landscape by proactively thinking about themes, strategies and narratives early and often, effectively using research exercises and tools, and rethinking our approach to damages.

Ensuring digital accessibility is a legal necessity, and recent legal updates have intensified compliance demands. This session explores evolving standards, challenges in creating and procuring accessible content, and outlines actionable strategies to foster collaboration and inclusivity across legal, IT, and procurement teams.

The Program would focus on the unique considerations of trying a University case to a jury. It will provide tips from having tried a number of University cases to verdict, recommendations for themes that should be employed, and things to watch out for that plaintiffs’ attorneys often use against the University.

In today’s rapidly evolving environment, data is key to making informed decisions, especially when it comes to IT Disaster Recovery (ITDR), Business Continuity, and Emergency  Management. This panel will explore how institutions can effectively integrate data into these critical areas, focusing on tools and strategies that enhance operational resilience. Our panelists will showcase GIS and facility dashboards for smarter site and space planning, highlight UC Ready tools for identifying and assessing at-risk operations, and discuss the importance of cross-functional partnerships in driving successful data-driven initiatives. Attendees will walk away with actionable steps for building their own integrated data programs and insights into how collaborative efforts can optimize decision making during both planned and emergency scenarios.

Join us to discover how data can transform your approach to continuity planning and emergency management.

Join representatives from various systemwide UC offices as they give an overview of the policies and reporting obligations to their areas oversee. They will guide attendees through a hypothetical scenario that illustrates when these policies and requirements may overlap, offering tips for effective collaboration and coordination. The moderator of this session will be Dr. Monique Mendoza.

This presentation will explore how UC Berkeley united efforts to address global travel risk assessment, focusing on proactive measures, streamlining resources, and utilizing the UC Travel Insurance and Crisis24 intel to provide consistent guidance for international travelers. Participants will learn how to establish effective communication channels and create cross campus partnerships that enable consistent and efficient risk management practices.

UC Santa Barbara’s Emergency Manager and Sustainability Manager will give an overview of their climate resilience partnership, including their outreach, education, and engagement efforts, the process for and results of the Climate Impacts and Hazards vulnerability assessments.As well as Best Practices, next steps, and lessons learned.

This presentation will explore the legal risks research universities face when addressing research misconduct, including regulatory compliance, public records exposure, and potential litigation

This presentation will examine high-risk activities undertaken by student clubs, including ambitious projects like rockets, drones, and race cars. It will provide best practices for collaborating with students on hazard identification and risk assessment, and offer resources to support these innovative clubs safely on your campus.

Jury research is only as effective as the preparation put into it. Using real and at times startling focus group footage from cases around the country, 20-year jury consultant Claire Luna will share strategies to increase the value of these sessions while educating about the perspectives of the modern juror.

This 50-minute presentation delivers an in-depth examination of insider threat management within research university environments, featuring a progressive case study that illustrates real-world site access challenges and solutions. The session highlights how modern research institutions must adapt their threat mitigation approaches while protecting sensitive research data and managing hybrid learning and work environments.

Comprehensive travel risk assessment needs to consider three aspects of travel- the traveler, destination, and activities. This session provides a thorough overview of risks considering a variety of traveler profiles, particularly researchers working with sensitive technologies or funding. High risk travelers face increasing risks including of detention, theft, and coercion.The presentation shares a case study highlighting the need to consider implications of publicly available information and offers tips on assisting travelers in identifying risks that go beyond destination and activities.

Disability and other key terms defined. Demystifying disability management, the interactive process and reasonable accommodations. Participants and steps of the accommodation process. How and when the process starts and concludes. Case studies and disability accommodation scenarios. Risks for noncompliance.

This dynamic session is created specifically for the UC Risk Summit and explores California’s insurance fraud landscape, spotlighting current trends, predictions for what is coming, and innovative strategies to prevent abuse and combat fraud for all insurance lines. Dalene Bartholomew, a seasoned fraud expert and long-term investigative partner of UC, will provide an update on fraud activity, predict emerging scams, and share actionable insights and modern solutions to gather all facts for claim management while strengthening UC’s program against abuse and fraud.

Adhering to accessibility standards enables equitable access to important information, reducing the risk of exposure to hazards if information is misunderstood. This presentation will equip attendees with practical skills to evaluate, adapt, and create digital materials compliant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA as a method of risk management.

Managing employment law risks requires knowledge of recent cases affecting employers. Participants will learn about:

• General litigation statistics at UC, including the types of lawsuits and costs of litigation

• Real case scenarios from different UC campuses

• Tips for success in employment matters

UC’s Be Smart About Safety Program was developed almost 20 years ago with the intention to provide a consistent source of funds in preventing and mitigating Work Comp losses. Over the years, it has been expanded to include loss prevention funding for the Auto, EPL, GL, Property and Professional Liability programs. This session will provide an overview of how these funds are being utilized and insights and examples of effective uses of BSAS funds.

This 45-minute class will teach attendees to define disruptive behavior, describe risk perception factors, and respond to requests involving high emotion or demand. Participants will learn verbal and non-verbal communication skills to improve deescalation efforts, with the goal of collaborative problem-solving and risk reduction.

Learn how engaged senior leadership can drive a culture of security, manage digital risk, and protect UC from cyber threats.

This presentation explores artificial intelligence (AI) applications for content creation. We will provide practical examples of AI tools including large language models, image creation, voiceover, and presentation tools. The benefits of AI-assisted content creation include increased productivity and accessibility, however, challenges remain around content quality and ethical use.

This session will introduce UC’s Artificial Intelligence Risk Assessment Guide and walk through some real life examples demonstrating the use of the guide in evaluating risks associated with AI-enable technology. The Artificial Intelligence Risk Assessment Guide is designed to help UC community members identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with using artificial intelligence in administrative settings and whether their intended use aligns with their location’s risk tolerance. The Guide connects AI-related risks to UC’s Responsible AI Principles, and aids users in identifying both aggravating and mitigating factors for each risk.

The RSS Platform is redefining safety and efficiency by offering a centralized, no-code solution for EHS and risk management. This session will provide an exclusive look at the platform’s capabilities, from modular components to real-time analytics and AI-driven features. With an emphasis on user-driven innovation, we’ll also preview upcoming features designed to enhance adaptability, compliance, and operational efficiency.

This program will be an interactive lecture from an experienced defense attorney with nationally recognized expertise on EMR/ Audit Trail and AI in healthcare. While he will be using real case examples from his practice in the medical field, the lessons and tips will be applicable across all lines (PL/GL/EPL).

In this session, you’ll learn how to produce videos, create presentations, write/code/solve problems, translate languages, narrate audio, and more! New tools are available to help you create plans, manage databases, and analyze documents and data. We will explore how you can use these tools to engage your audiences during presentations and save time. This session will discuss the role of AI in supporting training, meetings, analytics, and reports. We will also cover the ethics & risks of artificial intelligence, and how to mitigate exposure both in and outside of the University.

UC San Diego takes steps to analyze the trend in sharps-related injuries among researchers using sharps devices in laboratories by evaluating the knowledge, training, and procedural experience through surveys and focus groups. Join us as we discuss the data results and next steps to improve sharps safety in research laboratories.

In February 2024, President Drake called upon all UC Locations to execute a strategy to meet six key outcomes to strengthen UC’s cybersecurity posture - and to do so quickly (by May 28, 2025). This presentation traces the highs, lows, lessons learned and risk reduction impact of this ambitious project.

Learn how Risk and Safety Solutions leverages AI to revolutionize safety and risk management. This session highlights innovative tools for predictive analytics, automation, and incident prevention, featuring practical strategies for adopting AI in safety workflows.

Employment Practice Liability (EPL) risks continue to materially impact UC. EPL claims and the impact they have in the workplace drain resources as they are often complicated and expensive. One of the principal drivers for disharmony, discord, and dysfunction among teams that leads to claims are uncommunicated and unmet behavioral expectations. When individual paradigms are not aligned on how we should treat each other at work, inevitably those paradigms will collide, and the result will be conflict. The byproduct of interpersonal conflicts are wedges driven into the relationships between individuals and groups. Effective leaders understand the need to act and align those paradigms to create a workplace culture that is inclusive and respectful and supports the mission and values of the University of California. This session will provide attendees with insights, experiences, and lessons learned from the perspective of campus leadership. The panel will discuss how employing these strategies can have a sustained positive impact on workplace cultures. Participants will walk away with tools they can employ and share with their leadership teams and learn about resources available to campuses and medical centers through UCOP.

Using research and case studies, outdoor safety consultant and author Steve Smith will guide us through the ways in which occupational safety has evolved, and suggest practical next steps. Is safety the absence of incidents, or the presence of specific, positive organizational behaviors and capacities?