Risk Management is an integral part of decision making at all levels of the organization and contributes to the achievement of Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) strategic and operational plans and objectives.
The Board of VIU is committed to the development of a risk management and compliance framework which is aligned with these key objectives. The framework is comprehensive, spanning all decision making processes of the University as well as its entire organizational structure and focuses on four key areas – culture, structure and processes, tools and monitoring and review.
Culture
The Board of Governors and Executive Council of VIU support the need for strong risk management awareness across the institution and this will be raised through a Risk Management Steering Committee and the development of a University Risk Register.
Structure and Processes
The Vice President Administration and Finance is responsible for the overall risk structure.
Other accountabilities in the risk management cycle need to be assigned to various managers throughout the organization.
The Audit Committee of the Board is required to appoint a Risk Management Steering Committee to oversee the structure and to assign specific tasks, evaluate new risks and review risk management and risk mitigation strategies. There should be a three year review of processes and major risks.
Tools
There are four approaches available when dealing with risk: avoidance, transference, mitigation of risk or acceptance of the risk.
The following programs are currently in place to transfer or mitigate risk when the risk is accepted or cannot be avoided:
- Emergency Preparednes
- Insurance
- Occupational Health and Safety Programs
- Monitoring and Reporting
There exist several accountability controls which are monitored through the following plans:
- Signposts (Institutional Vision to the Future)
- Academic Plan
- Integrated Plan
- Information and Technology Systems Plan
- Strategic Enrolment Plan
- Regional Strategy
- Accountability Plan
- Budget Strategy
- Governance