Using Industry‐Sponsored Game Nights to Educate About Risk and Insurance

As educators in the field of risk management and insurance, we see know‐ ledge of risk management and insurance as a core business function. However, some colleagues and students see insurance as cold‐call sales or companies with a lot of money that continue to raise their prices. So we have to find ways to make our public aware of the usefulness of risk management and insurance in the business world and in private life and of the opportunities that having such knowledge presents to all business majors and business people. One method that is beginning to show dramatic improvements in at least our students’ perceptions of the field and the major involves industry‐sponsored game nights. While not an academic endeavor nor strictly risk management education, we believe the idea provides a useful tool for opening students’ eyes to the need for knowledge of risk management and insurance and of the opportunities that are available in the insurance industry and its related fields. This article discusses the history of such an event at Appalachian State Univer‐ sity, the current status of the North Carolina Surplus Lines Association (NCSLA) event, and the benefits of the event.