Newswise — PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 11, 2013) – From the Enron failure of 2001 to the mortgage meltdown of 2007, scandal has pervaded corporate America for the past decade. The insurance industry, which touches everything from household to global commerce, has also had its share of ethical oversights during this period. Ethics in the Insurance Industry, an upcoming symposium for local insurers at Saint Joseph's University, will tackle difficult topics often faced by those in the industry and share best practices.

"Catastrophic events like the tropical storms and hurricanes that have pounded the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts since 2004 have thrust coverage issues into the spotlight and hurt the reputation of the insurance industry," says Mike Angelina, executive director of Saint Joseph's Academy of Risk Management and Insurance.

Unanticipated natural disasters, health insurance coverage issues, and financially-challenged insurers are nightmares for everyone affected. During these events, many insurers are challenged to use their judgment to make tough, ethical decisions.

"The purpose of this symposium," according to Angelina, "is to elaborate on these situations and share how the right decision, often times a difficult one, can have a significant impact on an organization's reputation and bottom line."

Ethics in the Insurance Industry will be held on campus in Mandeville Hall's Wolfington Teletorium from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8. The half-day seminar will count as four hours of continuing education for professionals. The cost is $79 to attend.

Featured speakers include senior executives from the insurance industry, corporate risk managers, brokerage firms, and Pennsylvania Department of Insurance.

To register, visit: www.sju.edu/int/academics/hsb/resources/rmi/ethicsininsuranceindustry/index.html

Background

Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1851, Saint Joseph's University advances the professional and personal ambitions of men and women by providing a demanding, yet supportive, educational experience. One of only 152 schools with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter and AACSB business school accreditation, Saint Joseph's is home to 4,650 traditional undergraduate day students, 700 College of Professional and Liberal Studies adult undergraduates, and 3,600 graduate and doctoral students. Steeped in the 450-year Jesuit tradition of scholarship and service, Saint Joseph's was named to the 2012 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for General Community Service. The University strives to be recognized as the preeminent Catholic comprehensive university in the Northeast.