Course Associate, Insurance Operations - Insurance Management (Online, Spring 2025)

Company Description

Columbia University has been a leader in higher education in the nation and around the world for more than 250 years. At the core of our wide range of academic inquiry is the commitment to attract and engage the best minds in pursuit of greater human understanding, pioneering new discoveries, and service to society. 

The School of Professional Studies at Columbia University offers innovative and rigorous programs that integrate knowledge across disciplinary boundaries, combine theory with practice, leverage the expertise of our students and faculty, and connect global constituencies. Through eighteen professional master's degrees, courses for advancement and graduate school preparation, certificate programs, summer courses, high school programs, and a program for learning English as a second language, the School of Professional Studies transforms knowledge and understanding in service of the greater good.

Job Description

Columbia University, M.P.S. in Insurance Management seeks candidates with professional experience in commercial property and casualty, personal lines, and/or LA&H insurance to serve as a Course Associate to support the successful delivery of an online and asynchronous instruction graduate-level course, Operations: The Backbone of the Company. A Course Associate is a faculty line junior to a Lecturer who provides subject matter expertise and supports the instructional process for a course section. Serving as a Course Associate is an excellent way to gain exposure to graduate-level teaching at Columbia University.

Please note this course provides asynchronous instruction coupled with synchronous assignments and activities. Office hours are predetermined but with flexibility for appointments at mutually convenient times.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate preparation of course materials, including oversight of the course  learning management system (Canvas), problem-based learning assignments, discussion prompts, group projects, exams and quizzes, development of class readings and video recordings, etc.

• Assist with instruction through office hours and the learning management system (Canvas).

• Review and respond to discussion board posts, and advise students as they develop an operations playbook, or other projects that may be presentable to their employer for implementation upon completion. 

• Facilitate asynchronous discussions, provide timely feedback on student work, record ad hoc video lectures, etc.

• Attend programmatic events as necessary, including bi-weekly faculty meetings, virtually or face to face (there are two on-campus residencies, one before the first semester and one during the last semester of the program).

• Allocate up to an hour (as needed) at the Lecturer's discretion for office hours.

• Engage in administrative activities coordinated by SPS in support of the Insurance Management Program as needed by the Program Director.

Qualifications

Requirements

• Graduate degree in insurance or a related field

• Expertise in insurance operations with an understanding of underwriting, claims, finance, legal, marketing, strategic planning, and data analytics. Strong relevant exposure will be considered

• Experience or exposure to primary/direct, commercial property & casualty

• 5+ years of professional experience in an insurance or related industry company preferred

• Solid knowledge and academic foundation as it relates to theories, principles, and practices of insurance

• Demonstrated energy and desire to facilitate learning and be a professional resource to students

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Project management and presentation skills, interfacing with executive-level management, mentorship.

• University teaching experience

Additional Information

Salary - $3,246 per semester-length course development and teaching (as of academic year 2024-2025)

Please Note: Columbia University’s Policy on Remote Work states that anyone teaching online classes for this program must reside in New York or one of the following states or territories: Biosphere Arizona, CA, CO, CT, Washington D.C., DE, FL, GA, HI, IL, MA, MD, MT, NJ, OK, PA, VA or VT.

All applicants, please provide:

• Resume/CV, inclusive of university teaching experience -- highlight teaching at the graduate level

• Please submit any evidence of teaching effectiveness (student evaluations of teaching, teaching observation summaries, etc.)