Around the Nation

On any given day, InVEST is launching or expanding its presence in schools around the nation. While 31 states are actively involved with InVEST, 23 of those states have actual active programs with plans to start new programs in more states this year. Here are snapshots from around the country:  

Alabama
There are are active programs at Christ the King School and Spain Park High School.

Arkansas
There is an active program at Blytheville High School.

California
There are 19 community colleges offering insurance courses as a part of the California Insurance Careers Program, and two high schools will be teaching InVEST as a part of their financial academies.

There are five existing active programs in this state. 

Colorado
Arapahoe Community College is working with a local independent agent to explore the development of an InVEST program.

Connecticut
The Connecticut InVEST committee is launching an insurance associate degree program at Capital City Community College. The committee is designing an insurance “101” type class which will become part of the associate degree program. Existing InVEST high school programs around the state continue to receive support from CT. A new high school program will begin in January 2009 in Norwalk, CT.

Florida
The Florida Association of Insurance Agents is working with the Florida Association of Community Colleges to develop an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree. There is interest from Florida International University, Florida Community College at Jacksonville, Florida Atlantic University, Jacksonville University and St. Petersburg College, among others.

There are thirty-two existing active programs in Florida.

Indiana
Austin High School will start a program in January 2009.

Kentucky
the IIA of Kentucky has developed data, a PowerPoint presentation and has made contact with the community college system in Louisville.  The association is in the process of trying to get a meeting with the President and Provost of the college to make a presentation.  There are high hopes to get a program going by fall of 2009.

There is one existing program at Russellville Area Technology Center.

Louisiana
There are active InVEST programs at Acadania High School and Higgins High School, despite the challenges facing the insurance and educational communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Maine
Minuteman Regional High School will be launching the first InVEST program in their state January 2009. The teacher was contacted by an independent agent who informed her of the program and what it would afford her students.

Maryland
There is an active program at Frederick County Career & Technology Center.

Massachusetts
Minuteman Regional High School will be launching the first InVEST program in their state January 2009.

Mississippi
The Independent Insurance Agents of Mississippi is at various stages of InVEST implementation with 11 high schools. And the association continues to support the insurance program at Hinds Community College, the largest community college in the state.

There are existing active programs at O'Bannon High School, Hancock High School and & Velma Jackson Magnet School.

Montana
The Independent Insurance Agents Association of Montana created a program at Miles Community College. The program is pending Montana Board of Regents approval.

Nebraska
The Independent Insurance Agents of Nebraska is developing InVEST program in two distinct geographic areas: In Gering, Western Nebraska Community College would like to implement InVEST as a full year standalone course. In Lincoln, IIAN leaders are talking with Southeast Community College.

IIAN is meeting with Northeast Community College to implement an InVEST program.

New Hampshire
The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of New Hampshire is working with Derry High School and Southern New Hampshire University to implement programs.

There is an existing program at Spaulding High School.

New Jersey
The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of New Jersey is working with Mercer County Community College to launch a business degree with a minor in insurance in the fall of 2008. Chubb Insurance is developing internship opportunities for the best graduates of the program.

New Mexico
New Mexico State University has a four-year university program with a minor in insurance, and it recently started an Actuarial Science program in cooperation with the math department. The Independent Insurance Agents of New Mexico has formed a committee to explore the possibility of starting an InVEST community college program in the state.

The IIA of New Mexico has developed and launched a nine week insurance program at Central New Mexico Community College. Jeff Straight, Education Director of the IIANM, lead this project after attending the recently held InVEST State Champions Workshop in Westfield Center, Ohio. Through ongoing collaboration with CNM Community College and the CNM’s Workforce Training Center, this specific program was designed to offer innovative, customized training and skill development to students that have decided to make career changes. The program, which is scheduled to kickoff October 21, will consist of two modules, thus preparing students for careers in the insurance industry. The first module is scheduled to run for five weeks and will introduce the basics of insurance and prepare students for the state insurance licensing exam. Upon completion of the first module, students have the option to go directly to work in the industry or continue on to the second four week module, comprised of computer and insurance management system training. Additionally, once students have completed the program, they will have the opportunity to be placed with local agents who are in need of new talent.

New York
Excelsior College in Albany offers an online bachelors degree in Insurance and Risk Management, and it is welcoming insurance students at Hudson Valley Community College to transfer their credits to Excelsior upon completion of that two-year program. The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York has an agreement with Excelsior College to offer members a significant discount on the college’s insurance courses.

There are eleven existing programs in New York. The IIABNY will hold its annual field trip to their office for 40 InVEST students on December 10, 2008.

North Carolina
The Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina is supporting the InVEST program at AB Technical Community College, and recently implemented a program at Beddingfield High School in Wilson. And agents from around the state are looking to launch two additional programs. The IIA of NC is also working with East Carolina University to implement a four year program for insurance. Board is in place but is not expected to begin offering the program for a few years.

Ohio
The InVEST Ohio State Champions Committee is establishing relationships with Ohio Northern University, University of Akron's Medina County University Center, Owens Community College and Bucyrus School District. National InVEST staff had a conference call with a new Ohio InVEST committee who is working to find a chairman. They have several schools they want to target and also will be contacting InVEST liaisons outside of Ohio to see how they offer their program.

Don Spickler will speak to 25 administrators about InVEST at the Ohio School Board in Parma, OH. In February, Don will also speak to the Insurance Board of Northern Ohio and invited guests from the northeast Ohio school system about the program.

There are two active programs at Cloverleaf High School & Wadsworth High School.

Oklahoma
The Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma is developing an InVEST program at a local community college.

Pennsylvania
St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia is working with InVEST national staff to incorporate a program into the school’s Academy of Insurance and Risk Management, as well as develop feeder programs in local high schools. Esperanza High School (charter – public) will offer InVEST beginning January 09 and will be working with St. Joseph’s University to refer graduates to their insurance program. Clarion University is working with the local CPCU Society and has established a local insurance advisory board.

Rhode Island
The Independent Insurance Agents of Rhode Island is implementing InVEST in three schools and is providing guest speakers to a fourth school.

There are two active programs at Tollgate High School and Rhode Island College.  

South Carolina
The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of South Carolina are supporting an initiative to offer an insurance education course in South Carolina public schools.

South Dakota
Larry Ahrendt of South Dakota Association of Insurance Agents is working with 5 secondary vo tech schools throughout the state of South Dakota. Larry met with Presidents and Vice Presidents of the 5 schools and has been given the "go ahead" to implement online insurance courses to business students, despite budget issues and the challenge of recruiting students. He anticipates this to begin in Fall 2009, starting out with 10-15 students. 

Jesse Konold of Key Insurance just started the first program in the state, with the first class held December 3, 2008. Jesse did the leg work on his own and contacted a school in Mobridge, SD who agreed the program would add value for its students. 

Tennessee
There are three active programs at West Greene High School, Westwood High School and Lebanon High School.

The Insurers of Memphis (local IIAB chapter) are looking to “reactivate” InVEST programs in their area. Sharon Simmons of Lipscomb & Bates Agency is coordinating effort. They are planning to feature InVEST at their job shadow day in February. Currently, there are two active programs – one in Memphis and another in Mosheim.

Utah
LDS Business College requires all students in its Executive Assistant, Medical Administrative Assistant and Legal Administrative Assistant programs to complete the Introduction to Insurance course. The school is working toward offering a two year insurance degree in the near future.

Virginia
The Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia’s Recruitment Committee is reaching out to 30 high schools that indicated an interest in offering the InVEST program. There are 45 agents and company representatives supporting this initiative.

Gloucester High School & TC Williams High School in Alexandria are the only two schools in the commonwealth that are involved with the National Academy Foundation (NAF), and both have InVEST programs. National staff met in October 2008 with the teacher, principal, and local NAF board to discuss InVEST. They are looking for an insurance agent to join the local NAF board. In addition, there is an active program at Deep Run High School.

Washington
With the help of InVEST and input from other insurance industry representatives, Bellevue Community College has developed and launched a new insurance certificate program – the first of its kind in the state of Washington. Elaine Tuttle, instructor and insurance career program coordinator, spearheaded this project and was able to help BCC receive state approval to offer college credit and a certificate for the program, which will prepare students for careers in the insurance industry.

There is an existing program at Snohomish High School.

West Virginia
Brian Thomas, Immediate Past President of the IIA of West VA, and principal with the Insurance Center Agency has plans to contact several high schools in the Morgantown area regarding InVEST. He has had discussion with InVEST staff and packet of info has been sent in December, 2008. State Exec, Gray Marion, had provided contact info to Thomas.

Jen Dlugasch will be attending the Southern Agent Conference December 12-14 and has been asked to provide new InVEST developments to attendees.