About Us
We use the term “Risk Services” to describe two closely-related functions:
Traditional risk management, which began some 400 years ago and primarily addresses insurable risks. Duties include administering the University’s insurance programs, coordinating litigation, reviewing insurance and indemnification language in contracts, and issuing insurance documents on behalf of the campus.
Enterprise risk management, which started in the late 1990s and early 2000s as a tool to identify and prevent organizational disasters like the Enron collapse and, more recently, the demise of BearStearns and the molestation scandal at Penn State.
We call ourselves "Risk Services" because we believe everyone is a risk manager, and our job is to provide the service and support you need to succeed in that role. As part of its mission, the Office of Risk Services also handles:
- Litigation coordination support
- Delegations of authority
- Conflict of interest (non-research)
CONTACT US for more information or help with:
- Insurance
- Contract Review
- Event Planning Consultation
- Certificates of Insurance
- Waivers and Other Forms
- Be Smart About Safety (BSAS) Program
- Risk Training for Your Unit
- Claims Administration and Lawsuit Coordination
- Lots More Risk- and Insurance-Related Services
Please contact us immediately about floods, fires, or travelers in distress. During business hours we can be reached at risk@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail)(link sends e-mail) or 510-642-5141. If you have a night or weekend emergency (something that absolutely can't wait until the next morning or Monday) please call 510-289-8282.
Customs clearance
Customs clearance is required whenever an import shipment arrives in the United States. Shipments valued over $2,500 require formal clearance by a customs broker. The Regent’s customs broker, American Cargoservice, Inc., has the customs power-of-attorney to arrange customs clearance on behalf of the University of California. Please contact your Supply Chain Management Buyer at supplychain@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) for inbound or outbound international shipments questions.
Be Smart About Safety
The 2022-2023 Be Smart About Safety grant cycle is now open. The final date to submit our application is Friday, December 2, 2022. More infomation, including the aplication, can be found on the Be Smart About Safety page. Pleae contact bsas@berkeley.edu if you have any questions.
Travel Insurance
For more information about insurance, visit to Univeristy Travel Insurance page.
If you are traveling for University business, you should register for this travel insurance. Please be advised that coverage exclused foreseeable COVID-19 related risks, such as foreign flight cancellations.
Travel Updates
The Department of State advises all U.S. citizens to read the country-specific Travel Advisories and U.S. Embassy COVID pages for updates on the impact of COVID-19 worldwide.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect countries differently. Challenges to any international travel at this time may include mandatory quarantines, travel restrictions, and closed borders. Foreign governments may implement restrictions with little notice, even in destinations that were previously low risk. If you choose to travel internationally, your trip may be severely disrupted, and it may be difficult to arrange travel back to the United States.
We encourage everyone to view the helpful resource information regarding COVID-19 on the UHS webpage, including tips on proper hygiene such as lathering your hands and washing for at least 20 seconds, as well as mental health resources. For COVID-19 travel-related questions, UHS has set up an advice line. Please call 510-642-6622 during business hours.
