Milestones for United Educators
August 2024
1987
- In response to the liability insurance crisis, 59 educational institutions join together as sponsors and form United Educators (UE) as a risk retention group under the federal Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986. UE offers educators legal liability (ELL) and general liability excess (GLX) coverage. By year’s end, 100 policies are in force.
1988
- Congress passes Civil Rights Restoration Act.
1990
- Congress passes Americans with Disabilities Act.
1991
- UE receives 1,000th claim.
- Civil Rights Act of 1991 provides for jury trials under Title VII.
1993
- Congress enacts Family and Medical Leave Act.
1994
- UE issues 5,000th policy.
1995
- UE welcomes 1,000th member.
- Introduces Cool Head, Warm Heart claims philosophy.
1996
- UE receives 5,000th claim.
1998
- Janice Abraham succeeds founding UE President Burton Sonnenstein.
- UE was rated A (Excellent) by AM Best and has been every year since.
2001
- UE becomes a reciprocal insurance company operated under the supervision of a Subscribers’ Advisory Board. Policyholders acquire an ownership interest in UE and can become eligible for allocations of a portion of UE’s net income through subscriber savings accounts.
- UE’s premium retention rate reaches 98%.
2002
- U.S. Supreme Court rules for UE member Gonzaga University; there is no private right of action in Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
2005
- UE introduces Risk Management Premium Credit (RMPC) program.
2007
- UE mobilizes to lead the education community providing risk management best practices related to school shootings following the tragedy at Virginia Tech.
2008
- UE is ranked a top Risk Retention Group by Captive Review.
- Crisis Communications — later known as ProResponse® benefit — is added.
2010
- UE offers our first online course.
- UE member University of California, Hastings College of the Law wins First and Fourth Amendment rights case in the Supreme Court.
2011
- UE issues first dividend distribution to members.
- The Department of Education’s (ED’s) Office of Civil Rights issues Title IX guidance to address sexual assault and harassment.
2013
- UE is named to Ward’s 50 list of top-performing property and casualty insurance companies.
- Congress enacts the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act.
- Supreme Court sides with UE member Ball State, finding a more limited definition of “supervisor” under Title VII. The definition is limited to an employee who is empowered to take tangible employment actions against the victim of harassment.
2014
- All 50 states have laws to prevent and manage concussions.
2017
- UE launches Canopy Programs to bring comprehensive risk management solutions to the entire education community.
- UE finishes repaying our sponsors.
2018
- UE launches an innovative internships and professional services liability (IPL) policy with broad coverage for most student internships and experiential learning programs.
- UE enhances our liability insurance coverage for public K-12 schools.
2019
- 1 million UE courses completed.
2020
- Telemedicine coverage launches.
- COVID-19 pandemic causes many institutions to educate students remotely.
- UE establishes Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance (IDEA), which infuses awareness, sensitivity, and belonging in UE’s culture.
2021
- Investment portfolio tops $1 billion.
- UE revamps website, providing 24/7 access to policy and claims information and risk management resource library.
2022
- UE celebrates 35th anniversary.
- 2.5 million UE courses completed.
- UE issues 80,000th policy.
- UE receives 75,000th claim.
- UE member Houston Community College System wins a First Amendment case before the Supreme Court.
2023
- Richard “Rick” Mills succeeds Janice Abraham as UE President and CEO.
- Supreme Court rules against institutions using affirmative action in admissions.
2024
- ED releases updated Title IX regulations addressing sex-based discrimination and harassment, including pregnancy protections.
- UE is named to the list of Ward’s 50® top-performing insurance companies.