1. Claims Lessons in Managing Greek Organizations on Campus
Risk Research Bulletin, September 2008

2. UE Claims Study Causes of Injury versus Causes of Monetary Loss
Assaults were the most common claim, accounting for 50 percent, and the second largest source of losses, at 35 percent. While hazing claims represented a much smaller percentage of claims than assaults, at 20 percent, they amounted to 60 percent of the monetary losses. Other common causes of claims were alleged property defects in Greek housing (27 percent) and fires (6 percent). Yet, property defects and fires accounted for only 5 percent of the study’s monetary losses.

3. UE Claims Study Fatalities
Sixteen people died because of fraternity or sorority activities in 2003– Nearly three-quarters of the deaths resulted from alcohol-related activities, such as alcohol poisoning, drunk driving, drowning, and falls from windows, rooftops, ledges, or other heights. Fires and suicides accounted for the remaining quarter of deaths.

4. Lessons from the Claims
Lesson 1: Require fraternities and sororities to maintain general liability insurance and to name the institution as an additional insured.
Certificates of insurance
Additional insured endorsements
File copies of policies

5. Lessons from the Claims
Lesson 2: Use contract language to clarify the Greek organization’s responsibilities to the institution.
Inventory of contracts
General counsel review of contracts
Property leases with Greek organizations

6. Lessons from the Claims
Lesson 3: Consider whether to employ live-in advisors for Greek houses.

7. Lessons from the Claims
Lesson 4: Adopt a party registration policy that an institution can reasonably enforce.
Teaching students
Developing registration contracts with assumption-of-risk language
Monitoring registered parties
Limiting number of registered parties
Reviewing party host violations and incident reports

8. Lessons from the Claims
Lesson 5: Develop a process for notifying students when a Greek chapter is revoked, punished, or operating without authorization.

9. Lessons from the Claims
Lesson 6: Take reasonable steps to monitor and hold Greek chapters accountable.

10. For UE Members
For a copy of “Claims Lessons in Managing Greek Organizations on Campus,” Risk Research Bulletin, September 2008, go to
For risk management technical advice and assistance,