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Equipment Insurance Online!

by Lisa Read

Part of quality and process improvement is using technology to increase the ease of use of services by our customers. Insuring University equipment online is easier and faster now than when it was UNIX-based. It’s now web-based, and by using UW Net ID’s and passwords (instead of separate ID’s and passwords required by UNIX) and a UW budget number, our UW customers can insure most equipment such as computers, lab equipment and audio-visual equipment for a competitive premium, and do all the ‘paperwork’ online. This system is managed by the Office of Risk Management with staff ready to answer any questions pertaining to the system or equipment insurance in general.

Terry Taft Harter, the Information Specialist in our office, is at the front end of the Equipment Insurance program. She assists users with on-line enrollment and daily use of the program, and she manages the yearly renewal process. Lisa Read, the Claims Administrative Coordinator for our office, handles claims for stolen or damaged insured equipment.

When a loss occurs, such as a stolen laptop, Lisa leads the insured through the claim submission process. She contacts the police department involved to receive their report. She confirms that the person who suffered the loss was authorized to have the equipment. When all the information we require is received, a decision is made about how to resolve the claim.

We have had good feedback that our web-based system is very user-friendly, but we hope you never need to contact us about damaged or stolen insured equipment!