Endowed Chair in Insurance
The University of North Texas program in Insurance had produced hundreds of qualified graduates who have enjoyed great success as professionals in insurance, financial services, risk management, employee benefits and related fields. Central to this program has been the lifelong involvement of Dr. Glen L. Taylor, whose career at UNT has paralleled much of the history of the insurance program.
Dr. Taylor began his relationship with the university when he began his studies in 1947. After receiving his undergraduate and masters degrees in accounting and teaching at UNT, he left for the University of Pennsylvania in 1955, where he earned his Ph.D. in Business and Applied Economics with a specialization in risk and insurance from the Wharton School.
Outside the Classroom
In addition to his teaching at UNT, Dr. Taylor's activities included service as a consultant to insurance companies and to the Texas State Board of Insurance in a number of voluntary capacities. He served the university as department chairman, associate dean, and associate academic vice president. Also, he was active in maintaining and building professional credibility, earning the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Counselor (ChFC) designations. At UNT, Dr. Taylor's long service has earned the President's Council Service Award, "Top Prof" designation from Mortar Board and the Alumni Association Distinguished Teaching Award. In the Dallas CPCU chapter, he has served as a member of the Board of Directors and a member of the Long Range Goals and Objectives Committee and as Chairman of the Education Coordination Committee.
Dr. Taylor's classroom interests have been varied, including almost all the subjects taught within the program at UNT.
In his latter years on the faculty, he concentrated on life insurance and estate planning, combining his accounting and insurance skills to offer a well-coordinated curriculum for students interested in life insurance and personal financial planning.
The University of North Texas BBA program in Insurance is one of few in the Southwest and one of two offered by four-year universities in Texas. It offers a comprehensive insurance curriculum, preparing its students for a variety of career possibilities. Over the last thirty years, some 120-130 majors have graduated per decade.
Insurance Courses are listed on the previous Insurance Area Homepage.
Internships
In addition, undergraduate majors may earn another three semester hours (one course credit) for an internship, with advanced approval by a member of the Insurance faculty. While offering income and enhancing the student's education, the internship provides an employer with a quality worker, and affords the employer the advantages of seeing a prospective employee in action.
Non-Classroom Activities
Insurance students are encouraged to participate in the UNT Insurance Club. Among the activities and opportunities offered are the following:
- Scholarships
- Reimbursement for professional designation exam fee when passed
- Distribution of resume books, creating employment opportunities
- Distribution of Insurance Club newsletter
- Annual field trip to Texas Department of Insurance and other Austin agencies
- Annual picnic and annual student-industry mixer to promote networking
- Departmental awards banquet
The Taylor Chair and What it will Mean:
To be named to an endowed chair is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on a faculty member. The highest levels of performance, and national and international recognition of that performance, are inherent guidelines for appointment to a chair. The endowed Chair in Insurance will enable the College of Business Administration to attract an outstanding scholar to its faculty. This individual will:
- Ensure continued quality insurance education in the College of Business
- Support the development of an Insurance Executive Program for industry professionals
- Facilitate the College's initiative to provide an integrated curriculum for future financial planning and insurance professional
- Teach topics related to insurance at both the undergraduate and graduate levels
- Develop a visiting executives program by inviting outstanding individuals to share their experience and knowledge with students and faculty.
- Monitor and analyze trends affecting the insurance industry
- Develop additional scholarship and internship opportunities to attract and retain high-caliber students to the insurance industry
- Hold seminars and conferences on current insurance topics
- Conduct research on the insurance industry and related topics in the global economy.
