Hunton Insurance Recovery Blog

Higher education institutions are navigating an increasingly complex and high-visibility risk landscape. Today’s colleges and universities are not only centers of academic inquiry—they are also large employers, property owners, event venues, research enterprises, and, at times, the epicenter of national social and political debate. As a result, campus issues that might once have been handled internally by college or university leadership can now escalate quickly into litigation, regulatory scrutiny, reputational harm, and significant insurance claims. The stakes are high.

In the Campus Risk Playbook blog post series, we will explore several risk areas that are often top of mind for colleges and universities and that frequently arise in our coverage work, including campus safety; the challenges surrounding freedom of expression, demonstrations, and protest activity; the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics—including the insurance and risk implications of NIL collectives, athlete compensation, and booster involvement—privacy, cybersecurity; and other emerging exposures.

Throughout the series, we will examine not only potential liability, but also how these issues intersect with institutions’ insurance programs, where coverage may exist, where gaps can arise, and how thoughtful risk management can better position colleges and universities before a claim materializes.