Our Vision for the CAS
The CAS continues to grow our pipeline of candidates and leverages the collective insights, life experiences, and professional expertise of our diverse membership to advance the profession. Our members and candidates come to the CAS from different backgrounds, and we strive to provide each of them with access to the education and skill-building opportunities that will help them pursue the actuarial profession and develop and advance in their career. The CAS creates an environment in which sharing ideas is welcomed and encouraged, each member’s unique perspective is valued, and individuals from all backgrounds are treated with respect.
Our Commitments
The CAS promotes involvement and advancement in the property/casualty (P&C) actuarial profession for people of all backgrounds and identities. Our merit-based credentialing process, in which exam grading is blind to a candidate’s personal information, is an essential component of our structure, and one we will always uphold.
The CAS looks for opportunities to increase awareness of the actuarial profession, attract and retain candidates from all talent pools, and create a sense of community and inclusion among our members.
Our Approach
Building Community
What
The CAS encourages high school and college students to consider the actuarial field and Property & Casualty (P&C) practice. Where gaps in awareness of the career exist, we strive to narrow those gaps. We collaborate with universities and student- and STEM-focused organizations to expand our reach to students. We equip teachers and counselors with resources to share with their students.
Why
The actuarial profession is often dubbed a “best-kept secret,” and many actuaries find the field through a family member or friend. We can create more intentional opportunities for students to discover this career and access support resources. Our focus on early awareness helps grow our pipeline and set students up for early career success.
How
- Provide skills-building and networking for candidates with limited access to internships through the CAS Student Central Summer Program, held annually since 2020.
- Reach out to a broader base of students interested in Actuarial Science through the CAS University Recognition Program, launched in 2023.
- Build awareness of the actuarial career among high school students through CAS/SOA Be An Actuary Day events, launched in 2018.
- Build awareness of the actuarial career and P&C pathway among college students through the CAS University Liaison program.
- Annual CAS/SOA Joint Committee on Inclusion, Equity & Diversity (JCIED) Diversity Symposium, launched in 2023
- Promote the actuarial profession to students from a variety of backgrounds and student influencers, such as math teachers and school counselors via external organizations’ conferences and advertisements (see Collaborating Stratmegically).
Do you have an idea to help CAS increase awareness of actuarial careers among high school and college students? Reach out through the contact form below to share or discuss.
Addressing Financial Need
What
The CAS supports financial accessibility of actuarial exams and study resources. We consider a broad range of criteria to assess the need for support in pursuit of the profession amongst people from many different backgrounds. We partner with other actuarial organizations to provide this support and gather input from our partner organizations and volunteers.
Why
Exam fees can block candidates from attempting actuarial exams or discourage candidates who fail an exam from re-taking the exam in another sitting. From our past research, 16% of candidates who lapsed out of the exam pathway indicated exam affordability as the reason. Exam support can alleviate concerns with respect to exam fees and study materials, encouraging candidates from various income levels and financial assistance needs to persist on the exam pathway and pursue the actuarial career.
How
- Provide financial aid to candidates in the United States and Canada for exam fees and study materials through the CAS/SOA Actuarial Exam Support Program, launched in May 2024.
- Provide financial assistance to non-actuarial professionals attempting to transition into the career through the Elizabeth M. Mauro Career Changers Exam Reimbursement Program, to be re-launched by CAS in 2025.
- Provide financial aid to candidates outside the United States and Canada through the international exam fee discount program.
- Provide student discounts to candidates attempting CAS exams and Data and Insurance Series Courses (DISCs).
- Provide free DISC registration for candidates completing the CAS Student Central Summer Program.
- Provide free or low-cost CAS MAS I and II exam registration for candidates completing the CAS East Asia Student Central Summer Program.
- Award the CAS Trust Scholarship to university students pursuing the P&C actuarial profession.
Enhancing Accessibility
What
The CAS provides reasonable accommodations to exam candidates with a variety of disabilities and conditions. We accommodate special needs of conference attendees to ensure that all members can fully participate in continuing education and networking opportunities. We review and update our standard processes to incorporate practices that facilitate participation across our community.
Why
Disabilities and conditions, as well as temporary circumstances like pregnancy and nursing, should not influence an individual’s exam success, and candidates have the right to reasonable accommodations in these circumstances. Some conditions can limit effective participation in CAS in-person or virtual events. We strive to implement processes that help members get the full benefit of learning from and engaging with their community.
How
- Offer standard accessibility services including:
- Floating Exam Break introduced in May 2023
- Accessible seating clearly denoted at conferences
- Accessibility guidelines provided to conference presenters
- Quiet Rooms and Nursing Rooms (upon request) at larger in-person CAS meetings and seminars
- Live Captioning option for virtual events, and
- Subtitles in English and several other languages on UCAS-recorded sessions.
- Offer other reasonable exam and conference accommodations upon request.
- Utilize updated communications and application process for requesting accommodations developed by 2023 Disability & Accessibility Task Force.
Do you have an idea to help CAS improve accessibility for all members and candidates? Reach out through the contact form below to share or discuss.
Building Actuarial Community
What
The CAS creates venues for actuaries to connect across companies, locations, and industries. We promote opportunities for actuaries to connect with others with shared experiences. We encourage actuaries with differing personal and professional experiences and backgrounds to learn from and support each other.
Why
Connections foster a sense of belonging within the actuarial community, which in turn creates an environment in which all members, regardless of background or role, can actively participate, share knowledge, learn from each other, and develop professional skills. It also enhances our members’ abilities to create broad professional networks that help advance their careers.
How
- Encourage community and connections with receptions at CAS conferences.
- Encourage members to “Get to Know Our Actuarial Partners” at CAS conference roundtables.
- Promote networking events and opportunities hosted by other actuarial organizations (see Collaborating Strategically).
- Host Annual CAS/SOA Actuarial Career Encouragement Symposium, launched in 2023.
- Connect students and actuarial candidates with each other and with practicing actuaries through the free CAS Student Central membership program.
Do you have an idea to help CAS build community among our members and candidates? Reach out through the contact form below to share or discuss.
Fostering Dialogue
What
The CAS invites members and candidates to share their varying viewpoints, suggestions and constructive criticisms. We commit to listening, carefully considering all feedback, and ensuring transparency regarding our decisions and actions. We also create opportunities, through research and professional education, for members to openly discuss important and emerging topics in insurance.
Why
Respectful dialogue and sharing of ideas allow our members, volunteers and leaders to hear perspectives different from their own and expand actuaries’ understanding of the world in which the profession operates.
How
- Provide opportunities for members to observe CAS Board of Directors meetings and access minutes from past meetings.
- Offer web contact forms for members to submit comments and suggestions.
- Expose major strategic decisions to members to gather feedback and input.
- Measure and share perceptions of strategy and initiatives in periodic Member and Candidate Surveys.
- Hold town hall sessions at Spring and Annual Meetings each year.
- Establish and strengthen connection between the Board and members
- Conduct research and host educational sessions and roundtable discussions on a variety of important and emerging topics in insurance.
Do you have an idea to help CAS foster respectful dialogue among our members and candidates? Reach out through the contact form below to share or discuss.
Supporting Leaders
What
The CAS leverages the efforts and networks of our partners to expand our pipeline of future volunteer leaders. We promote leadership opportunities through multiple channels to help attract and develop future leaders. We provide educational opportunities to help actuaries manage teams and create positive work cultures.
Why
CAS leaders provide a broad range of insights to inform decisions that impact the future of the organization. Future leaders of the CAS can build valuable leadership skills as they advance through the ranks of CAS volunteer opportunities, as well as through their work with other actuarial and non-actuarial organizations.
How
- Convene CAS volunteer and staff leaders as well as leaders of Regional Affiliates and other actuarial organizations for strategic planning and leadership development sessions at the Annual Leadership Summit.
- Promote calls for session proposals, calls for leadership position nominations, and Leadership Development Working Group offerings through multiple channels, to increase awareness and encourage pursuit of leadership opportunities.
- Offer optional continuing education at CAS conferences and webinars for members responsible for building, leading, and maintaining high-performing teams at work and within the CAS volunteer structure.
- Share opportunities for all CAS members to participate in development opportunities such as mentoring programs and educational sessions.
Do you have an idea to help empower CAS members to pursue leadership opportunities within the CAS and in their careers? Reach out through the contact form below to share or discuss.
Collaborating Strategically
What
The CAS proactively seeks out partnerships with external organizations to expand our reach to potential future members. We sponsor and partner with other actuarial organizations to inform their audiences about the CAS pathway and help our members and candidates access additional career support. We work with international actuarial organizations to support current and future CAS members around the world.
Why
External organizations expand our access to a wider future talent pool, helping us build early awareness of the actuarial career. Actuarial organizations promote a sense of belonging for actuaries from a variety of backgrounds and provide networking, education and leadership development opportunities for members. International actuarial organizations help us support our community around the world, recognizing unique challenges and opportunities in each country.
How
- Sponsor events and advertisements aimed at students and educators through outreach organizations such as AISES, NCRF, SHPE, SACNAS, AWM, STEM Muse, oSTEM, NSBE, ASCA and NCTM.
- Sponsor and partner with actuarial organizations including SOA, AAA, CIA, The Actuarial Foundation, IABA, OLA, SAGAA, SANA, NAWA and Abacus Actuaries to conduct inclusive pipeline outreach activities in North America.
- Sponsor and partner with international actuarial organizations including International Actuarial Association, ASKH, AICT, ASM, CAA, SAS, ASP, IAI, PSOA, SOAT, and IAV to conduct inclusive pipeline outreach activities around the world.
- Promote Global Dive In Festival to connect CAS members to personal development opportunities.
- Discuss, collaborate and share our research on important and emerging topics with insurance and non-insurance organizations, including regulators, in the US and around the world.
Do you have a suggestion for an organization that CAS should collaborate with on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts? Reach out to us at diversity@casact.org to share or discuss.
See how CAS volunteers and staff make this possible.
Marketing & Communications
Gather valuable input from candidates, members and employers, conduct outreach to students, academics and other student influencers, communicate our initiatives to the actuarial community and insurance industry, and promote resources and opportunities that can help members build community and foster dialogue.
Research & Publications
Source, develop, and promote research that fosters member and candidate dialogue on important and emerging topics in insurance. Create opportunities for members to develop their thought leadership skills as researchers, writers, and editors.
Finance & Investments
Allocate, track and manage funds to ensure CAS has adequate financial resources to support our initiatives across all departments.
International
Develop relationships with international actuarial organizations and CAS members abroad and identify opportunities for strategic collaboration around the world.
Admissions
Maintain the high quality and integrity of our merit-based credentialling program, develop appropriate exam content, and provide reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities, conditions or other circumstances in a clear, timely and efficient manner.
Professional Education & Planning
Create curated opportunities for members to build community, foster dialogue, and develop their professional skills and thought leadership skills through attending or presenting continuing education sessions.
Human Resources
Enhance hiring practices/processes and provide staff training to promote fair and transparent staff recruitment and workplace culture. Create regular opportunities for staff to share anonymous feedback and connect in person with colleagues to build connections and foster dialogue.
Information Technology
Maintain and enhance the CAS website to support transparency and accessibility of information. Develop our new Association Management System to support enhanced data collection, improved member communications, and streamlined accommodations requests.
