University of California, Santa Barbara

2016 CAS University Award Winner

The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)

UCSB Logo

The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) actuarial science program, headed by co-directors and professors Raya Feldman and Michael Ludkovski, has 266 actuarial students and five actuarial faculty members including two FCAS.

UCSB was recognized as a 2016 award winner for initiatives such as:

  • Commitment to incorporating property and casualty topics into actuarial science curriculum, with topics covering material on CAS Exam S, property and liability coverages, and pricing and reserving methods.
  • Opportunities offered to students to work on property and casualty research projects in direct interaction with property and casualty companies. UCSB hosted the Actuarial Research Conference in 2014, and held several property and casualty sessions at that conference.
  • Innovative events like Actuary Day and the California Actuarial Student Conference that expose students to the property and casualty insurance industry, in addition to consistent campus presentations by property and casualty companies. At Actuary Day in 2015, more than 100 students were engaged in a reserving project. Actuary Day 2016 featured two FCAS presenters. Connections to the property and casualty industry are also reflected by representation of four CAS Fellows and two CAS Associates on the UCSB Actuarial Program Advisory Board.

“University of California Santa Barbara is honored to receive the 2016 CAS University Award. The award recognizes tremendous joint efforts of our dedicated actuarial faculty and staff, our impressive Actuarial Program Advisory Board, our committed network of actuarial alumni, and UCSB’s Actuarial Association run by elected student leaders. The award encourages us to keep improving our program; in particular, in the direction of property and casualty insurance, in our course offerings, our undergraduate and graduate actuarial research, industry engagement, student events, etc. Please join us for the second California Actuarial Student Summit on January 14, 2017 held at the beautiful UCSB campus!”

Raya Feldman
Co-Director and Professor, Actuarial Science Program
The University of California, Santa Barbara

UCSB Photo
Student volunteers from UCSB Actuarial Association at Actuarial Research Conference hosted by UCSB.