BUFFALO, NY, July 11, 2006 – Trocaire College, renowned for decades for excellence in its professional health care-related fields of study such as registered nursing, radiologic technology, surgical technology, licensed practical nursing, and more, is proud to welcome an all new curriculum to its campus. This fall, Trocaire will open its doors to the Insurance Professional Studies degree program - the only program of its kind in the western half of New York State.

“The mission of Trocaire College and the Sisters of Mercy who sponsor Trocaire, is to educate individuals to serve the needs of others and of society. Certainly, our health care programs have successfully prepared thousands of Western New Yorkers to do just that,” stated Trocaire College’s president, Dr. Paul B. Hurley, Jr. “Insurance is also a service industry. Its purpose is to serve individuals in a way that will offer a form of financial security, be it through providing homeowners, auto, business, or life insurance, or through more investment-related tools such as annuities or other funds. Thus, the Insurance Professional Degree program is a natural fit for Trocaire.”

The main goal of this new curriculum is to educate and prepare individuals to move into the insurance industry in a variety of positions. These may include occupations in insurance such as sales, underwriting, adjusting, investigating, actuarial, finance, technology, or marketing.

The Insurance Professional Studies major involves specific coursework in Property and Liability Insurance Principles, Commercial Insurance, Personal Lines Insurance, and Multiple Lines Insurance Production. An internship will occur within two of the academic semesters offering students an opportunity to experience first-hand the workings of insurance agencies and companies. Business and marketing courses will complement the insurance courses, and the entire program will possess a traditional liberal arts underpinning.

“One might wonder why a college so well-known for its health care offerings is venturing into such a business related field as insurance. Actually, the college has had a business program for many years,” commented Trocaire Dean Jeff Lesinski. “We have educated students to become successful entrants into the field of business through various programs almost since the college’s beginnings.”

Several well-known and highly respected insurance professionals from the local area have been involved in the planning and framing of Trocaire’s program. These include Michael Lawley and Duane DiPirro of Lawley Associates, Fred Hildebrand of Merchants Mutual Insurance Company, Ted Overdorf of Overdorf & Associates, Mary Cudzilla of St. Paul-Travelers, Mary Kushner of Risk Management Service Company, and George Chernowski of Wm. Coppola Insurance Agency. “With the strong advice and backing of these and other significant members of the local insurance industry, we have spent a few years developing and gaining approval for our Insurance Professional program,” noted Dean Lesinski.

Information about the Insurance Professional Studies program or any of the college’s other offerings can be obtained by calling the Admissions Office at 716-827-2545. Or plan to attend Trocaire’s Open House on Wednesday, August 2 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. The college is located at 360 Choate Avenue in South Buffalo.