Description: Actuarial science is at a cross roads. Many are urging that our highly successful examination process be partially abandoned in favour of accepting university courses in a number of basic subjects. This drive is based in part on the difficulties in supporting the present system, the experience elsewhere and a misplaced confidence in the quality of the university system. This paper explores where the university system is and where it needs to go in order to adequately serve the interests of the actuarial community.

Description: This is a recommendation for SOA scientific publications including the types of papers, schedules and governance of each.

Description: This is the abstract of a paper that summarizes of the curriculum and other features of the university actuarial science programs in North America. The report, includes most schools listed by the SOA as offering actuarial science courses including substantially all of the Course 150 material. This summary was prepared by the author for the SOA Career Encouragement Committee and is being presented at this Actuarial Research Conference to share the information with faculty involved with actuarial education in North America. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1996, Vol. 1.

Description: Editors' comments regarding the editorial policy of the ARCH which is an informal communication platform regarding current actuarial research which the Committee for Research on Theory and Applications of the Society of Actuaries offers to members and friends of the actuarial community. From the Actuarial Research Clearing House 1991, Vol.1.

Description: This article summarizes a proposal which combines two independent but complimentary ideas regarding loans for post-secondary education in the U.S.: 1. Individuals repay the loans by committing a percentage of their future income for twenty-five years [but not beyond age 65] rather than by a fixed dollar amount, and 2. A portion of the 5ocial 5ecurity [OASDI] Trust Funds be used as initial capital to finance those loans. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1991, Vol. 1.

Description: This 1998 presentation from the 33rd Actuarial Research Conference reports on a number of activities related to the relationship between the actuarial profession and the academic community, including: 1. feedback received during the related session at last year's Actuarial Research Conference, 2. some the results from the SOA Research Effectiveness Task Force survey, and 3. recent developments such as the joint CAS, CIA, SOA Task Force on Academic Relations.

Description: This is a presentation of the restructuring of the SoA Research Department. From the Actuarial Research Clearing House 1995 VOL. 1.

Description: This study examines the relationship between the administrator of a pension plan [the principal] and the actuary [the agent]. The objective is to design a contract for both the plan administrator and the actuary so that the actuary provides the appropriate level of information to the plan administrator. The study uses a simple model- one principal [the pension fund administrator] and one agent [the actuary] in a one-period model. In standard principal-agent models, working harder means higher productive output. In this model, it means more accurate information. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1999 Vol. 1.

Description: In the past, discussion of actuarial education has focused on curriculum content [what is to be learned] and mode of delivery [university course versus part-time correspondence course]. Little attention has been paid to how students learn, and how that learning can be facilitated to develop actuaries with the knowledge, skills and values the profession needs. This paper deals with the university-related content of a more comprehensive paper prepared by the authors for the 1993 Convention of The Institute of Actuaries of Australia. It concentrates on students' learning in the undergraduate actuarial program at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, but it is likely that many of its findings and conclusions would apply equally to university actuarial courses elsewhere. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1994, Vol. 1.

Description: The purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the undergraduate research in actuarial science at Ball State University. Abstracts of 23 honors theses, with brief comments about the students' careers, are given. Common characteristics of the theses are described. Helpful techniques for advising thesis writing students are provided. From Actuarial Research Clearing House 1996, Vol. 1.