Loyola University Chicago
School of Business Administration and Graduate School of Business
$1,000,000 over four years in support of the Center for Integrated Risk Management and Corporate Governance

Encouraging ethical leadership and strong corporate governance in an increasingly competitive risk-management environment is a key mission for Loyola University Chicago’s Center for Integrated Risk Management and Corporate Governance (IRMCG). The Center combines the study of risk management, focusing on corporate governance and reputation, exchange-traded derivatives, and market, financial and operating risk.

A partnership between the School of Business Administration (SBA) and the School of Law, IRMCG:

• Promotes new curriculum development and continuous improvement of existing risk management and derivatives courses and supports risk management research
• Sponsors conferences, workshops and speaker series on financial markets and integrated risk management
• Collaborates on programs in executive education and professional certification in risk management
• Offers fellowships and scholarships in risk management and corporate governance.

Excellence in teaching existing and new undergraduate and graduate derivatives courses and important research in futures, options and risk management will be key to fulfilling the Center’s mission. Financial assistance to outstanding graduate students makes the initiative one that brings the initiative full circle.

University of Illinois at Chicago
College of Business Administration
$250,000 in support of the International Center for Futures and Derivatives

In 2006, the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Business Administration established an International Center for Futures and Derivatives (ICFD) with a one-year CME Trust grant. The 2008-2009 school year marks the third grant-year for CME Trust and UIC.

The mission of ICFD is to:

• Foster research and innovation in futures and derivatives
• Leverage existing connections between UIC, China and the financial exchanges in Chicago
• Promote understanding of derivatives and futures in risk management and economic growth
• Attract and prepare students for careers in futures and derivatives

ICFD’s activities clearly illustrate this focus. Among an impressive list of activities, an annual international conference for researchers and financial firms in China and seminars between academic and financial professionals surrounding Chinese financial markets marked two groundbreaking events. In addition, visiting scholars from Peking and Renmin Universities were hosted for advanced research on futures and options.

Plans call for development of new courses in electronic trading and pricing methodologies for futures and derivatives, joint sponsorship of two conferences with the Cass Business School of London University in London and Chicago. ICFD will hire two new faculty with research and teaching expertise in futures and derivatives.