Travelers opens Claim University

Travelers announced the opening of its claim training facility in Windsor, Conn., Travelers Claim University. This new, state-of-the-art training facility is aimed at providing customers with highly-trained, expert claim professionals.

The 108,000 sq.ft. educational facility is designed to give Travelers’ claim professionals the in-depth training and expertise they need to provide knowledgeable, accurate and efficient claim service for customers and agents.

Travelers Claim University houses a heavy-equipment lab featuring cranes, backhoes, bulldozers, and other heavy-duty vehicles and received a Chief Automotive Fuzion Vehicle Repair and Sectioning System as part of the auto appraisal lab. This equipment helps teach auto appraisers how to properly read vehicle diagnostics, measure for damage and how structural repairs on vehicles can be accomplished with precision accuracy.

Approximately 8,500 front-line employees can attend the university each year for hands-on training in auto, property, heavy equipment or liability claim appraisal. Another 8,500 plus will be trained each year through virtual learning and distance learning. It replaces Travelers’ decentralized training program and aims help the company attract and retain highly trained, talented and motivated claim professionals.

In the property lab, two full-scale furnished homes and a full-size convenience store complete with all mechanical systems (electric, plumbing, heating/air conditioning) help demonstrate a wide variety of building materials and construction methods. They can be strategically damaged and used to estimate repairs or replacement costs for property claims.

The facility additionally includes eight classrooms able to accommodate nearly 300 students, a 400-seat auditorium, virtual training rooms, distance learning capabilities, study rooms, media center, reference library, in-house workshop and numerous smaller-scale mock-up demonstrations to support material identification, damage reparability, and installation procedures.

Travelers Claim University enrolled its first class of adjusters March 12. A grand opening event will be held April 24, 2007.