During recent ceremonies at the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, Thomas M. Cooley Law School and Olivet College agreed to establish coordinated curriculum programs aimed at supporting job growth in Michigan’s growing insurance industry.

Representatives of Cooley and Olivet signed a partnership agreement that will join Olivet College’s risk management and insurance program with Thomas M. Cooley’s juris doctor and master of law programs, creating only the second such educational program in the nation.

In addition to the educational programs covered under the agreement signed today, the two schools also committed to considering creation of additional joint bachelor’s/juris doctor programs in the insurance area and opened the possibility of establishing a paralegal program with an insurance emphasis.

The insurance industry has become an enormous economic force in the Lansing region. Insurance companies are responsible for close to 8,000 jobs in the region, and are expected to create another 1,300 jobs by 2014.  Expansion projects are underway at Delta Dental, Jackson National Life and Accident Fund Insurance Company of America. Auto-Owners Insurance recently purchased 132 acres in Delta Township to accommodate future growth.