Created in 1995, the Louisiana Consortium of Insurance and Financial Services was charged with distributing insurance and financial education by means of innovative media throughout the state of Louisiana to professional insurance and financial practitioners, private corporations, and the general public. In addition, the Consortium provides academic courses on insurance and financial education throughout the Louisiana State University and Trustee Systems. Housed at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, the Consortium delivers instruction by employing interactive television with plans to expand to the public broadcasting system.

The Consortium Difference

So often the "off-campus" learning experience consists of taped lectures, course workbooks, a research paper, and an instructor's e-mail address. This is exactly the opposite of the courses offered through the Consortium. The Consortium's classroom structure allows students at distant sites to ask questions of both the instructor as well as fellow students at the other locations using an individual microphone/camera system. The instant the microphone is activated, the cameras focus on the student speaking.

Leading the effort in expanding financial education and ultimately financial independence, Dr. Harvey Rubin has served as Director of the Consortium since its inception in 1995. Dr. Rubin's commitment to his students and their futures is found at the heart of his academic and professional development lectures, "By taking hold of one's own financial situation, through discipline and good research, anyone is capable of doing what they want to do with their life and ultimately control their own destiny."

Dr. Rubin's mastery of the distance learning technology is revealed by his consistent interaction with his students both on location and at distant sites. He requires them to react and respond to his lectures in-class exercises and real-life scenarios through the use of the interactive technology. No student is left out, and all students benefit from the excellent hands-on instruction as well as the expanded course offerings at the respective universities.

The Consortium is focused on communicating the guiding principles of sound secure financial independence through insurance and financial education using state-of-the-art technology in conjunction with creative and innovative methods.

Interactive Technology

The Consortium is using the most advanced instructional technologies available to deliver its educational programs throughout the state. These technologies include distance education using the internet, desktop video conferencing, televised instruction, and residential instruction. By the use of these technologies, a single course can be taught at multiple sites simultaneously which results in smaller classes, greater retention, substantial income generation potential, and an overall reduction in costs for programs.

Course Instructors

The Consortium provides course instructors with an array of backgrounds in various aspects of the insurance and financial services industry. The instructors have had many years in the insurance and financial services business and often own their own agencies. Instructors are carefully selected with specific areas of expertise so as to provide the students with in-depth personal experience and knowledge directly related to the instructors' professional areas of specialization. The instructors provide practical instruction with industry-related material and application.

The instructors are fluent in the interactive technology used throughout the Consortium's curricula, and maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of both on-site and distance learning.