By Jeff Murphy,
June 21, 2016
WARRENSBURG, MO – Approval of the new Events and Services Certificate Program was
among items on the agenda when the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors
met in plenary session June 17 in the Elliott Student Union. The board also approved
its officers for Fiscal Year 2017, as well as a contract award for aviation insurance,
contract for international collection services, and master service agreement for job
order contracting services.
Following the recommendation of the board’s Nominating Committee, Dr. Gus Wetzel II,
Clinton, was named board president. He will serve a one-year term beginning July 1,
2016. Other officers named by the committee for Fiscal Year 2017 are John Collier,
Weston, vice president, and Mary Dandurand, Warrensburg, secretary. Monica Huffman,
executive assistant to the university president, will serve as assistant board secretary,
and Toni Kreke, interim vice president for finance and administration/controller,
will serve as board treasurer.
Following a presentation by Scott Smith, professor of marketing, the board approved
the new Events and Services Certificate Program in the Harmon College of Business
and Professional Studies. This program is a partnership between the Department of
Economics, Finance and Marketing within the Harmon College of Business and Professional
Studies and the college’s Hospitality Management Program within the Department of
Management. Smith noted that the certificate program helps meet a growing need for
marketing and event planners without having to add additional resources or faculty.
Event and service planners coordinate and manage conferences, meetings and events,
and a bachelor’s degree in hospitality, marketing, communications or a related field
is usually needed to begin a career in this area. This 12-semester-hour program will
allow students in the marketing or hospitality management programs to obtain specific
education and a certificate that demonstrates they have been trained in this area.
Professionals who also have bachelor’s degrees in another field may want to consider
completing this program, Smith said. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected
that event, meeting and convention planners could see a 10 percent increase in employment
between 2014-2024, which is higher than the national average for other occupations.
This certificate program must now be approved by the Missouri Coordinating Board for
Higher Education.
In other business, the board approved the award of a one-year contract with the option
of four one-year renewals for university accounts receivable-international commercial
collection services with Cedar Financial. The university currently contracts with
three collection agencies to support the collection of student accounts receivable.
These agencies, however, do not have the expertise or resources to engage in international
receivables collection outside the United States. As the university’s international
student population has grown, there is a need for international collection services.
This past fiscal year, the amount of outstanding receivables is $493,075. The collection
cost represents approximately 30 to 35 percent of the amount collected, depending
on the extent of procedures used to collect on the amount. The university hopes to
commence international collection services beginning July 1, 2016.
Following a presentation by Tony Monetti, assistant dean of aviation and executive
director of the Max B. Swisher Skyhaven Airport, the board approved the award of a
contract to Gallagher Aviation (formerly NationAir Aviation Insurance), West Chicago,
Ill., to provide aviation insurance coverage at the airport. The contract and policy
effective date will run from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 with an option for three
additional one-year renewals. Total cost will be $67,830, with funding to be provided
from the aviation and flight operations base appropriations. The contract covers aircraft
liability, aircraft hull, and airport general liability insurance.
The board also approved a master service agreement for job order contracting services
with Nouveau Construction and Technology Services, Carrollton, Texas, and Reasbeck
Construction, Inc., Warrensburg, for one year. Job order contracting is a construction
method of procurement that aids the institution in controlling and expediting its
minor construction, repairs, rehabilitation, or alternation of facilities by putting
on-call contractors in place to perform a substantial number of projects with a single,
competitively bid contract. Job orders are awarded on the basis of pre-described and
pre-priced tasks under a master job order contract. Projects may be architectural,
electrical, mechanical, or plumbing and work locations may include owned and leased
university facilities. Funding sources will be identified on an individual project
basis. Any project with a total cost of $200,000 or more will be submitted to the
board for approval.
