By Jeff Murphy,
October 31, 2023
Longtime Kansas City educator Phyllis A. Chase, third from left, was sworn in as a
new member of the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors. Joining her
on Oct. 27 were, from left, UCM President Roger Best, Board President Ken Weymuth,
and university alumnus, the Honorable Brent Teichman, associate circuit judge in Johnson
County, Missouri.
WARRENSBURG, MO – A new member of the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors
was sworn in and a contract renewal was awarded for printing, copying and related
services when the board met on campus on Oct. 27.
The board’s plenary session took place following a work session which included an
update on fall 2023 enrollment, which is up 9.9 percent from a year ago, and committee
meetings which featured a number of informational items. This included a presentation
by Alumni-Foundation members related to a potential capital fundraising campaign in
the future.
During the plenary session, the Honorable Brent Teichman, a UCM alumnus who serves
as associate circuit judge in Johnson County, Missouri, administered the oath of office
to Phyllis A. Chase, Ed.D, a longtime public school and college educator from Kansas
City, to fill a board seat through Jan. 1, 2027. New board member Stu Rogers, a UCM
alumnus and businessman from Lee’s Summit, could not attend due to a scheduling conflict,
but will be sworn in at a later date. His term concludes on Jan. 1, 2029.
Two items from the morning’s committee meetings were placed on the board’s consent
agenda. The board approved minutes from the Aug. 17 and Sept. 1 plenary sessions and
a two-year contract with the option for four one-year renewals for print, copy and
related services. The contract was awarded to KC Blueprint Company and Neal-Settle/Printing,
Inc. The UCM Print and Copy Center will continue to produce smaller and even specialized
print and copy services based on the equipment and staffing that is currently available.
The contract will help ensure deadlines can be met and the university receives the
best value for large-volume and specialty print jobs. Based on current activity, estimated
expenditures for the contract term are $1.2 million, however, the actual cost will
depend on the quantity and types of jobs submitted by campus departments.
Prior to approving items on the consent agenda, the board authorized a request to
award emeriti status to Vicki Orcutt, director of Academic Outreach, and Sami Babrakzai,
director of Academic Fiscal Affairs. Orcutt served UCM from Aug. 27, 2007 to Aug.
31, 2023, and Babrakzai served from Nov. 22, 2004 to Sept. 30, 2023.