UCM Board Authorizes Budget Actions, Construction of Golf Center

University of Central Missouri President Roger Best, left, and Board of Governors President Kenneth Weymuth, right, presented certificates to UCM employees who have attained emeriti status, from left, Trish Hubbard, David Ewing, Jean Nuernberger, Daniel Crews, and Kathy Anderson, when the board met June 8.  Not present for the photo, but also recognized, were Becky Landkamer, C. Jo Riggs, Roderick Woolen, and Rick Dixon.

WARRENSBURG, MO – During its June 8 plenary session, the University of Central Missouri Board of Governors authorized revisions to the university’s Fiscal Year 2024 operating budget to reflect additional revenue and expenditures. It also approved FY 2025 operating and capital appropriations requests to the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD), authorized a construction contract and the naming of a new golf center at the Mules National Golf Club, and named the board’s executive officers for the upcoming fiscal year.

Action related to financial matters and facilities followed presentations by Bill Hawley, vice president for finance and operations. He spoke to the board during both the committee and plenary sessions that took place in the North Morrow Building. The board met as the campus hosted annual freshmen orientation activities, which brought hundreds of incoming students and their parents to UCM.

Hawley noted that the Missouri General Assembly on May 3 gave final approval for the state’s FY24 budget, which, if signed by the governor, will allot $63 million in net appropriations to UCM. This represents a nearly $4.4 million increase in expected revenue for the university for the upcoming fiscal year.
The board in April approved the FY24 operating budget, which Hawley proposed be amended to include a projected revenue increase to help cover projected expenses in key areas. This change includes about $750,000 in additional funds made possible by growth in international graduate student enrollment. This will help cover additional expenses associated with a possible $400,000 increase in operating costs, plus an increase of $350,000 for capital projects. These changes result in a total UCM operating budget of $168.2 million.

While these measures help position the university to cover its financial operations for the next year, the board took action to help prepare the campus to meet Fiscal Year 25 operating and capital funding needs. UCM annually submits funding requests to MDHEWD to cover these two areas. 

The total FY25 request to the state for operating appropriations is approximately $69 million. This includes funding for core operations (FY24 base) of $67.7 million, a 5.2 percent increase to cover inflationary costs, a debt offset of $225,000, and $670,000 for new funding decision items.  The FY25 capital improvements budget request approved by the board includes a list of deferred facility needs and a list of new construction and renovation projects. Among the top deferred maintenance projects are Administration Building roof replacement and façade restoration, Dockery Building façade restoration, and Ward Edwards Building facade restoration and drainage system improvements. The top capital projects cover Grinstead Technology Building renovations, including a separate project that involves adding a welcome center to Grinstead, and upgrades to the Utt Building. These projects combined would cost over
$64 million, and are part of a list that includes deferred new construction and renovation items.
 
A contract in the amount of $1,777,046 with Reasbeck Construction, Warrensburg, was approved to provide all labor, materials, and provisions for the construction of the UCM Golf Center at the Mules National Golf Course at the Pertle Springs recreation area. The work entails the construction of a new 2,100-square-foot, single-story building with features such as lounge space for both the men’s and women’s golf teams, two offices, two restrooms, recruit lounge/meeting room and laundry room.

The facility is being built with a combination of private funds through the UCM Alumni Foundation and university funds.  In recognition of the individuals who provided the lead gift to make it possible, the board authorized the naming of new state-of-the-art facility at Pertle Springs the Randall and Kelly Harbert Collegiate Golf Center.

UCM alumni Randall Harbert, ’85, and Kelly Harbert,’86, are longtime supporters of the institution, and have made previous gifts to the golf program, including a van for transporting players, in addition to supporting a marketing professorship endowment in the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies. According to board documents, their gift for the golf center will enable UCM Athletics to continue to enhance the facilities associated with the university’s destination golf course. It also is expected to impact recruitment efforts for the golf program, which will strengthen the UCM golf student-athlete experience, and elevate the program within the conference, region and NCAA, according to board documents.

In other business, the board approved a recommendation from its nominating committee to maintain the current board officers for the fiscal year, beginning July 1. Kenneth Weymuth, Sedalia, will remain at the board president’s post; Steve Abney, Warrensburg, will serve as vice president; and Mary Dandurand, Warrensburg, secretary. Also serving the board are Monica Huffman, executive assistant to the university president, who will serve as the board’s assistant secretary, and Bill Hawley, vice president for finance and operations, who will serve as board treasurer.

In other business, Phil Bridgmon, provost and vice president of academic affairs, presented a list of individuals who qualify for emeriti status. The board authorized emeriti status for the following employees, whose most current titles and dates of service to UCM are as follows: 
• Dr. Daniel Crews (Aug. 24, 1987 – May 31, 2023), Professor of History
• Dr. David Ewing (Aug. 19, 1991 – May 31, 2023), Professor of Mathematics Education
• Becky Landkamer (Jan. 21, 1997 – May 31, 2023), Manager of Accounts Payable
• Dr. C. Jo Riggs (Aug. 21, 1995 – May 31, 2023), Professor of Nursing
• Roderick Woolen (Jan. 18, 2005 – May 31, 2023), Procurement Specialist II
• Rick Dixon (Aug. 19, 2002 – June 30, 2023), Title IX Investigator
• Trish Hubbard (Aug.10, 1998 – June 30, 2023), Office Professional III in the Department of Human Services
• Jean Nuernberger (Aug. 20, 1990 – June 30, 2023), Associate Professor of Social Work and Chair of the Department of Human Services
• Kathy Anderson (Aug. 1, 2005 – June 30, 2023), Interim Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics

Individuals who  achieve emeriti status are invited annually to a dinner and recognition ceremony coordinated by the UCM Alumni Foundation.