By Jeff Murphy,
July 27, 2016
WARRENSBURG, MO – Building a team with proven expertise to help the University of
Central Missouri navigate through changes in federal law and other legal matters that
affect higher education, UCM has expanded its relationship with Husch Blackwell LLP
to provide staff leadership and services on a full-time basis in the campus’ Office
of Legal Affairs and Risk Management.
The relationship between the university and Husch Blackwell has led to the appointment
of Hayley Hanson as general counsel, effective July 1, 2016. Hanson, who served previously
as interim general counsel for the university, is a Drake University Law School graduate
and partner with the firm whose major practice areas are in higher education, hospitals
and health systems. With the firm, she has served as outside counsel to more than
20 different institutions. She is being joined in the office by Lindsay Chapman, who
will serve as associate general counsel. Chapman, whose practice areas include higher
education, labor and employment, and business litigation, graduated from Saint Louis
University School of Law and previously served as senior assistant general counsel
for Kansas State University. Both Hanson and Chapman work for Husch Blackwell and
their services in the Office of Legal Affairs and Risk Management are part of a contract
between UCM and the legal firm. They both are licensed to practice law and are responsible
for providing legal advice to the entire university.
“With changes in federal law related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) and many
other legal issues that UCM could face in today’s changing higher education environment,
we need exceptional leadership and service in our Office of Legal Affairs and Risk
Management. That’s exactly what we’re getting through our expanded relationship with
Husch Blackwell, and with Haley Hanson as general counsel and Lindsay Chapman as associate
general counsel,” said UCM President Charles Ambrose. “We appreciate the Board of
Governors’ foresight and understanding to make these appointments possible.”
In her role as general counsel, Hanson reports directly to the Board of Governors,
and provides overall leadership and management for the Office of Legal Affairs and
Risk Management. This includes providing legal
advice to the board and university president; attending meetings of the board and
the Strategic Leadership Team executive group, and authorizing and overseeing the
use of outside counsel. Chapman’s duties include responding to legal inquiries from
university employees as it relates to all aspect of UCM business; auditing university
policies and procedures and providing the general counsel with recommendations to
comply with business practices; drafting briefing papers to be used by the board;
responding to charges of discrimination that may be filed with the EEOC and MCHR;
reviewing minutes of board meetings; analyzing subpoenas received by the university
and responding accordingly; and analyzing Missouri Sunshine Law requests and providing
recommendations to the university’s custodian of records for response.
According to Hanson, the Office of Legal Affairs and Risk Management will assume responsibility
for establishing an internal audit schedule for audits to be conducted during the
2016-2017 academic year. These initiatives will help identify areas of risk on campus
where stronger compliance may be needed.
Hanson and Chapman are part of a five-member team in the Office of Legal Affairs and
Risk Management. Other staff members are Jeffery Robinson, director of contracts,
compliance, and risk management; Shelly (Gonzalez) Bachus, policy director; and Julie
Schlueter, administrative assistant.
Robinson’s responsibilities include responding to inquiries from the campus community
about the university’s contracting best practices; reviewing all university contracts
before they are executed by the appropriate representative of the university; assisting
the president, general counsel and other executive leadership members to coordinate
the purchase, lease and sale of real estate property; identifying areas/activities
that expose the university to potential liability; analyzing the university’s current
insurance coverage in light of such areas/activities to identify gaps in coverage;
providing general counsel with recommendations on appropriate coverage and deficiencies.
Bachus responds to the campus community about policies and procedures; assists the
associate general counsel with the audit of university policies and procedures; provides
the associate general counsel with recommendations for revising policies to comply
with best practices; assists the custodian or records in responding to Sunshine Law
requests as necessary; and will implement and coordinate the transition to the online
policy library.
Schlueter serves as the office manager and provides professional administrative support;
manages files and records for the office; and provides support to members of the office
staff.
Individuals who have need to contact the Office of Legal Affairs and Risk Management
can visit Administration 208 or call 660-543-4730.
