Business Services
The primary job functions of Business Services are purchasing, management of auxiliary services, enterprise risk management and environmental health and safety (regulatory agency compliance), as well as administration of college-owned real estate. A brief summary of each function is provided for your reference. Please feel free to contact the Business Services Office if you have any questions or require further information.
Purchasing:
Administer the Banner purchasing system and policies of the College. Maintain an ongoing, comprehensive plan for making departmental procurement options increasingly convenient, effective, competitive and environmentally sensitive. Provide support and act as a resource to departmental purchasers for obtaining the best possible price, value and service. Develop a coordinated set of recommendations for realizing major campus-wide cost savings and for leveraging the College's overall purchasing power. Negotiate favorable and competitive contracts.
The purchasing office also maintains vendor catalogs and competitive price information which can be useful in making decisions on price, selection and vendor services for meeting departmental needs. The college is a member of several higher education purchasing consortia that have contracts with many local and national suppliers. The pricing schedules from the consortia are often very competitive, borrowing from the purchasing power of many institutions. Should you have a question or need assistance in making a prudent purchasing decision, please feel free to contact the Business Service Office by phone or email.
Auxiliary services:
Oversee campus-wide auxiliary services (including dining services, bookstore, vending services, travel services). Manage the effectiveness and efficiency of the services in response to the needs of the college community and in accordance with institutional priorities. Pursue and enhance initiatives toward continuous improvement in program quality, operating efficiency, customer service and environmental sensitivity. Establish advisory groups as necessary to assess and enhance service programs. The latest programs, offerings, changes and contacts are available on the web. Should you need further information on these or other services, please feel free to contact the Business Services Office.
Risk management/OSHA:
Through a collaborative organization of collegiate risk management professionals and their associated schools, develop, integrate and practice enterprise risk strategies, to include:
- identifying and assessing college risk exposures;
- minimizing claim probability, cost and impact potential;
- promoting best practices and control activities;
- procuring optimal insurance coverage and risk financing models;
- monitoring our results (individually and aggregate, i.e., The Boston Consortium Risk Management Advisory Group)
- seeking continuous improvement in our strategic, operational, financial and compliance risk activities;
- strategic Boston Consortium Risk Management Advisory Group (RMAG) growth through select membership opportunities; and
- further the professional development and core competencies of our staff and consortial members.
Administer the college's enterprise risk management program through the collaborative efforts of internal, external and consortial resources, to include:
- broker relations and services;
- claim notification and processing
- contract review and administration
- certificate of insurance issuance and review; and
- coordination of risk services provided by the Boston Consortium Co-Sourced Director of Risk Management.
Environmental health and safety:
Environmental health and safety at Wheaton College is managed as a function of the Business Services Office and is the responsibility of the Director of Business Services. The Director of Business Services is a senior administrator for the college and reports to the Vice President of Finance and Operations.
The Director of Business Services works to establish programs, processes and policies to meet regulatory compliance requirements and promote safety awareness. This is accomplished through collaboration with department coordinators who then ensure departmental compliance with the safety of day to day operations. The employee is empowered to be responsible for his or her own safety and to correctly follow safety procedures. In addition, The Director of Business Services chairs the Safety Committee and, through this collaborative process, promotes safety, training, policy formulation, information dissemination, and advises the President, Vice President of Finance and Operations and President's Council on all matters of health, safety and risk exposure.
The goals and objectives of the Safety Committee are:
- Through a collaborative effort of college personnel and risk management professionals, develop programs that minimize the risk of loss to college assets or injury to the college community;
- Promote a healthful work place;
- Through responsible risk management, safeguard the integrity of college operations and educational mission;
- Comply with OSHA, EPA, DEP and other regulatory agencies;
- Decrease claim levels for damages to property or injuries to people; and
- Improve the dissemination of safety information to the college community.
For further information, training opportunities, compliance requirements or general safety questions, please contact the Business Services Office.
Rental of college-owned real estate:
Administer the Faculty/Staff Housing Program. Develop, negotiate and maintain lease agreements involving other non-residential property. If you're interested in applying for housing on campus or would like more information, please visit the Policies and Procedures or the Forms sections of this Web site. If you require further assistance, please contact the Business Services Office.
Kimberly Lavallee
Assistant Director of Business Services
Ext: 3433 Park Hall 205
Manages the day-to-day operations of the Business Services Office and is responsible for overseeing and administering the following programs: consortia membership, procurement initiatives, campus vending, procurement card and corporate credit card program, on-campus housing and commercial leases, travel agency services and insurance administration. Provides support to the Director in the management of the following initiatives: regulatory agency compliance, environmental health and safety, auxiliary services, risk management, contract review and administration, and capital project support.
Pam Parker
Administrative Assistant-Purchasing Coordinator, Business Services
Ext: 3438 Park Hall 205
Provides secretarial-clerical, administrative and purchasing support to the Director and Assistant Director. The position is responsible for operational functions in the following areas: Banner purchasing, portfolio of contracts and consortia discounts, procurement card, faculty/staff housing, campus vending, insurance payments and claims, risk management, environmental health and safety, procurement initiatives, auxiliary services, contracts, capital projects, and other general support activities.
John M. Sullivan
Director of Business Services
Ext: 3484 Park Hall 206
Provides institutional direction and support for business activities including enterprise risk management, auxiliary services, purchasing, environmental health and safety, including regulatory compliance, administration of real estate holdings, cost-saving initiatives, business-consortial relationships and college credit card program.