MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS OF
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
HELD ON MAY 14, 1968
A special meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia
Commonwealth University was held on the 14th day of May, 1968 at
10:00 o'clock in the forenoon in the President's dining room of
the Richmond Professional Institute in the City of Richmond,
Virginia, pursuant to due notice.
Present were all of the Visitors except Mr. C. Coleman
McGehee.
Mr. Virginius Dabney served as Chairman of the meeting
and Mr. Brent as Secretary thereof.
Mr. Brent thereupon distributed to the Visitors the
minutes of the first meeting of the Board of Visitors held on
April 23, 1968, the minutes of an adjourned meeting held on April
30, 1968, and the minutes of an adjourned meeting held on May 7,
1968, with the request that they be reviewed prior to the next
meeting of the Board so that they might be considered for approval
at such time.
Mr. Brent also distributed to the Visitors a second
draft of proposed By-laws and asked that any comments or ob-
servations which anyone cared to make in connection therewith
be given to him as soon as possible. This would make it possible,
he said, for a further draft to be prepared for consideration
by the Executive Committee with a view to that Committee
making a recommendation to the Board at the next meeting
so that definitive action might be taken.
The Rector thereupon presented to the meeting a
memorandum entitled "Suggested Procedures for Selection of
President of Virginia Commonwealth University", which he stated
had been prepared by the Executive Committee at the request of the
Board in order that all might be in agreement as to the method to
be followed in selecting a new President. A general discussion
then followed in connection with the memorandum and various
modifications were suggested, after which on motion duly made,
seconded and unanimously carried, the memorandum was approved as
modified and the Secretary directed to attach a copy thereof to
the minutes of the meeting.
Attention was then called to the fact that on July
1, 1968, the Richmond Professional Institute and the Medical
College of Virginia would cease to exist as separate independent
institutions and that it would therefore be necessary for the
Board to consider and act upon the status of all personnel associated
with both institutions as technically their positions might be held
to have expired as of the close of business on June 30. A general
discussion then followed, after which the Executive Committee was
requested to consider the matter with a view to making a recommenda-
tion to the Board at its next meeting.
There being no further business to come before the
meeting, the Rector then invited Dr. Roland H. Nelson, Jr. and his
associates to join the meeting. A general orientation program was
then presented by Dr. Nelson with the assistance of the following:
Dr. J. Edwin Whitesell, Dean of the School of Arts
and Sciences.
Dr. Richard Lodge, Dean of the School of Social Work
Dr. Arnold P. Fleshood, Dean of the School of Education
Dr. J. Curtis Hall, Dean of the School of Business
Dr. Herbert J. Burgart, Dean of the School of Art
Dr. Richard S. Vacca, Assistant to the President
Dr. Charles M. Renneisen, Dean of Students
Mr. James W. Bailey, Associate Dean of the College
Mr. Raymond T. Holmes, Comptroller and Business Manager
Mr. William O. Edwards, Director of Development and
Public Relations.
Upon the conclusion of the presentation by Dr. Nelson
and the members of the faculty and staff, the Visitors were
reminded that the dedication service for Rhoads Hall would immedia-
tely follow the meeting after which a bus tour of the RPI campus
would be conducted.
Thereupon, on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, the meeting adjourned.
Suggested Procedures for Selection
of President of Virginia Commonwealth University
Here follows an outline of proposed procedures to be
followed in the search for and selection of a president of Virginia
Commonwealth University.
1. The executive committee of the board will develop
a set of criteria to be used in measuring the
qualifications and suitability of candidates.
Before finalization of these criteria, members
of the executive committee will consult with both
MCV and RPI, including specifically the boards
of these two institutions, representatives of
the faculties and any other appropriate parties.
The faculty representatives will be asked to
express freely their opinions on this matter, and
such opinions will be given full consideration
by the executive committee. The criteria when
developed will be submitted to the Board for
approval.
2 The executive committee will conduct through mail
and personal contact an extensive canvass to
secure as many desirable candidates as practical.
3. Biographical and other pertinent information
will be obtained with respect to each candidate,
and such data will be reviewed by the executive
committee.
4. The executive committee will call in for personal
interviews all persons whom it believes to be
good possibilities for the office.
5. Following these interviews, the executive committee
will present to the board of visitors its
evaluation of from three to six of the leading
candidates. Further, it is anticipated that the
executive committee will make specific recommendations
to the board among these nominees.
The board of visitors will elect the president.
