MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS OF
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
HELD ON MAY 27, 1968
The annual meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia
Commonwealth University was held on the 27th day of May, 1968
at 11:00 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.
Mr. Virginius Dabney served as Chairman of the meeting
and Mr. Brent as Secretary thereof.
On motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
the minutes of the first meeting of the Board 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 were approved in the form mailed to all of the Visitors,
and the minutes of a special meeting of the Board held on May
l4, 1968 were approved in the form presented to the meeting.
At the request of the Chairman, Mr. Brent then
explained that the proposed By-laws, drafts of which had been
circulated to all of the Visitors, had been considered and
approved by the Executive Committee and that a copy thereof had
been placed in front of each member of the Board, A general
discussion of the proposed By-laws then followed, with several
minor modifications being suggested, after which on motion duly
made, seconded and unanimously carried, the By-laws of Virginia
Commonwealth University were approved in the form presented at
the meeting as modified, and the Secretary was directed to
place a copy thereof in the corporate minute book.
It was then pointed out that the By-laws as adopted
provided for the annual meeting of the Board to be held in
May and that it might be appropriate to designate this meeting
as the annual meeting and to elect officers for the ensuing year.
A discussion then followed, after which on motion duly made,
seconded and unanimously carried, it was determined that this
meeting should be designated as the annual meeting for the year
1968 and the present officers and members of the Executive
Committee were all re-elected to the positions presently held, to
serve until the next annual meeting of the Board of Visitors to
be held in May of 1969 and until their successors are duly
elected and qualified.
Mr. Wayne then reported that information with respect
to heraldry involving the seal for the University, academic gowns,
etc. has been given to him, whereupon, the information and matters
related thereto were referred by the Chairman to the Student
Activities Committee for consideration and recommendation to the
Board.
The Board was then reminded that at its last meeting
the Executive Committee had been requested to consider the
status of all personnel associated with both Richmond Professional
Institute and the Medical College of Virginia as of July 1, 1968.
Mr. Wayne thereupon reported that the Executive Committee had
considered the matter and presented to the Board a proposed
resolution with the recommendation of the Executive Committee that
it be adopted. Mr. Brent read the resolution which was generally
discussed, with several modifications thereto being offered,
after which on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
Mr. Brent moved the adoption of the resolution as modified.
After further discussion, the motion was seconded by Mr. Scott
and the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 93, Acts of
Assembly of 1968, Virginia Commonwealth University
will formally come into existence on July 1, 1968
and the Medical College of Virginia and Richmond
Professional Institute will cease to exist as
separate, independent institutions; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Visitors of Virginia
Commonwealth University is presently seeking
a person who may be appointed as President of
Virginia Commonwealth University; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Visitors desires to
provide for the orderly administration of the Uni-
versity on a temporary basis until such time as
a President is appointed and takes office;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
1. That commencing on July 1, 1968 and until
further action by this Board, Dr. R. Blackwell
Smith, Jr. shall continue as the Chief Executive
and Academic Officer of that part of Virginia
Commonwealth University formerly known as the
Medical College of Virginia, with the same com-
pensation and the same duties, powers and
responsibilities as theretofore held by him as
President of the Medical College of Virginia with
the title Provost - The Medical College of Virginia,
Health Sciences Division, Virginia Commonwealth
University.
2. That commencing on July 1, 1968 and
until further action by this Board, Dr. Roland H.
Nelson, Jr. shall continue as the Chief Executive
and Academic Officer of that part of Virginia
Commonwealth University formerly known as the
Richmond Professional Institute with the same
compensation and the same duties, powers and
responsibilities as theretofore held by him
as President of the Richmond Professional
Institute and with the title Provost - General
Academic, Virginia Commonwealth University.
3. That commencing on July 1, 1968 and
until further action by this Board, all other
officers, administrative personnel, faculty and
agents who were employed by the Richmond
Professional Institute or the Medical College of
Virginia on June 30, 1968 shall likewise con-
tinue in their former positions, with such
compensation as may have heretofore been
approved and with the same title, powers, authority
and responsibilities with Virginia Commonwealth
University as theretofore held by them.
At this point, Mr. Brent withdrew from the meeting and
Mrs. Thalhimer recorded the minutes.
On behalf of the Executive Committee, Mr. Wayne then
reported that Dr. Smith had stated that he did not desire to be
considered as a candidate for President of Virginia Commonwealth
University but preferred to remain as the Chief Administrative
and Academic Officer of The Medical College of Virginia, Health
Sciences Division of Virginia Commonwealth University.
Mr. Wayne continued and explained that the Executive
Committee had met with Faculty and Administrative Representatives
of the Richmond Professional Institute and The Medical College
of Virginia, and also Representatives of the Board of Visitors
of both Institutions, in order to obtain their views with
respect to the qualifications which should be possessed by the
new President of the University. He then presented to the
meeting for discussion a memorandum entitled "Desirable
Qualifications for the President of Virginia Commonwealth
University", which was generally discussed with various modifica-
tions being made therein, after which on motion duly made,
seconded and unanimously carried, the memorandum as modified
was approved, with the Executive Committee being instructed to
eliminate the numbering of the paragraphs. The Chairman directed
the Secretary to attach to the minutes of the meeting a definitive
copy of the memorandum after the changes were made by the
Executive Committee.
Continuing his report, Mr. Wayne then stated that the
Daniel Construction Corporation had offered to sell to the
University the Imperial Plaza property and had indicated that in
connection with the purchase thereof, should the University be
interested, the Daniel Foundation would make a contribution of
$1,000,000. Mr. Wayne pointed out that the matter had been care-
fully reviewed by the Executive Committee and that it did not
appear to be a desirable transaction from an economic point of
view and further that it did not appear that the properties could
be utilized to advantage at the present time, whereupon, on
motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, the Officers
were requested to decline the offer and to express appreciation
to the Daniel Construction Corporation and the Daniel Foundation.
Mr. McGehee then explained that the Board of Visitors
of the Medical College of Virginia had for some three years had
under study a capital fund campaign for The Medical College of
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Virginia which would start in the Fall of 1968. He indicated
that this was a matter which should be considered by the Board so
that those who were planning the campaign would know how to
proceed. It was generally agreed that it would be inappropriate
to proceed with the campaign as planned and on motion duly made,
seconded and unanimously carried, the Chairman was requested to
refer the matter to the Development of Master Plan Committee for
consideration.
Thereupon, a letter which had been received from Dr.
Nelson was presented to the Board for consideration. The letter
explained that although the proposed Science Building to be
constructed by the Richmond Professional Institute had largely
been cleared for financing through the proposed State Bond Issue,
it appeared to the Board of Visitors of the Richmond Professional
Institute that it would be desirable for the matter to be
referred to the Board of Visitors of the Virginia Commonwealth
University for consideration in order to avoid the possible
duplication of facilities resulting from the merger. After a dis-
cussion thereof, on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, the proposed Science Building was referred to the
Property Committee for consideration and recommendation.
Dr. Nelson's letter also explained that the proposed
Education Building required immediate action and that it was
desired to award the architectural work in connection therewith
to the firm of MacIlroy and Parris provided this met with the
approval of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth
University. A general discussion then followed with respect to the
recommendation in connection with the Educational Building and Dr.
Nelson was requested to join the meeting in order to speak to his
recommendation. He pointed out that action was urgently required
as the drawings would have to be in hand by November in order to
qualify for financing of the proposed State Bond Issue. After
further consideration, on motion duly made, seconded and unani-
mously carried, appreciation was extended to the Board of Visitors
of the Richmond Professional Institute for giving this Board an
opportunity to review the matter, and the Board of Visitors of
Richmond Professional Institute was requested to award the contract
to Macllroy and Parris subject to final approval of the Property
Committee of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth Uni-
versity.
Dr. Michaux then indicated that the Board of Visitors
of The Medical College of Virginia were quite interested in
having an active role as an advisory board in the affairs of the
new University and would continue to meet each month. He stated
that it would be helpful if this Board could give some direction
to their efforts. On behalf of the Richmond Professional
Institute, Mr. Wilson stated that this Board would disband as
such on July 1, but would be available for call. The Richmond
Professional Institute Board did not foresee, he said, their role
as an organized body. The matter was then referred to the
Executive Committee for consideration and recommendation.
There being no further business to come before the
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meeting, the same on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, adjourned.
APPROVED:
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE PRESIDENT OF
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
The candidate must be a person of absolute integrity and the
highest character.
The candidate should be between 35 and 55 years of age, pre-
ferably, and married.
The candidate should have an earned terminal degree with
some training in college administration as well as teaching experience.
The candidate should have had administrative experience and
have demonstrated ability as an executive.
The candidate should possess a pleasing and strong personality
with demonstrated talent in the field of public and community relations.
The candidate should be articulate and have ability and ex-
perience as a public speaker.
The candidate should have demonstrated in prior positions possess-
ion of abilities of outstanding leadership, and should be able to delegate authority with forcefulness and tact.
The candidate should possess the kind of personality that in-
spires confidence and a willingness on the part of others to work as
a member of a team.
The candidate should be a person who knows when and how to call
in expert assistance when needed to resolve any problem related to
the welfare of the University.
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It would be desirable for the candidate to have had considerable
training in at least one of the disciplines or subject matter areas
offered by the University that might qualify the candidate for a
professorship in the University, and should enjoy the respect and
confidence of colleagues in the area of that academic specialty.
The candidate should be a firm, fair and diplomatic disciplina-
rian.
The candidate should have an understanding of the unique opportuni-
ties and functions of an urban university which carries with it the
recognition of the significant role that the President and the Uni-
versity must play in identifying with the needs of modern urbanized
society.
The candidate should be forward looking and innovative in a
practical fashion.
The candidate should be willing to support and develop a strong
college of arts and sciences.
The candidate should have knowledge of finance and be knowledgable in the area of fund raising from both public and private sources
The candidate should be interested in and capable of developing
a strong department of graduate studies.
