MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS OF
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
HELD ON JUNE 24, 1968
A special meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia
Commonwealth University was held on the 24th day of June, 1968
at 11:00 o'clock in the forenoon in the President's dining room
of the Richmond Professional Institute pursuant to due notice.
Present were all of the Visitors except Messrs. Wayne
and Brent.
Mr. Dabney served as Chairman of the meeting and in
the absence of Mr. Brent, Mrs. Thalhimer served as Secretary.
In connection with the minutes of the special meeting
of the Board of Visitors held on June 10, 1968, it was pointed out
that the first paragraph referred to the meeting as having been
held on June 20 rather than June 10, whereupon the necessary
correction was made and the minutes as corrected were, on motion
duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, approved.
Mr. Dabney then stated that he regretted to advise
that Mr Wayne had been hospitalized for surgery and would be
unavailable for something in the order of four to six weeks. He
said that during Mr. Wayne's disability, Mr. Brent would serve
as Temporary Chairman of the Executive Committee.
The Chairman thereupon announced that Dr. R. Blackwell
Smith had accepted the position of Provost - The Medical College
of Virginia, Health Sciences Division of Virginia Commonwealth
University, and that Dr. Roland Nelson had accepted the position
of President of Marshall University in West Virginia, although he
was willing to serve as Provost - General Academic until his
departure sometime in August.
The Chairman continued and said that Dr. Francis J.
Brooke had accepted the position of Vice President of Academic
Affairs and that Dr. Nelson had recommended that he be appointed
to the position of Acting Provost - General Academic. The
Chairman then reviewed Dr. Brooke's qualifications, pointing out
that he had had considerable experience at the University of Virginia,
Cornell University and Centre College of Kentucky and that he
was extremely well qualified. He also stated that the various
Deans who would be associated with him had been consulted and were
in agreement as to the appointment.
After a discussion thereof, on motion duly made,
seconded and unanimously carried, the Executive Committee was
authorized to appoint Dr. Brooke to the position indicated and to
fix his salary, such appointment to become effective upon the
departure of Dr. Nelson, In conclusion it was suggested that the
appointment be announced at the earliest possible time.
The Chairman then stated that the Executive Committee
was of the opinion that it was imperative that an Executive
Administrative Head of the University be selected to serve until
a President is appointed and that a central office be established
to coordinate the activities of the two divisions of the University.
He continued and said that the Executive Committee had interviewed
Mr. Fred O. Wygal who was a capable and experienced administrator
and who had served as acting President of Longwood College. He
indicated that Mr. Wygal was willing to accept a limited assign-
ment on a temporary basis. He explained that Mr. Wygal would
not undertake the development of new programs and policies but
rather would serve in a caretaker capacity and would explore,
with the appropriate officials of the two divisions of the
University, general policies looking to the unification of the
two institutions.
Mr. Wygal was then invited to join the meeting. He
indicated that he understood what was expected of him and that
he would be quite happy to do whatever he could to be of
assistance. He further stated that he would undertake to effect
cooperative efforts through agreement rather than by decree.
After further discussion, on motion duly made, seconded
and unanimously carried, the Executive Committee was authorized
to employ Mr. Wygal as Executive Administrator to the Board of
Visitors with such authority, duties and salary as may be fixed
by the Executive Committee, such appointment to be effective as of
July 1, 1968.
In connection with the activities of the Executive
Committee looking to the selection of a President, Mr. Dabney
gave a general report pointing out that Mr. Brent as Temporary
file and all of the available information and was actively
pursuing the matter. The view was expressed that as broad a base
Chairman of the Executive Committee had obtained Mr. Waynes
as possible should be utilized in the selection of the President.
Mr. Wilson reported that Mr. Willett had volunteered his assistanc
in securing nominees. In view of the urgency of the matter, it
was generally agreed that everything possible should be done to
expedite the selection.
On behalf of the Master Plan Committee, Mr. Hunton
reported that the Committee was in the process of selecting an
appropriate consultant and that in this connection proposals were
being obtained from Cresap, McCormick and Paget, which firm did
a management study for The Medical College of Virginia some while
back and from Mr. Dober, who has undertaken physical planning
in the past for the Richmond Professional Institute. He stated,
however, that no commitments had been made to this time.
The Chairman then stated that he had received a letter
from Mr, L.M. Kuhn, Director of the Budget of the Commonwealth
of Virginia, requesting that officers be designated by the
University who would have the responsibility of signing requests
to the Commonwealth for funds for operational purposes. After
a discussion thereof, on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, the following resolution was adopted:
BE IT RESOLVED, that L. Daniel Crooks,
Vice President, Business and Finance, and
Raymond P. Holmes, Jr., Comptroller, be, and
they hereby are, designated and authorized to
sign requests for funds for operational purposes
and to certify to the Governor and to the
Director of the Budget requests and reports for
Virginia Commonwealth University.
It was then suggested by Mr. Temple that consideration
be given to the advisability of inviting the Deans and other
Administrative personnel of the University to meetings of the Board
of Visitors which the Chairman said he would see was done.
A discussion was then held with respect to the dwelling
which has heretofore been occupied by the President of the Richmond
Professional Institute, it being agreed that it should not be
assigned to the Acting Provost - General Academic and that its
future use should be considered by the Executive Committee.
The Chairman then announced that the Board of Visitors
would meet again on July 29, August 26, and September 30, at
11:00 o'clock in the forenoon at a place to be announced in
the notice of the meeting.
There being no further business to come before the
meeting, the same on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, adjourned.
