MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF
THE BOARD OF VISITORS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
HELD ON OCTOBER 30, 1968
A special meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board
of Visitors of Commonwealth University was held on the 30th day
of October, 1968 at 12:00 o'clock Noon in the President's Dining
Room of the Hibbs Building of Virginia Commonwealth University
in the City of Richmond, Virginia, pursuant to due notice.
Present were all of the members of the Committee and by
invitation Colonel Heil, Dr. Brooke and Mr. Fred O. Wygal.
Mr. Wayne served as Chairman of the meeting and Mr. Brent
as Secretary thereof.
The minutes of meetings of the Executive Committee held on
September 10, 1968, September 18, 1968, September 20, 1968 and
October 16, 1968 were thereupon approved in the form distributed to
all of the members of the Board of Visitors.
A general discussion was then held in connection with the
search for a President with special emphasis on the approaching
visit of Dr. Corbally to the University on November 7 and 8.
Messrs. Wilson, Hunton and Brent were appointed by the Chairman
as a Committee to determine what compensation and related benefits
might properly be paid to the President who is selected.
The meeting thereupon adjourned to 910 West Franklin
Street and the following joined the meeting: Dr. Walter Coppedge,
Dr. Daniel T. Watts, Mr. L. Daniel Crooks, Dr. Warren E. Weaver,
Mr. Raymond T. Holmes, Mr. William O. Edwards, Dr. Arnold Fleshood
and Mrs. Edna F. Hodges.
Dr. Brooke then reported on behalf of the General Academic
Division and in connection with faculty matters stated that Dr.
H.I. Willett had agreed to serve as a part-time Professor of
Education for a ten month period effective September 1, 1969 and
would devote three-fourths of full time to the position for a
salary of $18,000. In addition to teaching, he would consult with
the Dean of the School of Education in designing various graduate
programs and would also assist in developing the urban thrust of
the University.
Dr. Brooke then stated that it had been suggested that the
University's law enforcement program be named after the late Colonel
John M. Wright, a member of the Richmond Police Department for
many years. The suggestion was generally considered, after which
it was determined that it should be deferred for the present in order
that it might be considered as a part of the overall study of the re-
structuring of the University.
Proceeding with his report, Dr. Brooke suggested that it
might be of benefit if the School of Art of the University could
cooperate with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in connection with
the selection of the Director who will be appointed to replace Mr.
Cheek as well as in other respects. He pointed out that it might
be possible to give the new Director, as well as others associated
with the Museum, a part-time faculty appointment which would not
only supplement the salary of such persons but would tend to
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develop closer cooperation between the Museum and the University.
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The Rector stated that he would confer with the President of the
Museum in this connection in order to offer the assistance of the
University.
Dr. Arnold P. Fleshood, Dean of the School of Education,
then presented to the meeting a proposed graduate program for the
School of Education which would result in a Master's Degree being
offered. He explained that the program had been authorized by the
Board of the Richmond Professional Institute but that it had been
temporarily deferred by the Virginia Council of Higher Education
until such time as the faculty of the School of Education might be
further developed. He pointed out that this had been done and
that all now appeared to be in order for a resubmission of the
proposal to the Council should it meet with the pleasure of the
Board. The proposed program was then reviewed and discussed, after
which on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, it was
recommended to the Board of Visitors for approval.
In concluding the report of the General Academic Division,
Dr. Brooke then stated that there was an urgent need for an
auditorium which would seat up to 500 persons, especially for the
School of Art. He stated that the Administration would continue to
pursue the matter with the hope of being able to present a
definitive recommendation to the Executive Committee or the Board
in the near future.
On behalf of the Health Sciences Division, Colonel Heil
then stated that Dr. Smith was still hospitalized, but that he
understood that he would be released from the hospital in
approximately two or three weeks which period would be followed
by several months of convalescence.
At Colonel Heil's request, Mr. Crooks then reported that
the Hospital Accounts Committee had considered 1,746 delinquent
accounts totaling $197,751.5 and recommended that 21 accounts in
the amount of $9,556.50 be charged to the Davenport Fund and the
remaining 1,725 accounts amounting to 188,194.85 be charged to
indigent service, bad debts, teaching cases and account adjustments,
which recommendation on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, was approved.
Continuing, Mr. Crooks then stated that the Hospital Division
had experienced a deficit of approximately $400,000 during the
month of September, bringing the total deficit in this connection
for the year to approximately $800,000. Every effort is being
made, he said, to find a means of reducing the deficit. In the
meantime, he reported that the Hospital Division recommends an
increase in hospital room rates from S38-S)43 to $46-49 for a private
to 44 average for the wards, such rates to become effective on
room; $34-$36 to 42-$44 for a semi-private room, and $34 average
November 1, 1968. On motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, the recommendation of the Hospital Accounts Committee
with respect to charge-offs was approved and the proposed increase
in hospital room rates was recommended to the Board of Visitors
for adoption.
In conclusion, Mr. Crooks distributed financial
information with respect to the Medical College of Virginia
Foundation for the information of the members of the Committee.
Mr. Watts thereupon reported that the Board of the Virginia
Institute for Scientific Research had determined that it was in
the best interest of the Institute to associate with Virginia
Commonwealth University in the manner which had been proposed.
He stated that it was his understanding that the Jeffries Foundation
was considering a grant to the Institute which together with the
assistance which would be made available by the University, would
carry the Institute through June of 1969. He pointed out that the
University of Richmond would be given an opportunity to participate
in the future if it so desired. He stated that the affiliation
would doubtless strengthen and improve the graduate programs in
physics, chemistry and biology.
With respect to the proposed study of the academic programs,
administrative structure and physical facilities of the University,
Mr. Wygal reported that the Virginia Council of Higher Education
had formulated a design for the in-depth study of physical
facilities and that Council personnel as well as $25,000 would
be made available for this purpose. He advised that the Council
had suggested that it would be desirable for a full time person to
be assigned by the University to coordinate this study.
The proposal of Cresap, McCormick and Paget, to study the
academic programs of the General Academic Division was then
presented and discussed by Dr. Brooke and Dr. Coppedge. A general
discussion then followed, after which on motion duly made,
seconded and unanimously carried, it was determined that a Committee
consisting of Mr. Wygal, Dr. Brooke, Dr. Coppedge, Colonel Heil and
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a representative of the Health Sciences Division to be appointed
by Colonel Heil would forthwith consider the matter in order to
formulate a recommendation to the Executive Committee with respect
to the nature and extent of the matters to be studied, the employ-
ment of consultants to assist, the relative priorities and the
manner in which the foregoing might be integrated with the in-depth
facilities study to be conducted in cooperation with the Virginia
Council of Higher Education. The Committee was asked to be prepared
to report to the next meeting of the Executive Committee.
Mr. Wygal then pointed out that the University could trace
its corporate history back to 1838, whereupon it was generally
agreed that this was the correct founding date of the University
and where appropriate this date should be used.
Mr. Wayne then presented to the meeting an offer which had
been received by the University from the McGuire Clinic proposing
to purchase the entire interest held by the University (formerly
held by the Medical College of Virginia) in St. Luke's Hospital in
Richmond, Virginia for the sum of $400,000. The proposed offer
and the background with respect thereto were then reviewed, after
which the matter was referred to Mr. Crooks to develop in consulta-
tion with the Attorney General.
Mr. Wayne thereupon suggested that it would appear
appropriate to increase the salary of Colonel Heil for services
rendered as Acting Provost to $22,500, this being the amount
heretofore authorized for Dr. Brooke for services rendered by him
as Acting Provost. Mr. Wayne stated that he understood that
this figure met with the approval of the Governor's office. On
motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, the foregoing
salary was approved for Colonel John H. Heil, Jr. for services
rendered as Acting Provost of the Medical College of Virginia,
Health Sciences Division of the University effective October 16,
1968.
There being no further business to come before the meeting,
the same on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
adjourned.
APPROVED:
Chairman
