MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS OF
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
HELD ON OCTOBER 31, 1968
A special meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia
Commonwealth University was held on the 31st day of October, 1968
at 10:00 o'clock in the forenoon at No. 910 West Franklin Street
in the City of Richmond, Virginia, pursuant to due notice.
Present were all of the members of the Board of Visitors
except Mr. Coleman McGehee.
Present by invitation were the following: Mr. Fred O.
Wygal, Colonel John H. Heil, Jr., Dr. Francis J. Brooke, Mr. Raymond
T. Holmes, Dr. Charles M. Renneisen, Mr. William O. Edwards and
Mrs. Edna F. Hodges.
Mr. Dabney served as Chairman of the meeting and Mr. Brent
as Secretary thereof.
In connection with the minutes of the September 26, 1968
meeting of the Board of Visitors, Mr. Brent pointed out that the
minutes indicated on page 2 that the University had been selected
by the Twin Trailer Study Commission to study the use of twin
trailers in Virginia but that at such time the University had only
been asked to consider doing so and subsequently had been selected.
The minutes, he said, should be corrected in this respect. There-
upon, on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, the
minutes of such meeting as corrected were approved in the form
distributed to all of the Visitors.
At the request of the Chairman, Dr. Brooke then reported
on behalf of the General Academic Division that consideration was
being given to the improvement of Shafer Court, such Court being
that portion of Shafer Street lying between Park Avenue and
Franklin Street which had been conveyed to the University.
In connection with faculty matters, Dr. Brooke pointed out
that a memorandum with respect thereto had been distributed to all
of the members of the Board of Visitors and had been approved by
the Executive Committee. In addition, he distributed to the meeting
a memorandum with respect to Dr. H.I. Willett and pointed out that
Dr. Willett's employment as a Professor in the School of Education
had been authorized by the Executive Committee pursuant to the terms
and conditions set forth in the memorandum. He stated that Dr.
Willett did not propose to announce his retirement from his present
position until Tuesday, November 5, and accordingly it was requested
that the appointment not be released until this time.
Proceeding to the next item in his report, Dr. Brooke then
stated that it appeared to him highly desirable for the University
to cooperate with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and that it
might be possible to offer part-time faculty positions to the new
Director of the Museum and other Museum personnel, with a view
not only to supplementing the salaries paid by the Museum but also
in order that the faculty of the University might be strengthened
and both Institutions brought closer together to their mutual
advantage. The Visitors were informed that the Executive Committee
had asked the Rector to confer with the President of the Museum
in this connection.
Dr. Brooke then invited attention to the memorandum
distributed to all of the Visitors with respect to the proposed new
graduate program for the School of Education which would make it
possible for the University to offer a Master's Degree in Education.
He explained that the program had been approved by the Board of
Visitors of the Richmond Professional Institute but that the matter
had been held in abeyance by the Council of Higher Education
until the faculty of the School of Education could be strenghtened.
This has now been accomplished, he said, and with the approval of
the Board all would appear to be in order for a resubmission of the
application. A general discussion then followed, after which on
motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, resubmission
of the application was approved.
A schedule of gifts and grants received by the General
Academic Division for the period July 1, 1968 through June 30, 1969
was then presented to the meeting and on motion duly made,
seconded and unanimously carried, approved and authorized.
At this point, the Rector departed from the prepared Agenda
to receive a report from Dr. Charles M. Renneisen, Dean of Students,
with respect to the recent "Puppy Burn" matter.
On behalf of the Health Sciences Division, Colonel Heil
then stated that a list of gifts and grants had been distributed
to all of the members of the Board of Visitors and that the same
had been approved by the Executive Committee.
With respect to faculty matters, Colonel Heil pointed out
that a memorandum had likewise been distributed to all of the
members of the Board of Visitors and that those actions indicated
in the memorandum had been approved by the Executive Committee.
Colonel Heil then said that the Richmond Academy of Medicine
was considering the possibility of moving from its present building
located on the northeast corner of 12th and Leigh Streets and that
the Executive Committee had authorized the Administration to request
the State to negotiate with the Academy with a view to acquiring the
property. Dr. Michaux thereupon amplified Colonel Heil's remarks
in this connection and requested that the matter be treated
confidentially as any action at this time would be premature.
Colonel Heil expressed the hope that a Letter of Intent could be
obtained from the Academy indicating that should the Academy move
at any time in the future, the property would be made available to
the University on the terms and conditions set forth in the letter.
Continuing his report, Colonel Heil then referred to the
report of the Hospital Accounts Committee in connection with charge-
offs which had been distributed to all of the Visitors and indicated
that the recommendations of the Committee had been approved and
authorized by the Executive Committee.
In connection with the losses being sustained by the Hospital
Division, Colonel Heil then presented to the meeting a schedule
setting forth proposed increases in hospital room rates which would
become effective on November 1, 1968. He explained that the
proposed rates were competitive and that increases were essential
in order to keep up with increasing costs.
After a discussion thereof, on motion duly made, seconded
and unanimously carried, the proposed increases in hospital room
rates as set forth on the schedule presented to the meeting were
approved with the Secretary being directed to attach a copy of
the schedule to the minutes of the meeting.
Colonel Heil then distributed financial information with
respect to the Medical College of Virginia Foundation for the
information of the Visitors.
In connection with the Foundation Mr. Wayne then observed
that an offer had been received from The McGuire Clinic to
purchase from the University all of its interest in St. Luke's
Hospital of Richmond, Inc. and that at the time of the recent
Executive Committee meeting it was thought that the property was
owned by the University. Subsequent investigation, he said, had
established that the property was owned by the Foundation and that
therefore no action would be required by the Board of Visitors as
the matter would be considered by the Board of Directors of the
Foundation.
In the absence of Dr. Watts, Dr. Mullen was requested to
review the Virginia Institute for Scientific Research situation;
whereupon, Dr. Mullen stated that the Board of Directors of the
Institute had voted in favor of the Institute associating with
Virginia Commonwealth University in the manner which had been approved
by the Executive Committee. He observed that the affiliation will
assist in the development of the graduate program of the University
especially in the area of physics, chemistry and biology. However,
he pointed out that it would be necessary for an appropriate
program and a related budget to be prepared. After consideration
thereof, Dr. Watts and Dr. Coppedge were authorized to confer with
Dr. Gillespie, Director of the Institute, with a view to
recommending an appropriate program and budget with the understanding
that they would be assisted by Dr. Mullen.
Mr. Wayne then reviewed the present status of the proposed
study of academic programs, administrative structure and physical
facilities of the University and the employment of consultants in
connection therewith, observing that the Executive Committee had
appointed a Committee consisting of Mr. Wygal, Dr. Brooke, Dr.
Coppedge, Colonel Heil and a representative of the Health Sciences
Division to be appointed by Colonel Heil to develop a plan which
might be followed in connection with the studies and which would
set forth the relative priorities and the manner in which the same
might be coordinated with the Council of Higher Education physical
facilities cooperative study. He stated that the Committee had been
asked to report to the next meeting of the Executive Committee at
which time a recommendation would be formulated for consideration
and action by the Board of Visitors.
The Rector then announced that the next meeting date for
the Board fell on Thanksgiving Day and that accordingly the meeting
would be held on November 21, 1968 at 10:00 o'clock in the morning
in the Board Room of Sanger Hall at the Health Sciences Division.
The meeting, he said, would continue through lunch in order that
a report might be received from the firm of Schechter & Luth, Inc.
Thereupon, on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, the meeting went into Executive Session with Mr. Wygal,
Colonel Heil and Dr. Brooke and Mrs. Hodges being asked to remain.
Mr. Wayne then generally reported on the status of the
search for a President and explained that Dr. John E. Corbally and
his wife had accepted an invitation to visit the University on
November 7 and 8. In connection with the visit, he stated that it
appeared highly desirable for the Board to meet with Dr. Corbally
and his wife and suggested that this be done at 3:30 o'clock in
the afternoon on November 7, 1968 in the Board Room of Sanger Hall
at the Health Sciences Division, which meeting would be followed
by a formal special meeting of the Board at which time the Board
of Visitors would be requested to determine whether it desired to
offer the appointment to Dr. Corbally.
There being no further business to come before the meeting,
the same on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
adjourned.
RECOMMENDED INCREASES IN HOSPITAL RATES
Present Recommended
Type of Room Rate Rate
Private $38 - $43 $46- $49
Semi-Private S34 - $36 $42- $44
Staff* S34 (average) $42 (average)
*This charge includes professional services.
The recommended rates are competitive with other
local hospitals. Charges in two local hospitals are as high
or higher; others are slightly lower.
