MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE
BOARD OF VISITORS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
HELD ON FEBRUARY 20, 1969
A regular meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board
of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University was held on the 20th
day of February, 1969 at 9:00 o'clock in the forenoon at No. 910
West Franklin Street in the City of Richmond, Virginia, pursuant to
due notice.
Present were Messrs. Wayne, Dabney, Hunton and Brent.
Also present were President-elect, Dr. Brandt, Messrs.
Brooke, Coppedge, Holmes and Edwards of the Academic Division,
Messrs. Heil, Crooks and Ware of the Health Sciences Division, and
Mr. Wygal, Executive Administrator, and Mrs. Hodges.
Mr. Wayne served as Chairman of the meeting and Mr.
Brent as Secretary thereof.
The Chairman then called on Mr. Wygal for his report.
Mr. Wygal then referred to his report dated February 27, 1969
distributed to all of the members of the Committee and submitted
by title that portion thereof related to the comprehensive planning
study of the University.
Turning to the next item in his report, Mr. Wygal reviewed
the proposed plan for merging the two schools of nursing which was
generally reviewed and to which Dr. Brandt also spoke. On motion
duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, it was determined to
recommend approval of the proposed plan to the Board of Visitors.
With respect to the proposal for the awarding of Honorary
Degrees, it was determined that the proposal as presented was satis-
factory but that it should be implemented by the establishment of
guide lines which should be very carefully developed and submitted
to the Board of Visitors for approval. After a further review
of the proposal, on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, approval of the proposal was recommended to the Board of
Visitors with the understanding that guide lines would be carefully
developed over the course of the next few months and that the same
would be presented to the Board in due course for consideration.
Mr. Wygal then called attention to that portion of his
report related to out-of-state students with tuition grants provided
by their respective State Governments which he submitted for
information.
Mr. Wygal then reviewed the status of negotiations between
the Virginia Institute for Scientific Research and the University,
pointing out in summary that it is proposed that an integral
relationship be developed between the Institute and the Academic
Center and that the Institute be organized as a unit within the
School of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Brandt expressed some reservation
as to the expense of the program but indicated that for a number of
reasons it appeared that the association might be desirable. Dr.
Brandt was then asked to give the matter further consideration with
the assistance of Dr. Coppedge and Dr. Watts, with a view to
formulating a definitive recommendation which might be presented to
the approaching meeting of the Board of Visitors. Dr. Brandt also
indicated that he expected to confer later on in the day with the
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Governor and that he would take this opportunity to explore the
matter further at that time.
In conclusion, Mr. Wygal then referred to that portion
of his report related to the progress being made by the Identifi-
cation Implementation Committee and especially called attention
to the apparent need to protect the University's symbol. Mr. Brent
was thereupon asked to develop the matter from a legal standpoint
in order to determine what protection might be obtained.
The possible purchase of the American Tobacco Company
Research Laboratory was thereupon carried forward for consideration
by the Board of Visitors with the understanding that the matter
would be given attention by Dr. Brandt in the meantime.
Colonel Heil, on behalf of the Medical Center, then
presented a schedule of gifts, grants and contracts for the month of
December, 1968 and January, 1969, with the recommendation that they
be accepted and approved, which recommendation on motion duly made,
seconded and unanimously carried, was accepted and approved.
Colonel Heil also presented to the meeting memoranda dated
January 10, 1969 and February 20, 1969 with respect to various
faculty matters, portions of which were reviewed in some detail and
after which on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
were approved, with the Secretary being directed to attach a copy
thereof to the minutes of the meeting.
Mr. Crooks then reported that the Hospital Accounts
Committee had met on December 3, 1968 and again on December 31,
1968 to consider uncollectible accounts and the action which should
be taken with respect thereto. He stated that the Committee had
studied 5,121 accounts totalling $435,857.64 and recommended that
18-1/2 accounts in the amount of $3,787.59 be charged to the
Davenport Fund and the remaining 5,102-1/2 accounts amounting to
$432,070.05 be charged to indigent services, bad debts, teaching
cases and accounts adjustments, which recommendation of the
Committee, on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
was approved.
Continuing his report, Mr. Crooks then stated that the
programs related to adding additional floors to Sanger Hall and
the construction of a new Dental Building were progressing satis-
factorily, but that until Federal funds became available, it would
be necessary for the University to borrow from the Commonwealth
$400,000 in connection with Sanger Hall, and $800,000 in connection
with the Dental Building, which loans would be evidenced by a note
payable to the Commonwealth bearing 3% interest.
After a full explanation by Mr. Crooks, on motion duly
made, seconded and unanimously carried, the proposed loans from
the Commonwealth in connection with Sanger Hall and the Dental
Building were approved and authorized.
With reference to the continuing deficits in the Hospital
of the Medical Center, the Committee was informed that the matter
had been discussed with the Governor who indicated that he viewed
the matter with concern. It was pointed out that no action can
be taken at this time, although various proposals are being con-
sidered. Mr. Crooks pointed out, however, that the Hospital
realized a profit of $252,000 in January and that the overall
deficit now amounted to $1,599,000.
The Chairman then asked Dr. Brooke to present the report
of the Academic Center. Dr. Brooke thereupon presented to the
meeting a memorandum dated February 20, 1969 with respect to various
faculty matters which was generally reviewed and, on motion duly
made, seconded and unanimously carried, approved with the Secretary
being directed to attach a copy thereof to the minutes of the meeting
Dr. Brooke then explained that the salary ranges hereto-
fore presented to the Board and approved were in the process of
being reconsidered in view of various suggestions made by Dr.
Brandt and that it might be brought to the Board for consideration
at their next meeting.
On behalf of the Property Committee, Mr. Holmes then
reported that the 1968 Session of the General Assembly had authorized
the construction of two dormitories in the 1968-70 bienium and
that preliminary planning has begun for a single dormitory to house
approximately 500 students. He indicated that a loan could be
obtained from the Department of Housing and Urban Development under
the provisions of the College Housing Program to finance the
Building. Such loan, he said, would be made with interest at the
rate of 3% per annum, and would be repayable over a period of 40
years. He also stated that the Committee recommended that Lee,
King & Poole be employed as the Architects for the proposed
Building.
A general discussion then followed, after which on
motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, an application
for the proposed loan from the Department of Housing and Urban
Development was authorized and the Administration directed to take
such action in this connection as might be necessary. After
further discussion, on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, Lee, King & Poole were approved as the Architects for the
new dormitory building subject to the further approval of the
Property Committee.
Mr. Holmes also reported that negotiations were under way
for the purchase of the land required for the School of Business
and School of Education Buildings, and that the Richmond Metropolitan
Authority had agreed to permit the University to temporarily use a
portion of its right-of-way.
Mr. Holmes also reviewed the status of the proposed School
of Business Building, School of Education Building and Science
Building, pointing out that the University would be entitled to
receive a grant in connection with the School of Business Building
under the provisions of Title I of the Higher Education Facilities
Act to assist in the construction. He explained that the grant
would not result in additional funds for the University but would
reduce the amount of general obligation bonds required. The grant,
he said, would amount to $476,841. After a discussion thereof,
on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, the Adminis-
tration was authorized and directed to take such action as may be
necessary to apply for the same.
On motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
the Administration was thereupon authorized to apply for and
accept a grant in the approximate amount of $9,300 which was
available under the Omnibus Crime Control Act of 1968, to create a
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fund to assist participants in the law enforcement program.
A report from Mr. John A. Mapp, Director of the Evening
College, related to the Fall Session of 1968-69 was then presented
by Title for the information of the Committee.
The Report of the Property Committee related to the
Health Sciences Division dated February 11, 1969 was also submitted
by Title for information.
The Chairman then reported that the Rector had written
to the City of Richmond Planning Commission expressing the hope
that the City's plans with respect to the widening of Harrison
Street could remain open and flexible until such time as the
University's Master Plan was further developed.
There being no further business to come before the
meeting, the same on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, adjourned.
secretary
APPROVED:
Chairman
