MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE
BOARD OF VISITORS OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
HELD ON MAY 22, 1969
A regular meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board
of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University was held on the
22nd day of May, 1969 at 10:00 o'clock in the forenoon at No.
910 West Franklin Street in the City of Richmond, Virginia, pur-
suant to due notice.
Present were all of the members of the Committee except
Mr. Wilson.
Present by invitation were Dr. Warren W. Brandt, President-
elect, and Messrs. Heil, Crooks, Brooke, Holmes and Mrs. Hodges.
Mr. Hunton served as Chairman of the meeting and Mr.
Brent as Secretary thereof.
The Chairman thereupon asked Colonel Heil to present the
report of the Health Sciences Division.
Colonel Heil presented a memorandum setting forth gifts,
grants and contracts for the period April 1 through April 30,
1969, pointing out that the same were running approximately
$11,000 ahead of last year.
Continuing, Colonel Heil then presented a memorandum
dated May 22, 1969 with respect to various faculty matters in
connection with which he commented briefly and after which on
motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, the same
were approved.
Turning to the next item in his Report, Colonel Heil
presented a memorandum with respect to the establishment of a
Department of Family Practice within the School of Medicine.
The proposal therein contained was generally reviewed and dis-
cussed, after which on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, approval of the establishment of the Department was
recommended to the Board of Visitors.
Colonel Heil then said that he was happy to announce
that two of the Deans in the Health Sciences Division had been
recognized by their Alma Maters as distinguished alumnus of the
year, Dean Watts by Elon College and Dean Weaver by the University
of Maryland.
Colonel Heil thereupon reported that a fire had destroyed
a Quonset warehouse and most of the contents at the Health
Sciences Center during the preceding week with substantial loss,
all of which he said was adequately and properly covered by
insurance. Additional space for warehouse purposes had been
leased, he explained, for a period of I year in order that time
might be allowed for a permanent arrangement.
In concluding his report, Colonel Heil stated that the
nursing shortage in the University's hospitals was a matter of
great concern and that the shortage had made it necessary for
beds to be taken out of service. The difficulty resulted, he
indicated, not only from the fact that the salary schedule allowed
by the State did not compare favorably with that being paid
nurses in private hospitals in the area, but also that fringe
benefits and working conditions in the private hospitals appeared
to be more favorable. He assured the Committee that every effort
was being made to increase the salary schedule and to improve the
working conditions with the hope that additional nurses could be
attracted at the earliest possible time.
Mr. Crooks reported that the Hospital Accounts Committee
met on March 25, April 8 and April 22, 1969 and had reviewed
12,061 accounts totalling $1,184,548.29, and recommended that 24
accounts amounting to $13,086.95 be charged to the Davenport
Fund and the remaining 12,037 accounts amounting to 1,171,461.34
be charged to indigent services, bad debts, teaching cases and
account adjustment.
The magnitude of the accounts being charged off and the
procedures used in collecting accounts was generally discussed,
after which on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
the recommendation of the Committee was approved.
Mr. Crooks said that approximately $16,000 had been lost
by the hospitals during the month of April, bringing the loss for
the fiscal year to $1,555,313.00.
The Chairman then called on Dr. Brooke for the report
of the Academic Division, whereupon Dr. Brooke presented
recommendations for Board approval in connection with faculty
matters dated May 29, 1969 which he generally reviewed and to
which he added an original appointment to a new position, that
of Ernest Roane as Admissions Counsellor at a salary of $8,0140
on a 12-month basis. The recommendations contained in the
memorandum were thereupon on motion duly made, seconded and
unanimously carried, approved.
Dr. Brandt thereupon stated that he had met with
representatives of the City and the State in connection with
Leigh Street and that it appeared that an improved six lane
wide Leigh Street leading to a new viaduct would pass substantially
at grade through the Health Sciences Center and that as a part of
the overall arrangement 12th Street would be closed by the City
between Broad Street and Marshall Street and that the University
would be permitted to purchase from the City the Armory.
Additional streets might be closed or rearranged, he said, and
concluded in this connection by saying that he had generally
indicated approval of the proposed plans with the understanding
that when in definitive form, the same would be presented to
the Board for consideration and action.
With respect to the proposed widening of Harrison Street,
Dr. Brandt indicated that the Administration felt that the
University could not take a position until such time as the new
master plan was available. He expressed the hope, however, that
the situation might remain fluid until this time although this
could not be assured.
A suggestion that some response be made to the Student
Body with respect to the offer made by the Students to assist in
financing a Student Union Building was discussed with the
Administration being asked to further consider the matter.
It was then unanimously agreed that following the annual
meeting of the Board of Visitors to be held on May 29, 1969,
it would be appropriate for the Board of Visitors to meet every
other month as provided in the By-laws, with the Executive
Committee to meet in those months in which the Board does not
meet. It was also noted that Dr. Brandt will report for full
time duty on or about June 1 and that this would greatly
facilitate the business of the University.
There being no further business to come before the
meeting, the same on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, adjourned.
Secretary
APPROVED:
