MINUTES OF AN ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS OF
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
HELD ON MAY 29, 1969
An Annual Meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia
Commonwealth University was held on the 29th day of May, 1969
at 10:00 o'clock in the forenoon in the Board Room of Sanger
Hall, Health Sciences Center of the University in the City of
Richmond, Virginia, pursuant to due notice.
Present were all of the members of the Board of Visitors
except Messrs. McGehee, Sheffield and Wayne.
Present by invitation were Dr. Warren W. Brandt, President-
elect, and Messrs. Brooke, Holmes, Heil, Crooks, Cardwell, Bacon,
Edwards and Mrs. Edna F. Hodges.
Mr. Dabney served as Chairman of the meeting and Mr.
Brent as Secretary thereof.
With reference to the minutes of the meetings of the
Board of Visitors held on March 27, 1969 and April 24, 1969 and
the action indicated as having been taken in connection with the
merging of the two nursing programs, Mrs. Bullard and Mrs.
Thalhimer requested the Secretary to let the minutes show that at
the April 24, 1969 meeting Dr. Brandt had made the representation
that the continuing education portion of the nursing program
would be continued, and with this request noted, on motion duly
made, seconded and unanimously carried, the minutes of the regular
meeting of the Board of Visitors held on April 24, 1969 were
approved in the form distributed to all of the Visitors.
On motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
the meeting then went into Executive Session.
Mr. Charles P. Cardwell thereupon presented a report with
respect to the physical development of the Health Sciences Center
including the proposed improvement of Leigh Street as an approach
to a new viaduct.
Mr. Franklin Bacon, Dean of Students of the Health
Sciences Division reported with respect to the activities of his
office and the student affairs of the Health Sciences Division in
general.
Proceeding with the Agenda, the Chairman thereupon called
on Colonel Heil to present the report of the Health Sciences
Division.
Colonel Heil referred to the Memorandum setting forth
various faculty matters which had been distributed to all of the
members of the Board, noting that the same had been approved by
the Executive Committee, which action of the Executive Committee
on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, was
ratified and affirmed.
Turning to the memorandum, likewise distributed, with
respect to gifts, grants and contracts, Colonel Heil pointed out
that the same continued to increase in contrast to the decreases
being experienced by most other similar Institutions, and stated
that the memorandum had been approved by the Executive Committee,
which action of the Executive Committee on motion duly made,
seconded and unanimously carried, was ratified, affirmed and
approved.
Colonel Heil then referred to the memorandum distributed
in connection with the recommendation that a Department of
Family Practice be established within the Health Sciences Division.
He explained that it would require additional staff and expense
but that funds for such purpose would be properly available before
the expenses were incurred. The recommendation was well received
and after a discussion thereof, on motion duly made, seconded and
unanimously carried, the recommendation was approved and
authorized.
Colonel Heil stated that because of the increased cost
of operation as reflected in the December 31, 1968 Cost Report, and
in order to increase patient service revenue with a view to
balancing the 1969-1970 budget now in preparation, it was proposed
that a $6 per day increase in room and board be made effective as
of June, 1969 as to staff, semi-private and private accommodations
including the self-care unit. It was also recommended that the
intensive care unit increase be $30 per day. The proposal was
discussed in detail with the observation being made by the Adminis-
tration that the increases were designed to cover increased cost
of operation and that it was hoped that it would be adequate for
this purpose. On motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, the proposed increase in rates was approved and authorized
Continuing his report, Colonel Heil stated that a
Quonset type structure at the Health Sciences Center had been
destroyed by fire but that the structure and the contents thereof
were adequately covered by insurance and that there had been no
interruption in service. He also stated that he was happy to
announce that two of the Deans in the Health Sciences Division
had been selected by their Alma Maters as distinguished alumnus of
the year, Dean Watts by Elon College, and Dean Weaver by the
University of Maryland.
In concluding his report, Colonel Heil fully reviewed
and explained the shortage of nurses in the University Hospital.
He pointed out that not only was the pay schedule for nurses
behind that of other local hospitals but that working conditions
and fringe benefits were also not as favorable. The suggestion
was made that if an affiliation were worked out between the
University and other local hospitals in order that student nurses
might be trained in the University's hospitals, this could well
lead to the services of such students being obtained by the
University. Colonel Heil stated that the possibility of such
affiliation was being carefully investigated and considered by a
special committee which he expected to report within the next
30 to 60 days. Immediately following this, he said, the
Administration would present a recommendation to the Board.
Mr. Crooks thereupon presented the report of the Hospital
Accounts Committee which he stated had been approved by the
Executive Committee, which action of the Executive Committee on
motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, was affirmed.
Mr. Crooks continued and said that the losses suffered by the
Hospitals during the month of April amounted to $62,000 and that
the total through such month for the fiscal year amounted to
1,555,000. The situation, he reported, had been reviewed by him
and Mr. Holmes with the Budget Division and that it appeared that
funds would be made available by the Commonwealth to cover the
losses.
On behalf of the Academic Division, Dr. Brooke then
briefly reviewed the memorandum with respect to faculty matters
distributed to all the members of the Board of Visitors and ob-
served that the name of Ernest Roane should be added as an
original appointment to a new position, that of Admissions Coun-
sellor, at a salary of 8,040 on a 12-month basis. He noted
that the memorandum had been approved by the Executive Committee
and on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, such
action of the Committee was ratified, affirmed and approved.
Dr. Brooke also reported with respect to the referendum
held by the students at which time a majority of those voting
had approved a fee of $25 per student to be assessed in an effort
to assist in the financing of a Student Union Building. He
indicated that it was proposed that the charge begin immediately
and that he considered this to be a very generous action in view
of the fact that those students who had expressed a willingness
to pay such fee would not have an opportunity to use the
Building.
Dr. Brooke was then questioned in connection with news
articles which had recently appeared in the Press indicating that
consideration was being given to the lowering of the admission
standards of the University. Dr. Brooke explained that while the
article may not have made it clear, no action had been taken in
this connection and it was a matter being reviewed by a faculty
committee. He pointed out, however, that in point of fact such
standards had been steadily increasing but that special considera-
tion would be given from time to time to the manner in which
deprived students might be assisted and brought up to the required
standards. Dr. Brandt expressed his views in connection with the
matter and stated that he did not feel that the Board should be
concerned, as sound procedures and proper standards would be
followed. He stated, however, that an effort will be made to the
end that the University may serve its special function as an
"Urban University."
Dr. Brandt then presented a general report with respect
to the proposed improvement and extension of Leigh Street as an
approach to a new viaduct to be constructed. He explained that
Leigh Street would pass through the Health Sciences Center
substantially at ground level as a six lane divided street, and
that as a part of the overall plan related thereto, the City would
sell to the University the Armory and would close 12th Street
between Broad and Marshall. In conclusion in this connection,
he explained that the situation was still somewhat fluid and
that before definitive action was taken the matter would be
presented to the Board for consideration and approval.
He then reported that the widening of Harrison Street had
been deferred by City Council until the early 1970s and that the
City Planner and the Master Planner for the University had been
requested to consider the matter in order that a recommendation
might be presented.
The Rector then called on Mr. Turnbull to present the
report of the Nominating Committee, the Chairman thereof, Mr.
Wayne, being absent. Mr. Turnbull placed in nomination the names
of the following persons for the positions indicated and moved
their election:
Officers
Virginius Dabney Rector
Eppa Hunton, IV. Vice Rector
Andrew J. Brent Secretary
Executive Committee
Andrew J. Brent
James E. Sheffield S. Buford Scott
Robert A. Wilson
The Rector called for further nominations and there being
none, the motion was seconded and unanimously carried. Accord-
Eppa Hunton, IV.
ingly, the Chairman declared that those persons nominated had
been duly elected to serve until the next annual meeting of the
Board of Visitors and/or until their successors are duly elected
and qualified.
The Chairman then stated that pursuant to the By-laws
the Board in the future would meet every other month commencing
with the July meeting and that in those months when the Board did
not meet, the Executive Committee would meet. Dr. Brandt
suggested that the July meeting be held on Thursday, July 31 in
the President's dining room of the Academic Center which was
then fixed as the next meeting date.
There being no further business to come before the
meeting, the same on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, adjourned.
APPROVED:
