MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS OF
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
HELD ON JUNE 4, 1970
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia
Commonwealth University was held on the 4th day of June, 1970 at
10:00 o'clock in the forenoon in the faculty dining room of the
Hibbs Building on the Academic Campus.
Present were all members of the Board except Drs.
Michaux and Mullen and Mr. McGehee.
Present by invitation were Drs. Brandt, Brooke, Smith,
Wilson; Messrs. Edwards, Heil, Holmes, Ririe, Ware; and Miss
Wilkinson.
Mr. Hunton served as Chairman of the meeting and Mr.
Brent as Secretary thereof.
The minutes of the regular meeting held on March 26,
1970, on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried, were
approved as distributed.
The Chairman then called on the President to present
his report, a copy of which is hereto attached.
At the conclusion of the President's report, Mr.
Wilson asked if he would like to comment on the University's
relationship with the Fan District Association. Dr. Brandt
indicated in reply that the Association was one of the groups
contacted in the course of the Master Site Plan development. The
situation has been explained to them many times, he said, and
the administration is sympathetic to their problems. It was
suggested that the University might seek help in connection with
the parking problem from private industry. Dr. Brandt indicated
that the administration was working with a number of people to
this end.
Mr. Timmons moved that in future planning for the
Academic Division the policy of the University would be to develop
rules that require freshmen and sophomores living fifty miles
from the City to live on campus and that the University attempt
to provide housing for such students and to further encourage
private housing in the immediate area. Dr. Brandt stated that
present policy required women under 21 years of age and freshmen
men to live on campus. He also stated that in some instances,
because of a lack of housing, a number of exceptions to the rule
were made. Mr. Timmons thereupon amended his motion and moved
that the policy remain the same and that the University should
begin to make plans to provide additional housing for those
students. Dr. Brandt assured the Board that this is the policy
at the present time and what the University is trying to get the
Master planners to project. He further stated that the Master
Site Plan will show additional dormitories. The motion made
by Mr. Timmons failed for lack of a second.
Mr. Hunton then indicated that the general public
feeling seemed to have been that the Academic campus would be
the scene of considerable student activity and disruption during
the recent period of student uprisings, but that in his opinion
no other institution in the State, particularly the state-supporte
institutions, had come out of the recent activities as well as
this University. Mr. Hunton accordingly expressed appreciation
and thanks to Dr. Brandt and the entire administration, including
the campus police force, for the way in which the recent situation
had been handled. It was suggested that the minutes might reflect
this as the opinion of the Board, and that the Secretary might
prepare a resolution to be made public expressing appreciation
to the administration, faculty and students. Dr. Brandt indicated
that he felt no personal need for this and felt that at this time
it might be unwise. A motion was made that an appropriate reso-
lution be made public at such time as the President deemed it to
be useful, with the concurrence of the Rector. This was seconded
and unanimously passed.
Mr. Hunton announced that the Governor had appointed
an administrative assistant to make recommendations to him with
respect to appointments to the Board of Visitors and that he had
had an interview with such assistant.
Mr. Brent thereupon pointed out that the By-laws
provide for the May meeting to serve as the annual meeting at
which time officers are elected. Since the terms of office of
the Visitors terminate on June 30, Mr. Brent suggested that the
By-laws be amended to provide that the annual meeting of the
Board be the July meeting. In this way, he pointed out, the
nominating committee could be appointed and requested to report
at the July meeting. After discussion thereof, on motion duly
made, seconded and unanimously carried, the following resolution
was adopted:
BE IT RESOLVED, that paragraph 2.02
of Section 2 of the By-laws of Virginia
Commonwealth University be, and they hereby are,
amended by striking therefrom the last
sentence thereof and by substituting in lieu of
such sentence the following: "The July meeting
shall be deemed to be the annual meeting.'
The report of the Hospitals Accounts Committee stating
that 3,712 accounts had been reviewed and recommending that
$553,087.24 be written off; $203,364.12 charged to bad debts,
$319,282-77 charged to indigent services, $27,781-67 charged to
account adjustment, $2,658.68 charged to special teaching and
that 49-1/2 accounts amounting to $15,641-38 be paid from the
Davenport Memorial Fund, was, on motion duly made, seconded and
unanimously carried, approved.
On motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
it was determined that the Board should be provided, at least once
a year, with a breakdown by locality of expenses being incurred
by the hospital that should be paid by various cities and counties
The Report of Gifts, Grants and Contracts was accepted
and approved on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried
A lengthy discussion then ensued with respect to
House Joint Resolution No. 73 and the alumni's concern that the
identity of the Medical College of Virginia would be lost. Mr.
Hunton then referred to the proposed letter drafted by him and
distributed to the members of the Board which he suggested might
be mailed to the Alumni. The proposed letter met with general
approval subject to Mr. Wilson's comments that the paragraph with
-4-
respect to the diploma should point out that: (1) the degree
granting institution should have most prominence; (2) the
current diploma was drafted by experts in the field of graphics
and is in compliance with the University identification system,
and (3) an examination of the diploma makes it clear that the
words "Medical College of Virginia" are centered in heavy type
on the diploma. It was also suggested if the graduates felt
strongly about having the State seal affixed on the diploma,
diplomas could be returned for such purpose. Mr. Wilson was
asked by Mr. Hunton to rewrite the paragraph concerning the
diploma.
Dr. Blanton indicated that he had been in close contact
with the alumni concerning the matter and he felt that the Board
should let the alumni know that they were definitely concerned-
To this end, Mr. Brent moved that the Board record its concern
as to the fundamental principles involved and that the matter be
referred to the Executive Committee for consideration and
recommendation as to definitive action, which motion was seconded
and unanimously carried.
A proposed visitation policy was then presented for
consideration and action, with three students, Miss Shayne Racker,
Miss Betsy Burke, and Mr. Chic Rodgers, and four members of the
administration, Dean Jane Bell Gladding, Dean Charles M. Renneisen,
Dean Franklin Bacon, and Mr. Harry R. Hester, being invited into
the meeting to speak to the issue and answer questions.
Before the departure of the invited guests, Dr.
Brandt expressed appreciation and thanks for Dr. Renneisen's
help and assistance to the University over the past several years.
He stated that he had made a great many contributions to the
University and had made many friends for it. He continued and
said that he was sorry to announce that Dr. Renneisen will leave
the University this month to accept a position at the University
of Tennessee in Chattanooga.
Action on the visitation policy was deferred and the
Board recessed for lunch.
The Board reconvened after lunch and on motion duly
made, seconded and unanimously carried, the following resolution
was adopted:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Visitors
of Virginia Commonwealth University hereby expresses
the appreciation of the University to the members of
the former Board of Visitors of the Medical College
of Virginia and the Richmond Professional Institute
for their generous contribution of time to the
University and for the valuable services rendered by
them over the years, including their most recent
service as members of the Advisory Boards since the
creation of the University, and expresses its
hope that such former Visitors will continue to take
an active and lively interest in the affairs of the
University.
Thereupon, on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, the following resolution was adopted:
WHEREAS, since their respective retirements
Presidents Emeriti Henry H. Hibbs and George J.
Oliver have received each year, on a year-to-year
basis, $2,500 compensation as consultants; and Dr.
William T. Sanger has received $3,600 annually;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the
foregoing consultant services be continued for
an additional year without any change in the
compensation therefor.
On motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
the student tuition charge of $50 for dental students during
the summer session was discontinued.
On motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
the following resolution was adopted:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the proposed form of
Agreement dated the 4th day of June, 1970 between
the Medical College of Virginia, Health Sciences
Division of Virginia Commonwealth University and
the Virginia Electric and Power Company with
respect to the granting of an easement for an
electric power line to serve the Animal Research
Center be, and it hereby is, approved in the form
presented to this meeting, and the President or
Vice President for Planning and Operations of this
University be, and he hereby is, authorized and
directed to execute the same, and upon being re-
quested to do so, the Secretary shall append
thereto and attest the corporate seal, the officer
executing the same being authorized to deliver
such Agreement.
On motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
Dr. Harry Lyons and Mr. Raymond Hodges were appointed Professors
Emeriti. Mr. Hunton then read a letter of appreciation from
Dr. Lyons to the Board on the occasion of his retirement as Dean
of the School of Dentistry.
On motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
an expenditure of 175,000 from the "Campus Development Fund" was
authorized in the discretion of the President to be used for air-
conditioning and equipment for the Pollak Building.
Dr. Richard I. Wilson, Vice President for Student
Affairs, then presented a report in connection with the recent
campus disorders and discussed what had happened at the University,
who was involved, the outside influences, and why there were no
major problems at the University.
Dr. Brooke then observed that he was quite proud of
the faculty during the current period of unrest on the campus
and noted that they played a major role in carrying out consulta-
tions with students.
Dr. Brandt thereupon announced that the financial
reports which had been made available were for the information
and review of the Board.
On motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
the memorandum of Faculty Appointments and Changes of Status with
two addenda thereto, the Schedule of Recommendations for salary
increases for various administrative personnel, the Schedule of
Recommendations for salary increases for the Health Sciences
Division Deans, and the memorandum setting forth the Recommenda-
tions for Appointments of continuing Faculty were approved and
authorized.
The Chairman then returned to the proposed visitation
policy which was discussed in detail. Following a lengthy
discussion, Mr. Brent moved that the policy recommended by the
administration be adopted. The motion was duly seconded. Mr.
Temple presented the following substitute motion: That the
proposed policy be approved in principle, limited to the weekends,
with details to be described by the administration protecting
the rights of those who do not desire visitation. The substitute
motion failed to carry.
Mr. Brent then amended his motion and moved that the
visitation policy recommended by the administration and attached
hereto be approved with the following modifications: (1) the
hours on Monday through Thursday shall be 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.;
on Sunday 12 noon to 10 p.m., (2) the local-option voting shall
be done by secret ballot, (3) the administration shall be given
the right to make minor adjustments to accommodate special events,
etc., and (4) the administration shall make every reasonable
effort to accommodate those students who do not want to participate
in the visitation policy. The motion was seconded and carried,
with Messrs. Hunton and Temple abstaining.
At the request of Dr. Brandt, the meeting thereupon
went into Executive Session with Dr. Brandt being asked to remain.
After a discussion thereof, the proposed salaries
for Messrs. Heil, Ware, and Edwards were approved as presented
by the President.
There being no further business to come before the
meeting, the same on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously
carried, adjourned.
Secretary
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE BOARD OF VISITORS
June 4, 1970
Dr. Brandt indicated that Mr. Edwards would print an annual report
which should be available sometime during the late summer but in
the meantime he would briefly review the last twelve months on the
VCU campus:
1. The administrative team is beginning to function very effectively.
Dr. Woods (the last to report) will assume duties on July 1.
2. Dr. DiBiaggio, the new Dean of Dentistry, will also report on
July 1.
3. Colonel Heil will assume the position of Assistant Vice
President for Health Sciences on July 1 .
4. The Governance System is a definite step forward.
5. In the area of admissions, applications are approximately 31%
ahead of what they were last year.
6. There have been a number of changes of department heads--most
are changes which the administration was anxious to see.
7. The working relationships between the two campuses is growing
stronger. The police forces are being combined this week. During
the recent campus excitement, the police force on the academic
campus was praised for its performance by the radical group.
8. With regard to the campus situation, things are quiet and are
expected to remain as such through to commencement.
9. The Master Site Plan is going to print soon. When it is received
from the printers, it will be brought back to the Board for approval,
will then go to the art commission for approval, then on to the
State.
10. The Physical Education Building will be inspected around the
middle of the month The final inspection for the library will
be the 1st of July. We have a problem with equipment for the
library and will have to wait for it before taking useful possession
of the building.
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT PAGE 2
11. The General Services Administration has delayed the dealings
with the Diesel Apartments.
12. Dr. Brandt thinks the University did reasonably well with the
legislature; it was an interesting session.
13. In the alumni area, headway has been made. A lot of alumni
have started to respond quite well to the merger. There is
still the hard core group who is not satisfied. There were
definite indications that this group was backing the students
who petitioned to get the diplomas changed. Dr. Custis
Coleman, President of the Medical College of Virginia Alumni
Association, has been to the Governor concerning this.
14. A Center for Criminal Justice in the Department of Law Enforce-
ment has been established.
15. A faculty member in the Psychology Department, Professor
Warner, is claiming his rights have been violated; we are in
the process of setting up a group to hear his complaints.
16. A million dollar law suit has been filed against MCV and
members of the staff. This has been turned over to the
Attorney General's Office.
17. There is a secretary who is going through the personnel
grievances which were passed a few months ago. She
believes she was removed unjustly from her position.
18. The VA Hospital is in serious trouble. Unless the State
granted the authorization of a site by July 1, it will come off
the President's budget.
19. There are eight members of the Board whose terms will expire
at the end of June. Also, Dr. Michaux has resigned his post
on the Board. Dr. Brandt expressed hope that these eight
would be reappointed, but has had no indication from the
Governor. He also expressed thanks and his appreciation to
these members of the Board for their efforts and interest on
behalf of VCU.
20. The Virginia Realtors Foundation is trying to raise $600, 000 to
establish a chair at VCU. They have tried for years to get this
accepted for establishment at the University of Virginia and were
unable to do so.
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT PAGE 3
21. A lot of activities are scheduled this week-end in connection with
commencement. The Board members are welcome to attend any
event but certainly should not feel obligated. We should have just
over 2000 graduates.
VISITATION POLICY
One of the first steps in the consolidation of student personnel activities on
the two campuses has been to consider the visitation policy. The discussions have
involved a large number of students and faculty, as well as student personnel ad-
ministrators. The proposed policy has been endorsed by various student groups,
the Council on Undergraduate Student Affairs, and the University Assembly.
It has been the policy for some time to permit visitation by the opposite sex
in dormitory rooms on certain special occasions--usually designated as "open
houses." The proposed policy goes a step further in making this practice available
to the students on a more frequent basis, subject to a decision by the students
involved.
The basic question of whether students of the opposite sex should visit
dormitory rooms was bridged years ago. The current step provides a bit more
formalization and leaves a wide range of latitudes in scheduling to the dormitory
groups involved. There is a large amount of experience with this type of dormi-
tory system available from other institutions around the country. By and large
the experience has been good. The abuses of this type of system are not usually
found to be large. There does not appear to be any significant evidence that
such a policy leads to any great amount of campus promiscuity. There does
appear to be evidence that appropriate development of inter-personal relation-
ships is enhanced. The proposed policy follows:
1. Visitation privileges shall be allowed every week dormitories are open with
the exception of examination week or weeks.
2. The door of the dormitory rooms may be left open or may be closed at the
discretion of the individuals or individual of said room.
3. Each individual must greet his or her guests in the lobby and be responsible
for registering them in and out of the dormitory.
4. Areas that are to be off limits to guests will be decided by local option.
5. Any consumption of alcoholic beverages must be in accordance with univer-
sity rules and state regulations.
6. All students living in dormitories will conform to the visitation regulations
stipulated by the governing unit in which they reside.
7. Infractions of regulations established by the dormitory floors and dormitory
councils concerning visitation are to be dealt with in the same manner as
other violations of dormitory rules. In accordance with this policy, dormi-
tory councils are responsible for seeing that the privileges are not abused.
8. Visitation policy areas, other than those decided by local option, shall be
unified throughout the University through coordination of the house councils.
9. Maximum hours allowed for visitation in dormitories are to be as follows:
(a) Monday - Thursday: 6 p.m. to 12 midnight
(b) Friday: 6 p.m. to 1 a. m.
(c) Saturday: 12 noon to 1 a.m.
(d) Sunday: 12 noon to 12 midnight
1'0. If a dormitory curfew is under the limit set for visitation, then visitation
is not to exceed the curfew.
11. Hours proposed above are to be the uppermost limits. However, each
governing unit can, as a "local option," set shorter hours within these
limits. (For example, a governing unit could choose either to shorten
visitation hours from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. or not to permit visitation.)
12. Those residences which are privately owned will have the privileges of
visitation in accordance with the owners' wishes, as the owners have the
right to establish their own visitation policy.
