MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS OF
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
Held December 1, 1970
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth
University was held December 1, 1970, at ten o'clock in the forenoon in the
Board Room of Sanger Hall on the Medical College of Virginia, Health
Sciences Division campus.
Present were the following members of the Board: Miss Keyser, Drs.
Blanton and Thornton; Messrs. Dabney, Obenshain, Temple and Wilson.
Present by invitation were Drs. Brandt, Grove, Nelson, Smith,
Willett, Wilson and Woods; Messrs. Edwards, Holmes, Imirie and Ware;
and Miss Wilkinson.
Mr. Wilson served as Rector of the meeting and Mr. Obenshain as
secretary.
The minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board held October 1,
1970, were, on motion made and seconded, unanimously approved.
The minutes of a Special Meeting of the Executive Committee of
the Board held on October 20, 1970, were presented and, on motion made
and seconded, unanimously approved.
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Dr. H. I. Willett, Chairman of University Week, was introduced
to the Board. Dr. Willett reported on the events of University Week and
on the results of the Week. Following this report, Mr. Temple conveyed
to Dr. Willett, on behalf of the MCV Foundation, sincere appreciation for
his outstanding leadership in preparing for and conducting the events of
University Week. Mr. Temple also expressed the MCV Foundation's
appreciation to Dr. Brandt for the leadership exhibited in his inaugural
speech.
Dr. Richard Grove, Director of the University Computer Center,
reported on the progress and future plans of the Center. Following the
report Dr. Brandt commended Dr. Grove for the tremendous advances
he has made during his tenure as Director of the University Computer Center. Dr. Kinloch Nelson, Dean of the School of Medicine, brought the
. Dr. Kinloch Nelson, Dean of the School of Medicine, brought the
members of the Board up-to-date on the progress of the School of Medicine. Dr. Thornton raised several questions regarding the recruitment of black
Dr. Thornton raised several questions regarding the recruitment of black
students by the School of Medicine. It was suggested that Dr. Miles E.
Hench, who is in charge of admissions in the School of Medicine, be
invited to the next meeting of the Board to further discuss this question.
On motion made, seconded and unanimously adopted Dr. M. Pinson
Neal, Jr., was appointed Chairman of the Executive Committee of the
Medical Staff for a term expiring on June 30, 1971.
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On motion made and seconded, the report of the Hospital Accounts
Committee was unanimously adopted.
On motion made and seconded, the report of Gifts and Grants was
unanimously approved.
On motion made and seconded, the Faculty Appointments and
Changes of Status were unanimously approved.
The proposed M.S. Program in Biology was presented. Drs.
Goldstein, Reid and Simmons were invited into the meeting to answer
questions relating to the program. Following a short discussion, on
motion made and seconded, the proposed M.S. Program in Biology was
unanimously approved.
The proposed Ph.D. Program in Psychology was presented to the
Board. Drs. Thomas, Noblin and Ray were introduced to the Board to
answer questions relating to the program. After a short discussion, on
motion made and seconded, the proposed Ph.D. Program was unanimously
approved.
Dr. Brandt then presented the Report of the President, a copy of
which is attached to the minutes.
Mr. Temple requested that members' attendance at the regular
meetings of the Board be placed on the agenda of the next meeting.
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Dr. Brandt briefed members of the Board on a proposed Cancer
Research Institute. He reported that Mr. J. Robert Carlton had
approached him several weeks earlier with plans to establish a Cancer
Research Institute on the MCV Campus. Since that time several meetings
with Mr. Carlton and his representatives have been conducted, involving
members of the university community--including the officers of the Board.
The University is not committed to the proposed Institute in any way.
Dr. Brandt stated that Board approval would be sought when details had
been worked out.
In reference to the By-Laws, Rules and Regulations of the Medical
Staff of the Medical College of Virginia, Dr. Thornton requested that
podiatrists be admitted to the medical staff and be granted the same
privileges and benefits as dentists receive under the By-Laws. Mr.
Imirie reported that a committee is presently studying this problem,
the first meeting having been held last week. He also stated that
podiatrists are not the only group being considered. A report will be
presented at the next meeting.
Mr. Holmes announced that the report of the first quarter's
hospital operation, recently printed, is encouraging.
Lunch was served.
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During lunch the Board was requested to consent to the
appointment of Dr. Ralph Ownby to the Professorship related to the
Crippled Children's Hospital; this will be funded partially through
E. L. DuPont De Nemours Foundation. The Board approved the appoint-
ment of Dr. Ownby to the Professorship.
There being no further business, the meeting was, on motion
duly made and seconded, adjourned.
Report of the President to the Board of Visitors
December 1, 1970
1. Dr. Brandt expressed his personal appreciation to all involved in University
Week, and in particular to the Board and the Rector for the role they played.
He indicated that all comments he had received concerning the activities of
University Week were very favorable.
2. Dr. Brandt reminded the members of the Board that December 11 had been set
aside as a visitation day for the Board members to tour the Academic Division.
3. He also reminded the Board that he would be delighted to have them accept
his invitation to attend any home basketball games they would like to attend.
4. The building program is very visible at the present time. Work has begun on
the new parking lot at the junction of I 95 & 64; in less than six weeks there
should be 520 additional parking spaces on the MCV campus. The Library and
addition to Sanger Hall on the MCV campus are moving along; the architects
are hoping to surface for bids in January. The Pollak Building on the Academic
Division campus should be finished by February. The Business Building is at
a standstill due to the plumbers strike in the City.
5. The Master Site Plan is still hanging. It has been in the State offices for about
four months.
6. The Veterans Administration report has not reached the Governor as yet; it is
believed all is well.
7. Dr. Brandt and Dr. Smith have been meeting with officials of the City in an
effort to get the Master Site Plan incorporated into the City's Master Plan.
8. Dr. Brandt reported that the Leigh Street Extension should come to life again
about the first of the year.
9. The Governor's Management Study Report is to be presented tomorrow. It
will be quite uncomplimentary, particularly toward the hospitals.
10. Budget preparations for next year are beginning now.
11. Dr. H. W. Westermann has been appointed Dean of the School of Community
Services at the Academic Division.
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12. There is a major directive out of the Governor's Office requiring all overhead
of Federal grants be deposited in the State Treasury. Thirty percent will
be put in the general operating fund of the agency and application for with-
drawal of the remainder will have to be made to the Governor.
13. A House and Senate Committee has been established to study Formula Capital
Budgeting.
14. Dr. Brandt indicated that there are a number of things floating around within
the institution that we need to "get a handle on." One of these is Mental
Health; another, Population Research. Separate meetings have been held to
bring together representatives of departments at the institution involved in
any way with these projects.
15. Dean Nelson has submitted his resignation, effective July 1, 1971, as Dean
of the School of Medicine. A Search Committee has been established to find
a replacement.
16. The University is to receive a gift of an endowed Chair in Real Estate.
17. Dr. Brandt is still working with members of the faculty in an effort to estab-
lish a means of direct communication between members of the faculty and
members of the Board.
18. Dr. Brandt commented briefly on the newly released Carnegie Report suggesting
a reduction to three years education for an undergraduate degree. He indi-
cated that this will require high schools to provide the now first year of college
work.
19. A request has been received from the School of Medicine to graduate students
with a M.D. in three years instead of 4. This proposal will probably come to
the Board at its next meeting.
20. Some time ago the University signed an agreement with Jarrett Apartments
leasing 100 units for student occupancy, and agreeing to an increase to 160
units in the future. We would like to increase to 160 now but Jarrett Apart-
ments are somewhat reluctant. Dr. Brandt indicated that the Board may hear
from this.
21. No decision has been heard from the VALC with regard to the request for TIAA
for faculty. This item is still of great concern to the faculty.
