MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS OF
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
Held May 20, 1971
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth
University was held Thursday, May 20, 1971, at 10:00 a.m. in the Board Room
of Sanger Hall on the Medical College of Virginia campus.
Present were all members of the Board except Mr. McGehee. Present
by invitation were Drs. Brandt, Brooke, Smith, Willett, and Woods; Messrs.
Dunn, Edwards, Holmes, Imirie, and Ware; and Miss Wilkinson.
Mr. Obenshain, serving as chairman until the arrival of Mr. Wilson
(at which time Mr. Wilson served as Rector and Mr. Obenshain as Secretary),
called the meeting to order.
On motion made and seconded, the following minutes were unanimously
approved as distributed: A Regular Meeting of the Board of Visitors held
February 11, 1971; a Special Meeting of the Executive Committee held March 5,
1971; a Special Meeting of the Executive Committee held March 25, 1971; a
Special Meeting of the Academic Policy Committee held March 30, 1971; and
a Special Meeting of the Property Committee held March 31, 1971.
As discussed in the Special Meeting of the Executive Committee held
March 25, 1971, upon motion duly made and seconded, the proposed solution
to the fund transfer problem was unanimously approved.
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Mr. James L. Dunn, Director of Alumni Activities, then presented an
Alumni Fund Concept for Virginia Commonwealth University. Following his
presentation and discussion, a motion was made, seconded, and unanimously
adopted to approve in principle the Alumni Fund Concept. The Board also re-
quested that a report be made at the next regular meeting with regard to
specific procedures for expenditure of the Fund.
Mr. William 0. Edwards, Director of University Relations, then talked
to the Board regarding the implications of a labor organization within the
University. Mr. Edwards pointed out that some states have established help-
ful laws in this regard. It was suggested that Mr. Sheffield and Mr. Obenshain
review with Mr. Edwards the model laws which need to be established.
Faculty members, Mrs. Florence Segal, Dr. William Blake, Dr. Thomas
Hall, and Dr. George Burke were invited to the meeting to answer questions
regarding the Faculty Rights and Responsibilities Statement. There was con-
siderable discussion on the Statement with four areas of major concern which
the Board requested be re-written. Mr. Obenshain also questioned the legality
of one point in the document with respect to the procedure for terminating the
appointments of tenured faculty. The Board requested that Mr. Obenshain
discuss this question with the Assistant Attorney General. A motion was made,
seconded, and approved to adopt the Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
Statement subject to the redraft of the sections questioned by the Board members,
and that the document with the redrafted sections be submitted to all members
of the Board of Visitors and, if the redraft does not meet the approval of the
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majority of the Board members, the Executive Committee will be convened
to act prior to June 30. Mr. Temple and Miss Keyser are recorded as voting
against the motion.
On motion made, seconded, and unanimously passed, the proposed
amendment to the Rules and Regulations of the By-Laws, Rules and Regula-
tions of the Medical Staff of the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals,
Health Sciences Division, Virginia Commonwealth University, passed by the
Executive Committee on May 5, 1971, was approved as submitted.
A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously passed to adopt the
following resolution:
WHEREAS, since their respective retirements President
Emeriti Henry H. Hibbs and George J. Oliver have received each
year, on a year-to-year basis, $2,500 compensation as con-
sultants; and Dr. William T. Sanger has received $3,600 annual-
ly;
BE IT RESOLVED, that these consultant services be
continued for an additional year.
On motion made, seconded and unanimously approved, a Division of
Oral Pathology was authorized within the School of Medicine.
On motion made and seconded, the following resolution was unanimously
adopted:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the officers of Virginia
Commonwealth University be empowered to contract for
a group insurance policy to provide coverage for the Presi-
dent, Vice Presidents, Deans and other chief administra-
tors for loss of life and/or dismemberment resulting from
travel. The cost of this insurance coverage will be paid
by the University from non-State sources.
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On motion made, seconded and unanimously passed, the establishment
of a Department of Endodontics and a Department of General and Preventive
Dentistry was authorized within the School of Dentistry.
The Hospital Accounts Report was adopted on motion made, seconded
and unanimously passed.
On motion made, seconded and unanimously approved, the Report of
Gifts and Grants was accepted as reported.
On motion made, seconded and unanimously approved, the proposed
masters degree program in Mathematics was approved by the Board of Visitors
for submission to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
The Faculty Appointments and Changes of Status were presented. One
correction was made, i.e., the deletion in the Student Affairs section of the
separation of Mr. Vincent Wright. Miss Keyser questioned the lack of women
appointments and promotions. On motion made, seconded and unanimously
passed, the Faculty Appointments and Changes of Status were approved as
corrected.
On motion made, seconded and unanimously approved, all clinical
faculty were reappointed and hospital privileges were renewed for all who
had them in the current year unless otherwise noted in the Faculty Appointments
and Changes of Status.
The following resolution was adopted on motion made, seconded and
unanimously passed:
WHEREAS a Quitclaim Deed for 22.03 acres, more
or less, of the Diesel School Property for educational pur-
poses was made the 8th day of May, 1961, by and between
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the Medical College of Virginia and the United States of
America acting by and through the Secretary of Health, Edu-
cation and Welfare under the pursuant to the power and author-
ity contained in the provisions of the Federal Property and
Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended; and
WHEREAS the Medical College of Virginia has not
been able to comply with the terms of the Quitclaim Deed
for educational purposes due to flood damage and is, there-
fore, in noncompliance with the terms of the Deed,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that title to said
22.03 acres, more or less, of the Naval Diesel School Pro-
perty be returned to the United States of America in accor-
dance with the provisions of the Quitclaim Deed, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Dr. Roger L. Smith,
Vice President for Planning and Operations, hereby be given
authority to execute for the Medical College of Virginia any
and all documents required to relinquish claim to said pro-
perty in accordance with the provisions of the Quitclaim
Deed.
A motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved to authorize
a request to the Governor for the transfer of the Veterans Administration
property.
A motion was made, seconded and unanimously passed to approve the
designation of property on the Master Site Plan for construction of a Psychiatric
Institute by the Department of Mental Hygiene and Hospitals.
The proposed changes in fees and auxiliary charges was adopted on
motion made, seconded and unanimously approved.
Mr. Wilson then reminded the Board that sometime ago a committee
was formed to decide how to recognize the service of Mr. Hunton to the Board
of Visitors. He then brought up the possibility of establishing a medal of
distinguished service to the University. It was recommended that an Edward
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A. Wayne Medal for Distinguished Service to the University be established
to be awarded by the Board of Visitors and that the first award be presented
to Mr. Hunton. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously approved to
adopt the above suggestion. Mr. Temple then suggested that Mr. Wayne
receive the master medal.
Copies of the proposed Capital Outlay Priorities were distributed to
the Board members. They were reviewed by Dr. Brandt and adopted by the
Board on motion made, seconded and unanimously passed.
On motion made, seconded, and unanimously passed, a one-year ex-
tension of the Interim Rules and Procedures was approved to September 1, 1972.
Mr. Scott then pointed out that in reference to Dr. Brandt's earlier ex-
pression of appreciation to his staff, this outstanding job by members of Dr.
Brandt's staff was due, in large part, to the outstanding leadership and capa-
bilities demonstrated by Dr. Brandt. The members of the Board expressed their
appreciation to Dr. Brandt.
A motion was made, seconded and unanimously passed to approve the
proposed Compensation Plan, Teaching and Research Faculty for Virginia
Commonwealth University as submitted to the Board.
Dr. Brandt announced that in the near future there would be some fairly
significant administrative changes. The Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences,
Dr. J. E. Whitesell, is resigning from his position and becoming a full-time
professor in the English Department. Also, Dr. Walter Coppedge, Assistant
Vice President for Academic Affairs, is resigning his position and becoming a
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professor in the English Department. Dr. Arnold P. Fleshood, now Dean of
the School of Education, will become Assistant Vice President for Academic
Affairs.
Dr. Brandt then pointed out that since the Bateman resolution had
been passed regarding visitation the administration plans to implement a
system of parental approval for student participation in the current approved
visitation program; plans are also being made to strengthen the elements of
control. Dr. Brandt indicated that Board action was not necessary, but he
would like some feeling from the Board regarding this. There was general
concurrence from the Board that this was a good plan of action.
The meeting then went into Executive Session with the Board members,
Dr. Brandt and Miss Wilkinson remaining.
Dr. Brandt presented the proposed salaries for his Vice Presidents,
Mr. Edwards, Mr. Ware, Dr. Willett and Coach Noe. On motion made,
seconded, and unanimously passed the salaries were adopted.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
Report of the President to the Board of Visitors
May 20, 1971
Dr. Brandt complimented and expressed appreciation to the members
of his immediate staff for the outstanding job each of them performed during
the past several months under the tensions and pressures which have existed.
With regard to the building program, Dr. Brandt reported that the
addition to Sanger Hall should be open for bids within the next couple of months.
The I-95 parking lot has been completed and is in use. Plans for the parking
deck north of MCV North are progressing; construction should begin within the
next six to nine months, if things go well. The basement of the Lyons Building
is to house a major part of the fiscal operations; work is progressing. We are
hoping that the classrooms in the business building will be completed by the
beginning of the fall semester; however, it is doubtful that the office space
will be available then; and the computer space definitely will not be completed.
The Pollak Building is progressing very slowly; it is now in the completion
stages. The University will rent space in the Catholic School at the corner of
Floyd and Morris Streets; it will house the Adult Education Program, The Special
Services Program, and the Child Study Center. The architects have been
selected for the education-science building. The Master Site Plan, sent to
the State August 4, 1970, reportedly has been approved; officials have indicated
that the letter of approval is in the mail. Steps will now be taken to take the
plan to the City Council and City Planning Commission to have it incorporated
into the City Master Plan.
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Dr. Brandt reported that the Student Affairs area is quiet.
The budget for the coming year is being prepared, along with the
biennial budget. The Capital Outlay portion will be presented later during the
meeting. The Governor and his Budget Advisory Board will visit the campus
next Thursday, May 27.
Two candidates have been interviewed for the deanship of the School
of Medicine. A third candidate will be interviewed next week.
Plans for a proposed Cancer Research Institute are still being made.
Dr. Brandt is considering establishing a new position: Vice President
for Research and Graduate Studies.
Dr. H. I. Willett has been made Consultant to the President and is
coordinating, at present, the operation of the Development and University
Relations offices.
An Adult Education Program is being established which will provide
education for employees who have less than a twelfth-grade education.
Dr. Brandt then explained the Special Services Program which the
University has been providing for the past two years. The Program admits,
to the University, students who do not meet entrance requirements but give
evidence of being capable of succeeding in college.
The Board members are scheduled to visit the Hospitals tomorrow.
Dr. Brandt announced that his secretary, Mary Frances Wilkinson,
would be leaving the University at the end of the month; and that her replace-
ment would be Miss Ann Cosby who would begin on the 21st of June. The
Board expresses their appreciation to Miss Wilkinson for her excellent service
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Dr. Brandt pointed out that Mr. Vincent Wright, Assistant Dean for
Student Life, has appealed the decision not to renew his contract next year.
A hearing is scheduled for Monday, May 24.
