MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
Held March 23, 1972
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth
University was held Thursday, March 23, 1972, at 10:00 a.m. in the Dean's
Conference Room of the School of Business Building.
Present were all the members of the Board except Mr. Norris and
Mr. Sheffield. Present by invitation were Drs. Brandt, Brooke, Butler,
Langston, Lodge, Pearse, Smith, Sweet, Willett, Wilson and Woods;
Messrs. Broaddus, Holmes, Imirie and Ware; Mrs. Abbott, Mrs. Elmore and
Miss Cosby.
Mr. Wilson called the meeting to order. On motion duly made and
seconded, the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Visitors, held
January 27, 1972, were approved as distributed.
As a result of that meeting, the Finance Committee was asked to
report on the charge-off of accounts in the hospitals. Mr. McGehee reported
that the accounts were analyzed in great detail and assured the Board that
the hospital has a very strict policy on the delinquent accounts.
Dr. Blanton reported that the Academic Policy Committee has been
meeting monthly with the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate.
Dr. Warren H. Pearse, Dean of the School of Medicine, discussed
his philosophy as it relates to the education of physicians and his long-
range goals for the School of Medicine.
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On motion made, seconded and unanimously adopted, the recommen-
dation of the Building Naming Committee that the Clinical Center be named
the Nelson Clinic in honor of Dr. Kinloch Nelson was approved.
The following resolution was unanimously adopted on motion made
and seconded:
BE IT RESOLVED that Virginia Commonwealth University
make available certain right-of-way easements to Virginia
Electric and Power Company for the purpose of transmitting
and distributing electric power. The description is as
follows:
(1) Covering the alley owned by MCV alongside
St. Phillips (East) Hospital and A. D. Williams
Clinic. MCV will own the 4" duct lines to
serve the Nursing Education Building. The line
will run up the alley from Marshall Street to the
back of Nurse Education Building transformers.
(2) Standard easement for VEPCO to erect completely
VEPCO lines (duct, service, wiring, etc.) on our
property adjacent to the Strauss Research
Laboratory. Power lines (underground) will run
24' behind the Strauss Building and terminate to
Street Line on 12th.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Dr. Roger L. Smith, Vice
President for Planning and Operations, be given authority
to execute for Virginia Commonwealth University any and all
documents required for these rights-of-way.
It was noted that Dr. Harry Lyons is working in Washington, D. C.,
to develop information on available grants. Miss Martha Conway reviews
all grants and contracts. The University is looking for an assistant vice
president for research and graduate studies. It was moved, seconded and
unanimously approved that the Report on Gifts, Grants and Contracts be
adopted,
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On motion duly made and seconded, the Hospital Accounts Report
was unanimously approved.
On motion made, seconded and unanimously adopted, the Faculty
Appointments and Changes of Status were approved.
Mr. William G. Broaddus, Assistant Attorney General, and Mr. Frank
B. Miller, III, representing the insurance company, presented a draft of a
statement to be released to the press concerning the Vincent Wright case.
It was moved, seconded and unanimously approved that the Board approve the
proposed settlement which would result in the dismissal of the case of Mr.
Wright, and that the wording of the statement announcing the settlement
would be subject to the President's approval with the advice of counsel.
Following discussion, and on motion duly made and seconded, the
proposed tuition rates and fees were approved. Miss Keyser voted in
opposition.
There was some discussion concerning the regular meeting dates of
the Board and the attendance of the members. There was no change in the
regularly scheduled meeting date of the third Thursday of every other month.
Dr. Gordon Sweet, Executive Secretary of the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools, and Dr. Joel R. Butler, Director of the University Self-
Study, were introduced to the Board. Dr. Sweet described some of the
accreditation procedures of the Association, including the Self-Study.
Following lunch, Mr. Temple expressed his appreciation to Dr. Brandt,
Dr. Willett and Mr. Ware for their outstanding job during the recent session
of the legislature. Mr. Wilson thanked Mr. Temple for his assistance, also.
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Mrs. Lynn D. Abbott, Jr. and Mrs. Stanley Elmore described the pro-
grams of the MCV Hospitals Auxiliary of Virginia Commonwealth University.
The Auxiliary is only one year old, but it has grown tremendously. Last year,
there were 18 members and five working in the hospitals. This year, there
are 261 members with 120 working in the hospitals. A very impressive slide
presentation was shown by Mrs. Elmore.
Dr. Timothy L. Langston, Dean of Student Services, described the
three major areas of Student Services: Placement, Financial Aid and Housing.
Dr. Richard Lodge, Dean of the School of Social Work, discussed
his hopes and plans for the future of the School of Social Work. Dr. Lodge
agreed to write a summary of his report to the Board.
Mr. Seaborn mentioned the problem of erecting signs on interstate
highways, showing exits for VCU. Dr. Smith noted that signs will soon be
erected on I-64 and I-95.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m.
The next meeting of the Board will be held on May 18 , 1972, at 10:00 a.m.
in the Board Room of Sanger Hall.
Secretary
APPROVED:
Report of the President to the Board of Visitors
March 23, 1972
Dr. Brandt noted that the Self-Study is progressing well at the present time
under Dr. Butler's guidance. Each department has submitted its report on
those of the 14 standards which apply to its function.
A special program is scheduled for the evening of June 8 and the day of June 9
entitled "Statewide Planning for Higher Education" . It will be held in
Richmond, and members of the Board are invited to attend.
The Association of Governing Boards is having its meeting on April 23-25.
The University will pay expenses for members of the Board who desire to
attend.
A listing of publications published by the Carnegie Commission was passed
around. If a member of the Board would like any of them, the University will
be glad to order a copy for him.
Mr. John Temple, Dr. William Laupus and Dr. Leo Dunn, in addition to
Dr. Willett and Mr. Ware, deserve a great deal of credit for their efforts
while the General Assembly was in session. We asked for funds for the
Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Health Building and for planning money for
the hospital. We will get $500,000 for the planning of the hospital provided
that we prove its financial feasibility. Progress can be made under the new
budget. Delegates Roy Smith and Ed Lane were very helpful to VCU concerning
the budget. We received funds to complete the library and planning money
for the Fine Arts Center.
The legislature did not give much consideration to the TIAA-CREF retirement
system for the faculty. The one "superboard" resolution was killed but
others replaced it, and it is still a live issue. There was no across-the-
board salary increase for classified personnel. They received a five percent
increase in July, 1970, and there will not be another increase until July, 1974,
if then. The top of the scale was raised, however.
There have been a few complaints on the "Speaking Black" section of the
Commonwealth Times. Dr. Brandt feels it gives a voice to the Black community.
The Art Commission was favorably impressed with the schematics of the Science
and Education Building, and we will go back to them on April 14 with the
preliminary drawings and specifications. Dr. Smith discussed the Science
and Education Building and showed the drawings of the building. Dr. Blanton
suggested that the term "elevated classrooms" might be used in place of the
word "bridge" for the span crossing Main Street.
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The School of Business is holding an Open House on April 11 from 4:00 -
6:00 p.m. There will be a short ceremony at 5:00 p.m.
Dr. Blanton and Mr. Seaborn wished to express thanks to those persons
responsible for the Real Estate Chair program.
Mr. Broaddus relayed word that the Board of Visitors is not named as a
defendant in the heart transplant case.
Tompkins-McCaw Library and Sanger Hall are underway. The Business
Building is virtually complete with only a few problems left.
The student situation has been quiet so far this year.
There was a "sick-out" for one day of the maintenance personnel. If there
is a strike, we will be forced to fire the strikers. This will push us into
a contract operation. We are now paying about 50% of the union wage.
There have been some consultants in lately concerning the Department of
Ophthalmology. They advised us that a joint operation with the Eye Hospital
is undesirable.
The VA hospital situation was very quiet until a couple of weeks ago. Mr.
Satterfield was contacted, but we have not yet heard from him.
A letter will be sent to Mr. Garber concerning the three former presidents
advising him that we do not require any work of these consultants.
The medical records area in the hospital is a tremendous operation. We are
looking at a system called "Trans -A-File" which would put the medical
records on a tape system in conjunction with a computer.
We are in the first stage of the computer. The second stage will arrive
about mid-April. The State is developing some major changes in the com-
puter area where small operations would tie in with larger operations.
The State Council of Higher Education in Virginia approved several programs
at its meeting on March 2. Appreciation was expressed for the attendance
of Board members.
The service award programs went very well. Many of the pins are being
worn daily by employees. The pins were awarded only on the basis of
full-time service.
The Health Testing Center is located on the seventh floor of the Clinical
Center and is just about to open.
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Senator Harris of Oklahoma presented an amendment to Congress which
suggests that a student be put on all Boards of Visitors of all institutions
of higher education in the country. The biggest objection to this is that
the Federal government is telling the Governor what to do.
Mr. Milton Wallace is very ill and not expected to live. He represents a
real loss to the University.
Dr. Brandt attended a Management and Planning Institute for Higher Educa-
tion at Arden House in New York last week. It was a very valuable week.
