MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
September 12, 1974
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth
University was held on Thursday, September 12, 1974, at 9:00 a. m. in the
Board Room of Sanger Hall.
Present were Drs. Blanton and Gwathmey; Messrs. Dabney, McGehee,
Norris, Obenshain, Scott, Seaborn and Sheffield; and Mesdames Satterfield,
Stone and Thalhimer. Messrs. Morgan, Shumate and Taylor were absent. Also
present were Drs. Andrako, Brandt, Brooke, Hall, Neal, Willett, Wilson; Messrs.
Holmes, Imirie and Temple; and Miss Cosby.
Dr. Blanton called the meeting to order. On motion made and seconded,
the following minutes were approved: a Special Meeting of the Finance Committee,
held on July 18, 1974, a Regular Meeting of the Board of Visitors, held on July 18,
1974, and a Special Meeting of the Presidential Search Committee, held on
August 29, 1974.
Dr. Blanton reported that the Hospital Quality Assurance Committee had
met earlier on September 12, 1974, and reviewed the audit that has been started
on diabetic ketoacidosis. The committee made a recommendation with regard
to the speed of care in the emergency room.
Following the report of the President, Dr. Blanton expressed appreciation
to the members of the Board for their response to the committee assignments and
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noted that the average number of committee assignments is three per Board mem-
ber. Dr. Blanton tried not to put out-of-town members on too many committees.
Dr. Blanton asked Dr. Neal to report on the Health Maintenance Organi-
zation. Dr. Neal stated that the basic proposal that was presented to the Board
to combine with Richmond Memorial Hospital has been approved by the B agency
and now will go to the A agency. The HMO proposal will come back to the Board
for approval before being implemented. He reported that, if the HMO is approved
for Virginia Commonwealth University, it will be used as a teaching model.
Dr. Blanton has received more correspondence from Dr. Temple Bayliss,
who was a physics teacher at VCU but had been denied tenure. Dr. Bayliss did
not appeal the tenure decision, but he contended that Dr. Brandt and Dr. Brooke
had interfered in his case. Dr. Brooke reviewed the history of the matter, em-
phasized his lack of involvement and urged that the Board review the case if it
felt there was any impropriety in it at all. Dr. Brandt explained that he delib-
erately keeps out of the tenure decisions. On motion made and seconded, the
Board concurred that Dr. Blanton should write Dr. Bayliss that the Board had re-
viewed the case and did not feel there was any impropriety.
A local podiatrist has gone to the administration with regard to operating
privileges in the hospital, according to Dr. Blanton.
Dr. Neal reported that Booz, Allen and Hamilton had two concerns relating
to the end of the year financial statement. The consultants were on the campus
last Monday evaluating the criteria for the accounting, financial management
and admissions. A report will be delivered to the administration by September 25
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If it is a positive report, the financial feasibility will be presented to the
Governor. The proposed "friendly suit" will then be filed by October 5; it is
anticipated that a hearing will be held in November and a judgment rendered
by the first part of January.
Dr. Blanton apologized for not having a meeting of the Board in August
as was previously agreed, but most of the administration were scheduled to be
on vacation.
Senator Willey telephoned Dr. Blanton with reference to the School of
Dentistry having allegedly exceeded its budget by about $150,000. Dr. Woods
is preparing some responsive information, and a meeting will be held September
23 with Senator Willey, Mr. Temple, Dr. Neal and Dr. Woods to discuss the
Dentistry budget, as well as the Virginia Hospital Laundry, Inc. Dr. Brandt
stated that the School is not over its budget but is, in fact, under the budget
by about $7,000. Dr. Neal explained that the adjunct faculty are paid from
federal funds, and this funding was not increased this year. Therefore, the
adjunct faculty did not receive merit pay increases.
Several members of the Board have received correspondence on the
Grove Avenue Baptist Church. Dr. Brooke explained that the Master Site Plan
specifically excludes the church. There are several reasons why the adminis-
tration is not interested in buying the church: the utilization of the building,
the expense of converting it for appropriate purposes, the expense of renovating
it to conform with OSHA standards. Also, the Performing Arts Center would
probably not be funded if the University bought the church or, if funding was
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obtained for the center, it would have to be redesigned. Mr. Scott commented
that he was concerned because the Property Committee had never been contacted
about this property. Dr. Brandt mentioned that he had reported to the Board on
previous occasions that Mr. Harrison was trying to sell it to the University.
On motion made and seconded, it was approved that the Property Committee
consider the matter of the proposed purchase of the Grove Avenue Baptist Church.
It was moved, seconded and approved unanimously that Dr. Blanton
appoint two Board members to the Board of the Virginia Hospital Laundry, Inc.
Dr. Blanton stated that the Executive Committee, meeting as the Presi-
dential Search Committee, has agreed to hold a retreat on October 4-5 at the
Islander at Gwynn's Island with the entire Board of Visitors (which is the
Presidential Selection Committee) , and the 15-18 member University-wide
Presidential Search Assistance Committee to discuss the qualifications for
a president. Most of the members of the Presidential Search Assistance Com-
mittee have been appointed. The entire group would meet on Friday afternoon
and evening. On Saturday morning, the Presidential Selection Committee (the
Board of Visitors) will meet to determine the qualifications for a new President
while the Presidential Search Assistance Committee will meet to plan the
logistics of the search. The members of the Board expressed their concurrence
with these plans.
On motion made and seconded, the following resolution was unanimously
approved:
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WHEREAS, Dr. Warren W. Brandt has submitted his
resignation as President of Virginia Commonwealth University
effective October 1, 1974;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that during the period of
search for a successor to Dr. Brandt, the Board authorizes
that all presidential duties and responsibilities be administered
by a committee;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that such committee shall be
officially identified as the University Interim Administrative
Committee and be composed of Dr. Francis J. Brooke, Provost -
Academic Division; Dr. M. Pinson Neal, Jr., Provost - Health
Sciences Division; and Mr. T. Edward Temple, Vice President
for Development and University Relations, as Chairman, with
Dr. H. I. Willett serving as special consultant to the committee;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the chairman of said com-
mittee or his designee shall be authorized to sign such docu-
ments, papers and other instruments as would customarily require
the signature of the president;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the chairman be authorized
to represent the University on appropriate occasions or designate
the proper official to perform such assignments;
AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that the Provost - Academic
Division and the Provost - Health Sciences Division will con-
tinue their duties as presently prescribed and set forth by the
Board of Visitors and, likewise, the chairman shall continue
his duties as Vice President for Development and University
Relations.
Dr. Neal presented the Affiliation Agreements for Graduate and Under-
graduate Medical Education. On motion made and seconded, the Affiliation
Agreements were approved unanimously.
Mr. Holmes explained the reason for the Resolution on the Transfer
of Real Property. It was moved and seconded that the following resolution
be approved, subject to clearing the wording with the Attorney General's office
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WHEREAS, VCU owns property at 1705 Claiborne Street
and has received an offer of purchase of the property;
BE IT RESOLVED, that T. Edward Temple, Chairman of
the University Interim Administrative Committee, is hereby
authorized to execute a deed on behalf of the Board of
Visitors conveying the premises to Roy Lee Allen and Lottie
R. Allen for the consideration of $11,500.00. The property
is to be conveyed with special warranty of title and accord-
ing to the terms of the contract for sale.
Dr. Wilson presented the Grade Review Procedure and distributed a
revised page 3. This document has been prepared over a period of about four
years by the Faculty Senate, the Council on Faculty Affairs and the Council on
University Student Affairs, and was recently approved by the University Assembly.
It was agreed that the Executive Committee would meet to reevaluate the question
of the proper function of Board Committees. The Grade Review Procedure would
be considered after the Board determines the role of its committees.
The report of Gifts, Grants, and Contracts was, on motion made and
seconded, approved unanimously.
On motion made and seconded, the Faculty Appointments and Changes in
Status were approved unanimously.
Dr. H. W. Westermann, Dean of the School of Community Services, re-
Dr. Blanton emphasized again the various groups involved in the presidential
ported on the development of the academic programs and the faculty in the School.
search. The Board of Visitors is the Presidential Selection Committee. The Execu-
tive Committee is the Presidential Search Committee, and the University-wide
group is the Presidential Search Assistance Committee. The Search Committee had
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reserved two appointments to the Presidential Search Assistance Committee to
ensure that all components of the University community were represented. Dr.
Blanton expressed his concern that two positions might not be enough. On motion
made and seconded, three positions were approved to be appointed if necessary
to the Presidential Search Assistance Committee.
On motion made and seconded, Dr. H. I. Willett's title was changed
from Consultant to the President to Consultant to the University Interim Adminis-
trative Committee.
Dr. Andrako announced that there will be a dedication of Sanger Hall and
a ceremony at Tompkins-McCaw Library on October 11 at 11:00 a. m. Governor
Godwin will be the speaker, and the Director of NIH will also be present. Mem-
bers of the Board are invited to attend.
Dr. Blanton expressed his appreciation to Dr. Brandt for the many fine
accomplishments that Dr. Brandt made as the first President of Virginia Common-
wealth University. Dr. Brandt thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve
as President.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a. m.
Secretary
APPROVED:
Chairman ~-
