MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
November 21, 1974
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth
University was held on Thursday, November 21, 1974 at 9 a.m. in the Sanger
Hall Board Room.
Present were Drs. Blanton and Gwathmey; Messrs. Dabney, Obenshain,
Scott and Seaborn; Mesdames Satterfield, Stone and Thalhimer. Also present
were Drs. Brooke, Hall, Salley, Sparks, Willett, Wilson, and Woods; Messrs.
Holmes, Imirie, and Temple; and Mrs. Price.
Dr. Blanton called the meeting to order.
On motion made and seconded, the minutes of a Joint Meeting of the
Presidential Selection Committee and the Presidential Search Assistance Com-
mittee, held October 4, 1974; a Special Meeting of the Board of Visitors, held
October 5, 1974; a Special Meeting of the Property Committee, held October
16, 1974; a Regular Meeting of the Board of Visitors, held October 17, 1974;
and a Special Meeting of the Development Committee, held November 11, 1974,
were unanimously approved.
The Board expressed its appreciation to Dr. Willett and other members
of the administration for the nice party held in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Brandt.
Dr. Willett reported on the progress of the Presidential Search Assistance
Committee. He indicated that over 300 letters had been sent out to colleges,
universities and associations across the United States and about 200 nominations
and applications have been received. Dr. Willett reported that he is in the
Page 2
process of writing to all of those persons who were nominated requesting bio-
graphical data and references. Dr. Willett indicated that he hoped the Search
Committee of the Board (Executive Committee) would work with the Presidential
Search Assistance Committee and that the recommendation to the entire Board
would be a joint recommendation.
Dr. Blanton reported that the Hospital Quality Assurance Committee did
not meet this month.
Dr. Blanton also reported that while Dr. Gwathmey's committee is work-
ing on the Board's by-laws, he would like for the membership and functions of
the Board's committees to be reviewed. Dr. Blanton stated that, due to the
increased workload of the Board's committees, it will probably be necessary
to reduce membership on the committees.
The report of the University Interim Administrative Committee followed.
Messrs. Dunn, Edwards, and Ware joined the meeting for a presentation
of the Development Plan and the Gift Accounting System. Dr. Blanton reported to
the Board that Mr. Shumate had accepted the chairmanship of the Development
Committee. Mr. Scott requested that a number 6 be added to the section of the
Development Plan entitled, "Recommendations to be Implemented During the
Current Academic Year." This item would read as follows:
6. Implement a program to increase understanding and nurture
good understanding between the community and other various
neighbors in the Richmond area.
Page 3
On motion made and seconded, item 6 under "Recommendations" of the
Development Plan was unanimously approved.
Following a discussion, on motion made and seconded, the Development
Plan, excluding the Cancer Center proposal, was unanimously approved.
Mr. Temple presented the recommendations of the Building Naming Com-
mittee. These recommendations included the Margaret Newman Patterson
Memorial Garden, the Norborne F. Muir Chair of Orthodontics and the A. P.L.
Prest Lectureship. Following a discussion, on motion made and seconded, the
recommendations of the Building Naming Committee were unanimously approved.
On motion made and seconded, the following resolution was unanimously
approved:
WHEREAS, VCU has acquired a one-half interest in real property
in Northumberland County, Virginia, known as "Bass Lodge" and
certain stocks and securities under the terms of the will of Robert
Lee Pyle,
WHEREAS, the terms of the will stipulate that the assets be used
to establish a fund for Urological Prostatic Research, and
WHEREAS, the family heirs wish to sell their interest in the real
property, and
WHEREAS, the purposes for which this bequest was made will be
more readily supported by the sale of the property,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Interim
Administrative Committee take such steps as may be necessary
to dispose of the property at reasonable fair market value and
execute a special warranty deed or other appropriate deed on
behalf of the Board of Visitors conveying the property to the
purchaser.
Dr. Jessee joined the meeting at this time for a presentation on the
HMO project. Following a discussion, on motion made and seconded, the
Page 4
Board, approved, with Mrs. Thalhimer abstaining, the basic program of the
planning project grant under the Health Maintenance Act and accepted the
grant award of $125,000 from the Department of Health, Education and Wel-
fare for this purpose. The Board deferred any action on the concept of the
HMO proposal until after the planning stage is complete and placed the
following restrictions on the approval of the planning grant: (1) At the end
of the study, the Board of Visitors will have the opportunity to approve or
disapprove the University's involvement in an HMO; (2) there will be no
dollar commitment on MCV/VCU beyond this planning stage; (3) proper public
and community relations programs will be conducted so that persons in the com-
munity will understand the nature of an HMO and also realize what the current
planning involvement entails for this University; (4) there is no commitment
of MCV/VCU facilities if the University decides not to become an active
participant in the HMO project beyond the planning stage; (5) no MCV/VCU
provider contracts (physicians, dentists, and/or hospitals and clinics) are
to be agreed upon without prior approval of the administration and the Board;
and (6) a bi-monthly report will be submitted to the Board on the status of the
planning project for the HMO -- progress, problems, and location on projected
time frame of the planning schedule.
Following a discussion, on motion made and seconded, the Grade
Review Procedure was unanimously approved.
On motion made and seconded, the report on Gifts, Grants, and Con-
tracts was unanimously approved.
Page 5
On motion made and seconded, the Faculty Appointments and Changes
in Status were unanimously approved.
Mr. Holmes presented the new financial statements. Board members
were asked to study these new reports and make any recommendation as to
the format at the next Board meeting. On motion made and seconded, the
Financial Statements were unanimously approved.
Mr. Imirie and Mr. Ware gave reports on the heart transplant program
and the current status of the latest heart transplant patient who had just come
from surgery.
The meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.
