MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
December 19, 1974
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth
University was held on Thursday, December 19, 1974, in the President's Dining
Room.
Present were Drs. Blanton and Gwathmey; Messrs. Dabney, Grey, McGehee,
Morgan, Norris, Scott, Seaborn, Shumate and Taylor; Mesdames Stone and Thalhimer.
Absent were Mr. Obenshain and Mrs. Satterfield. Also present were Drs. Brooke,
Hall, Neal, Willett, Wilson and Woods; Messrs. Holmes, Imirie and Temple; and
Mrs. Price.
Dr. Blanton called the meeting to order. Dr. Blanton welcomed Mr. Grey
to the Board and announced that Mr. Norris had accepted the Chairmanship of
the Student Affairs Committee.
On motion made and seconded, the minutes of a special meeting of the
Executive Committee, held October 28, 1974, a special meeting of the Academic
Policy Committee, held November 18, 1974, and a special meeting of the Development Committee, held November 29, 1974, were unanimously approved
Dr. Blanton reported that the Hospital Quality Assurance Committee had
met earlier and had agreed to the necessary organizational changes in the hospital
as it relates to admissions, stays and discharges.
The Report by the University Interim Administrative Committee followed.
During this report, Mr. Holmes reported on the steps taken in response to the
Governor's letter on a 5 percent budget reduction. Also, Mr. Holmes passed
out the Financial Statements. The Board requested that these statements appear
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in the Board agenda even though they would be a month behind. Also during
this report, Mr. Imirie was asked to comment on the Virginia Hospital Laundry.
A copy of the statement presented by Mr. Imirie is attached to these minutes.
Dr. Walter Lawrence joined the meeting at this time for a presentation
of the Cancer Center proposal. Following a discussion, on motion made and
seconded, the Cancer Center proposal was approved with Mr. Morgan abstaining.
Dr. Willett reported on the work of the committee which is studying Board
orientation and continuing education. He stated that this matter was directly
related to the Board's committee structure and that a decision would have to be
made on the committee structure before an orientation and continuing education
program could be established. Time is a very important factor in this consideration.
.
Dr. Willett reported on the work of the Presidential Search Assistance
Committee. Dr. Willett stated his hope that by February the names would be
screened and that the Search Committee (Executive Committee) of the Board
could be brought into the process. He continued that the files were now open
to any member of the Board who wished to review them.
On motion made and seconded, the following resolution was unanimously
approved:
WHEREAS, there have been personnel changes since the
RESOLUTION of September 25, 1969, concerning authorized
signatures for various bank accounts, was adopted by the
Board of Visitors the RESOLUTION is hereby rescinded and;
WHEREAS, it is necessary that certain officials be authorized
by the Board of Visitors to sign checks and other documents as
may be needful for the proper conduct of the business affairs
of the Virginia Commonwealth University;
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BE IT RESOLVED: That the incumbents of the offices shown
below and their successors be designated and hereby authorized
to sign checks and other orders for the payment of money drawn
on local agency funds, on special grants and similar instruments:
Academic Division:
Vice President for Finance, Raymond T. Holmes, Jr.
Controller, Walter P. Lossing
Assistant Controller, R. B. Bennett
Chief Accountant, O. A. Davis
Manager, Student Accounts, James Martin
MCV-Health Sciences Division:_
Vice President for Finance, Raymond T. Holmes, Jr.
Controller, Walter P. Lossing
Assistant Controller, R. B. Bennett
Administrative Accountant, L. D. Smith
and for the University Hospital Patients Deposit Fund, the
incumbents of the following offices and their successors
signatures shall be authorized:
Assistant to the Vice President, Emmet Reid
Hospital Administrator, Charles Sweat
Hospital Fiscal Officer, Arthur J. Jaeger
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: All banks that are approved by the
Treasury Board of the Commonwealth of Virginia are approved as
depositories and accounts may be maintained with such banks;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the officers of the University
who are authorized to sign checks and other orders for the payment
of money by the foregoing resolution are hereby authorized and
directed to execute on behalf of the University and file with such
banks the requisite signature cards.
Dr. Neal presented to the Board the Financial Management Systems
Study, Work Plan, Phases I, II & III, from Booz, Allen & Hamilton. Dr. Neal
indicated that representatives from Booz, Allen & Hamilton wanted to meet with
members of the Board in order to discuss this document. A meeting was schedule
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for January 15, 1975, at 6:00 p.m. preceding the January 16 Board meeting.
(Since that time the meeting has been rescheduled for February 19 preceding
the February 20 Board meeting.)
Dr. Blanton read to the Board a letter from Dr. Warren W. Brandt
thanking the Board for the party and the clock.
Item IX on the agenda, Hospital Financial Management Systems, was
postponed until the next meeting of the Board.
On motion made and seconded, the Faculty Appointments and Changes
in Status were unanimously approved.
The meeting adjourned at 12:45 p.m.
Approved:
REPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY INTERIM ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE
December 19, 1974
Mr. Temple's Remarks
Mr. Temple asked Mr. Holmes to report on the various memoranda received
from the Governor's Office on a 5 percent budget reduction. Mr. Holmes
explained to the Board the various measures being taken by VCU to comply
with this request.
Mr. Temple reported to the Board that plans were underway to set up meet-
ings with various city officials. These meetings will be designed to in-
crease the city's understanding of VCU and its mission and to establish a
better relationship between the city and VCU.
Mr. Temple stated that we were in the process of putting together a new
public relations piece entitled, "Response." Mr. Temple continued that
this booklet was not like "Impact" in that it did not cover a five-year
period. This publication will be used in our fund raising program and with
the General Assembly.
Dr. Brooke's Remarks
Dr. Wilson, upon request of Dr. Brooke, reported to the Board that some
students were interested in the issue concerning the Gay Alliance of Stu-
dents and that the nature of the students was very calm and reasoned, yet
determined. There is reason to expect that the Gay Alliance of Students
continues to consider legal action.
Dr. Brooke noted that the University Assembly, at its December 5 meeting,
had acted favorably upon a Letter of Intent for a new M.S. Degree in
Gerontology and upon the final Program Proposal for the Doctorate in Phar-
macy. Both of these degrees will be submitted to the Committee on Academic
Policy in January. He further indicated that Degree Proposals for a Masters
in Public Administration and for a B.S. in Information Systems were under
consideration by university review committees and would presumably be
submitted to the Committee on Academic Policy in January or early February.
Letters of Intent for these two degrees, as well as for the Pharm.D. had
been approved by the Board in 1973 and by the State Council in the Spring
of 1974.
Dr. Brooke reported on the apparent disappearance of legal obstacles to
the construction, by the University, of a parking deck on the site of the
Mosque East parking lot. Considerable study remains to be done, with
respect to more specific negotiations with the city as well as financial
feasibility studies within the University, before any specific recommenda-
tion to the Board could be forthcoming.
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Dr. Neal's Remarks
Dr. Neal reported on the dedication of the new parking deck on the MCV
Campus which took place on the afternoon of the December 19th Board meet-
ing. This new facility allows faculty and staff to park closer to the hospital
and academic buildings. It is a well-lighted, patrolled facility. The cere-
monies were conducted in conjunction with the Central Richmond Association.
There were antique cars, dancing girls, and refreshments.
Dr. Neal reported to the Board that the Hospital project is continuing
satisfactorily. The friendly suit or the writ of mandamus was heard in the
Supreme Court on December 3. It appears that the decision might be favor-
able to the University. As soon as this issue is rectified in the courts,
we can move rapidly with contracts for the working drawings on the Supply
and Distribution Building. Randolph-Minor Hall is being readied for occu-
pancy around March 1. This will house the Pediatric Speciality Clinic, the
Psychiatry Out-Patient Clinic, the Adolescent Clinic and on-call quarters
for the Housestaff. City Council approved the displacement of our steam
tunnels to allow for the excavation and foundation for the new hospital
building.
Dr. Neal reported on the resignation of Dr. Warren Pearse, Dean of the
School of Medicine. Dr. Pearse will assume the Executive Directorship
of the National Assocation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In sub-
mitting his resignation, Dr. Pearse indicated that this was a once in a
life time opportunity that he felt he had to give strong consideration.
Dr. Richard Lower who had submitted his resignation as Professor and Chair-
man of the Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery has withdrawn
his resignation.
Dr. Neal stated that pursuant to the direction of the Board, the principles
involved in a planning grant for the HMO have begun initial contacts with
the President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Richmond Aca-
demy of Medicine. In addition, the principles involved are working with
the University Relations staff in order to develop appropriate ways to in-
form the various publics regarding this planning grant and how it fits in
with University activities.
The Allied Health Building is in the early working drawing stage. At this
point, the University is working with the Division of Engineering and
Buildings to get a clarification for the architects as to the requirements
of the University to abide by both and/or the State Building Code and BOCA
Code.
Dr. Neal reported that several meetings had been held with persons repre-
senting the Richmond Eye and Ear Hospital, Carter Lowance and representatives
from VCU on the possibility of VCU purchasing the Richmond Eye and Ear
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Hospital. Several methods of obtaining this property were discussed. Mr.
Lowance indicated to the group that there were not any special funds avail-
able for VCU to use in purchasing this property. The agreement was that
contact would be maintained to assist in the orderly acquisition of this
property by the University in any manner feasible and beneficial to both
parties.
At this time, Dr. Neal called on Mr. Imirie to bring the Board up to date
on the Virginia Hospital Laundry situation.
