MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
July 17, 1975
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia
Commonwealth University was held on Thursday, July 17, 1975,
at 9:00 a.m. in the Sanger Hall Board Room.
Present were Messrs. Dabney, Obenshain, Scott, Seaborn,
Shumate and Taylor; Dr. Gwathmey; and Mesdames Satterfield and
Stone. Absent were Messrs. Grey, McGehee, Morgan and Norris;
Dr. Blanton; and Mrs. Thalhimer. Also present were Drs. An-
drako, Brooke, Hall, Neal, Wilson, Woods and Temple; Mr. Holmes
and Mrs. Price.
Mr. Scott called the meeting to order and welcomed back
the four members of the Board who had been reappointed.
Following an executive session, on motion made and sec-
onded, the Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Property Com-
mittee, held June 17, 1975; the Minutes of a Special Meeting
of the Executive Committee, held June 19, 1975; the Minutes of
a Special Meeting of the Board of Visitors, held May 28, 1975;
and the Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Board of Visitors,
held June 19, 1975, were unanimously approved.
The Report of the President followed.
The Nominating Committee (Mr. Dabney, Dr. Gwathmey and
Mr. Shumate) recommended the election of the following officers:
Dr. Wyndham B. Blanton, Jr., Rector; Mr. S. Buford Scott, Vice
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Rector; and Mr. Richard D. Obenshain, Secretary. The Nominating
Committee recommended the election of the following members of
the Executive Committee: Dr. Wyndham B. Blanton, Jr.; Mr. S.
Buford Scott; Mr. Richard D. Obenshain; Mr. Robert J. Grey; Dr.
Owen Gwathmey; Mr. Stuart Shumate and Mr. Virginius Dabney. On
motion made and seconded, the recommendations of the Nominating
Committee were unanimously approved.
The Status Report on the HMO Planning Project was accepted
by the Board.
Dr. Neal presented the application to develop a heliport
on top of the new parking deck. Dr. Neal stated that the FAA
(Federal Aviation Administration) would contribute $300,000,
the State Division of Aeronautics would contribute $50,000
and the University's share would be $50,000. The only restric-
tions which would be placed on the University concerning the
heliport are that it must be lighted and designated a public
heliport. On motion made and seconded, the application to de-
velop a heliport was unanimously approved.
Mr. Holmes presented a report outlining the financial data
concerning the Richmond Eye Hospital. Mr. Holmes indicated that
we would request that funds for the purchase of the Eye Hospital
be included in the anticipated 1976 bond referendum. However,
in the interim, we would have to pledge as security funds that
are obtained through federal grant overhead. We do not anticipate
having to use the grant overhead monies, since both the State
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Treasurer and the State Budget Director have given very positive
indications regarding inclusion of the Eye Hospital in the bond
package. Dr. Temple stated that the administration recommended
that the Department of Psychiatry be moved to this facility.
Psychiatry was not to be moved to the new hospital but would have
remained at its present location. The moving of the Department
of Psychiatry would require only minor renovations and the move
would give the department an increased identity. Mr. Scott
stated that both the Property Committee and the Finance Committee
had reviewed this proposal and recommended to the Board that the
purchase of the Eye Hospital be approved. On motion made, sec-
onded and unanimously approved, the Board authorized the purchase
of the Richmond Eye Hospital and the moving of the Department of
Psychiatry to this facility.
On motion made and seconded, the Report of Gifts, Grants
and Contracts was unanimously approved.
On motion made and seconded, the Financial Statements were
accepted unanimously by the Board.
Following a discussion, on motion made and seconded, the
Faculty Appointments and Changes in Status were unanimously ap-
proved.
On motion made and seconded, the following resolution was
unanimously approved by the Board:
RESOLVED, that the Vice Rector is authorized to
sign the "Amendment to the Virginia Hospital Laundry
Agreement" in the absence of the Rector.
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Mr. Holmes presented the "Guidelines for Building the
Biennial Budget for 1976-78." This was presented to the Board
to keep them abreast of the various formulae and other data
used to formulate VCU's budget.
The meeting adjourned at 12:20 p.m. for a tour of MCV
Hospitals. I r
Richard D. Obenshain
Approved:
Wyndham B. Blanton, Jr.
MINUTES OF AN EXECUTIVE SESSION OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
July 17, 1975
(THESE MINUTES ARE FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS AND THOSE
MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION PRESENT DURING THE EXECUTIVE SES-
SION AND ARE TO BE TREATED WITH THE STRICTEST OF CONFIDENCE.)
An Executive Session of the Board of Visitors of Virginia
Commonwealth University was held July 17, 1975, at 9:00 a.m. in
the Sanger Hall Board Room.
Present were Messrs. Dabney, Obenshain, Scott, Seaborn,
Shumate and Taylor; Dr. Gwathmey; and Mesdames Satterfield and
Stone. Absent were Messrs. Grey, McGehee, Morgan and Norris;
Dr. Blanton and Mrs. Thalhimer. Also present were Drs. Brooke,
Neal and Temple; Mr. Holmes and Mrs. Price.
Dr. Temple reported that the reports prepared by Booz,
Allen & Hamilton were difficult to interpret. Therefore, the
administration had prepared a "checklist" of all those recom-
mendations presented to date in the Booz, Allen & Hamilton re-
ports and modified by the administration. The administration
will return to the Board each month with a progress report and
use the checklist as a guide. Dr. Neal went over the checklist
with the Board indicating target dates for completion.
The members of the Board indicated that this checklist
was very helpful.
The checklist will be updated at each Board meeting.
Executive Session was concluded at 10:00 a.m.
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
July 17, 1975
Dr. Temple reported that with regard to the Virginia Hospital Laundry, First
and Merchants National Bank had closed the loan. The Office of the Attorney
General had written a letter giving clear authority to the Board of Visitors to
enter into a contract with Virginia Hospital Laundry. Dr. Temple reported that
he had received a call from Mr. Earl Dickinson, a member of the General
Assembly from Goochland, regarding the Hospital Laundry. Dr. Temple
indicated to Mr. Dickinson that he would like very much to have the
opportunity for members of the VCU administration to sit down and discuss
the Virginia Hospital Laundry with him. Mr. Dickinson agreed; however, no
date for such a meeting was agreed upon.
Dr. Temple reported that he and other state-supported university presidents
had been invited to a meeting of the Appropriations Committee at which time
Dr. Marvin presented the State Council's capital outlay priority list. VCU
fell in category three (3). In addition, a meeting was held with Senator
Willey and Delegate Lane to discuss VCU's capital outlay requests at which
time their support was requested.
Dr. Temple stated that a semi-annual report had been prepared for submission
to SCHEV with regard to our affirmative action program. Dr. Temple read
excerpts from the report which indicated that VCU was complying in these
areas.
Dr. Temple reported that he had had a conversation with Dr. Blanton concerning
the appropriateness of holding an inauguration. Dr. Blanton indicated that he
felt an inauguration should be held with the Board's concurrence. Dr. Temple
indicated that he would like very much to have Governor Godwin present and
that December 4th seemed to be the best date. The Board agreed that there
should be an inauguration and that December 4th was an appropriate date.
Dr. Temple discussed with the Board various items relating to the President's
House at 1201 Loch Lomond Court. The Board concurred in the proposed
expenditure.
Dr. Temple reported that he had received verbal confirmation from the Office
of the Attorney General that VCU would be allowed to have its own legal
counsel with certain conditions. A letter is to follow outlining these conditions
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Dr. Temple gave the Board an up date on the hospital bond package. He indicated
that they had had a conversation with representatives from Blyth, Eastman, Dillon
and Company regarding several options available to MCV/VCU. Blyth, Eastman
representatives feel that the bonds are very marketable. The State Treasurer
indicated in a meeting held with him that he felt there were three points which
needed to be clarified: (1) Does the present authority given by the General
Assembly relate to the 9-D bonds as well as the 9-C bonds? (2) Do the issues
rasied over the 9-C bonds have any affect on the 9-D bonds? (3) If questions
one and two receive favorable replies, it will be necessary to up date the cost
of the hospital and redo the financial feasibility study. Dr. Temple indicated
that the administration doubts whether the General Assembly's authorization of
9-C bonds covers 9-D bonds. If not, the administration will have to work with
the General Assembly during the coming session to gain approval to issue 9-D
bonds. This will mean an eight or nine month delay.
Dr. Temple and Dr. Brooke reported that we had received a $10,000 grant from
the Cabell Foundation for the special collections section in the library.
Richard D. Obenshain
Approved:
