MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
January 15, 1976
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth
University was held on Thursday, January 15, 1976, at 9:00 a.m. in the
Sanger Hall Board Room.
Present were Drs. Blanton and Gwathmey; Messrs. Dabney, Grey,
McGehee, Norris, Obenshain, Scott, Seaborn and Shumate; and Mrs.
Satterfield. Also present were Drs. Andrako, Brooke, Fleshood, Hall, Neal,
Salley, Sparks, Temple, Willett, Wilson and Woods; Mr. Holmes and Mrs.
Price.
Dr. Blanton called the meeting to order.
Dr. Roger L. Smith, Director of Institutional Research and Planning,
joined the meeting to present a summary of the Off-Street Parking Study
which was requested by the last session of the legislature. Dr. Smith
outlined the recommendations in the report, many of which the administra-
tion had already implemented. On motion made and seconded, the Off-
Street Parking Study was unanimously accepted by the Board.
On motion made and seconded, the Minutes of a Special Meeting of
the Property Committee, held on December 18, 1975, and a Special Meeting
of the Property Committee, held on January 7, 1976, were unanimously ap-
proved.
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A discussion was held concerning the proposed concept of the new
dormitory and the recommended architects, Glave, Newman and Anderson.
On motion made and seconded, the three- or four-story walk-up dormitory
concept and the firm of Glave, Newman and Anderson were unanimously
approved. However, the administration was asked to prepare a report on
the University's total housing system and visitation policy for the next
meeting of the Board.
On motion made and seconded, the minutes of a Special Meeting of
the Academic Policy Committee, held on January 5, 1976, were unanimously
approved.
The Report of the President followed. During Dr. Temple's report,
the TEAM program in the School of Dentistry was discussed. Dr. Blanton
reminded the Board of their action in the November meeting which stated
in part, "the Board decided that they would seek relief in the General As-
sembly by seeking a change in the present laws which made the TEAM
program and other similar programs unlawful and, if necessary, to make a
definitive statement regarding academic freedom." After discussion by the
Board, on motion made and seconded, it was unanimously agreed that the
intent of the November decision was to be permissive, allowing for action
by the administration if deemed desirable, and not mandatory.
Dr. Wayne Hall, Vice President for Academic Affairs, presented the
Letter of Intent for a Doctoral Program in Social Work/Sociology. Followin
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a discussion, on motion made and seconded, the Letter of Intent for a Doc-
toral Program in Social Work/Sociology was unanimously approved.
Following a presentation by Dr. Hall, on motion made and seconded,
the Letter of Intent for a Master of Fine Arts in Design was unanimously
approved.
Dr. Hall presented the Degree Proposal for a Master of Science in
Mass Communications. On motion made and seconded, the Degree Pro-
posal for a Master of Science in Mass Communications was unanimously
approved.
On motion made and seconded, the following resolution was unani-
mously approved:
RESOLVED, that the income received from the Estate
of Isaac Davenport has been applied strictly in accordance
with the terms of the Will during the calendar year 1975;
FURTHER RESOLVED, that all future remittances from
said Estate will be applied likewise.
Following a report by Mr. Raymond T. Holmes, Jr., Vice President
Finance, on motion made and seconded, the following resolution was
unanimously approved:
RESOLVED, that whereas Virginia Commonwealth University
has been advised by the Department of Health, Education and
Welfare that the federal government property described below is
surplus to its needs;
AND, WHEREAS, Virginia Commonwealth University is
qualified to receive such property under the laws governing the
disposal of federal surplus property and has immediate need for
the property;
BE IT RESOLVED, that Raymond T. Holmes, Jr., Vice Presi-
dent for Finance, be authorized to submit the necessary application
forms and any other information required to support its interest in
the property;
AND, FURTHER, that should the property be awarded to
Virginia Commonwealth University, T. Edward Temple, President,
is hereby authorized to receive the property in the name of the
Virginia Commonwealth University;
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
Parcel of land consisting of 4.74 acres in feet and
one warehouse identified as a portion of the De-
fense General Supply Center, comprising the Photo-
graphic Material Storage Facility, which is located
in the City of Richmond, Virginia, and is not con-
tiguous with the main installation.
I, Richard D. Obenshain, hereby certify that: I am the duly
appointed, qualified and acting Secretary of the Board of
Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University and that the
above is a true copy of a Resolution adopted by the Board of
Visitors at a meeting held on January 15, 1976.
s) Richard D, Obenshain, Secretary
Richard D. Obenshain, Secretary
-Date: January 15, 1976
Following a discussion, on motion made and seconded, the Report of
On motion made and seconded, the Financial Statements were accepted
Gifts, Grants and Contracts was unanimously approved.
Following a discussion, on motion made and seconded, the Faculty
Appointments and Changes in Status were unanimously approved. Mr. Grey
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requested the administration to advise the Board at the next meeting of the
professional rate of turnover on both campuses.
Dr. Francis J. Brooke, Provost of the Academic Campus, presented a
report on the gifts made to the library during the 1975 year.
Mr. Samuel Anderson, Mr. Richard Prudhomme and Mr. Robert Win-
throp of Glave, Newman and Anderson joined the meeting at this time and
presented a preliminary report on the update of the Master Site Plan for the
Academic Campus.
On majority vote, the Board went into Executive Session.
The meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.
Richard D. Obenshain
Approved:
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
January 15, 1976
1.) Hospital Bond Issue
Dr. Temple reported that members of the administration and the
Rector had attended a meeting with the Governor and Acting
Secretary of Education Carter Lowance to discuss the Hospital
Bond Issue. Dr. Temple indicated that they left the meeting
feeling that the Governor was convinced of the great need for
this project. Word has been received that the Governor will
have this in his budget message on Monday, January 19, 1976.
Several meetings have also been held with our attorneys. They
feel that it may be necessary for VCU to take the 9-D bond
question to court to get a clarification as we did for the 9-C
bond question. Dr. Temple indicated that the Governor did not
want this to happen if at all possible. Also, Dr. Temple re-
ported that this would mean another two to three-year delay.
Dr. Temple stated that the project included $99.8 million in
revenue bonds with an additional $10 million to be appropriated
over the next four bienniums.
Dr. Temple reported that a "readable" report was being pre-
pared and sent to members of the General Assembly. Also the
administration is preparing a brochure to be distributed among
business and community leaders, alumni, etc.
Dr. Temple asked Board members to actively contact any persons
they know who might help us in getting the bond issue passed.
2.) Meeting with the State Council of Higher Education
Dr. Temple announced that the State Council had requested a
meeting with members of the administration and members of the
Board of Visitors of VCU. This meeting will enable VCU to
present its needs to the Council and to give them a tour of the
facilities on the Academic Campus. Dr. Temple stated that Dr.
Marvin has drafted a resolution for the Council to approve
stressing the urgent needs at VCU. Dr. Temple indicated that
he hoped many members of the Board would be able to attend
this meeting scheduled for February 3, 1976, at 10:00 a.m.
Report of the President Page 2
3.) Fire Marshall's Letter
Dr. Temple called on Dr. Neal to report on the status of the
actions taken by the administration with regard to the 133
deficiencies listed in the Fire Marshall's letter. Dr. Neal
handed out a graph showing how these deficiencies would be
handled. Dr. Temple reported that many of the items were
general housekeeping problems and that they had already
been taken care of.
4.) Office of Civil Rights
Dr. Temple reported that several persons from the Office of
Civil Rights would be visiting the campus on January 26 to
meet with him to discuss VCU's compliance or non-compliance
with HEW's desegregation plan. Dr. Temple passed out an
article which appeared in the Richmond newspapers concerning
HEW's "interest" in certain Virginia colleges.
5.) Virginia Hospital Laundry
Dr. Temple indicated that he had recently visited the Virginia
Hospital Laundry facility and that they were outstanding. He
indicated that the laundry should be operational by mid-February
and that he felt we would receive outstanding laundry service.
Dr. Temple advised the Board that certain members of the General
Assembly would probably bring this issue up again during this
session.
6.) Meeting with the Executive Committee of the Virginia Dental Assn
Dr. Temple reported that he and Dr. Blanton had met with the
Executive Committee of the Virginia Dental Association at its
request. The members of the Executive Committee expressed
their feelings over the recent issue of the Dental TEAM Program.
Following this discussion, Dr. Temple and Dr. Blanton requested
the support of the Virginia Dental Association with regard to the
Hospital Bond issue.
7.) Governor's Message,
Dr. Temple reported that the Governor had requested a 25 percent
increase for higher education in his message to the General
Assembly.
