MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
March 18, 1976
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Common-
wealth University was held on Thursday, March 18, 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 Mesdames
Satterfield and Thalhimer. Absent were Mr. Morgan and Mrs. Stone.
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.
On motion made and seconded, the minutes of a Special Meeting
of the Academic Policy Committee, held February 18, 1976, and a
Special Meeting of the Property Committee, held February 19, 1976,
were unanimously approved.
The Report of the President followed. During the Report, Dr
Blanton appointed an ad hoc committee composed of Mr. McGehee,
Chairman; Mr. Scott; and Mr. Obenshain. The purpose of this com-
mittee will be to work with the Administration and report to the
Board with respect to the position that should be taken as a result
of the recent session of the General Assembly, particularly its
failure to approve the proposed Music and Drama Classroom facility.
If the ad hoc committee feels that its recommendations require
immediate action, it will report directly to the Executive Committee
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of the Board. On motion made and seconded, the establishment of the
ad hoc committee was unanimously approved.
Dr. Blanton reported to the Board that he had been invited to
attend a joint meeting of the Council of Presidents and the Rectors
of State colleges and universities. As a result of this meeting, Dr.
Blanton was appointed to an ad hoc committee to set up the "Council
of Visitors of Boards." This group would be composed of all members
of Boards of Visitors of State-supported institutions. This group
will endeavor to speak for the needs of higher education in general.
No objections were expressed regarding Dr. Blanton's continued service
on the ad hoc committee to develop the "Council of Visitors."
Dr. Blanton reported that, during the recent session on the
legislature, he had received a call from the University of Virginia
asking that he take a stand, on behalf of the VCU Board of Visitors,
on the proposed revisions of the "Sunshine Law." Dr. Blanton
indicated that since he had no way of contacting each member of
the Board and since, at a previous discussion on this matter, the
Board was fairly evenly divided, he did not include the VCU Board
of Visitors among those opposing the proposed amendment.
Dr. Blanton also reported that he had received a letter from
Dr. W. M. Deyerle of the Richmond Orthopaedic Clinic concerning
the lack of an appointment of a Chairman in the Division of
Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Blanton requested Dr. Neal to keep the
Board informed with regard to this matter.
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Mr. John B. Ashton and Mr. Walter H. Ryland then joined the
meeting. Following a discussion of a proposed amendment of the
Laundry Service Agreement with Virginia Hospital Laundry, Inc.,
on motion made and seconded, the following resolution was adopted
with Mr. McGehee abstaining:
RESOLVED, that the Rector and Secretary
of the Board are hereby authorized and directed
to execute and deliver a Laundry Service
Agreement between Virginia Hospital Laundry,
Inc., Virginia Commonwealth University,
Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, and
Hopewell Hospital Authority, John Randolph
Hospital, pursuant to which VCU, the Medical
College of Virginia Hospitals, agrees to grant
Virginia Hospital Laundry, Inc., the exclusive
right to provide all of its laundry and linen
service requirements for a period of twenty
years, said Laundry Service Agreement to be
in substantially the form submitted to this
meeting, with such changes therein as may be
approved by such officers, the execution there-
of with said changes to be conclusive evidence
of such approval.
On motion made and seconded, the Transitional Organization
for Virginia Commonwealth University was unanimously approved.
The "Faculty Turnover Rates for the Academic Campus and the
MCV Campus" were accepted by the Board.
The HMO Progress Report was presented to the Board by Dr.
Neal. Dr. Neal indicated that the final HMO report would be pre-
sented at the April 15th meeting. Following a discussion on what
type of decision would be made at the April meeting, the HMO
Progress Report was accepted by the Board. Dr. Blanton stated
that he has a conflict of interest on this subject and would re-
frain from any further discussions on the HMO.
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Following a discussion, on motion made and seconded, the Faculty
Promotions for the MCV Campus, the Academic Campus and the Libraries,
were unanimously approved.
On motion made and seconded, the Report of Gifts, Grants and
Contracts was unanimously approved.
Following a presentation by Mr. Holmes, the Financial Statements
were accepted by the Board.
On motion made and seconded, the Faculty Appointments and
Changes in Status were unanimously approved.
At this time, Dr. Leigh E. Grosenick, Director of the Masters
Program in Public Administration, joined the meeting and gave the
Board a brief description of his program.
Dr. Blanton reported to the Board that Mrs. Karen C. Kincannon
had been recommended by the administration to be appointed as Legal
Advisor to the President and Board of Visitors effective April 1,
1976. On motion made and seconded, Mrs. Kincannon's appointment
was unanimously approved.
At this time, Dr. Neal introduced Dr. Jesse Steinfeld, the
new Dean of the School of Medicine, to the Board.
The meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.
Richard D. Obenshain, Secretary
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
March 18, 1976
1. Service Awards
Dr. Temple reported to the Board that the Service Awards
program held last week had been most successful. The banquet,
which was held on Friday night, was one of the nicest events
ever held. Dr. Temple presented five-year pins to Dr. Owen
Gwathmey, Mr. Richard D. Obenshain, Mr. James L. Seaborn and
Mrs. Robert M. Stone, Jr.
2. Signage Project
Dr. Temple indicated that, since approval by the Property
Committee of the Board and the Board of Visitors in February,
the Art Commission has also approved VCU's signage project.
Dr. Temple reported that this project would cost about
$50,000; this is for external signage only. The project
should be completed by the summer of 1976.
3. Community Relations
Dr. Temple stated that the VCU administration met last week
with both the City Manager of Richmond and his staff, and
the City Planning Commission. At the City Planning Com-
mission, the VCU administration presented the up-dated
Master Site Plan and the Planning Commission presented their
development project for downtown Richmond. Dr. Temple and
Dr. Willett also met with Dr. Hunter, the new Superintendent
of Richmond Public Schools to discuss ways that VCU could
assist the City schools.
4. General Assembly
Dr. Temple reported on the recent session of the General
Assembly. He indicated that VCU got very little of what
they asked for. The hospital project did go through with-
out any serious questions being raised. However, we did
not get the Music and Drama Classroom facility. Dr. Temple
indicated that after all the work the VCU administration
had done (i.e., bringing the Richmond delegation to tour
the facilities along with other State officials), not one
member of the Richmond delegation made a public statement
as to the great need for this facility. Dr. Temple asked
Mr. Holmes and Mr. Cribbs to outline how VCU now stands
Report of the President (continued) Page 2
4. General Assembly (continued)
with regard to the budget. Three summary sheets were passed
out and gone over in detail showing where the greatest reduc-
tions in the budget occurred.
5. Accreditation
Dr. Temple asked Dr. Wayne Hall to comment with regard to
two accreditation teams that had been to campus. Dr. Hall
stated that he had been told that the accreditation of our
music program would probably be in jeopardy because of poor
facilities. However, he was awaiting a written report. Dr.
Hall also reported that Dean Rothenberg had called him shortly
before the Board meeting this morning to indicate that our
BSW program would be fully accredited.
