MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
August 13, 1976
A special meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia
Commonwealth University was held on a retreat at Royal Orchard
on Friday, August 13, 1976.
Present were Drs. Blanton, Gayle and Gwathmey; Messrs.
Dabney, McGehee, Norris, Scott, Seaborn and Shumate; Mesdames
Satterfield, Stone and Thalhimer. Absent were Messrs. Grey,
Morgan and Obenshain. Also present were Drs. Temple and Willett.
The meeting convened at 10:00 a.m. and Mr. Buford Scott at
the request of the Rector gave a most interesting brief history
of Royal Orchard. The morning session of the Board centered
around the mission and goals of the University. During the after-
noon session there was a discussion on the mechanics and procedures
involved in the President's evaluation as a prelude to the Rector's
appointment of an evaluation committee as set forth in the Board's
By-Laws. The Rector appointed the Presidential Evaluation Committee
which was composed of Mr. Richard Obenshain, Mrs. Anne Satterfield
and Mr. Stuart Shumate, Chairman. There was a general agreement
that the President should be evaluated in terms of the qualifica-
tions set forth in the Presidential Search.
The same committee headed by Mr. Shumate was also given the
responsibility of representing the Board in the development of
the University Mission Statement. The members of the Board felt
that they should be involved in the development of the University
Mission Statement which, in their opinion, should be rather general
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and short. It was felt that the goals should be developed with
greater specificity by the staff which could be made available
to the Board members for review and comment.
The Rector also appointed a committee to bring back a report
to the Board on steps that should be taken to establish procedures
for internal audits and better control of University funds. This
committee was composed of Mr. Coleman McGehee, Chairman; Mr.
Buford Scott and Dr. T. Edward Temple.
Mr. Buford Scott reported to the Board the action taken by
the Property Committee in approving preliminary plans for a student
dormitory for submission to the State Division of Engineering and
Buildings and the Art Commission. He also reported that the Property
Committee had approved and accepted the portrait of Dr. Mary Kapp,
former Professor of Chemistry at the University. The Board approved
both actions of the Property Committee.
Before adjourning at 4:30 p.m., the Rector expressed apprecia-
tion to Mr. and Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Earl Johnson, Jr., for their
hospitality in providing a very memorable day at Royal Orchard.
Approved:
