MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
November 15, 1979
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University
was held on Thursday, November 15, 1979, at 9:00 a.m. in the Lyons Building Student
Lounge.
Present were Drs. Gayle, Johnson and Nemuth; Messrs. Balfour, Grey, Seaborn,
Shumate and Wyatt; and Mesdames Bemiss, Fewell, Satterfield and Thalhimer. Absent
were Drs. Blanton and Butt. Also present were Drs. Ackell. Beller, Hall, Wilson
and Woods; Messrs. Bruegman, Guerdon and Ross; Miss Cosby and Mrs. Price.
In the absence of Dr. Blanton, Mrs. Satterfield called the meeting to order.
She also indicated that the Board hoped to have a permanent meeting place on the
Academic Campus sometime next year.
On motion made and seconded, the following minutes were approved: Regular
Meeting of the Board of Visitors, held September 20, 1979; Special Meeting of the
Student Affairs Committee, held October 11, 1979; Special Meeting of the Audit Com-
mittee, held October 19, 1979; and a Special Meeting of the Hospital Committee, held
October 25, 1979.
The Report of the President followed. Dr. Ackell presented these issues to the
Board:
1. The wife of a faculty member of the Music Department was killed in an automobile
accident on Interstate 64, and the body of a missing VCU coed, Allison Prince,
was found after she had been missing for five years. An anatomy professor, Dr.
Michael Snodgrass, was found dead in his hotel room in Toledo, Ohio. He had
been lecturing at the Medical College of Toledo.
2. With regard to enrollment this fall, headcount is up over last year but is
short of our projections. VCU is doing well compared to other institutions
in the state. Our headcount enrollment is 19,428.
3. An agreement has been signed with the MCV Alumni Association that incorporates
that Association under the umbrella organization of the Virginia Commonwealth
University Alumni Association.
Page 2
4. An effort is being made to develop better communications within the University.
General faculty meetings are held once a semester. In addition, Dr. Ackell
is meeting with each individual school faculty.
5. The School of Allied Health Professions celebrated its ten year anniversary
recently. A dinner was held for faculty and staff, and Congressman and Mrs.
Satterfield were in attendance. This school has three outstanding and
nationally recognized programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy and
health administration.
6. The search for the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences has been narrowed
to four external candidates and two internal candidates. Dr. Ackell re-
ported that two of the external candidates have excellent backgrounds.
A recommendation should be forthcoming in December.
7. The women's volleyball team won the state tournament again this year and will
be competing in the regionals starting today. The women's athletic program
seems to be developing very well.
8. The United Way campaign at VCU was a great success again this year. We raised
$78,000 or 120.5% of our goal. The Board commended the University family for
this outstanding effort.
9. The VCU soccer team reached the semi-finals of the Sun Belt Conference Tourna-
ment. They did very well considering this is a recently established program
at VCU.
Mr. Guerdon presented the contracts which had been signed since the last Board
meeting. Following a discussion, on motion made and seconded, the contracts signed
since the last meeting were accepted with Messrs. Grey and Shumate abstaining.
On motion made and seconded, the following resolution was approved:
W. Carter Childress served the Virginia Commonwealth University for
a period of nine years with loyalty, dedication, and distinction. A
graduate of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, he felt honored to serve
the cause of higher education in his native state.
As Treasurer, he executed his duties faithfully, meeting difficult tasks
with firmness. Yet, he always remained a Virginia gentleman.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Visitors of Virginia Common-
wealth University recognizes the many contributions and the devoted ser-
vice that W. Carter Childress provided this institution and directs that
a copy of this resolution be sent to him.
Page 3
On behalf of the Academic Policy Committee, Mrs. Satterfield presented the
Pro Tem Bylaws of the School of Graduate Studies. On motion made and seconded,
the Pro Tem Bylaws of the School of Graduate Studies were approved.
Mr. Bruegman presented the University Goals and Objectives for the 1980-82
biennium. This document will be used in the budget planning process as a means
of setting priorities for the allocation of funds. Following a discussion, on
motion made and seconded, the University Goals and Objectives were approved.
Mr. Shumate requested that a list be developed which shows the types of
activities in which VCU faculty and staff are involved in the community.
Mr. Seaborn reported on behalf of the Audit Committee. Members of the Audit
Committee will be attending an audit seminar in early December. This seminar is
being conducted by Peat, Marwick and Mitchell and will deal with the role and
responsibilities of audit committees in higher education. Mr. Seaborn also reported
that a case of fraud had been discovered in the hospital billing office. Board
members will receive more information on this matter in Executive Session.
Reporting for the Hospital Committee, Mr. Grey indicated that this committee
is now meeting once a month rather than two or three times a month. Mr. Grey
attributed this to the continued interest of the VCU administration and the arrival
of the new hospital director and his staff. Mr. Grey requested approval of hospital
privileges for 39 physicians and dentists. The list has been reviewed by the
Credentials Committee and the Hospital Committee. On motion made and seconded, the
hospital privileges for the 39 physicians and dentists were approved. Mr. Grey also
reported that the Hospital Committee had reviewed four medical audit reports. Patient
days continue to improve and are up by 6.6 percent over the last three months. The
nursing population also continues to improve. On motion made and seconded, the Report
of the Hospital Committee was accepted.
Page 4
Dr. Gayle reported for the Student Affairs Committee. He stated that this
Committee had eaten breakfast in the student cafeteria and the food was very good.
However, the music was a little overwhelming! Dr. Gayle reported that elections
for Student Government on the Academic Campus are now taking place. It appears
that between 1,800 and 2,000 students will vote. This is a very good percentage.
It also appears that the Constitution will be approved overwhelmingly.
Mrs. Satterfield announced that Mr. Thomas J. Bliley was required to resign
from the VCU Board to accept an appointment on the Commission on Local Government.
Mrs. Satterfield indicated it was a loss to the Board of Visitors.
On motion made, seconded and approved, the Board went into executive session
to discuss certain personnel matters involving the performance of identifiable
employees or faculty of VCU, and to discuss pending litigation with our attorney,
and to discuss the condition, acquisition, and use of real property, and to discuss
matters relating to gifts, bequests, and fund raising activities as authorized by
section 2.1 - 344 a(1), a(2), a(6), and a(7) of the Freedom of Information Act.
The Board of Visitors reconvened in public session at 12:40 p.m. The Report
of the Legal Advisor, Faculty Appointments and Changes in Status, Report of Gifts,
Grants and Contracts, Report of the Property Committee and a report on the evalua-
tion of certain departments were approved and/or accepted on motion made and seconded.
Included in the Faculty Appointments was the change in status of Dr. John J. Salley
as Vice President for Research and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:45 p.m.
