MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
November 20, 1980
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University
was held on Thursday, November 20, 1980, at 9:00 a.m. in the Lyons Building Student
Lounge.
Present were Drs. Butt, Coleman, Gayle, Johnson and Nemuth; Messrs. Balfour,
Craigie, Grey, Ludeman and Wyatt; and Mesdames Bemiss, Fewell, Satterfield and
Thalhimer. Mr. Cotten was absent. Also present were Drs. Ackell, Hall, Harris,
Salley, Wilson and Woods; Messrs. Bruegman, Guerdon and Ross; and Miss Cosby and
Mrs. Price.
Mrs. Satterfield called the meeting to order. On motion made and seconded,
the Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Board of Visitors, held September 17, 1980,
as amended; a Special Meeting of the Hospital Committee, held October 16, 1980; and
a Special Meeting of the Student Affairs Committee, held October 23, 1980, were
approved.
On motion made and seconded, the Board went into executive session to discuss
potential litigation matters as authorized by Section 2.1 - 344 a(6) as authorized
by the Freedom of Information Act. Following the executive session, it was announced
that no formal action had been taken by the Board during the executive session.
During the Report of the President, Dr. Ackell reported on the following items:
1. Dr. Ackell stated that our headcount projections for on-campus
students this fall were 18,960. Our present headcount is 19,125
on-campus students and more than 20,000 if you count off-campus,
senior citizen and audit enrollments. Dr. Ackell praised the
work of our admissions office and our deans in exceeding our
projections. The School of Business increased its enrollment
by more than 16 percent.
2. Dr. Ackell reported that, according to the American Psychology
Association, the Department of Psychology at VCU is ranked num-
ber 7 relative to productivity of publications in refereed
journals. He also stated that the Virginia Treatment Center,
which is our principle off-campus practicum site, is ranked
number 1 as the mental health center with more than three
publications.
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2. Dr. Ackell stated that the Black 'n Gold Men's Basketball game
would be held on Friday, November 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Franklin
Street Gym. Basketball season officially opens on December 3 when
VCU will play William & Mary at the Coliseum. Dr. Ackell continued
that he had a block of tickets reserved and, if Board members would
like to have tickets for a particular game, they should call Meg
Price.
4. Dr. Ackell reported that there are a number of search committees
still working. The search for the Vice President for Health Sciences
has been narrowed to two candidates. The committees looking for
Deans for Pharmacy and Nursing are still at work.
5. Dr. Ackell happily stated that the University had once again ex-
ceeded its United Way goal of $80,811. He continued that he was
proud of the hard work by Mr. Gerald J. Maier, Chairman, and his
assistants, Dr. John Andrako, Dr. William Duvall, Dr. William Judd
Mr. John Marsh.
6. Dr. Ackell stated that the senior staff had participated in a one-
day retreat to discuss the priorities for the coming biennium. A
follow-up retreat will be held in the spring of next year.
7. Dr. Ackell reported that Campus Guest Day was held on Saturday,
November 8. There were 750 visitors on campus that day. He
continued that this program was part of the recruitment program
of the Admissions Office and they have been very successful over the
past few years.
8. Dr. Ackell stated that he had attended a number of professional
meetings this fall including the American Council on Education,
the Association of Academic Health Centers, the Medical Society of
Virginia, and the National Association of State Universities and
Land-Grant Colleges. Dr. Ackell continued that these meetings
have had good programs dealing with major issues facing higher
education in this decade. He also reported that at the NASULGC
session, a five-member task force was appointed to look at how
federal regulations affect higher education. Dr. Ackell in-
dicated that he had been asked to serve as one of the five
members.
9. Dr. Ackell reported that he had some concerns over the ways that
VCU's student media are functioning. He continued that he is
appointing a task force to study the media and make recommendations
to him. Dr. Ackell indicated that he is seeking nominations to serve
on this task force from the President of the Academic Campus Student
Association , the President of the MCV Campus Student Government Associa-
tion and the President of the Faculty Senate.
10. Dr. Ackell reported that "Trot for Tots," sponsored by the MCVH
Auxiliary, was held on Sunday, November 2 and $2,500 was raised
for the hospitals.
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The report of the contracts signed since the September Board of Visitors'
meeting was reviewed by the Board.
Mrs. Satterfield reported that the Executive Committee of the Board had
met on October 30, 1980. At that meeting, the Committee approved a resolution
authorizing a loan from the State Treasury to renovate the former Richmond
Eye Hospital and a resolution authorizing Mr. Bruce Chase, newly appointed
Treasurer, to sign certain checks, drafts, etc. as they relate to his office.
Mrs. Satterfield continued that Mr. Guerdon presented a very in-depth report
on the University's investment policy. On motion made and seconded, the report
of the Executive Committee was accepted.
Mrs. Satterfield reported that at the Wednesday evening session of the Board,
Dr. Elske Smith, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, presented a very in-
depth report on that school.
Mr. Wyatt reported that the Academic Policy Committee had met to consider
changing the name of the School of Community Services to the School of Community
and Public Affairs. Mr. Wyatt continued that the Academic Policy Committee had
approved recommending this change to the Board with an effective date of July 1,
1981. On motion made and seconded, the Board approved changing the name of the
School of Community Services to the School of Community and Public Affairs.
Mrs. Thalhimer reported that the Audit Committee had met on November 10, 1980,
and the first part of the meeting was devoted to a mini-orientation for new Com-
mittee members. She also reported that the Audit Committee will be reviewing the
management letter for both the Hospital and the University within the near future.
Mrs. Thalhimer stated that Mr. Johnson will be presenting time utilization re-
ports of the internal audit staff to the Audit Committee on an annual basis.
He will present quarterly reports on audit findings. The Audit Committee endorsed
the hiring of a construction auditor within the Internal Audit Department. The
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Committee also reaffirmed the present reporting relationship of the Internal
Audit Department to the President of the University and to the Audit Committee
of the Board of Visitors and accepted a report on personnel matters relating
to internal control at the University in executive session.
Mr. Grey reported that the Hospital Committee met and held an orientation
for its new committee members. Mr. Lash reported to the Committee that the
hospital's income is up, hospital collections are up and hospital stays are up.
Mr. Grey stated that construction has begun on the Cancer Center as well as the
renovation work on the former Richmond Eye Hospital. The new hospital is due
to be completed late in 1981. A question was raised concerning the length of
stays at MCVH. It was pointed out that patients have longer stays at MCVH be-
cause of the type of highly specialized care for many patients and because of
the nature of being a teaching hospital.
Mrs. Bemiss reported that the Property Committee had met twice since the
last Board meeting. On October 28, the Committee reviewed and approved the
Capital Outlay Process. Mrs. Bemiss stated that there are three major changes
in the new process. First, approval of the selection of a specific architectural
firm will no longer be required by the Board for projects less than $500,000
since architects would be selected in accordance with a Board approved Architect
Selection policy; secondly, the Board would no longer approve Working Drawings
since these drawings reaffirm decisions previously made of the preliminary draw-
ings; and thirdly, approval of projects costing less than $200,000 would be
delegated to the administration.
At the November 18 meeting of the Property Committee, the preliminaries for
Phase II of the Low-Rise Dormitory were reviewed. The revised program plan calls
for motel-type units for 384 students. Concern was expressed by the Committee
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regarding the total floor space and the lack of lounge space in the rooms and
throughout the entire facility. The Property Committee suggested that the
Student Affairs Committee review the programming for the low-rise dormitory
and determine whether the needs of the students will be met and to review the
furnishings for the combination lounge/meeting rooms. The Committee also re-
quested that Glave, Newman, Anderson take the comments of the Committee and
rework the design to increase the usable space in the rooms and that the plans
for this facility be reviewed by the Student Affairs Committee. The working
drawings for the Cary Street Gym were approved by the Property Committee. The
preliminary drawings for the VCU Meeting Center were reviewed with the Committee
and a construction management approach for this project was authorized.
Dr. Gayle reported that the Student Affairs Committee had met on October 23
with representatives of the Academic Campus Student Association. He indicated
that a number of good points were raised by the students present. The next meet-
ing of the Student Affairs Committee is scheduled for December 11 at 7:30 a.m.
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 its attorney,
and to discuss the condition, acquisition, and use of real property, and to discuss matters relating to gifts, bequests, fund-raising activities as authorized by
Sections 2.1 - 344 a(1), a(2), a(6), and a(7) of the Freedom of Information Act.
The Board reconvened in public session and, on motion made and seconded,
approved and/or accepted the Report of the Legal Advisor, the Faculty Appointments
and Changes in Status, and the Report of Gifts. The Report of the Honorary Degree
Committee was postponed.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:05 p.m.
-6-Harold I. Nemuth, Secretar
Approved:
Anne P. Satterfield, Rector
