MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
January 15, 1981
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University was held on Thursday, January 15, 1981, at 9:00 a.m. in the Student
Lounge of the Lyons Building.
Present were Messrs. Balfour, Craigie, Grey and Wyatt; Drs. Butt, Coleman,
Gayle, Johnson and Nemuth; and Mesdames Fewell and Satterfield. Absent were
Mesdames Bemiss and Thalhimer; and Messrs. Cotten and Ludeman. Also present
were Drs. Ackell, Hall, Salley, Sparks, Wilson and Woods; Messrs. Bruegman,
Guerdon and Ross; Miss Cosby and Mrs. Price.
Mrs. Satterfield called the meeting to order and announced that a meeting
of the Executive Committee would be held on Thursday, February 19, 1981, at
8:30 a.m. in the Conference Room at 910 West Franklin Street.
On motion made and seconded, the following minutes were approved: Special
Meeting of the Property Committee, held October 28, 1980; Special Meeting of the
Executive Committee, held October 30, 1980; Special Meeting of the Audit Committee,
held November 10, 1980; Special Meeting of the Academic Policy Committee, held
November 14, 1980; Special Meeting of the Property Committee, held November 18,
1980; Regular Meeting of the Board of Visitors, held November 20, 1980; Special
Meeting of the Student Affairs Committee, held December 11, 1980; and a Special
Meeting of the Hospital Committee, held December 18, 1980.
During the Report of the President, Dr. Ackell reported on the following
items:
1. Dr. Ackell announced that the General Assembly opened yesterday
(January 14, 1981) and will be having a short session. During
the mini-session, agencies may only request emergency items.
VCU's request includes the hospitals and other objects of
expenditure.
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2. Dr. Ackell reported that he had established a Task Force on
Student Media composed of five faculty, five students and one
person from the community. This task force will be advising
the President on the following:
To determine the appropriate relationship between
student media funded by student activity fees and
the university, and appropriate mechanisms for im-
plementing this relationship.
To examine the feasibility of establishing student
media totally independent of the university and to
study universities with programs designed according
to that model.
To consider the establishment of a publications
board and define its role and responsibility.
3. Dr. Ackell reminded the members of the Board about the Governmental
Employees Reception to be held on January 26. The Governor and
Richmond-area members of the General Assembly as well as State
officials have been invited to attend.
4. Dr. Ackell reported that we enrolled 1,100 students in 32 classes
during the Christmas Intersession. Also, spring enrollment figures
look very good and we should meet our projections.
Mr. Bruegman presented the Report on Institutional Priorities. He stated
that this document would be used as the planning document for the 1982-84 biennial
budget request. Therefore, it is important that the Board concur with the general
thrust of the document. Dr. Ackell stated that this document would be expanded
to include strategies for achieving the goals and objectives and then presented
again to the Board at a later date. The Board concurred with the general thrust
of this document.
Mr. Wyatt reported for the Academic Policy Committee which met recently to
discuss the proposed Virginia Real Estate Research Center. Mr. Wyatt stated
that this Center would require no additional funds and no new positions. This
will be the only center for real estate research in the State. On motion made
and seconded, the Virginia Real Estate Research Center was approved.
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The Audit Committee had no report at this time.
Mr. Grey reported that the Hospital Committee had met on December 18 and
reviewed hospital operations and hospital construction. He stated that the
cash flow and collections are in a normal posture and the nursing staff has
approximately 50 more nurses working this year as compared to last year at
this time. Mr. Grey also reported that Dr. Sigsby Gayle will serve as the
Vice Chairman of the Hospital Committee.
Mr. Balfour reported for the Property Committee. He stated that this
committee will be meeting once a month in order to stay abreast of the current
building activity at VCU. He also reported that most of the October, November and
December meetings were devoted to the complicated and demanding task for defining
and understanding the capital outlay process. Mr. Balfour also reported on the
use of historic landmark structures by the University. On motion made and
seconded, the Report of the Property Committee was accepted.
Dr. Gayle reported that he and Dr. Wilson had met with two students to hear
their recommendations concerning students serving on Boards of Visitors. Dr. Gayle
stated that the students made some good points but he reminded them that Board mem-
bers are appointed by the Governor. Dr. Gayle reported that at an earlier break-
fast meeting the Student Affairs Committee heard a report on the Student Health
Service on the MCV Campus. He indicated that this was a very interesting and in-
formative report.
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 dis-
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cuss matters relating to gifts, bequests, fund-raising activities and to discuss
the awarding of honorary degrees as authorized by Sections 2.1 - 344 a(1), a(2),
a(6), a(7) and a(8) 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 Appoint-
ments and Changes in Status, and the Report of Gifts with Mr. Grey abstaining
from the vote on the Report of Gifts. The report of the Honorary Degree Com-
mittee was postponed.
Mrs. Satterfield reported that an interest had been expressed in having
a group picture made of the Board members.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:25 a.m.
Approved:
