MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
January 21, 1982
A Regular Meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth
University was held on Thursday, January 21, 1982 at 9:00 a.m. in the
University Meeting Center.
Present were Messrs. Balfour, Craigie and Ludeman; Drs. Coleman, Gayle
and Nemuth; and Mesdames Bemiss and Whittemore. Absent were Messrs. Cotten,
Grey, Smith and Wyatt; Mesdames Fewell and Thlahimer; and Dr. Butt* and Johnson.
Also present were Drs. Ackell, Hall, Salley, Wilson and Woods; Messrs. Bruegman,
Guerdon, Ross and Ware; and Mrs. Price.
A quorum of the Board was not present so no action was taken at the meeting.
Mr. Ludeman called the meeting to order.
Dr. Ackell reported to the Board on the following items:
1. Mr. G. William (Bill) Norris, a former member of the VCU
Board of Visitors, died this week at the age of 52 from
cancer. Services will be on Friday, January 22, at 2 p.m.
at Trinity Lutheran Church.
2. For the Holiday Intersession, we had between 1,100 and
1,200 students taking courses.
3. The Spring semester enrollments are holding up to expectations
and we should meet our annual enrollment projections.
4. We are nearing completion of three dean searches -- Pharmacy,
Basic Sciences and Social Work. Members of the Board will be
invited to meet with the finalist for each of these positions.
5. On February 9, we have invited all members of the General
Assembly as well as selected State officials to a cocktail/
buffet and musical presentation. We hope to have a good
representation from our Board at this social occasion.
*For purposes of attendance records, Dr. Butt will be counted as present since
he did drive to Richmond for the meeting but was forced to return to Wytheville
because of the winter storm.
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The Academic Policy Committee of the Board did not have a report for this
meeting.
The Hospital Committee reported that they had not met since the last Board
meeting.
Dr. Gayle reported that the Student Affairs Committee had met and reviewed
demographic material prepared by the Student Affairs' staff. Dr. Gayle indicated
that this material would be mailed to each member of the Board for informational
purposes.
Mrs. Bemiss reported that the Property Committee had met. As a follow up
to the Committee's November discussion, an overview of the hospital renovation
program was presented by Mr. Lash in the context of the master planning functions
on the MCV Campus.
Mr. Ludeman reported that a new format for the Board agenda books will be
adopted beginning with the March meeting. Committee minutes will be placed
behind the apporpriate tab for the committee report and the minutes approved
at that time. Minutes of the Board of Visitors and the Executive Committee will
continue to appear behind Tab I for Board approval.
Mr. Ludeman reported that the Ad Hoc Legislative Relations Committee has
been very active over the last two months. A number of key meetings have been
held with members of the General Assembly as well as State officials. He reported
that a meeting will be held soon to bring each member of the Committee up to date.
Mr. Ludeman reported that the Executive Committee had met and reviewed the
Financial Warning Signals in the "Financial Management Manual for Institutions of
Higher Education" which was prepared by the State Comptroller's Office. The
Executive Committee also reviewed the Quarterly Budget Report. Mr. Ludeman reported
that the Executive Committee had also reviewed the Bylaws of the University Council
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Regarding the SCHEV Issue Papers, Mr. Ludeman reported that he had met
with Dr. Gordon Davies, Director of the Council of Higher Education, and Mr.
Gordon Willis, Chairman of SCHEV's Board. Mr. Ludeman reported that, during
this meeting, he was informed that the issue papers were part of the plan for
higher education in Virginia and that from a policy standpoint that SCHEV needed
to distribute these policy statements as soon as possible. Mr. Ludeman was
assured by both Mr. Willis and Dr. Davies that a better process would be developed
for reviewing future policy statements. Mr. Ludeman reported that he raised the
question of autonomy of institutions with Mr. Willis. Mr. Willis reported that
the SCHEV Board wanted to improve the image, stature and excellence of each
institution in Virginia and that he was supportive of institutional autonomy.
Mr. Ludeman reported that he would like to invite Dr. Davies to a Wednesday
evening dinner meeting to report to the Board on the role of the State Council.
Dr. Ackell highlighted the significant changes in the Bylaws of the
University Council. The major change is an increase in the number of faculty
serving on the University Council. The group is large with a total membership
of 47. Dr. Ackell reported that these Bylaws would be presented to the Board
for approval at the March meeting.
On motion made and seconded, the Board went into Executive Session to discuss
certain personnel matters involving the performance of identifiable employees or
faculty of the University and to discuss pending litigation with its attorney, and
to discuss the condition, acquisition or use of real property and to protect the
privacy of individuals in personal matters not related to public business, and to
discuss matters relating to gifts, bequests and fund-raising activities as author-
ized by Sections 2.1 - 344 a(1), a(2), a(3), a(6), a(7), and a(8) of the Virginia
Freedom of Information Act.
Following the Executive Session, it was reported that no action had been taken.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
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Harold I. Nemuth, M.D., Secretary
Approved:
