MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
May 20, 1982
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth
University was held on Thursday, May 20, 1982, at 9:00 a.m. in the
University Meeting Center.
Present were Messrs. Balfour, Craigie, Ludeman, Smith and Wyatt;
Mesdames Bemiss, Fewell and Whittemore; and Drs. Coleman, Gayle,
Johnson and Nemuth. Absent were Dr. Butt, Messrs. Cotten and Grey and
Mrs. Thalhimer. Also present were Drs. Ackell, Hall, Salley, Sparks,
Wilson, and Woods; Messrs. Bruegman, Guerdon, and Ross; Miss Cosby
and Mrs. Price.
Mr. Ludeman called the meeting to order and, on motion made and
seconded, the Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Board of Visitors,
held March 25, 1982; and a Special Meeting of the Executive Committee,
held April 1, 1982, were approved as amended.
Dr. Ackell presented the President's Report. He reported on the
following items:
1. Commencement was a great success this year. We had a
Everything went well. Drs. Andrako and Fleshood deserve
a great deal of thanks for making this event so successful
2. In the fall, we will be bringing a revised copy of the
good speaker, Malcolm Forbes, Jr., whom you could hear!
Consultation Policy for faculty to the Board for approval.
3. A number of the Schools are developing alumni groups.
Recently, the School of Business and the School of
Community and Public Affairs have held alumni events.
Also, the School of Social Work held its alumni affair
this spring.
4. A group from the University of Helsinki in Finland
visited VCU recently. While in America, they visited
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four institutions: Harvard, Columbia, Georgetown and
VCU! They were most impressed with Mr. Jeff Cribbs
and his knowledge of budget procedures.
5. Dr. Susan Kennedy, a faculty member in the Department
of History, was recently named a Hoover Fellow.
6. We have approximately 8,600 students enrolled in our
summer session taking from one to twelve hours.
7. The Presidents of Virginia's colleges and universities
met with the Virginia Congressional Delegation for
discussions on higher education and proposed budget
cuts.
8. The Sun Belt Conference has expanded from six to eight
teams. The two new additions to the Conference are ODU
and Western Kentucky.
In order to maintain Division I status, the NCAA demands
8 male and 4 female sports at each university.
9. The new hospital will be dedicated on Saturday, June 12.
We will begin moving into the new facility the week of
June 14.
10. VCU's 10-year self-study will be starting up in the
fall. Mrs. Elaine Rothenberg will be Director of the
Self-Study. The first standard is the purpose of the
University. Any changes to the mission statement of
the University will be reviewed with the Board, hopefully,
next fall.
Mr. Ludeman reported that Dr. Gordon Davies had given an excellent
presentation at the Wednesday evening session on the role and activities
of the Council of Higher Education. Mr. Ludeman reported that he hoped
to have Secretary Casteen at a future meeting.
Mr. Bruegman presented the Biennial Budget Plan for 1982-84.
Mr. Bruegman stated that the majority of the reallocations proposed
in the Plan are from non-instructional units to instructional programs.
In the future, we will be looking at the instructional units for cost
savings. He continued that the Budget Plan does require an increase
in tuition and fees which will be presented as the next item. Mr. Ludema
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reported that the Executive Committee had acted favorably on the Budget
Plan and recommended it to the full Board. Following a discussion, on
motion made and seconded, the 1982-84 Biennial Budget Plan was approved
Mr. Guerdon presented the proposed Tuition and Fees Schedule for
1982-83 including changes in the proposed tuition rates for Medicine
and Dentistry. To recognize a cost differential between these two
programs, different tuition rates are proposed. Tuition and mandatory
fees for undergraduate Virginia students will increase 14.9 percent
while these rates for non-Virginia students will increase 20.9 percent.
Following the intent of the General Assembly, tuition and fees for
graduate students will increase more significantly with a 29.4 percent
increase for Virginia graduate students and a 60.2 percent increase for
non-Virginia graduate students. Following a discussion, on motion made
and seconded, the Tuition and Fees Schedule for 1982-83 was approved.
Mr. Ludeman stated that the administration had made every effort to
make the increases for Virginia students as low as possible.
Dr. Ackell presented the Anonymous Gifts Policy. Following a
discussion, on motion made and seconded, the Anonymous Gifts Policy
was approved by the Board. Mr. Balfour requested that this policy be
included in the newly revised Board Manual.
Mr. Ludeman thanked Ann Cosby for the excellent job she had done
in revising the Board Manual. He stated that this Manual contained
all Board policies and other pertinent information and would be
updated periodically.
Mr. Guerdon presented the Contracts Signed Since the March Board
of Visitors' Meeting. Following a review and discussion, on motion
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made and seconded, the Contracts signed Since the March Board Meeting
were ratified with Mr. Ludeman and Mrs. Whittemore abstaining.
Mr. Wyatt reported that the Academic Policy Committee did not have
a report to make at this meeting.
Mr. Craigie reported for the Audit Committee. He stated that
this committee had approved a revised statement of policy. He indicated
that the minutes of this Committee were self-explanatory. On motion
made and seconded, the Minutes of the Audit Committee, held March 29, 1982,
were approved and the report of the Committee accepted.
Mr. Ludeman reported that the Executive Committee had met yesterday
and reviewed the Budget Plan and the Proposed Tuition and Fees Schedule.
A special meeting of the Executive Committee was held in April to
authorize the administration to finance the radiology equipment for
the new hospital.
Dr. Gayle reported for the Hospital Committee which had met jointly
with the Executive Committee on April 20, 1982, to review the Hospital's
operating budget and proposed rate increases for the hospital. Both
items were approved. It was noted during this meeting that MCVH had
been listed in Family Circle Magazine as one of the top 20 hospitals
in the country! Credentials for members of the professional medical
staff were approved. On motion made and seconded, the Board ratified
the hospital's operating budget, approved the Minutes of the Hospital
and Executive Committees, held April 20, 1982, and accepted the report
of the Hospital Committee.
Mrs. Bemiss reported that the Property Committee had met on
April 19, 1982, and May 11, 1982. At its April meeting the committee
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approved the research laboratories in neurosurgery be named, "The
Richard Roland Reynolds Neurosurgical Research Laboratories." The
Committee also reviewed preliminaries for an addition to the "S" or
Visitor's Deck on the MCV Campus. The firm of Wright, Cox and Smith
was recommended to provide services for the equipment phase of the
North Hospital Renovation and Addition project. An inventory of
leased property was reviewed by the committee.
At its May meeting, the Committee reviewed a quarterly progress
report on construction projects. In addition, the Committee approved
the purchase by the hospital of a 4 MEV Radiation Therapy Unit.
Working drawings for renovations to Rhoads, Cabaniss and Johnson Halls
were approved as were the granting of easements to VEPCO in the area
of the Academic Campus Parking Deck. The Committee also reviewed its
policy for naming buildings and agreed only minor revisions were needed.
On motion made and seconded, the actions of the Property Committee
were ratified, the Minutes of the Committee Meetings, held April 19
and May 11 were approved and the report of the Committee accepted.
Dr. Gayle reported that the Student Affairs Committee had met on
April 1, 1982, with representatives of the Student Governments from
both campuses of the University. He stated that the Committee and
students had a very good discussion. The graduating members of the
group stated that they felt they had received a good education at VCU.
On motion made and seconded, the Report of the Student Affairs Committee
was accepted.
Mr. Ludeman requested that the Student Affairs Committee debate
the issue of a student representative on the Board of Visitors and make
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a recommendation to the Executive Committee. He indicated that the
Committee should consider two issues: (a) should we have a student
representative on the Board and, (b) what the form of that repre-
sentation should be. Mr. Ludeman stated that the new law which becomes
effective July 1, 1982, specifies that the student representative
should be non-voting and excluded from executive sessions.
Mr. Smith reported for the Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative
Relations which met April 1, 1982. Mr. Smith stated that the
minutes of that committee were self-explanatory and that the committee
had recommended to dissolve itself since it was ad hoc in nature. He
stated that the recommendation was to form a standing committee to
handle legislative relations. On motion made and seconded, the
Minutes of a Meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Relations
were approved and the Committee report accepted.
Mr. Ludeman stated that he would like to make the new standing
committee the Advancement Committee and that in addition to handling
legislative affairs it would also work with the overall development
program at the University. He indicated that the Bylaws of the Board
would have to be changed to incorporate this new committee.
Mr. Ludeman appointed a Nominating Committee to recommend a
slate of officers to the Board at its July Meeting. Those appointed
were Mrs. FitzGerald Bemiss, Chairman; Mrs. Charles G. Thalhimer and
Mr. Daniel T. Balfour.
Mr. Ludeman also appointed a Presidential Evaluation Committee
composed of Mr. F. Willson Craigie, Jr., Chairman; Dr. Sigsby W. Gayle
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and Dr. Custis L. Coleman. This committee was also asked to report
at the Board's July meeting.
Mr. Ludeman requested that Mrs. Price circulate a request for
committee assignments to all members of the Board prior to the July
meeting. He indicated that he would like to make all committee
assignments by July of this year.
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 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 authorized by Sections 2.1 - 344 a(1), a(2), a(3), a(6), and a(8)
of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
Following Executive Session, on motion made and seconded, the
Report of the Legal Advisor and the confirmation of the Bond Under-
writers and Bond Counsel, the Faculty Appointments and Changes in
Status, the Continuing Faculty - Acadmic Campus, the Continuing
Faculty - MCV Campus, the Continuing Administrative Salaries, the
1982-83 Faculty Schedules - School of Medicine - Full-time Clinical
Scales, the School of Dentistry Private Practice Limits and the Report
of Gifts were approved and/or accepted with Mrs. Whittemore abstaining
from the vote on the Report of Gifts. Mr. Ludeman announced that a
special meeting of the Board would be held prior to June 30, 1982, to
consider the recommendations for Promotion and Tenure.
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On motion made and seconded, the following Resolution was approved:
:
WHEREAS, James G. Guerdon, Vice-President for Finance for
Virginia Commonwealth University, has executed certain documents
on behalf of Virginia Commonwealth University pursuant to which
Virginia Electric and Power Company has been granted an ease-
ment for underground conduits and cables and related facilities
for the transmission and distribution of electricity on the
Academic Campus of the University at the site of the VCU
Academic Campus Parking Deck in areas bounded by West Main
Street on the north, West Cary Street on the south, South
Cherry Street on the west, and South Laurel Street on the
east, and as identified with more particularity in the
documents attached hereto as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the granting of the aforementioned easement has
been approved by the appropriate Commonwealth of Virginia
Officials, including the designee of the Governor of
Virginia; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth
University wishes to approve, ratify and confirm the actions
of Mr. Guerdon in executing and delivering the aforementioned
easement;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Visitors
of Virginia Commonwealth University that the actions of the
Vice-President for Finance in executing and delivering the
easement, as reflected in the documents attached hereto as
Exhibit A, to the Virginia Electric and Power Company, be,
and they hereby are, approved ratified and confirmed.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:20 p.m.
Harold I. Nemuth, M.D., Secretary
