MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
January 19, 1984
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth
University was held on Thursday, January 19, 1984, at 9:00 a.m. in the
University Meeting Center.
Present were Messrs. Craigie, Farinholt, Grey, Lipman, Ludeman,
Morris, Reynolds and Smith; Drs. Coleman and Gayle; and Mesdames
Bemiss, Thalhimer and Whittemore. Absent were Messrs. Allen and Cotten
and Dr. Nemuth. Ms. Kass Tinker, student representative to the Board,
was also absent. Also present were Drs. Ackell, Hall, Sparks, Wilson
and Woods; Messrs. Bruegman, Guerdon and Ross; and Mrs. Price.
Mr. Ludeman called the meeting to order and, on motion made and
seconded, the following minutes were approved: a Special Meeting of
the Ad Hoc Committee on Tenure Appeal, held November 1, 1983; a Special
Meeting of the Board of Visitors, held November 16, 1983; a Regular
Meeting of the Board of Visitors, held November 17, 1983; and a Special
Meeting of the Board of Visitors, held December 8, 1983.
The Report of the President followed. Dr. Ackell reported on the
following items:
1. The Amendments to the Virginia Plan for Equal Opportunity
proposed the establishment of a program of Visiting Professor-
ships with funding to be considered by the 1984 General Assem-
bly.
This program seeks qualified other-race professors and is
designed to attract distinguished, professionally established
other-race faculty from the national pool by offering superior
salaries, reduced teaching loads, and funded research time up
to two academic years.
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VCU submitted four requests for Visiting Professors under this
program. The University has been notified that because of the
superior quality of our candidates, two such positions have
been approved. If we are unable to attract our first two
choices, we have been authorized to recruit the other two
nominees. The faculty, deans and Provost are to be commended
for seeking out four such highly qualified individuals to
participate in this program.
2. With regard to the University's objectives for 1983-84 under
the OCR amended plan, the University is on target. Our objec-
tive for 1983 (which includes summer, fall and spring semes-
ters) is 541 for first-time black freshmen and first-time
black transfers. The tally for the summer and fall semesters
is 496 or 92 percent of our objective. In the graduate areas,
VCU's objective for first-time enrollees is 17 and our total
is 50 or 294 percent of our objective.
Our objective for black instructional faculty for 1983-84 is
37. VCU currently has 38 black instructional faculty
employed. VCU continues to lead all State universities and
colleges in total numbers in this area.
3. Last Friday, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and
VCU's Department of Music announced that a series of eight
chamber music concerts planned for the Kennedy Center will be
repeated for Richmond audiences at the Performing Arts Center.
Kennedy Center Artistic Director Marta Istomin will also serve
as artistic director for the concerts planned at VCU. Per-
formers and programs will be identical with those being played
in the Kennedy Center. The series will begin on October 14
with the Guarneri String Quartet.
4. As a result of the paper entitled, "Improving the Efficiency
of State Government," a task force was established and is
chaired by Secretary of Administration and Finance, Wayne
Anderson. The charge of this task force is to review the
major areas outlined in this paper.
A proposal is being drafted by university officials serving on
the task force recommending a course of action and how the
various groups from higher education and state government can
be constituted to discuss problems and solutions.
5. In the most recent issues of Building Design and Construction,
VCU was listed as the fourth largest "School Giant" in terms
of construction and renovation dollars in 1982. The top 10
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school systems and/or universities are: The State of Florida
System, University of Texas System, University of Michigan,
VCU, Harvard, State University of New York, Maryland Public
School System, USC, UCLA, and the University of Wisconsin.
VCU's total construction and renovation budget in 1982 was
$65.5 million.
6. The Holiday Intersession this year enrolled 838 students.
This program was set up primarily for non-VCU students home
for the holidays. However, it became very popular for VCU
students as well. For the first time this year, a $100 fee
was imposed for all students taking a course during the
intersession. Previously, VCU students were able to take
these courses as part of their spring semester at no addition-
al charge. This program continues to be successful and is now
operating in a cost effective manner.
Mr. Guerdon presented the Report of Contracts signed since the
November Board meeting. On motion made and seconded, the Report of
Contracts was ratified with Mrs. Whittemore abstaining.
Mr. Guerdon presented a Resolution authorizing certain individuals
authority to sign and execute checks, drafts and other similar orders
for the payment of monies from various accounts. This action is neces-
sary due to the recent resignation of Mr. Bruce W. Chase who served as
University Treasurer. On motion made and seconded, the following Reso-
lution was approved:
WHEREAS, the Treasurer of Virginia Commonwealth University, Bruce
W. Chase, has resigned and left the University; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to the proper functioning of the University that adequate personnel be authorized to sign and execute
from any and all accounts, funds and other similar sources, owned,
controlled, maintained by, or entrusted to, the University; there-
fore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that until such time as this Board resolves to
the contrary, upon the filing of the necessary Bond(s), James R.
Johnson, Assistant Vice President for Financial Operations, and/or
Sherry B. Cupp, Manager, Cash Operations, Treasurer's Office, be
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and the same are HEREBY AUTHORIZED individually to sign and execute
checks, drafts, and other such documents and orders as may be nec-
essary to facilitate the payment of monies from any and all
accounts, funds or other similar sources owned, controlled, main-
tained by, or entrusted to, Virginia Commonwealth University, and
to transfer, endorse, sell, assign, set over and deliver any and
all shares of stocks, bonds, debentures, notes, evidences of
indebtedness or other securities, now or hereafter standing, in the
name of, or owned by, Virginia Commonwealth University and to make,
execute and deliver any and all written instruments necessary, or
proper, to effectuate the authority hereby conferred.
Mr. Ludeman reported that the Executive Committee had not met dur-
ing December.
Mrs. Whittemore reported for the Academic Policy Committee which
met on December 13, 1983. She stated that the Committee recommends to
the Board the change in name of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chem-
istry to the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and the merger of the
Department of Community Health Nursing and the Department of Psychiat-
ric Mental-Health Nursing to the Department of Community and Psychiat-
ric Nursing. Mrs. Whittemore also reported that the Committee had
received reports on the Task Force on Remedial Education and the Task
Force on Graduate Education. The Committee endorsed the recommenda-
tions of the Task Force on Remedial Education. On motion made and
seconded, the Board accepted the Report of the Academic Policy Commit-
tee, approved the minutes of a meeting held December 13, 1983; and
approved the two names changes recommended by the Committee.
Mr. Craigie reported for the Advancement Committee which met on
December 5, 1983. He stated that the Committee had reviewed the lists
of the School of Business Advisory Committee and the VCU Alumni
Association. Mr. Craigie stated that the legislative reception held on
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January 16 was a great success and the administration should be con-
gratulated for this outstanding function. On motion made and seconded,
the Board accepted the Advancement Committee's report and approved the
minutes of a meeting held on December 5, 1983.
Mr. Morris reported for the Audit Committee which met on January
18, 1984. He stated that the Committee had reviewed several audit
reports and a more detailed report would be made in executive session.
Mr. Morris stated that Dr. Ackell and his staff should be commended for
the establishment and expansion of the internal audit operation. On
motion made and seconded, the report of the Audit Committee was accept-
ed.
Dr. Gayle reported for the Hospital Committee which met on December
15, 1983. He stated that the hospital director reported on the con-
struction projects underway that relate to MCVH. The director also
reported that the hospital's budget is on target. A recent marketing
survey revealed that MCVH was chosen as "the hospital of choice" by
more people than any other in the area. MCVH will be participating
with Children's Hospital in a telethon in early June. The Osmond fami-
ly is scheduled to participate. Dr. Gayle stated that the Hospital
Committee approved two medical audits as well as privileges for three
doctors of pharmacy and one physician's assistant. On motion made and
seconded, the report of the Hospital Committee was accepted and the
minutes of a meeting held December 15, 1983, were approved.
Dr. Coleman reported that the Property Committee had met on
December 6, 1983. Dr. Coleman stated that the Committee approved the
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proposed renovations to the third floor of the Main Hospital for a five
kilogauss NMR Unit. The renovation project for expansion of the Aca-
demic Campus Bookstore was also approved. An option to renew the lease
for space in the Richmond Plaza Building was ratified by the Committee.
Dr. Coleman stated that the Committee approved recommending to the
Board that two areas in the University Commons Building be named. The
deli would be named "Common Ground" and the cafeteria would be named
"Park Place." Dr. Coleman stated that a telephone survey had been
conducted of all Board members and consensus had been reached to use
these names. Dr. Coleman stated that he would also like to congratu-
late the administration on the new University Commons Building. On
motion made and seconded, the report of the Property Committee was
accepted and the minutes of a meeting held December 6, 1983, were
approved.
Mr. Reynolds reported for the Student Affairs Committee. The Com-
mittee met on November 3, 1983, and received a presentation from the
University Counseling Center. The Committee also met on December 1,
1983, and heard a report on the Career. Planning and Placement Office.
On motion made and seconded, the report of the Student Affairs Commit-
tee was accepted and the minutes of a meeting held November 3, 1983,
and December 1, 1983, were approved.
A question was raised concerning the progress on the Smith
Pharmacy/Pharmacology Building. Mr. Bruegman stated that there has
been a delay in ordering the equipment for the building and the
contractor has not completed his punch list. Dr. Ackell stated that
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the dedication of this facility was originally scheduled for the end of
March and will be delayed until late April or early May. Mrs. Price
reported that the tentative date for the dedication of the Gladding
Residence Center is April 24, 1984.
On motion made, seconded and approved, the Board convened into
executive session to discuss certain personnel matters involving the
performance of identifiable employees or faculty of VCU, and to discuss
the evaluation of performance of departments or schools of VCU where
such matters regarding such individuals might be affected by such eval-
uation, and to discuss pending litigation with its attorney, and to
protect the privacy of individuals in personal matters not related to
public business, and to discuss investments, and to discuss matters
relating to gifts, bequests, fund-raising activities and to discuss
special awards as authorized by Section 2.1-344 a(1), a(3), a(5), a(6),
a(7) and a(8) of the Virginia Freedom on Information Act.
Following executive session, on motion made and seconded, the Board
approved and/or accepted the Report of the Legal Advisor, the Faculty
Appointments and Changes in Status, the Report of Gifts, the establish-
ment of quasi-endowment funds, the investment policy for endowment and
similar funds, the Report of the President, the executive session com-
mittee reports and the recommendations of the Honorary Degree Commit-
tee.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:36 p.m.
Approved:
