MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
November 21, 1985
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Common-
wealth University was held on Thursday, November 21, 1985, at 9 a.m. in
the University Meeting Center.
Present were Mesdames Abady, Bemiss and Whittemore; Messrs. Allen,
Gregory, Grey, Lipman, Ludeman, Morris, Reynolds, Smith and Wurtzel;
and Drs. Holland and Moore. Absent were Messrs. Berry and Farinholt.
Also present was Mr. Tilden Good, student representative to the Board,
and Drs. Ackell, Connell, Ruch, and Sparks; Messrs. Brown, Bruegman,
Ross and Ware; and Mrs. Price.
Mr. Smith called the meeting to order and on motion made and sec-
onded, the Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Board of Visitors held
on September 19, 1985, were approved.
The Report of the President followed. Dr. Ackell reported on the
following items:
1. Enrollment
Dr. Ackell stated that at the last Board meeting, a prelimi-
nary report on VCU's Fall 1985 enrollment was given. Dr.
Ackell noted that a packet of material on this Fall's enrollment was included in the agenda. Total head count enrollment
was 19,977 compared to 19,984 in 1984. Because of a richer
mix of full-time and part-time students, FTE's will be up
slightly.
2. Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr.
Dr. Ackell announced that he had received a letter from Jus-
tice Powell thanking VCU for the honorary degree which was
awarded to him on October 8. Dr. Ackell shared the letter
with members of the Board.
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3. Board of the VCU Alumni Association (Academic Division)
Dr. Ackell stated that on October 29, 1985, the Board of the
VCU Alumni Association (Academic Division) met and elected
officers and instated its new directors. Elected officers
are:
President - Thomas B. Lawrence, Jr., B.S., Management '65,
(President of Equity Associates)
Treasurer - Roger A. Nicholson, B.S., Psychology '68, (Coordi-
nator of Ministries & Higher Education, Hanover Presbytery)
Secretary - Marsha S. Shuler, B.S. Economics, '74 and M.A.
Economics, '79, (Manager, Planning Department, Federal Reserve
Bank)
Dr. Ackell noted that the Board is seeking to take on a more
active role to enhance alumni participation in the University.
4. Annual Giving Dinner
Dr. Ackell reported that the President's Annual Giving Dinner
was held on October 11, 1985, in the Performing Arts Center.
This was the second Annual Giving Dinner that the University
has given and was the first donor recognition event of this
type to be held on campus. One hundred thirty-two guests
attended this highly successful function.
5. Switzer Scholars in Rehabilitation
Dr. Ackell announced that Dr. Paul Wehman, Director of VCU's
Rehabilitation Research Training Center in the School of Edu-
cation, has been named one of the twenty Switzer Scholars in
Rehabilitation for 1985. He was named in recognition of his
leadership, expertise and achievements in work dealing with
programs for disabled youths making the transition to competi-
tive employment.
6. National Cancer Institute Outstanding Investigator Grant
Dr. Ackell reported that Dr. I. David Goldman, a Professor of
Medicine, has received a $2.5 million National Cancer Insti-
tute Outstanding Investigator Grant to support cancer research
in his laboratory for the next seven years. Dr. Goldman is
investigating how drugs are transported into cancer cells and,
once inside the cell, how these drugs attack targets to cause
cancer cell death.
7. Grant from the National Institute of Dental Research
Dr. Ackell reported that Dr. Richard Ranney, Professor of
Periodontics and Assistant Dean of Research in the School of
Dentistry, has been awarded a $1.8 million, five-year grant to
study whether genetics influence the occurrence of gum disease
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in juveniles. The grant is from the National Institute of
Dental Research.
8. Anderson Gallery
Dr. Ackell stated that the Anderson Gallery's application for
an Institute of Museum Services Operating Support Award was
judged the best among 1,264 museums applying for the grants.
The Institute is an independent agency within the National
Foundation on the Arts and Humanities. Quality in the compe-
tition was defined as the judicious management of a museum's
available resources to provide the best possible services to
its community and general public.
9. Grant for Geriatric Education Center
Dr. Ackell announced that the Gerontology Department in the
School of Allied Health Professions has received a grant of
$756,690 to establish a Geriatric Education Center. The grant
is from the United States Department of Health and Human Ser-
vices and will fund the Center's operation for three years.
The Geriatric Education Center will serve as a resource for
the health community throughout Virginia in the diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of diseases and other health concerns
of the elderly. It also will strengthen training of profes-
sionals by providing clinical and teaching instruction through
workshops, videotapes and teleconferences.
10. Synthetic Peptide Laboratory
Dr. Ackell reported that the Biotechnology Institute of Vir-
ginia's Center for Innovative Technology has established a
synthetic peptide laboratory at the Biotechnology Institute's
headquarters at VCU. The total project costs $201,774. Funding came from CIT, the Biotechnology Institute and a $40,000
contribution from A. H. Robins, Inc. The lab will allow the
Biotechnology Institute to provide CIT-affiliated universities
and industries with synthetic peptides in research projects
evaluating cellular functions at the molecular level.
Following Dr. Ackell's Report, a question regarding VCU's Fall
enrollment was asked concerning the number of acceptances versus the
number of applicants. Dr. Ruch stated that the pool of applicants was
much richer with better qualified students. He noted that the admis-
sion standards have not been lowered to achieve the enrollment projec-
tions. A request was made to have a report on the SAT's of entering
students and their high school class ranking.
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Mr. Bruegman presented the Report of Contracts. Following his pre-
sentation, on motion made and seconded, the contracts were ratified
with Mrs. Whittemore and Mr. Morris abstaining.
Mr. Smith reported on behalf of the Executive Committee. He stated
that the Committee had reviewed the Quarterly Budget Performance Report
for Educational and General Funds for the First Quarter Ended September
30, 1985, the Prompt Pay Statistics, and had approved the continued
negotiations with the Richmond Eye and Ear Hospital leading to the
finalization of an agreement of affiliation. On motion made and sec-
onded, the Report of the Executive Committee was accepted and the
Minutes of a Meeting held on October 10, 1985, were approved.
Mrs. Whittemore reported on behalf of the Academic Policy Commit-
tee. On motion made and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held on
September 18, 1985, were approved. She stated that the Committee had
met on November 20, 1985, with representatives of the Faculty Senate,
the Faculty Caucus and the Academic Planning Committee. The purpose of
this meeting was for members of the Committee to have contact with the
faculty leadership. Mrs. Whittemore stated that Dr. Haver, Chairman of
the Academic Planning Committee, reviewed the process used by the Com-
mittee and that the Committee's charge now is to come up with some
specific recommendations.
Mrs. Whittemore noted that the Ph.D. in Nursing appeal had been
denied by the Council of Higher Education Board. She stated that the
motion was to approve both the George Mason and VCU proposals and it
failed on a four to four tie. She stated that some parliamentary rules
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are being reviewed and hopefully another vote can be taken. Members of
the Academic Policy Committee are being asked to contact members of the
Council Board concerning this proposal.
Mrs. Whittemore also reported that a proposal is being developed
for a joint degree program with the University of Richmond leading to a
degree in Health Administration and a law degree. The Committee will
be reviewing the details of this proposal at its next meeting. On
motion made and seconded, the Report of the Academic Policy Committee
was accepted.
Mr. Smith reported on behalf of the Advancement Committee. He
stated that the October meeting had been cancelled and the next meeting
would be held on December 16. The purpose of this meeting will be to
discuss the progress of the fund-raising program.
Mr. Morris reported on behalf of the Audit Committee. On motion
made and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held on September 18, 1985,
were approved. Mr. Morris stated that the remainder of his report
would be given during executive session.
Mr. Reynolds reported for the Hospital Committee. He stated that
the Committee will be discussing strategic planning for the medical
center at its next meeting. The Committee reviewed the financial
information from the hospital and were pleased with the progress being
made. The hospital has achieved 95 percent compliance under the Prompt
Pay legislation. The Committee also approved the continued negotia-
tions with the Richmond Eye and Ear Hospital leading to the
finalization of an affiliation agreement. On motion made and seconded,
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the Minutes of a Meeting held on October 24, 1985, were approved and
the Report of the Hospital Committee was accepted.
Mr. Lipman reported that the Property Committee had reviewed a num-
ber of items which were reported in the Report of Contracts. He stated
that the remainder of his report would be given in executive session.
On motion made and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held on October
7, 1985, were approved and the Report of the Property Committee was
accepted.
Mr. Lipman reported on behalf of the Student Affairs Committee. He
stated that in an effort to increase the liaison between the two cam-
puses, the Committee would alternate its meeting sites. The next meeting is scheduled for December 4 at the University Meeting Center and
will be on the topic of career planning. On motion made and seconded,
the Minutes of a Meeting held on October 3, 1985, were approved and the
Report of the Student Affairs Committee was accepted.
On motion made and seconded, the Board convened into executive ses-
sion 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 evaluation, and to
discuss the condition, acquisition or use of real property, and to dis-
cuss legal matters and pending litigation with its attorney, and to
discuss matters relating to gifts, bequests and fund-raising activi-
ties, and to discuss honorary degrees and special awards as authorized
by Section 2.1-344 a(1), a(2), a(6), a(7) and a(8) of the Virginia
Freedom of Information Act.
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Following executive session, on motion made and seconded, the Board
accepted the Report of the Legal Advisor, approved Faculty Appointments
and Changes in Status, approved Full Departmental Privileges, accepted
the Report of Gifts, accepted the Report of the President, approved the
Report of the Special Awards Committee, approved continued negotiations
with the Richmond Eye and Ear Hospital leading to the finalization of
an agreement of affiliation within 60 days, and accepted the Executive
Session Committee Reports.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:10 p.m.
Approved:
W. Roy Smith, Rector
