MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
January 16, 1986
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Common-
wealth University was held on Thursday, January 16, 1986, at 9 a.m. in
the University Meeting Center.
Present were Messrs. Allen, Farinholt, Gregory, Grey, Ludeman,
Morris, Reynolds and Smith; Drs. Holland and Moore; and Mesdames Abady,
Bemiss and Whittemore. Absent were Messrs. Berry, Lipman and Wurtzel.
Also present were Drs. Ackell, Connell, Ruch and Wilson; Messrs. Brown,
Bruegman, Ross and Ware; and Mrs. Price. Mr. Tilden Good, student
representative to the Board, was also present.
Mr. Smith called the meeting to order and on motion made and sec-
onded, the Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Board of Visitors held
on November 20, 1985, the Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Board of
Visitors held on November 21, 1985, and the Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Board of Visitors held on December 12, 1985, were approved
The Report of the President followed. Dr. Ackell reported on the
following items:
1. Dr. Ackell announced that the State Council of Higher Educa-
tion approved VCU's request for a doctoral degree program in
nursing last week. It also approved George Mason Universi-
ty's request. VCU's program will offer two tracks -- prepa-
ration of researchers in Nursing Administration and a joint
effort with the Department of Microbiology and Immunology to
train nurse researchers in basic microbiological sciences.
' 2. Dr. Ackell stated that plans are under way for VCU's first
University-wide homecoming to be held the weekend of February
14. Called WinterFest, the weekend is intended to bring
together alumni, students, faculty and staff from VCU's two
campuses, along with those from the former Richmond Profes-
sional Institute and the Medical College of Virginia. High-
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lights include a WinterFest Ball at the Cary Street Recrea-
tional Complex with bands from several eras, a mock tailgate
picnic in the Student Commons, a Rams game at the Coliseum
and a victory celebration at the Sixth Street Marketplace.
Several nearby restaurants will be holding special reunions
for alumni, and individual schools and departments will also
be holding receptions.
3. Dr. Ackell reported that in the area of cancer research,
Neurosurgery Chairman Dr. Harold Young and Assistant Profes-
sor of Anatomy Dr. Randy Merchant have begun clinical trials
for a new treatment of a highly malignant brain cancer called
glioblastoma. By using the body's immune system to fight
cancer cells, Drs. Young and Merchant hope this treatment
will result in a cure for a form of cancer that has been
virtually impossible to treat using conventional methods.
Funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, the
trials will include more than 24 patients over the next two
years.
4. Dr. Ackell announced that IBM will be loaning the School of
Business approximately $125,000 worth of IBM personal comput-
ers and associated equipment for research on experimental
economics and business theories. The research facility will
be installed by April 1, and will be the only experimental
laboratory in the United States using a network of IBM per-
sonal computers. It will give VCU's business faculty a sub-
stantial technological advantage in conducting their studies.
This experimental research will be used primarily for testing
and refining behavioral theories.
5. Dr. Ackell stated that the University has been very involved
with the Metropolitan Richmond Chamber of Commerce tour for
members of the General Assembly. During the weekend of Janu-
ary 24, legislators will tour the Richmond area. On that
Friday night, legislators will be entertained by Dr. Ackell
and chief executive officers of local corporations at their
homes. On Saturday evening, Mark Russell will entertain at
the Carpenter Center. Following that, there will be enter-
tainment in the Sixth Street Marketplace. The VCU Jazz
Orchestra will play in the Crystal Palace and entertainers
from the Theatre Department will perform.
6. Dr. Ackell reported that annual giving from all sources
(alumni, friends, etc.) for 1985-86 has increased almost 40%
over the same period in 1984-85.
7. Dr. Ackell noted that Human Genetics Professor Dr. Barry Wolf
has been presented the "Ounce of Prevention" award from
Action for Prevention, a Virginia organization of more than
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200 scientists and advocates of developmental disabilities
prevention. Dr. Wolf was given this award for his pioneering
work in identifying biotinidase deficiency, a newborn meta-
bolic disorder that causes mental retardation. Dr. Wolf
discovered a treatment that prevents the disease and also
instituted a newborn screening program that is being copied
worldwide. This month, Dr. Wolf and his colleagues here
published the results of a one-year pilot study on
biotinidase deficiency in The Journal of Pediatrics.
8. Dr. Ackell stated that the Theatre Department has been invit-
ed to submit its production of the play, "The Little Theatre
of the Green Goose," in the Southeastern regional competition
of the American College Theatre Festival. VCU was the only
Virginia school asked to compete. The competition will be
held in February at Catawba College in Salisbury, North Caro-
lina.
9. Dr. Ackell announced that the Research in Action magazine and
newsletter together have won the Grand Award in the District
III competition of the Council for the Advancement and Sup-
port of Education. This top award was also won by the Uni-
versity of Virginia and the University of Georgia magazines.
Research in Action is published by University Relations.
10. Dr. Ackell reported that the NCAA meeting was recently held
in New Orleans. Many presidents attended this meeting and
Proposition No. 48 was approved. This proposal requires a
2.0 GPA and SAT scores of 700 in addition to requiring spe-
cific high school courses. It will be phased in over the
next two years. The other major issue discussed was drug
testing.
Mr. Bruegman presented the Report of Contracts. On motion made
and seconded, the Report of Contracts was ratified with Mrs. Whittemore
and Mr. Morris abstaining.
Mr. Smith reported on behalf of the Executive Committee. He stat-
ed that most of his report would be reviewed in executive session.
However, the Committee did appoint a small sub-committee to review the
University's investment policy. On motion made and seconded, the
Minutes of a Meeting held December 12, 1985, were approved and the
Committee's Report was accepted.
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Mrs. Whittemore reported for the Academic Policy Committee. She
stated that the minutes of a meeting held November 20 were previously
reported but needed approval. On motion made and seconded, the Minutes
of the Academic Policy Committee Meeting held on November 20, 1985,
were approved.
At the Committee's meeting yesterday, Dr. Ruch announced that the
Ph.D. in Nursing for both VCU and GMU had received State Council
approval. The Committee also reviewed the status of a joint program
with the University of Richmond which would award a J.D. and M.H.A.
The Committee will review the formal proposal at its next meeting.
Mrs. Whittemore stated that the Committee also had reviewed a
proposal to change the name of the Department of Recreation to the
Department of Recreation, Tourism and Parks which more accurately
reflects the thrust of this department. Mrs. Whittemore stated that
the Committee recommended approval of this change. On motion made and
seconded, the name of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism
was approved.
Mrs. Whittemore stated that Dr. John Oehler, Acting Dean of Educa-
tion, was present to update the Committee on the Five-Year Teacher
Education Program. Dr. Oehler stated that the School has been working
on this program and it will require a two-year traditional liberal arts
curriculum. A student must have a 2.5 GPA (this ultimately will
require a 2.75) to proceed in the program. At the third and fourth
year, the number of professional education courses will be reduced and
more emphasis placed in content areas and foundation courses in educa-
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tion with a strong clinical/practical component. The fifth year will
involve a nine-month internship and continued study in content major at
the graduate level. Following the fifth year, the University will
award both a master's and bachelor's degree.
Mrs. Whittemore reported that Dr. Bost gave the Committee a pro-
file on the entering freshman class for the fall of 1985. It was
requested that this material be forward to each member of the Board.
On motion made and seconded, the Report of the Academic Policy Commit-
tee was accepted.
Mr. Farinholt reported that the Advancement Committee had met on
December 16, 1985, and that his report would be given during executive
session. On motion made and seconded, the Report of the Advancement
Committee was accepted and the Minutes of a Meeting held on December
16, 1985, were approved.
Mr. Morris reported for the Audit Committee. On motion made and
seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting of the Audit Committee held on
November 20, 1985, were approved. Mr. Morris reported that the Audit
Committee met on January 15, 1986, and that these items would be
reported on during executive session. On motion made and seconded, the
Report of the Audit Committee was accepted.
Mr. Reynolds reported for the Hospital Committee. He stated that
the Committee reviewed the hospital's financial data and the recommen-
dations of the Price Waterhouse report. Mr. Reynolds also reported
that as part of the overall University strategic planning process, a
committee on Hospital Strategic Planning is being developed. The pri-
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mary focus of this committee will be programmatic and will make its
report to the Hospital Committee. On motion made and seconded, the
Report of the Hospital Committee was accepted and the Minutes of a
Meeting held December 19, 1985, were approved.
Mr. Farinholt reported for the Property Committee. He stated that
the Committee had ratified leases for property located at 1326-28 West
Main Street, 1814 West Main Street and 1314 West Main Street. The
Committee also reviewed a status report on the the Academic Campus
Master Site Plan. Mr. Farinholt reported that the Property Committee
had requested the Student Affairs Committee to review the programmatic
issues involved with acquiring additional recreational/athletic facili-
ties. Mr. Farinholt stated that the remainder of his report would be
handled during executive session. On motion made and seconded, the
Report of the Property Committee was accepted and the Minutes of a
Meeting held December 2, 1985, were approved.
Dr. Wilson reported for the Student Affairs Committee. He stated
that this Committee would be meeting on January 29, 1986, to discuss
the programmatic needs relating to athletic and recreational facili-
ties. On motion made and seconded, the Report of the Student Affairs
Committee was accepted and the Minutes of a Meeting held December 4,
1985, were approved.
On motion made and seconded, 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
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matters regarding such individuals might be affected by such evalua-
tion, and to discuss the condition, acquisition or use of real property, and to discuss the investing of public funds, and to discuss legal
matters and pending litigation with its attorney, and to discuss mat-
ters relating to gifts, bequests, and fund-raising activities as
authorized by Section 2.1-344 a(l), a(2), a(5), a(6) and a(7) of the
Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
Following executive session, on motion made and seconded, the
Board accepted the Report of the Legal Advisor, approved the Faculty
Appointments and Changes in Status, accepted the Report of Gifts,
accepted the Report of the Special Committee appointed to review the
University's investment policy, approved the appointment of Carl R.
Fischer as Executive Director of MCVH, accepted the Executive Session
Committee Reports, and adopted the following Resolution Regarding
Investments in Companies Conducting Business with or in the Republic of
South Africa:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Visitors of Virginia Com-
monwealth University adopts the following policy statement in
regard to the investment of funds controlled by the University in companies conducting business with or in the Republic
of South Africa:
1. The members of the Board of Visitors condemn the policy
of apartheid in the Republic of South Africa.
2. The University has a fiduciary obligation to prudently
invest and manage the funds over which it has control.
3. The Board of Visitors does not believe the University's
investment portfolio should be used as a vehicle to par-
ticipate in political activity.
4. The Board of Visitors believes a policy of review and
possible selective divestiture would, in this instance,
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be financially prudent and morally responsible and,
accordingly, adopts the following policy for the investment of University-controlled assets in companies doing
business with or in the Republic of South Africa:
a. Companies doing business with or in the Republic of
South Africa which are signatory to the Sullivan
Principles will continue to be evaluated in the same
manner as any other investments in our portfolio.
b. The policies and practices of non-signatory companies
will be reviewed and evaluated by the University on
an individual basis and if any company's policies
lack a commitment to equal treatment of all races and
an end to apartheid, the Board will recommend the
divestiture of its investment in that company.
The President, with the assistance of the University's
investment advisors, is directed to review the assets over
which the University has direct control in light of this
policy and to report to the Executive Committee of the Board
at the next regularly scheduled meeting, and from time to
time thereafter.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:45 p.m.
Approved:
W. Roy Smith, Rector
James B. Farinholt, Jr. , Secretary
