AMENDED
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
July 17, 1986
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Common-
wealth University was held on Thursday; July 17, 1986, at 9 a.m. in the
University Meeting Center.
Present were Mesdames Abady, Epps and Whittemore; Messrs. Berry,
Farinholt, Lipman, Morris and Smith; and Drs. Holland and Moore.
Absent were Messrs. Allen, Beadles, Gregory, Latham and Wurtzel; and
Mrs. Bemiss. Also present were Drs. Ackell, Connell, Ruch, Sparks and
Wilson; Messrs. Brown, Bruegman, Doswell and Ross; and Mrs. Price.
Mr. Farinholt called the meeting to order and on motion made and
seconded, the Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Board of Visitors
held on May 21, 1986, and the Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Board
of Visitors held on May 22, 1986, were approved.
Dr. Ackell presented the Report of the President. Dr. Ackell
reported on the following items:
1. Dr. Ackell announced the three new members to the VCU Board - Mrs.
Rozanne G. Epps, Mr. Richard L. Beadles and Mr. Weldon H. Latham.
Dr. Ackell welcomed Mrs. Epps to her second "official" Board meeting. Due to scheduling conflicts, Mr. Beadles and Mr. Latham were
unable to attend July's Board meetings.
Dr. Ackell also announced the reappointments of Dr. William E.
Holland and Mr. Philip B. Morris to the VCU Board.
2. Dr. Ackell introduced Ms. Christy Garnett, VCU's 1986 Summer
Intern. Ms. Garnett, a student at J. R. Tucker High School, par-
ticipated in the Summer Economics Institute Program sponsored by
the Collegiate Schools.
Dr. Ackell reported that the enrollment projections for the upcom-
ing school year are slightly higher than last year. VCU is
expecting 1,800 first-time freshmen and 1,425 undergraduate trans-
2
fer students, bringing the number of undergraduate students to
11,385. At the graduate level, VCU is expecting 875 first-time
graduate students, bringing the total number of graduate students
to 2,950. In other student categories, VCU expects 1,030 first
professional students, 3,800 unclassified students and 850 off-
campus students. Total enrollment is expected to be 19,165 on-
campus and 850 off-campus students. This compares to 19,010 on-
campus and 851 off-campus in September, 1985.
4. Dr. Ackell stated that the State Council of Higher Education has
awarded VCU $241,640 for a project involving the revision of the
undergraduate curriculum. The University seeks to define specific
student learning goals for eight identified areas of general edu-
cation. Faculty task forces drawn from departments throughout the
University will work together to define desired educational objec-
tives, revise courses and establish a program to measure student
achievement in the resulting program of general education.
5. Dr. Ackell announced that the Ford Foundation has approved a grant
of $110,000 to VCU to provide support for a faculty development
project by the Central Virginia Faculty Consortium. Sensing that
many senior faculty members may not be sufficiently challenged
professionally, administrators from William and Mary, Randolph-
Macon, Virginia Union, J. Sargeant Reynolds and VCU collaborated
on a proposal to stimulate productivity through an exchange pro-
gram. The faculty consortium will sponsor visiting professor-
ships, interdisciplinary seminars and team-teaching. One of the
first seminars, to be held later this month, will be led by Dr.
Melvin Urofsky from VCU's department of history and geography.
6. Dr. Ackell reported that at the the end of the fiscal year, funds
from the Annual Giving Program totaled approximately $378,000.
That compares with $248,000 from the previous fiscal year. Annual
giving consists of gifts from alumni, friends, faculty-staff, stu-
dents and parents. These gifts can be used to fund current operations as compared to gifts for endowments or capital projects. 7. Dr. Ackell stated that well-known New Orleans jazz pianist Ellis
. 7. Dr. Ackell stated that well-known New Orleans jazz pianist Ellis
Marsalis has accepted a one-year renewable appointment to VCU's
music department as a Commonwealth Professor. Marsalis has taught
at Loyola University and for 11 years at the New Orleans Center
for Creative Arts. He is the father of Wynton Marsalis, also an
internationally acclaimed jazz musician.
8. Dr. Ackell announced that Dr. Laurin L. Henry will retire August
15 as Dean of VCU's School of Community and Public Affairs. He
will remain on the faculty as full professor, teaching graduate
courses in public administration. Dr. Henry has served as Dean
since July, 1978.
3
9. Dr. Ackell reported that on June 6, Dr. French Moore hosted a
reception in Abingdon to initiate the Southwest Virginia Chapter
of VCU's Alumni Association. This had never been done before and
the response was excellent, with approximately 150 people attending. The Alumni Association is working to establish chapters
throughout the State, which will help immensely in fund raising
and alumni involvement at VCU. VCU hopes to see, in the upcoming
year, the establishment of an alumni chapter in Roanoke, Lynch-
burg, Norfolk/Virginia Beach and Northern Virginia.
10. Dr. Ackell announced that twelve freshmen and three transfer stu-
dents have been awarded Presidential scholarships for 1986. The
freshmen have a mean SAT score of 1221 -- up from 1142 last year.
They have an average GPA of 3.86 and rank in the 96.6th percentile
in their graduating classes.
This year, for the first time, VCU used the scholarship program
application, permitting students to compete for all merit scholar-
ships available for incoming students. Through this process, VCU
was able to build a pool of 200 candidates, compared to 78 appli-
cations last year.
Mr. Bruegman presented the Report of Contracts. On motion made
and seconded, the Report of Contracts was ratified.
Mr. Farinholt reported on behalf of the Executive Committee. The
Committee approved the Medical Faculty Salary Scales for 1986-87 and
the Institutional Priorities document. A number of questions were
raised concerning the Institutional Priorities document. On motion
made and seconded, the Board approved the Minutes of a Meeting of the
Executive Committee held on June 19, 1986, and deferred action on the
Institutional Priorities document. Mr. Farinholt requested that at the
August Executive Committee meeting the Institutional Priorities docu-
ment be coupled with the Management Practices document.
Mrs. Whittemore reported for the Academic Policy Committee. On
motion made and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting of the Academic
4
Policy Committee held on May 21, 1986, were approved. Mrs. Whittemore
stated that the Committee had not met since that date.
Mr. Morris reported for the Audit Committee. On motion made and
seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting of the Audit Committee held on May
21, 1986, were approved. The Committee had not met since that date.
Mr. Farinholt stated that the Advancement Committee did not have a
report at this time.
Mr. Farinholt reported that the Hospital Committee had not met
Since the last meeting of the Board.
Mr. Berry reported on behalf of the Property Committee. He
reviewed the proposed Contract Review and Approval Process of the
Board. Following a discussion, on motion made and seconded, the Con-
approved.
tract Review and Approval Process of the Board of Visitors was
Mr. Berry presented a resolution which would delegate the necessary authority to VCU administrators to execute documents on behalf of
the Board. On motion made and seconded, the following resolution was
approved:
RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZATION FOR CERTAIN UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES
TO EXECUTE DOCUMENTS
WHEREAS, the Board of Visitors, has, by prior resolutions, granted
authority to certain Virginia Commonwealth University employees to
execute documents on behalf of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University; and,
WHEREAS, the Board now wishes to amend that authorization in cer-
tain respects;
5
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Visitors of Virginia
Commonwealth University as follows:
1. President
The President shall have the authority to sign any and all docu-
ments in the name of and on behalf of the University without the neces-
sity of prior approval except as specified herein.
2. Senior Vice President and Associate Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
The Senior Vice President and Associate Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer are hereby authorized, jointly and separately, to
execute any and all documents in the name of and on behalf of the Uni-
versity without the necessity of prior approval except as specified
herein.
Prior to executing any lease or lease-purchase contract or docu-
ment for real or personal property for which there is a total aggregate
or projected cost in excess of $200,000, the approval of the Property
Committee of the Board of Visitors shall be obtained.
If any construction or renovation project has a total aggregate or
projected cost in excess of $500,000, prior approval of the Property
Committee must be obtained for the following: selection of architects
or consultants; justification of need and project plan. Specifications
for equipment and furnishings, service agreements and change orders in
excess of $500,000 must also have the prior approval of the Property
Committee. Construction contracts and contracts for equipment and
furnishings in excess of $500,000 shall be reported to the Property
Committee for information.
The Property Committee shall have the authority to act on behalf
of the Board of Visitors with respect to such matters and is hereby
delegated the authority to act directly for the Board in this capacity.
Deeds, contracts and any other documents by which the University
conveys, or contracts to convey, any of its real estate or interests
therein, may be executed only after obtaining the prior approval of the
Board of Visitors or the Executive Committee of the Board.
All other contracts, except those described in Section 4, having a
total aggregate or projected cost in excess of $250,000, including but
the Executive Committee of the Board of Visitors for prior approval.
not limited to, contracts or agreements governing consulting and auditing engagements and management service agreements must be submitted to
6
3. University Controller
The University Controller is hereby authorized to sign and execute
checks, drafts and other financial documents and orders necessary to
carry out contract obligations of the University in furtherance of the
proper business and financial affairs of the University.
4. The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the
Vice President for Health Sciences (or their delegates):
The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (or his dele-
gate) shall have the authority to execute agreements pertaining to the
application for and the award of grants and contracts to the University
for research, development, and training; the award of grants and other
monies to other institutions for research, development and training;
the securing of patents and other intellectual properties; and the
award of any other monies to Virginia Commonwealth University from
outside sources, all without the necessity of prior approval or ratifi-
cation by the Board of Visitors or any Committee thereof. The Vice
President for Health Sciences (or his delegate) shall have the authori-
ty to execute clinical affiliation agreements for, or on behalf of, the
Health Sciences Campus and MCV Hospitals without the necessity of prior
approval or ratification by the Board of Visitors or any Committee
thereof. However, any contract having a total aggregate or projected
cost of $250,000 will be reported to the Executive Committee of the
Board of Visitors for information.
5. Delegation
The President is hereby authorized to delegate to other University
or Hospital employees any or all of his authority to execute any docu-
ments provided that:
(a) each delegation shall be in writing and shall be to a
named individual, and
(b) each delegation shall specify the type or types of docu-
ments which may be executed pursuant to said delegation,
including any applicable dollar limitation.
6. Rescission of Previous Resolutions
All previous resolutions authorizing University employees to execute documents in the name and on behalf of the University are hereby
rescinded. Such rescission shall not in any way affect the validity of
any documents signed under the authority of any such previous resolution.
7
On motion made and seconded, the Report of the Property Committee
was accepted and the Minutes of a Meeting held on June 19, 1986, were
approved.
Mr. Lipman reported that the Student Affairs Committee did not
have a report at this time.
Mr. Berry, Chairman of the Nominating Committee, presented the
following slate of officers and members of the Executive Committee:
Vice Rector: Mr. Eric M. Lipman
Secretary: Mrs. FitzGerald Bemiss
Members of the Executive Committee:
Mrs. Nina Abady
Chairman, Academic Policy
Mr. William Berry
Chairman, Hospital
Mr. Roger Gregory
Chairman, Student Affairs
Mr. Philip B. Morris
Chairman, Advancement
Mrs. Anne Marie Whittemore
Chairman, Audit
Mr. Alan Wurtzel
Chairman, Property
On motion made and seconded, nominations were closed and the officers
and members of the Executive Committee were elected by acclamation.
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 evalua
8
tion 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 activities
as authorized by Section 2.1-344 a(1), a(2), a(6) and a(7) of the Vir-
ginia Freedom of Information Act.
Following executive session, on motion made and seconded, the
Board accepted the Report of the Legal Advisor, accepted the Report of
the President, approved the Faculty Appointments and Changes in Status
including the appointment of Dr. William Egelhoff as Director of the
Virginia Center on Aging for a term not to exceed two years, approved
the Affiliate and Clinical Faculty Appointments, approved Full and
Consultative Hospital Privileges, accepted the Report of Gifts, and
accepted the Executive Session Committee Reports.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
MargAret Bemis, Secretary
Approved:
