MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
November 20, 1986
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth
University was held on Thursday, November 20, 1986, at 9 a.m. in the University Meeting Center.
Present were Messrs. Berry, Farinholt (Rector), Latham, Lipman, Smith
and Wurtzel; Mesdames Abady, Bemiss and Epps; and Drs. Holland and Moore.
Absent were Messrs. Allen, Beadles, Gregory and Morris; and Mrs. Whittemore.
Also present were Drs. Ackell, Connell, Ruch, Sparks and Wilson; Messrs.
Brown, Bruegman, Doswell and Ross; and Mrs. Price.
Mr. Charles Thomas, student representative to the Board, was also present.
Mr. Farinholt called the meeting to order and on motion made and second-
ed, the Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Board of Visitors held on Septem-
ber 25, 1986, were approved.
The Report of the President followed. Dr. Ackell reported on the fol-
lowing items:
1
Dr. Ackell reported on how safe America's college campuses are, a subject attracting National attention, relative to VCU. VCU is forced to
ask: "How safe is the University?" The safety of VCU's students and
employees and the security of personal as well as State property are
issues directly affecting the self-image and wider reputation. Crime is
not something VCU can hide. It's a reality of urban life. But random
reports in the paper can distort the perception of crime. Dr. Ackell
highlighted the work being done by the VCU police noting that with a
glimpse of the bigger picture, one can gain a better understanding of
campus security problems and what VCU is doing to promote a safe envi-
ronment for the University community.
Unlike many traditional institutions that operate primarily during the
day, VCU has a large and active evening studies program. VCU offers
public programs attracting people to the University's facilities after
dark. VCU has hospitals remaining open around the clock. The University never completely closes: no gates or walls seclude VCU. The acces-
sibility and activity that make VCU such a vital and exciting
environment are also its hazards.
2
Dr. Ackell noted that the most recent uniform crime report published by
the F.B.I. includes a section on colleges and universities. It shows a
26 percent decrease in the total number of crimes reported by VCU during
the years 1982 to 1985.
Dr. Ackell stated that during that period, many of VCU's sister institutions in non-urban areas in Virginia reported more rapes and aggravated
assaults, more burglaries, more larcenies and more vehicle thefts than
VCU.
Since 1978, the VCU campuses have grown from 4.7 million square feet to
6.5 million square feet. Without an increase in the number of sworn
officers since 1978, the VCU police have patrolled 39 percent more area.
Rental property controlled by VCU is also patrolled by VCU police. And
since 1978, rental space has grown from 263,860 square feet to 419,750 -
a 59 percent increase.
Despite demands on time and resources, the VCU police have not only
stabilized crime, but stemmed it. They have done this by patrolling the
campuses, responding swiftly to emergency calls, publishing safety tips
and visiting students and staff to offer advice on security. They have
done a remarkable job.
2. Dr. Ackell reported that Theresa Pollak and Anne Whittemore were among
the 10 outstanding women of greater Richmond honored at the recent YWCA
awards ceremony. The University congratulates both of them for this
honor.
3. Dr. Ackell stated that small clusters of atoms are described as the
"missing link" between solid states of matter and the atoms which constitute a solid. With the development of new experimental tools,
including high powered lasers, scientists are beginning to be able to
Dr. Ackell noted that VCU served as host for an international symposium
study this process, and the unique phenomena associated with small cluster formation.
on the subject held at the Jefferson-Sheraton Hotel from October 28
through November 1, 1986. With approximately 300 participants from 22
countries attending, it was the largest gathering which has been held on
the subject. Dr. Puru Jena, VCU Physics Professor, who has an interna-
tional reputation for his work on small cluster phenomena, chaired the
organizing committee. Sponsors included NATO, NASA, Philip Morris USA,
the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Energy and the
Air Force Office of Scientific Research.
4. Dr. Ackell announced that the Elam Toone Endowment Fund Committee has
established a professorship in honor of the founder of the Medical Col-
lege of Virginia Arthritis Clinic at VCU. Funded with gifts and pledges
of $250,000, the Toone endowment was provided to the MCV Foundation by
3
colleagues, friends, former students and patients of Dr. Toone, who is
now Emeritus Professor of Internal Medicine.
5. Dr. Ackell reported that the University is receiving significant Nation-
al media attention. Dr. Lindon Eaves, Professor of Human Genetics, and
his colleagues were interviewed by WGBH in Boston for a public broad-
casting service special. Dr. Eaves has undertaken one of the largest
searches in United States' history to find twins for his genetic studies. The special is scheduled to air in February.
.
Dr. Ackell noted that Dr. Nancy J. Osgood, Associate Professor of
Gerontology and Sociology, was interviewed by CBS Evening News about her
research on elderly suicide. The interview aired last week. She also
has been on several radio programs and was quoted by The Wall Street
Journal last summer on the topic. She has authored a new book, Suicide
in Nursing Homes, which is due to come out before the end of the year.
Dr. Ackell stated that the United States Information Agency's "Almanac,"
a television show for U.S. personnel abroad, was here to cover the VCU
Jazz Festival. "Almanac" also taped stories on the School of The Arts
and the head trauma unit at MCV Hospitals including an interview with
Dr. John D. Ward, Associate Professor of Neurosurgery. The show is
scheduled to air later this month.
6. Dr. Ackell reported that during the first week in November, repre-
sentatives of the University community attended alumni chapter kickoff
receptions in the Tidewater and Northern Virginia areas. The response
was excellent, with more than 150 attending each reception.
The Northern Virginia reception was hosted by Mrs. Susan L. Jenkins,
President, Jenkins, Inc., and Dr. Carlton E. Gregory, a dentist, both of,
Arlington.
The Tidewater reception was hosted by Mr. J. Dale Bimson, a Virginia
Beach city attorney, and Dr. Frederick T. Given, Jr., a physician in
Virginia Beach.
7. Dr. Ackell announced that VCU's men's basketball team has 16 games at
the Richmond Coliseum this season, the most in VCU history. The team
begins the season in Hawaii at the Hawaiian Airlines-Silversword Invita-
tional by playing Vanderbilt. VCU also plays in Hawaii next year in the
Rainbow Classic.
Most preseason magazines have picked the Rams to finish third in the
eight-team Sun Belt Conference. Western Kentucky and Jacksonville are
picked one and two. A total of 17 games will be televised this season,
although not all in the Richmond area.
VCU has sold some 1,800 season tickets just shy of the record total
1,941 sold last year. Expectations are that the record total will be
passed shortly.
4
Dr. Ackell stated that if any Board members would like tickets to any
home games to please contact Meg.
8. Dr. Ackell announced the death of Mr. David Williamson, Vice Chair-
man of HCA and a 1957 graduate of VCU's Health Administration pro-
gram. David chaired the New Ventures in Health Administration
campaign and stimulated numerous leadership gifts to the effort.
David will be sorely missed.
9. Dr. Ackell reported that Pitts Management Associates, a health care
consulting firm, has been retained to develop a business plan for
MCVH which will provide additional support for marketing efforts.
The research phase of the project to develop marketing strategies
to support undergraduate recruitment is complete. The survey of
Academic Campus faculty yielded a 40% response.
The final report is due in December.
10. Dr. Ackell stated that the University will receive a $1.1 million
allocation from the Higher Education Equipment Trust Fund this
year. The allocation is based on the following needs:
Equipment Obsolescence $628,000
Academic Computing 368,000
Engineering 81,000
The total equipment request was $31.8 million. VCU was one of
three institutions asked to testify before the General Assembly
committee monitoring the Equipment Trust Fund process. VCU's pro-
cess for identifying equipment needs was considered to be a model
by the staff of the money committees.
Mr. Farinholt reported for the Executive Committee. He stated that
the Committee reviewed the Quarterly Budget Performance Report,
approved the contract with Saga Food Services, Inc., and the contract
with Marriott Corporation for food service management at the Hospital.
On motion made and seconded, the Report of the Executive Committee was
accepted and the Minutes of a Meeting held on October 16, 1986, were
approved.
Mrs. Abady reported for the Academic Policy Committee. Mrs. Abady
reported that the Committee recommended the Board's approval of two
5
divisional name changes at the medical center. The Division of Plastic
Surgery would be changed to the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive
Surgery and the Division of Vascular and General Surgery to the Divi-
sion of Vascular and Transplantation Surgery. On motion made and sec-
onded, the divisional name changes were approved.
Mrs. Abady reported that the Committee approved recommending to the
Board a reorganization of the School of Business. The School is
presently configured with six departments of unequal size. The new
reorganization will have seven departments of approximately equal size.
There will be no fiscal impact to the University with this reorganiza-
tion. On motion made and seconded, the Board approved the reorganiza-
tion of the School of Business.
Mrs. Abady reported that the Committee reviewed the Interim Sub-
stance Abuse Awareness Policy, made several suggestions and referred it
back to the appropriate committee. The Committee also reviewed the
issues being discussed by the promotion and tenure Task Force and
received the preliminary report of the Academic Planning Committee. On
motion made and seconded, the Report of the Academic Policy Committee
was accepted and the Minutes of a Meeting held on September 24, 1986,
were approved.
Mrs. Epps reported for the Advancement Committee. She stated that
the Committee reviewed the Voluntary Gift Report and noted that the
number of gifts was up significantly. The Committee also reviewed the
Annual Giving Report which. is up $16,000 despite the fact that the
solicitation letters have not been sent out. The Committee received a
6
report from Steve Harvey, Director of Alumni Activities, who reported
on two very successful alumni organizing meetings. The Tidewater meeting attracted 116 alumni and the Northern Virginia reception had 139
people in attendance. Celia Barnes updated the Committee of the mar-
keting program for the hospital and University. Mrs. Epps stated that
the remainder of the Committee's report would be discussed in executive
session. On motion made and seconded, the Report of the Advancement
Committee was accepted and the Minutes of a Meeting held on September
25, 1986, were approved.
Mr. Smith reported for the Audit Committee and stated that this
report would be made in executive session. On motion made and second-
ed, the Report of the Audit Committee was accepted and the Minutes of a
Meeting held on September 24, 1986, were approved.
Mr. Berry reported on behalf of the Hospital Committee. Mr. Berry
stated that the Hospital Committee had met jointly with the Property
Committee and that would be reported on by Mr. Wurtzel. On motion made
and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting of the Hospital Committee held
on September 24, 1986, were approved.
Mr. Wurtzel reported for the Property Committee. At the Commit-
tee's September 29 meeting, they approved the firm of Ballou and Justice as the architect for the McGuire Hall renovation project, approved
the firm of Washington Design Group for the School of Dentistry renova-
tion project, reviewed the Capital Budget Process and reviewed the West
Campus Master Site Plan. Mr. Wurtzel stated that the Committee recom-
mended that the West Campus Master Site Plan be updated. This update
7
would identify the space needs to the year 2000 and could possibly be
done internally. An outside firm could then be retained to present
ways to meet those needs. Mr. Wurtzel stated that the remainder of his
report would be made in executive session. On motion made and second-
ed, the Report of the Property Committee was accepted and the Minutes
of Meetings held on September 29, 1986, and September 30, 1986, were
approved. Mr. Farinholt expressed the Board's appreciation to the
members of the Property and Hospital Committees for their efforts in
these matters.
Mrs. Bemiss reported for the Student Affairs Committee. She stated
that the Committee met on October 7 with a group of students and heard
their comments on their experiences at VCU. On motion made and second-
ed, the Report of the Student Affairs Committee was accepted and the
Minutes of a Meeting held on October 7, 1986, 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 matters
regarding such individuals might be affected by such evaluation, 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 the investing of public funds, and to
discuss legal matters and pending litigation with its attorney, and to
discuss matters relating to gifts, bequests, and fund-raising activi-
ties, and to discuss special awards as authorized by Section 2.1-344
8
a(1), a(2), a(3), a(5), a(6), a(7) and a(8) of the Virginia 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 Faculty Appointments and Changes in Status, accept-
ed the Report of Gifts, accepted the Executive Session Committee
Reports, approved the amendment to the Donor Recognition Policy, rati-
fied the Statement of Position of the Hospital and Property Committees
with respect to the A. D. Williams/West Hospital facility and accepted
the Report of the Special Awards Committee.
On motion made and seconded, the Board approved, with Mr. Berry
abstaining, authorizing the Rector to approve the selection of a finan-
cial advisor with respect to the proposed advance refunding or out-
standing MCV Hospitals Revenue Bonds.
On motion made and seconded, the Board approved the following resolution authorizing the University President to approve the settlement
of claims against or in favor of the University and to delegate to the
Vice President for Health Sciences certain such approval authority with
respect to claims relating to charges or liens for medical and related
services rendered by the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, with
the proviso that all settlements in excess of $250,000 will be reported
to the Board of Visitors for information:
9
Be it RESOLVED by the Board of Visitors of Virginia Common-
wealth University, that the President of the University is and
shall be authorized and empowered, pursuant to and subject to the
provisions of 2.1-127 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended,
to approve the settlement of claims against or in favor of Virginia
Commonwealth University; and be it further RESOLVED that the Presi-
dent of the University is and shall be authorized to delegate to
the Vice President for Health Sciences the authority to approve the
settlement of claims relating to charges or liens for medical and
related services rendered by the Medical College of Virginia Hospi-
tals, with the proviso that all settlements in excess of $250,000
will be reported to the Board of Visitors for information.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:10 p.m.
Margaret Bemiss, Secretary
Approved:
