MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
March 19, 1987
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Common-
wealth University was held on Thursday, March 19, 1987, at 9 a.m. in
the University Meeting Center.
Present were Messrs. Allen, Beadles, Farinholt (Rector), Gregory,
Latham, Lipman, Morris, Smith and Wurtzel; Mesdames Abady and Epps; and
Drs. Holland and Moore. Absent were Mesdames Bemiss and Whittemore;
and Mr. Berry. Also present were Drs. Ackell, Connell, Ruch and
Sparks; Messrs. Brown, Bruegman and Ross; and Mrs. Price.
Mr. Farinholt called the meeting to order and stated that Dr.
Richard L. Sander, Director of Athletics, was the speaker for the
Board's dinner meeting. This was an excellent presentation and the
Board and administration is fortunate to have someone of Dr. Sander's
caliber.
Mr. Farinholt also thanked Mr. William Doswell for the great
effort he put forth during the most recent session of the General
Assembly. Mr. Farinholt stated that VCU received some much needed
capital dollars.
On motion made and seconded, the Minutes of a Special Meeting of
the Board of Visitors held on January 21, 1987; the Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Board of Visitors held on January 22, 1987; and the
Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Board of Visitors held on February
5, 1987, were approved.
The Report of the President followed. Dr. Ackell reported:
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"IN AN ATTEMPT TO BRING THE BOARD CLOSER TO THE THINKING THAT
IS SHAPING THE UNIVERSITY AND GUIDING ITS DIRECTION INTO THE
FUTURE, I WILL BE USING THIS TIME AT THE BOARD MEETINGS TO DIS-
CUSS, IN-DEPTH, SPECIFIC AREAS OF THE UNIVERSITY. BY SHARING WITH
YOU MY ATTITUDES ON SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND HOW
VCU IS RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF ITS DIVERSE CONSTITUENCIES, I
HOPE TO CONVEY A SENSE OF WHERE THE UNIVERSITY IS AND WHERE IT IS
HEADED. I LOOK FORWARD TO PROVIDING YOU WITH THOUGHTFUL EXAMINA-
TIONS OF THE MANY UNITS COMPRISING THE UNIVERSITY: THAT IS, ITS
SCHOOLS, DIVISIONS AND PROGRAMS. THROUGH A SERIES OF DETAILED
CLOSE-UPS, I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A CLEAR PICTURE OF VCU, AN
ENLARGEMENT OF OUR PROGRESS AND OUR AMBITIONS. IN ADDITION TO MY
DISCUSSIONS, I WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH WRITTEN REPORTS HIGHLIGHTING
ACHIEVEMENTS AND INITIATIVES THAT REFLECT THE UNIVERSITY'S COMMITMENT TO TEACHING, RESEARCH AND SERVICE
ON FEBRUARY 11TH, THE ACADEMIC PLANNING COMMITTEE RELEASED
ITS REPORT SUGGESTING A DIRECTION FOR BUDGETING FOR THE PERIOD
1988 TO 1990. THE REPORT, WHICH IS BEING REVIEWED BY DR. RUCH AND
DR. CONNELL, WAS BASED ON DETAILED INFORMATION PREPARED BY EACH
SCHOOL AND COLLEGE IN THE UNIVERSITY. IT RECOMMENDED WAYS IN
WHICH VCU, AS AN URBAN, RESEARCH, DOCTORAL-GRANTING UNIVERSITY,
COULD CAPITALIZE ON ITS STRENGTHS TO BETTER FULFILL ITS MISSION.
LOOKING THROUGH THE REPORT, I WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THE COMMIT-
TEE SUGGESTED STRENGTHENING OUR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES PROGRAM.
TODAY, I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU WHERE WE STAND IN THAT AREA
AND WHERE I SEE US GOING.
IN 1985, A PROGRAM WAS INSTITUTED ENABLING STUDENTS TO MINOR
IN INTERNATIONAL STUDIES WHILE COMPLETING DEPARTMENTAL, SCHOOL AND
UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS FOR A B.A. OR B.S. DEGREE.
IN THE FALL OF THAT YEAR, VCU FOUNDED THE INTERNATIONAL AUDIO
NETWORK FOR INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT AND CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING.
UTILIZING LOW-COST AUDIO TELECONFERENCING SYSTEMS, VCU BEGAN CON-
NECTING WITH UNIVERSITIES IN FRANCE, ITALY, AUSTRIA, GERMANY AND
SPAIN TO BRING LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION AND CULTURAL DISCUSSIONS LIVE
INTO CLASSROOMS ON OUR CAMPUS. THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO
INTERACT WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES IS A
FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND AND WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE WAY FOREIGN LAN-
GUAGES ARE TAUGHT.
IN 1986, WE ESTABLISHED AN OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES TO
COORDINATE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS, STUDY ABROAD ANC ACADEMIC OFFERINGS
WITH AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE.
THIS YEAR, FOUR OF OUR SECOND-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS ARE
STUDYING AT ST. ANDREW'S UNIVERSITY IN SCOTLAND. STUDYING IN AN
ATMOSPHERE OF LONG-ESTABLISHED TRADITION, BEING EXPOSED TO DIF-
FERENT EDUCATIONAL APPROACHES AND EXAMINING ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
CARE DELIVERY SYSTEMS ARE THE KEY BENEFITS TO OUR STUDENTS. EVEN-
TUALLY, WE HOPE TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE AN EXCHANGE OF
STUDENTS AND FACULTY FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM, INCREASING THE
BREADTH OF MEDICAL EDUCATION AT VCU THROUGH THE CONTRIBUTION OF
THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE.
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FOR YEARS, WE'VE ASSISTED OUR STUDENTS IN STUDYING ABROAD
THROUGH UNIVERSITY MEMBERSHIP IN THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
EXCHANGE PROGRAM. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, STUDENTS CAN OBTAIN ACA-
DEMIC CREDIT TOWARD THEIR DEGREE PROGRAMS WHILE IMMERSING THEM-
SELVES IN THE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE OF ANOTHER COUNTRY. AT A COST
NO HIGHER THAN FEES FOR TUITION, ROOM AND BOARD AT VCU, OUR STU-
DENTS HAVE STUDIED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, GERMANY, ITALY, AUSTRA-
LIA, SOUTHEAST ASIA, CENTRAL AMERICA, FRANCE, BELGIUM AND CANADA.
OPPORTUNITIES EXIST FOR STUDENTS TO STUDY AT MEMBER SITES IN AFRI-
CA, SCANDINAVIA, SOUTH AMERICA AND FIJI.
WE'VE ALSO FELT IT IMPORTANT TO ENABLE OUR FACULTY TO SHARPEN
THEIR SKILLS THROUGH TRAVEL. TO THIS END, WE'VE SPONSORED A GROWING NUMBER OF STUDY TRIPS WHICH HAVE BEEN POPULAR WITH STUDENTS
AND NON-STUDENTS ALIKE. PARTICIPANTS OF THESE TRIPS, MANY OF WHOM
COME FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, TRAVEL WITH A FACULTY EXPERT TO A
FOREIGN COUNTRY FOR INTENSIVE STUDY IN A PARTICULAR FIELD. EXAMPLES INCLUDE STUDYING ART HISTORY IN PARIS, THEATRE IN LONDON OR
HISTORY IN CHINA AND RUSSIA.
TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS WISHING TO STUDY ABROAD HAVE THAT
OPPORTUNITY, THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS BASED ON ACA-
DEMIC MERIT AND FINANCIAL NEED.
BUT THE ENRICHMENT THAT COMES FROM EXPOSURE TO DIFFERENT WAYS
OF LIFE IS NOT SOMETHING LIMITED TO OUR STUDENTS STUDYING ABRROAD.
LITTLE BY LITTLE, OUR COMMUNITY IS ACQUIRING A MORE INTERNATIONAL
FLAVOR. THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE 199 FOREIGN STUDENTS FROM 43
NATIONS WHO JOINED US AT VCU LAST FALL.
THIS SUMMARIZES WHERE WE ARE TODAY. BUT WHERE ARE WE HEADED
IN THE AREA OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES? IN A DIRECTION THAT COULD
ALLOW US TO PROVIDE AN EDUCATION WITH A STRONG INTERNATIONAL
DIMENSION, ENHANCING THE DIVERSITY THAT IS THE HALLMARK OF OUR
INSTITUTION.
LET ME NOW SHARE WITH YOU THE PLANNING COMMITTEE'S RECOMMEN-
DATIONS THAT HAVE MY ENTHUSIASTIC ENDORSEMENT:
1.) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL STUDIES HOUSE,
WHICH, IN ADDITION TO SERVING AS A GATHERING PLACE FOR
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, WOULD HOUSE INDIVIDUALS RESPON-
SIBLE FOR COORDINATING INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS.
2.) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SELF-SUPPORTING "ENGLISH AS A
SECOND LANGUAGE PROGRAM" FOR BOTH GRADUATE AND UNDER-
GRADUATE STUDENTS.
3.) INCREASED INVOLVEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LAN-
GUAGES IN THE INTERNATIONAL STUDIES PROGRAM.
4.) A REVIEW OF FULL-TIME FACULTY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FOR-
EIGN LANGUAGES AND THEIR CAPACITY TO OFFER LANGUAGES NOT
CUSTOMARILY OFFERED SUCH AS JAPANESE OR RUSSIAN.
5.) THE CREATION OF A UNIVERSITY-WIDE FACULTY ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES.
LET ME STRESS THAT AT THIS POINT, THERE ARE MANY DECISIONS TO
BE MADE BEFORE ANY OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED.
NONETHELESS, THEY REFLECT MY THINKING THAT WE CAN ENRICH THE
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EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF OUR STUDENTS AND ENHANCE OUR VALUE TO
THE COMMUNITY BY HEIGHTENING THE INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER OF THE
UNIVERSITY.
WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT WE LIVE IN AN INCREASINGLY INTERDEPEN-
DENT WORLD WHERE AWARENESS OF HOW OTHER PEOPLE LIVE, THINK AND
COMMUNICATE IS VITAL. BY PROVIDING OUR STUDENTS AND FACULTY WITH
OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERACT WITH PERSONS OF DIFFERENT ORIGINS, WE
CAN INCREASE AWARENESS AND SENSITIVITY TO OTHER VALUES AND TRADI-
TIONS. EXPOSURE TO CULTURAL DIVERSITY MAY HAVE THE EFFECT OF
TEACHING OUR STUDENTS TO THINK GLOBALLY ABOUT THE SERIOUS SOCIAL,
ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ISSUES FACING THEM AS CITIZENS OF A COMPLEX
WORLD. A BROADLY FOCUSED INTERNATIONAL STUDIES PROGRAM WILL
ENABLE US TO CARRY OUT OUR MOST SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY: THAT OF
EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN PARTICIPATE SUCCESSFULLY AND CON-
TRIBUTE TO TOMORROW'S SOCIETY."
Mr. Farinholt reported for the Executive Committee which met on
February 19, 1987. Mr. Farinholt stated that the Committee reviewed
and accepted the Second Quarter Budget Performance Report, reviewed and
approved the Quarterly Investment Report, appointed Mr. William W.
Berry to the University Investment Committee and approved the 1988-90
Capital Outlay Priorities. On motion made and seconded, the Report of
the Executive Committee was accepted, with a decision being delayed on
the Capital Outlay Priorities until this item was discussed in executive session, and the Minutes of a Meeting held on February 19, 1987,
were approved.
Mrs. Abady reported for the Academic Policy Committee which met on
March 18, 1987. She stated that the Committee recommended to the Board
the approval of the Institute for Health Studies as amended by the
Committee. On motion made and seconded, the Institute for Health Stud-
ies, Department of Health Administration, School of Allied Health Pro-
fessions was approved as amended.
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Mrs. Abady stated that the Committee recommended that the Board
approve the Department of Nursing Administration and Information Sys-
tems in the School of Nursing. On motion made and seconded, the
Department of Nursing Administration and Information Systems was
approved.
A proposal to establish divisions within the Department of Pedia-
trics was recommended by the Committee to the Board. On motion made
and seconded, the organizational changes for the Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, were approved.
Mrs. Abady stated that the Committee had held preliminary discussion concerning the Promotion and Tenure Draft Report. A number of
suggestions were made. At its next meeting, the Committee will review
the Board's Promotion and Tenure Special Appeal Procedures. The Com-
mittee also has the Academic Plan under consideration. With regard to
Advisory Committees, the administration will develop guidelines for use
by these committees and the Advancement Division will serve as a clearinghouse for all such committees. On motion made and seconded, the
Report of the Academic Policy Committee was accepted and the Minutes of
a Meeting held on January 21, 1987, were approved.
Mr. Morris reported for the Advancement Committee. On motion made
and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held on January 22, 1987, were
approved. At its March 19 meeting, the Committee received a report
concerning the planning of the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the
University's founding to be held in November, 1988. The Committee also
heard a report on the plans to establish alumni chapters in Roanoke and
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Lynchburg. On motion made and seconded, the Report of the Advancement
Committee was accepted.
Or. Moore reported for the Audit Committee. On motion made and
seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held on January 21, 1987, were
approved. Dr. Moore stated that the Audit Committee meeting scheduled
for March 19, 1987, was postponed.
Mr. Morris reported for the Hospital Committee which met on March
18, 1987. The Committee reviewed the marketing contract to be awarded
to Ford and Westbrook and was recommending to the Executive Committee
that the contract be approved. The Committee reviewed the financial
report submitted by Mr. Fischer. Mr. Morris stated that the patient
accounting area and others in the Hospital are moving in the right
direction and the Board can feel comfortable with the Hospital's
present financial condition. The Committee also received a report on
the modification of the medicare formula and the impact it will have on
the Hospital. On motion made and seconded, the Report of the Hospital
Committee was accepted and the Minutes of a Meeting held on January 21,
1987, were approved.
Mr. Wurtzel reported for the Property Committee. On motion made
and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held on January 12, 1987, were
approved. At its March 18 meeting, the Committee approved the contract
for the Laboratory Information System at MCVH with Community Health
Computing Corporation at a cost of $1,166,000. The Committee received
a report on the contract awarded to Balsam America for the installation
of a new artificial playing surface, permanent lighting and moveable
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bleachers for the Cary Street Fields. On motion made and seconded, the
Report of the Property Committee was accepted.
Mr. Gregory reported for the Student Affairs Committee which met on
February 10, 1987. The purpose of this meeting was the discussion of
academic integrity. The Committee also reviewed and recommended
approval of the establishment of the Board of Visitors' award. If
approved, this award would be presented to a sophomore or junior student at the Spring Leadership and Awards Program. The award is a
scholarship to cover an amount equal to in-state tuition and fees On
motion made and seconded, the Board of Visitors' award was approved,
the Report of the Student Affairs Committee was accepted and the
Minutes of a Meeting held on February 10, 1987, were approved. Mr.
Smith raised a concern about the two campuses of the University having
different types of honor systems. Mr. Gregory stated that the Student
Affairs Committee would pursue this issue.
Mr. Farinholt stated that Mr. Wurtzel has agreed to serve as Chair-
man of the Board's Nominating Committee. Mr. Wurtzel will appoint the
remaining members of that Committee and make a report at the May Board
meeting.
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 dis-
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cuss 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 activities as authorized by Section 2.1-344 a(1), 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, accepted the Report of the
President, approved Faculty Appointments and Changes in Status,
approved Promotion and Tenure Recommendations, accepted the Report of
Gifts, accepted the Executive Session Committee Reports and approved
the 1988-90 Capital Outlay Priority Requests.
The meeting was adjourned at 1 p.m.
Approved:
