MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
September 15, 1988
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth
University was held on Thursday, September 15, 1988, at 9 a.m. in the
University Meeting Center.
Present were Messrs. Farinholt (Rector), Ferguson, Gregory, Latham,
Lipman, Meador, Morris, Whitworth and Wurtzel; Mesdames Abady, Epps and
Whittemore; and Drs. Holland, Johnson and Moore. Absent was Mr.
Beadles. Also present were Drs. Ackell, Connell, Dewey, Ruch, Sparks
and Wilson; Messrs. Bruegman, Doswell, Kelly and Kudless; and Mrs.
Price.
Mr. Farinholt called the meeting to order. On motion made and
seconded, the Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Board of Visitors
held on July 20, 1988, the Minutes of a Special Hearing of the Board of
Visitors held on July 21, 1988, and the Minutes of a Regular Meeting of
the Board of Visitors held on July 21, 1988, were approved.
The Report of the President followed. Dr. Ackell introduced Dr.
Ruch to give an update on the fall enrollment numbers.
Dr. Ruch stated that head count enrollment stands at 20,600 com-
pared to the University's projections of 20,365. Dr. Ruch introduced
Dr. Thomas McGovern, Project Director for the Varieties of Undergradu-
ate Experience Program. Dr. McGovern updated the Board on the status
of this project.
Mr. Farinholt presented the proposed revisions to the Board Bylaws.
As an outcome of the discussion at the Board Retreat, the creation of a
Finance and Investment Committee was proposed. The role and responsi-
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bilities of the Student Affairs Committee would be combined with the
Academic Policy Committee and the Student Affairs Committee would be
disbanded. Two board members would be appointed to serve as student
liaisons. On motion made and seconded, the disbanding of the Student
Affairs Committee was approved.
Following a discussion on the role of the Board with the founda-
tions, on motion made and seconded, the Finance and Investment Commit-
tee was approved subject to clarification by the legal counsel on the
wording concerning the University's foundations.
The last item proposed for change in the Bylaws involved the ser-
vice of vice presidents (Section 4.07). On motion made and seconded,
the language was changed to the "vice presidents serve at the pleasure
of the President."
Dr. Ackell presented a request to have Delegate Frank Hall serve on
the Center on Aging Advisory Committee. On motion made and seconded,
Delegates Hall's appointment was approved.
Mr. Bruegman stated that four contracts for Hospital supplies were
reviewed by the Rector and signed by the President. This was necessary
due to the time frame of the Board meetings and the necessity to obtain
these supplies. Mr. Bruegman requested that the Board ratify the
action of the President. On motion made and seconded, the Board rati-
fied the contracts for Tracheostomy Tubes, Disposable Oxisensors,
Implantable Pulse Generators and Valves and Whole Blood and Blood Prod-
ucts.
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Mr. Farinholt stated that because of a number of Board and adminis-
trative problems involved with the approval process for contracts, he
was appointing an ad hoc committee to review the contract approval
process. Mrs. Whittemore was asked to Chair the Committee and Messrs.
Gregory, Whitworth and Wurtzel were asked to serve as members.
Mrs. Epps, Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, stated that the
following officers and members of the Executive Committee were pro-
posed: Vice-Rector, Alan Wurtzel; Secretary, Anne Whittemore; members
of the Executive Committee, Abady, Beadles, Gregory, Holland, Morris
and Whitworth. On motion made and seconded, the slate of officers and
members of the Executive Committee were accepted and approved by accla-
mation.
Mr. Farinholt reported that the Executive Committee did not meet in
August.
Mrs. Abady reported for the Academic Policy Committee. She stated
that the Committee received a report on the Freshman Admission Policy.
There are three ways to be admitted into the University: regular
admission, alternate admission and educational support services.
Through the regular admission program, major indicators are grade point
average, class rank, academic curriculum, and SAT or ACT scores.
Mrs. Abady stated that she had been contacted by the VCU Chapter of
the AAUP about meeting with the Committee at an upcoming meeting. At
the November meeting, the Committee will be meeting with representa-
tives of the AAUP, the Faculty Senate and the Faculty Caucus.
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The Committee also developed a work plan for 1988-89 and will
review the six-year curriculum plan, minority recruiting and retention,
student outcome assessment data, and the Academic Plan for 1990-92.
Mrs. Abady stated that the Committee received a report on the
1988-90 Academic Plan. The Committee will receive a status report in
1990 as well as recommended goals for 1990-92.
On motion made and seconded, the Report of the Committee was
accepted.
Mr. Morris reported for the Advancement Committee. On motion made
and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held on July 20, 1988, were
approved. Mr. Morris stated that the Committee received a report on
the University Relations Program. A number of very positive news clips
have appeared on local and cable news recently. On motion made and
seconded, the Report of the Advancement Committee was accepted.
Mr. Gregory stated that the Audit Committee report would be made
during executive session.
Mr. Whitworth reported for the Finance and Investment Committee.
Mr. Whitworth reviewed the 1989 Operating and Capital Amendments which
were submitted to the State Department of Planning and Budget for con-
sideration by the Governor as possible amendments in the 1989 Session
of the General Assembly. On motion made and seconded, the 1989 Operat-
ing and Capital Amendments were approved. Mr. Whitworth stated that
the Committee had reviewed the 1987-88 fiscal year Consolidated Budget
Performance Report for informational purposes only and revenues and
expenditures were in balance at year-end. On motion made and seconded,
the Report of the Finance and Investment Committee was accepted.
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Dr. Holland reported for the Hospital Committee. The Committee
reviewed the year-end financial report for the Hospital. The Committee
also recommended the purchase of an experimental gallstone lithotripter
at a cost of $1 million. On motion made and seconded, the purchase of
the lithotripter was approved.
Mr. Gregory reported for the Property Committee. On motion made
and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held on July 20, 1988, were
approved. Mr. Gregory stated that the Committee had reviewed the 1989
Capital Outlay Requests. These requests are in addition to those capi-
tal projects approved for planning in the 1988 session of the General
Assembly. The requests approved for planning in 1988 include $4.9
million for renovations to Classrooms/Computer Labs/Faculty Offices,
$22.8 million for construction of a Medical Sciences Building and $2.8
million for renovations to A.D. Williams/West Hospital. In addition to
these projects, requests are being submitted for increases in the Uni-
versity's and Hospital's blanket authorizations, supplemental funding
for the new Student Commons Building and construction funds for a
Pathology Incinerator. On motion made and seconded, the 1989 Capital
Outlay Requests and Amended Requests were approved.
Mr. Gregory stated that the Committee recommended to the Board the
approval of Wilbur Smith Associates as the architects for the University Site Improvements Project. On motion made and seconded, Wilbur
Smith Associates was approved as the architects for the University Site
Improvements Project.
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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 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(6), a(7) and a(8) of the Virginia Freedom of
Information Act.
Following executive session, on motion made and seconded, the Board
approved and/or accepted the Report of the President, the Report of the
Legal Advisor, the Faculty Appointments and Changes in Status, Full and
Consultative Privileges, the Report of Gifts, the Naming Proposals and
the Executive Session Committee Reports including the purchase of 102
North Linden Street by the VCU Fund.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:40 p.m.
Anne M. Whiittemore, Secretary
Approved:
James B. Farinholt, Jr., Rector
