MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
March 15, 1989
A special meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Common-
wealth University was held on Wednesday, March 15, 1989, at 5:30 p.m.
in the University Meeting Center.
Present were Messrs. Farinholt (Rector), Beadles, Meador, Morris
and Whitworth; Drs. Holland, Johnson and Moore; and Mesdames Abady and
Epps. Absent were Messrs. Ferguson, Gregory, Latham, Lipman and
Wurtzel; and Mrs. Whittemore. Also present were Drs. Ackell, Andrako,
Dewey, Ruch and Wilson; Messrs. Bruegman, Kudless, Poe and Ross; and
Mrs. Price. Mr. Joe Modrak, student representative to the Board, was
also present.
Invited guests included Drs. Richard M. Costanzo, Reuben W.
Farley, Marguerite Harkness, Robert D. Holsworth, Robert G. Lamb, Patti
A. Maurer, and Jaclyn Miller.
Mr. Farinholt called the meeting to order. Introductions were
made.
During the discussion, the following issues were presented:
Faculty need more involvement at grass roots level -- chair-
men need to share more information.
Communication is good from the top down to the chairman
level.
Academic Plan is good.
"Service" as used in promotion and tenure evaluation does not
receive adequate emphasis -- varies according to school.
Faculty are divided on whether or not to increase the number
of graduate teaching assistants (GTA's). More GTA's may mean
less teaching by faculty at freshman level where teaching
ability is most important. For the most part, GTA's are not
educated to teach.
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^ Faculty development is a serious need and may help in retaining good faculty
Alternatives to tenure were discussed including evaluation;
• contracts of three to seven years; collateral appointments;
nontenured positions; extending probationary period to nine
or eleven years.
• More senior professors should be involved in teaching.
Stress importance of teaching in all evaluations. Research
or scholarly activity may be over valued in evaluations.
• Library funding issues.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Approved:
