AMENDED
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
May 19, 1989
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth
University was held on Friday, May 19, 1989, at 9 a.m. at the University Meeting Center.
Present were Messrs. Farinholt (Rector), Ferguson, Lipman, Morris,
Whitworth and Wurtzel; Drs. Holland, Johnson and Moore; and Mesdames
Epps and Whittemore. Absent were Messrs. Beadles, Gregory, Latham and
Meador; and Mrs. Abady. Also present were Drs. Ackell, Andrako, Ruch,
Sparks and Wilson; Messrs. Bruegman, Kudless, Poe and Ross; and Mrs.
Price.
Mr. Farinholt called the meeting to order. In response to the
presence of a number of people from the community who were attending
the meeting to hear presentations by neighborhood representatives, Mr.
Farinholt stated that the proposed Master Site Plan for the Academic
Campus is only a draft. This document was released to the public for
comment and reaction. The administration has been asked to meet with
community groups to discuss and then develop alternative proposals.
Mr. Farinholt introduced Mr. Richard P. Dober of Dober, Lisky, Craig
and Associates, the firm that developed the Master Site Plan. Mr.
Dober stated:
2. The plan, as presented, sets out short-term and long-term
objectives
1. VCU is a young institution that does not have physical resources to meet its missio
3. The plan attempts to develop a sense of space and community for
the University
The steps that have been taken include:
1. Process begun internally to determine how to meet the Universi-
ty's needs
2. Plan was made public for reaction and comment
3. Comments, alternative plans, etc., will be taken into consider-
ation and the plan modified as appropriate
Suzanne Keller, spokesperson for the Save Oregon Hill Organiza-
presented slides depicting life in Oregon Hill. She discussed
be importance of the moderately priced housing, the atmosphere of the
neighborhood and the tight-knit environment that exists. The Oregon
residents, in Ms. Keller's opinion, do not want any intrusion by
VCU into its neighborhood.
Mr. Peter Boisseau, spokesperson for the Neighborhoods Coalition
President-elect of the Fan District Association, discussed the
rhoods' opposition to VCU's intrusion into either Oregon Hill or
he Fan. Mr. Boisseau stated that the Neighborhoods Coalition was
willing to work with the University administration to develop
alternative proposals.
Mr. Farinholt thanked Ms. Keller and Mr. Boisseau for appearing
before the Board to represent the interests of the neighborhoods. He
ted that the University was willing to work with the neighborhoods
to develop a "give and take" proposal.
following a short recess, on motion made and seconded, the Minutes
of a Special Meeting of the Board, held March 15, 1989, and the Minutes
of a Regular Meeting of the Board, held March 16, 1989, were approved
as submitted.
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The Report of the President followed. Dr. Ackell reported on the
following items:
1. Commencement will be held on Saturday, May 20, 1989, at 10 a.m
at the Coliseum. VCU will be honoring Marian Wright Edleman,
Commencement speaker; Arthur Ashe, Judith Godwin and H. St.
George Tucker.
2. Since 1984 VCU has offered about 300 media-based activities
which resulted in about 2000 separate telecommunications
events. Today, VCU has served about 15,000 individuals through
these special programs--programs generally not accessible to
this clientele.
VCU has invested about $500,000 in facilities development over
the four years. As a result, VCU departments have garnered
about $1.5 million in grants for media-based activities, and
another $750,000 may be received in grants in the next 12
months. In addition, VCU departments have received revenue
while delivering low cost educational programs to sites around
the U.S. and Canada. These funds have allowed VCU to extend
services and to enhance their quality.
3. Brochures describing some of VCU preventive medicine courses
that are of concern were distributed.
Mr. Farinholt reported for the Executive Committee which met on
April 13, 1989. On motion made and seconded, the report of the Executive Committee was accepted; Minutes of a Meeting held on April 13,
1989, were approved.
Mr. Wurtzel reported for the Academic Policy Committee. He stated
that the Committee reviewed the University's Productivity Study which
is mandated by the Council of Higher Education. The Committee approved
the administration's recommendations to:
Close the Masters in Music Education
^ Close the Masters in Occupational Education
• Retain under close supervision the Masters in Crafts and the
^ Masters in Physics and Applied Physics
approval a proposal to develop the Division on Inpatient Psychiatry
Retain and encourage development to support identified needs
statewide, the Masters in Math Education and the B.S. in
Science
motion made and seconded, the Ord approved the recommendations
tivity Study.
within the Department of Psychiatry. This change will reflect the
actual practice within the department and does not require additional
1 stated that the Committee reviewed and recommended for
resources. On motion made and seconded, the establishment of the Divi-
sion of Inpatient psychiatry was approved.
The establishment of the Gallstone Center within MCVH was reviewed
and recommended by the Committee. This will not be a center in the
same sense as the Center on Aging, for example, but should be consid-
ered as a marketing device primarily. On motion made and seconded, the
establishment of the Gallstone Center was approved.
The Committee received from Dr. Judd, Director of University
Libraries, a report about the activities at the libraries. Due to time
constraints, Dr. Judd will be joining the Committee at its next meeting
for a more detailed discussion. The Committee also received a report
from Dr. Dewey about research activity at the University. On motion
made and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held March 15, 1989, were
approved and 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 March 15, 1989, were
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approved. Mr. Morris stated that the Committee received a report from
Mr. Poe concerning activities in the University Relations area and from
Dr. Iles concerning activities in the Alumni Activities area. The
remainder of the Committee's report was made during executive session.
The Audit Committee will meet on Saturday, May 20, 1989, at 8 a.m.
prior to Commencement. On motion made and seconded, the Minutes of a
Meeting held March 16, 1989, were approved.
Mr. Whitworth reported for the Joint Meeting of the Finance and
Investment and the Hospital Committees which met on April 20, 1989.
Mr. Whitworth stated that the Committees reviewed the MCVH Operating
Budget for 1989-90 which will be extremely tight. Of primary concern
is the projection that due to decreased spending at the federal level,
medicare reimbursements will be reduced by $2.2 million. This was
discussed at length by the Committees. The budget is based upon an
overall charge increase of 9.5%. This figure is consistent with year-
to-date national trends and is essential to the Hospital's financial
stability. On motion made and seconded, the 1989-90 MCVH Operating
Budget was approved and the Minutes of a Meeting held April 20, 1989,
were approved.
Mr. Whitworth reported that the Finance and Investment Committee
had met on March 15, 1989, and April 20, 1989. On motion made and
seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held March 15, 1989, were approved.
At the April 20, 1989, meeting, the Committee reviewed the proposed
Tuition and Fees Charges for 1989-90. For an undergraduate, full-time
Virginia student, the cost of tuition will increase 4.7%. For the same
student, tuition, fees and room and board will increase 6%. On motion
Made and seconded, the proposed Tuition and Fees Charges for 1989-90
were approved.
The Committee also reviewed the Consolidated Budget Plan which
includes Education and General Funds, Sponsored Programs, Auxiliary
Enterprises, University Funds and Student Financial Assistance, amounting to $594 million. On motion made and seconded, the 1989-90 Consoli-
dated Budget Plan was approved and the Minutes of a Meeting held on
April 20, 1989, were approved.
Dr. Holland reported for the Hospital Committee. On motion made
and Seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held March 15, 1989, were
approved. The Committee reviewed the financial statements for the
Hospital. For the period ending March 31, 1989, total operating reve-
nue exceeded projections by $2.7 million or 1.4 percent. Dr. Holland
stated that the Committee reviewed the hospital's marketing programs
and its impact to date. The Committee recommended to the Board the
royal of a contract with Richmond Metropolitan Blood Service in the
amount of $3 million for whole blood products. On motion made and
Seconded, the contract with Richmond Metropolitan Blood Service was
approved.
Dr. Moore reported for the Property Committee. On motion made and
seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held March 15, 1989, were approved.
At its meeting on May 18, 1989, the Committee reviewed the project
plans for the Student Commons, Phase II. This project includes 45,000
gross square feet on two levels and will house offices for student
organizations, Career Planning and Placement and the University Coun-
seling Center. This project will cost $99 per square foot. Mr. Lipman
stated that he had abstained from the vote at the Committee meeting and
asked the administration to explore including plans for future expan-
sion in this project. On motion made and seconded, the project plans
for the Student Commons, Phase II were approved with Mr. Lipman
abstaining.
Or. Moore stated that the Committee reviewed and recommended
approval of the renewal of the lease with the Bocock family for the
property at 909 West Franklin Street. On motion made and seconded, the
renewal of the lease for 909 West Franklin Street was approved. Dr.
Moore stated that the remainder of the Committee's report would be made
during executive session.
Mr. Farinholt requested Messrs. Ferguson and Whitworth and Mrs.
Whittemore to serve with him as members of the Nominating Committee for
Rector.
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
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 Sec-
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tion 2.1-344 a(1), a(3), 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 executive session Committee reports including approval of
a Gift-in-Kind; reaffirmation of the Guidelines for Recognition of
Donors and Friends and the VCU Campaign Gift Accounting Policies;
approved the Financial Arrangement for Clinical Teachers; accepted the
Report of the General Counsel; accepted the Report of the President;
approved the Faculty Appointments and Changes in Status; approved the
Promotion and Tenure Recommendations; approved Executive Salaries and
Continuing Salaries; approved the School of Dentistry Private Practice
Scale; approved the School of Medicine Faculty Scale; approved the
Compensation Plan; accepted the Report of New Major Commitments;
approved the Naming Proposals; and accepted the Report of the Rector
including Dr. Ackell's contract and compensation for 1989-90 and
1990-91.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
Approved:
