MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
November 2, 1990
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Com-
monwealth University was held on Friday, November 2, 1990, at 9:00
a . m . in the University Meeting Center.
Present were Drs. Moore (Rector), Berenguer, Holland,
Johnson and Peay; Messrs. Farinholt, Gregory, Lipman, Meador,
Siegel, Townes, Whitworth and Wurtzel; and Mesdames Abady and
Epps. Mr. Ferguson was absent. Also present were Drs. Trani,
Andrako, Brown, Dewey, Hartman, Moore and Ruch; Messrs.
Bruegman, Fischer, Gehring, Kudless, Poe and Ross; and Mesdames
Halloran, Slattum and Balmer.
Dr. Moore called the meeting to order and welcomed members
of the news media and visitors.
Dr. Trani introduced the following special guests to the
Board members:
Lt. Wayne Carlson, Director of Education and Training for VCU's Cam-
pus Police Department, recently received on behalf of the Department, the Governor's Campus Crime Prevention Award 1990.
.
Dr. Louis S. Harris, Chairman, Department of Pharmacology and
Toxicology, was installed as an Honorary Professor at the Beijing
Medical University on October 5, 1990. Dr. Harris was cited for his
outstanding contributions to drug abuse research, for his direct aid
to Chinese research laboratories, and for opening his Department to a
large number of Chinese students over the past several years.
Mr. Michael D. Haskins, Manager of Energy Management, Physical
Plant Operations, has received an award on behalf of the University
from the Virginia Department of Mines, Mineral and Energy for an
energy-saving effort at the Cabell Library.
2
Dr. Philip B. Hylemon, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology,
has just recently been selected as the 1990 winner of the Adolph
Windaus Prize.
Ms. Margaret Price, a graduate student in the School of the Arts, is
the first recipient of the Rhoda Thalhimer Scholarship in Art Histo-
ry. She has maintained a 4.0 grade point average in her graduate
program while raising two sons and commuting from Charlottesville.
Dr. Sergei Porshakov, a Soviet expert on U.S. Politics. His doctoral
dissertation was entitled: "The Crisis of the U. S. Two Party Sys-
tem Before and During the Civil War." Dr. Porshakov will be in the
United States for one month.
Also introduced were employees who have served the University for
40 or more years. They were: Wilbert M. Baker, July 5, 1950; Caro-
line Goode Jackson, July 1, 1950; Lucy M. Harvie, November 1,
1949; G. Watson James, III, July 1, 1950; Robert L. Lynch, July
16, 1950; Lorrane Redmond, October 1, 1950; Eloise B. White, Octo-
ber 10, 1949; and Lillian T. Yarborough, October 1, 1949.
The President's Report followed:
Highlights of Student Enrollments and Admissions Report 1987-1990.
Student enrollment is 21,763. It is the highest ever enrollment and
continues a five-year pattern of growth.
1991 Budget Amendment Request. The State Auditor of Public Ac-
counts has advised that the reduction in State support for the teaching hospitals must be recorded as cuts in State General Funds and
must be reflected in each institution's financial statements. VCU
will comply with this directive.
Senator Hunter Andrews sent a draft proposal for a General Obliga-
tions Bond Issue to members of the Senate Finance Committee on Au-
gust 31, 1990. The purpose of this proposed bond issue is to fi-
nance Virginia's Capital Outlay needs.
A booklet describing operating budget requirements was distribut-
ed.
The State has advised that the planned reduction in the contribution
rate for faculty in the optional retirement plan from 12.5% to 10.12%
will not occur this year.
Dr. Trani also discussed the Library Funding, Contingency Plan,
Community Initiative Update, Master Site Plan Update, Freedom of
Information Requests, his travel around Virginia, the 1990 Combined
Virginia Campaign Progress Report, Highlights from MCV Hospitals,
Student Luncheon, Faculty Luncheon, Urban 13, Sun Belt Update,
the Dwight D. Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Education Pro-
gram and Founders Day.
3
Revisions to the Board of Visitors' Bylaws were presented as
follows :
Quorum. A quorum of any of the standing committees of the Board
shall consist of two (2) members of the Committee, either regular or
ex officio. (Page 9, Section 3.02, Part G);
The Rector shall designate the number of members of each special
committee which shall constitute a quorum of that committee. (Page 9,
Section 3.03) ;
The rector shall be a member ex officio, with vote, of all committees
of the Board and shall be counted as a member in determining the
presence of a quorum. (Page 11, Section 4.02, Part B);
The Vice-Rector shall be a member ex officio, with vote, of all
committees of the Board and, unless the only other member present
is the Rector, shall be counted as a member in determining the pres-
ence of a quorum. (Page 12, Section 4.03, Part B).
On motion made and seconded, the revisions were approved.
The Resolution - Optional Retirement Plan - was presented.
On motion made and seconded, the following Resolution was
approved:
WHEREAS, Virginia Commonwealth University offers the Op-
tional Retirement Plan (ORP) for college and university faculty which
heretofore was limited to one provider, Teachers Insurance and Annu-
ity Association/College Retirement Equity Fund (TIAA-CREF), and
WHEREAS, the Secretary of Education of Virginia recently
has announced that six providers have been found to be capable of
delivering an acceptable level of services and products to ORP par-
ticipants and have been authorized to provide ORP services in the
Commonwealth, subject to the approval of the Board of Visitors of
their respective institutions, and
WHEREAS, this Board is of the opinion that eligible employees
of Virginia Commonwealth University would benefit if all six provid-
ers were available under the Optional Retirement Plan,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Visi-
tors of Virginia Commonwealth University authorizes the following
providers in its Optional Retirement Plan, subject to the condition
that these providers must adhere to the marketing guidelines estab-
lished by the Commonwealth of Virginia: Fidelity Investments Insti-
tutional Services, Great-West Life Assurance Company, Metropolitan
Life Insurance Company/Metlife Resources, Teachers Insurance and
Annuity Association/College Retirement Equity Fund (TIAA/CREF),
T. Rowe Price and Associates, and Variable Annuity Life Insurance
Company (VALIC) .
4
Mr. Wurtzel reported for the Academic Policy Committee
which met on November 1, 1990. On motion made and seconded, the
Minutes of a Meeting held September 12, 1990, were approved. The
Work Plan for 1990-91 was discussed. The plan outlines the work to
be done by the Academic Policy Committee over the course of the
academic year. On motion made and seconded, the Work Plan for
1990-91 was approved. On motion made and seconded, the Report of
the Academic Policy Committee was accept-
ed.
Mr. Wurtzel reported on a joint meeting of the Academic
Policy and Student Affairs Committees held on November 1, 1990 at
1:45 p.m. A review of the Admissions Policy was presented. Uni-
versity Enrollment Services has structured an admissions program
that balances the University's values of academic quality and acces-
sibility. The undergraduate admissions program is tailored to re-
cruit and enroll a diverse student population that ranges from the
best and brightest to first-generation college students.
Some of the highlights of the Admissions Policy are as follows:
Student enrollments are at the highest level ever at VCU for
Fall 1990, continuing a five-year pattern of growth.
The nature of the student body has been changing as well.
Although the numbers of evening and part-time students
have remained fairly stable for the past three years, their
proportion of the student body has declined because of in-
creases in the number of full-time day students. The num-
ber of off-campus students is also expected to decline this
year due to cutbacks on course offerings.
5
As of early October, Census I enrollment data show a 2.55%
increase in headcount, from 21,391 to 21,718. It is estimat-
ed that Fall 1990 enrollment will be 21,799 by the end of
off-campus registration.
The number of students who enroll full-time at VCU in-
creased by 447 students (3.3%) from the previous year while
there was a slight decrease in the number of part-time stu-
dents.
For the first time in VCU's history, the number of under-
graduate transfer students exceeded the number of first-time
freshmen. For Fall 1990, VCU enrolled 1,612 first-time
freshmen, down from the previous freshman class size of
1,728. The number of transfer students for Fall 1990 was
1,719, up from 1,625 transfers in the previous year.
The number of applications to VCU declined from 5,924 in
1989 to 5,112 in 1990. At the same time, the acceptance rate
increased from 61.6% to 70.1%. Average SAT scores for
freshmen declined to 988, down from 994 the previous fall.
The Enrollment Projections for 1993-94 were presented.
The number of freshmen will decline from 1,615 in Fall 1990
to 1,550 in Fall 1993 reflecting statewide demographic trends
in the number of high school graduating seniors.
The number of transfer students will stabilize at 1,675 each
fall through 1993.
The continuation rates of undergraduate students will be the
average of the last four years.
Headcount-to-FTE relationships will be the average of the
last four years.
The number of special students will remain stable during the
period.
Summer session enrollments will increase and decrease in
proportion with regular session enrollments.
Off-campus enrollments will be lower in 1990-91 reflecting
the elimination of selected offerings by the Schools of
Education and Community and Public Affairs. Enrollments
for 1991-92 through 1993-94 will increase slightly due to the
expansion of existing programs and possible new initiatives
such as the development of programs at local corporate sites
and state community facilities.
Medical enrollments will remain stable at 665. Dental en-
rollments will decline from 328 to 300 reflecting a planned
reduction in the size of the incoming class.
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International students will increase from about 1.5 percent
to 3 percent of the student body by 2000-01. The possibility
of VCU's students going abroad to study was also discussed.
On motion made and seconded, the Report of the Joint Meeting of the Academic Policy and Student Affairs Committees was ac-
cepted.
Dr. Johnson reported on a Meeting of the Advancement Com-
mittee held November 1, 1990, at 12:30 p.m. Alumni Activities re-
ported that University Alumni Associations began a dues membership
program in August 1990. The first priority for the future is serving
current members and insuring a high rate of renewal, at least 70%.
The second priority is the continued solicitation of new members
through both general solicitation of all alumni and target mailings
to groups that analyses indicate are the most apt to join. The third
priority is planning a life membership program.
The goal of membership income is to reduce the level of
University support for both Associations to 50% of its current
amount.
Community Advisory Boards on both campuses, established
as part of Dr. Trani's community initiatives, held initial meetings
in October. Participants discussed specific topics they would like
to see addressed by the boards. Sixteen organizations are repre-
sented on the MCV Campus Board and 20 are represented on the
Academic Campus Board.
On Saturday, October 6, VCU faculty, staff and student
volunteers were greeted by Dr. Trani at 7:30 a.m. for coffee and
doughnuts in front of the President's House before going over to
Grace Street to help with the semi-annual Midtown West Clean
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Sweep. This Grace Street clean-up effort combines volunteers from
the Grace Street Civic Association, the city and VCU. This effort is
part of the Grace Street Task Force community initiatives.
As part of the alumni geographical swings into the Tidewater
area on October 8-9, Dr. Trani met with the editorial boards of the
Newport News Daily Press and Times Herald and the Virginia Pilot
and Ledger Star. Editors and publishers at both newspapers
evinced strong interest in VCU's programs and new president. A
news conference on September 24 to announce "Project GOLD" result-
ed in coverage in both the Times-Dispatch and the News Leader as
well as television stories on Channels 8 and 11. National coverage
continues for VCU programs and people. The AMA News for Septem-
ber 14 included a feature story on the Massey Cancer Center's Rural
Outreach Program. The article mentioned the $250,000 gift from Eric
and Jeanette Lipman to support the program. Other national cover-
age included the appearance of Dr. Joseph Zanga, Chairman of the
Division of General Pediatrics and Emergency Care, on "Good Morning, America" and photographs of VCU students meeting with Gover-
nor Wilder to discuss budget cuts in the issue of the Chronicle of
Higher Education. On motion made and seconded, the Report of the
Advancement Committee was accepted. The remainder of the Report
was made during executive session.
Mr. Siegel (Acting Chairman) reported for the Audit Commit-
tee which met earlier in the day. On motion made and seconded,
the Minutes of a Meeting held September 13, 1990, were approved.
The remainder of the Committee's report was made during executive
session.
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Mr. Whitworth reported for the Hospital Committee. On
motion made and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held September
12, 1990, were approved as amended.
On motion made and seconded, the Capital Equipment Release
of $8,059,467 was approved. This included the $4,500,000 that had
been previously approved.
The Recruitment and Retention Strategies for MCVH Nursing
Staff were presented. MCVH is currently faced with a serious dilem-
ma in the Division of Nursing Services. An overall vacancy rate for
Inpatient Registered Nurses and Practical Nurses is more than 19%
and the number of "crisis units" (i.e., any unit for which the over-
all RN/LPN vacancy rate is 30% or more) rose dramatically from 10 to
18 units. A recent salary survey indicates that MCVH main local
competitors continue to pay higher shift differential rates local
hospitals. The recruitment and retention strategies are:
Effective October 1, 1990, increase shift differential rates
to $4.00 per hour on evening shifts and $5.00 per hour on
night shifts for RN Staff who accept permanent assignment
to these off shifts.
Effective November 1, 1990, award a retention bonus of $250
for RN, RNCA and RNCB Staff and $150 for Practical Nurse
A & B Staff in the pre-identified "crisis units." A second
bonus ($250 for RN's and $150 for LPN's) will be awarded on
February 1, 1991.
Implementation of a "weekend only" program for RN Staff in
the Division of Nursing Services who will be scheduled for 36
weekend hours and paid for 40 hours. (Work three 12 hour
shifts beginning 7:00 p.m. Friday and ending 7:00 a.m.
Monday).
On motion made and seconded, the Recruitment and Reten-
tion Strategies for MCVH Nursing Staff were approved.
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The Recruitment and Retention Strategies for MCVH Respira-
tory Care Therapists were presented. The strategies are as
follows :
Effective November 1, 1990, increase shift differential rates
to $2.50 per hour on all evening shifts, $3.00 per hour on
all night shifts and $1.50 per hour for weekend day shifts
for the Respiratory Therapist A, B and Supervisor Staff.
Effective November 1, 1990, award a retention bonus of $250
for Respiratory Therapist A, B and Supervisor Staff who
have been employed a minimum of six months by that date.
On motion made and seconded, the Recruitment and Reten-
tion Strategies for MCVH Respiratory Care Therapists were approved.
MCV Hospitals' Department of Food and Nutrition Services
bid annual contracts for the provision of food and food supplies for
Hospital dining and patient consumption. The purpose of this bid
was to establish firm pricing for all categories of food and food
items and to facilitate placing of orders through blanket contracts
with the selected vendors. Information of the award of this contract
to PYA Monarch valued at $806,000 is offered for notification.
The lease of Office Space for MCVH Patient Accounting De-
partment was presented. The lease is for 19,000 square feet located
at 3600 West Broad Street. It is owned by Peen Market Properties
Limited Partnership. The terms of the lease are from December 1,
1990 - September 30, 1995 with a rental rate of $208,950 annually and
a five year cost of $1,044,750 ($10.50 per square foot). On motion
made and seconded, the lease of Office Space for MCVH Patient Ac-
counting Department was approved.
