MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
January 17, 1991
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia
Commonwealth University was held on Thursday, January 17, 1991,
at 9 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, Duvall, Harris, Moore and Ruch; Messrs. Bruegman,
Bunce, Cribbs, Gehring, Jez, Kudless, Poe, Ross and Ruch; and
Mesdames Price and Slattum.
Dr. Moore called the meeting to order and welcomed partici-
pants and guests. On motion made and seconded, the Minutes of a
Regular Meeting of the Board of Visitors held November 2, 1990,
were approved.
The Report of the President followed. Dr. Trani reported
on the following items:
Presently, 82 members of the VCU family are serving in the
armed forces in the Persian Gulf. Dr. Trani encouraged
thoughts and prayers for these troops as the conflict con-
tinues.
Budget issues continue to consume the University. During
the current biennium, state general fund budget reductions
of $35.3 million have been imposed thus far on the Uni-
versity, and reductions totalling $7.4 million have been
imposed on MCV Hospitals. These represent cuts of 13.5%
in the amount of state general fund support for the Univer-
sity and 6.4% at the Hospital. $29.7 million of the Univer-
sity's $35.3 million in cuts has been incorporated into the
University's budget for 1990-91 and 1991-92.
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The Governor's Budget Amendments require additional budg-
et reductions of $5.6 million in 1991-92. The University
will develop a plan for incorporating this additional $5.6
million cut into the budget as part of its Contingency
Planning Process.
The University's plans for achieving the $29.7 million in
general fund reductions already in the budget include using
a tuition surcharge to offset $8 million of the cuts. The
Governor's Budget Amendments include the equivalent of an
additional 3% cut in the general fund to all institutions
and agencies not exempt from the December, 1990 budget
actions. This means that VCU could be subject to an addi-
tional state general fund cut of $3.2 million in 1991-92.
Planned tuition surcharges, along with other required
increases in tuition have resulted in a 5.6% increase in
tuition this year and a planned 6.5% increase next year.
These increases have added $105 to in-state undergraduate
tuition this year and will add another $130 next year.
VCU's plan for dealing with the latest round of budget cuts
includes an evaluation of all programs at the University
regardless of how these programs are funded. This evalua-
tion will be based on a set of specific criteria for in-
structional and non-instructional programs. Every school
and division will be assigned a dollar target for potential
budget reductions. The outcome of the program evaluation
process is expected to address this target. At the same
time this program evaluation process is being undertaken,
the vice presidents will examine a series of strategic
planning issues that cut across organizational lines to
determine if additional savings can be achieved. These
strategic planning issues are expected to deal with things
such as duplication of effort, increased productivity,
cost-saving initiatives and greater efficiency of opera-
tions. All of these processes will be undertaken with
appropriate consultation with faculty, students, staff and
governance groups. The overall process is to be completed
by April when VCU's revised budget will be presented to
the combined meeting of the Finance and Investment and
Hospital Committees.
The President concluded by stating that this is a very
difficult time for the University community. Faculty and
staff have already taken a two percent reduction in base
pay. Now, contributions to TIAA/CREFF are being re-
duced, the cost of health benefits are increasing and em-
ployees are being faced with furloughs.
As a result of one of VCU's five community initiatives,
twenty-five applications were received for the Community
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Associates Program. Of these, 15 projects were selected and
include some of the University's best faculty. Dr. Trani
introduced the following Community Service Associates:
Lynette G. Branch - Department of Maternal-Child
Nursing - Professor Branch will work with Project GOLD, a
collaborative effort between the University's Department of
Psychology and the Garfield Child's Memorial Fund in the
Gilpin and Whitcomb public housing communities.
Darrel R. Brown - Department of Management - Professor
Brown will work with the Richmond Urban League as a
consultant to its Chairman Joseph Ward. Working with the
League's Director and Department Heads, Dr. Ward will
study organization, management, and operations of the office
and make recommendations to the Chairman on ways to im-
prove efficiency of operation.
Maxine L. Clark - Department of Psychology - Professor
Clark will work with the Virginia State Department of Edu-
cation's "Adopt-a-School" Program to investigate child,
school and family variables that influence the academic
achievement of black children. The project - "The Social
and Academic Adjustment of Inner City Black Children:
Family and School Factors" - focuses on the self-esteem and
academic achievement of black children and the black family.
Patricia H. Duncan - Division of Teacher Education -
Professor Duncan will work with Henrico County's Director
of Federal Programs, Dr. Marcelle Mansfield, to train ten to
twelve teachers in Reading Recover, a special teaching
method used with first graders who are at risk of reading
failure. Henrico County's Early Intervention in Reading
(EIR) program requires a year of intensive clinical course
work which is undertaken through six credit hours of grad-
uate work and regular observation and consultation with -
each trainee. Dr. Duncan will provide the required on-site
observation.
David J. Farmer - Department of Justice and Risk
Administration - Professor Farmer will work with the Honor-
able Robert Suthard, Secretary of Public Safety for the
Commonwealth of Virginia, as a consultant. He will provide
the Secretary with a series of confidential position papers.
Allen Fonoroff - Department of Urban Studies and
Planning - Professor Fonoroff will work with the State
Department of Housing and Community Development to de-
sign a one and one-half day program to address statewide
needs facing zoning administrators. The program will focus
on legal, political and management issues of the profession.
The purpose of the project is to develop criteria for pro-
fessional state-wide certification.
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David P. Geary - Department of Justice and Risk
Administration - Professor Geary served as a consultant to
the State Crime Commission during the 1990 fall semester.
He gathered data on the extent of the narcotics problem in
the Commonwealth by examining records in the Office of the
State Medical Examiner and in the State Health Depart-
ment. Dr. Geary's conclusions will become part of the
Commission's annual report on the "State of Crime in the
Commonwealth."
C.R. Hormachea - Department of Urban Studies and
Planning - Professor Hormachea will work with Robert
Masden, Assistant County Manager for Human Services in
Chesterfield County, to evaluate the goals and objectives of
each of the human services agencies and then provide input
on strategies for the delivery of services. The intent of
the project is to improve the delivery of human services to
County residents as well as improve the coordination of the
agencies and their activities.
Catherine W. Howard - Department of Psychology -
Professor Howard will work with Donald Gehring, the Uni-
versity's Special Assistant to the President for Governmen-
tal Relations, during the 1991 General Assembly Session to
monitor legislative action as it affects VCU and higher
education in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Elisabeth B. Hutton - Department of Community and
Psychiatric Nursing - Professor Hutton will work with Cross-
Over-Ministry Health Center to train lay health advisors in
order to increase medical treatment and promote health care
among the indigent population. The lay health advisors will
monitor health status and provide basic health care educa-
tion to the indigent through community agencies, primarily
churches in the south Richmond area.
Rosa Jimenez-Vazquez - School of Social Work - Professor
Jimenez-Vazquez will be working with Signet Bank to devel-
op a Cross Cultural Training Program for the Bank's manag-
ers and employees. Signet Bank has contracted with the
Westwood Group, a consulting firm, to conduct a study to
highlight feelings, understanding, values of cross-cultural
and gender relations throughout the Bank's personnel,
including management. Ms. Jimenez-Vazquez will meet with
the contractor's personnel and serve in the capacity of a
consultant.
Mary Anna LaFratta - Communication Arts and Design -
Professor LaFratta will work with Project GOLD to develop
an Electronic Media curriculum to be used with middle school
children. The curriculum utilizes the Apple II computer's
integrating programming techniques and software to gener-
ate and manipulate images. The intent of the project is to
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expand students' experiences in art and self-awareness and
provide basic training in electronic media.
Keith F. Ready - Department of Recreation, Parks, and
Tourism - Professor Ready will work with the Coordinator
of the Office of Youth, Goochland County, to identify the
County's park and recreation needs till the year 2010. Dr.
Ready will determine residents' needs through a telephone
survey and then submit to the County a long range plan
utilizing text and graphics.
Arnold L. Stolberg - Department of Psychology - Professor
Stolberg serves as one of three academic members on the
Subcommittee on Evaluation of the Family Court Pilot
Project. Dr. Stolberg is helping the Committee develop a
survey for use with adult litigants in the pilot and control
courts.
Dr. Trani also introduced Dr. Walter Lawrence who
has recently been named President-elect of the American
Cancer Society and Dr. Quincy L. Moore, the second Admin-
istrative Associate in the President's office.
The President reported that there is a critical need in the
Richmond-Petersburg area for an undergraduate engineering
program. The proposed undergraduate engineering pro-
gram will benefit existing programs in the applied sciences
at VCU, primarily chemistry, physics, and mathematical
sciences, by providing additional enrollments in existing
courses, which will be supportive, and by providing certain
additional courses needed to expand the electives for those
programs. The proposed undergraduate program will also
be especially effective in complementing the Cooperative
Graduate Engineering Program by making available under-
graduate engineering instruction for engineers and other
technical individuals who need additional course work prior
to entering a graduate engineering program.
Mrs. Rozanne Epps reported on the Senate Subcommittee
Studying Enrollments.
Dr. Trani reported on his recent trip to the Soviet Union.
An agreement was reached during this trip that will result
in a number of student exchanges with the Lesgaft Institute
for Sport and Physical Culture in Leningrad.
The President announced that the annual Faculty Convoca-
tion would be held on Wednesday, February 6 at 7:30 p.m.
at the Performing Arts Center. Those being honored in-
clude: Distinguished Service Award, Dr. Judith A. Brown;
Distinguished Teaching Award, Dr. Robert D. Holsworth;
Distinguished Scholar Award, Dr. Barry Wolf; and Universi-
ty Award of Excellence, Dr. Albert E. Munson.
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Dr. Trani also announced that the Groundbreaking
ceremony for the Student Commons, Phase II will be held
on March 18 at 11 a.m. on the grounds of the Commons.
The President announced that Dr. Harry Johnson has
agreed to chair the revitalization campaign for the Alumni
House for the MCV Alumni Association.
Mr. Wurtzel reported for the Academic Policy Committee.
On motion made and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held Novem-
ber 1, 1990, were approved. The Guidelines for International
Awards Recipients were reviewed by the Committee. These guide-
lines are to insure that faculty members do not suffer a financial
burden by receiving such awards. On motion made and seconded,
the Guidelines for International Awards Recipients were approved.
The Committee also reviewed the Faculty Military Leave of
Absence - Active Duty Policy. The purpose of this policy is to pro-
vide job security for faculty members who serve in the Armed Forc-
es of the United States. On motion made and seconded, the Facul-
ty Military Leave of Absence - Active Duty Policy was approved.
The Committee reviewed and recommended approval of an
organizational change in the School of Medicine, Division of Reha-
bilitation Research. The purpose of creating the Division of Reha-
bilitation Research is to consolidate all research activities within
the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. On motion made and
seconded, the organizational change was approved.
With regard to the Academic Plan, it was noted that the
Committee had requested the opportunity to comment before the
document is finalized in the future.
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The Committee reviewed the Contingency Planning Process
which is a mechanism for identifying potential areas for cost sav-
ings in light of the budget problems.
Mr. Wurtzel reported that the Committee had a very re-
laxed, open meeting with the faculty leadership. One of the major
areas of concern, of course, is the budget crisis. The faculty
expressed a sense that there has been a greater increase in adminis-
trative positions than faculty over the last several years and that,
hopefully, savings will be made in the administrative areas before
the teaching and curriculum areas. The faculty also expressed an
interest in working on a single governance system at an appropriate
time. The faculty also expressed concern over the Secretary of
Education's comments concerning faculty productivity.
On motion made and seconded, the Minutes of a Combined
Meeting of the Academic Policy and Student Affairs Committees held
on November 1, 1990, were approved, as amended.
Dr. Johnson reported for the Advancement Committee. On
motion made and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held November
1, 1990, were approved. Dr. Johnson reported that under Dr.
Trani's leadership, great progress had been made between the Uni-
versity and the MCV Alumni Association. The exchange of land will
proceed and the goal is to have the alumni house open in 1993.
With regard to University Relations, it was reported that Dr. Trani
has held several media interviews all of which resulted in news
articles, as well as an op-ed piece being published in the
Waynesboro newspaper. Also, Dr. Robert D. Holsworth, Professor
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in the Political Science Department, appeared on the CBS Evening
News discussing Governor Wilder's presidential aspiration.
Mr. Gehring reported on legislative issues and introduced
Judy Collins and Cathy Howard who are assisting during the ses-
sion. It was reported that the President has appeared before sever-
al committees and met with numerous legislators.
Mr. Siegel reported for the Audit Committee. On motion
made and seconded, the Minutes of a meeting held November 2,
1990, were approved. The remainder of the Committee's report will
be made during executive session.
Mr. Farinholt reported for the Finance and Investment Com-
mittee. On motion made and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting
held November 1, 1990, were approved. At the November meeting,
the Administrations was requested to review the University's contin-
uing relationship with Consolidated Bank. The Committee recommend-
ed that the certificate of deposit with Consolidated Bank be in-
creased from $100,000 to $1,000,000. The Committee further recom-
mended that the $50,000 checking account be discontinued. On
motion made and seconded, the Consolidated Bank proposal was
approved with Messrs. Gregory and Townes abstaining.
The 1991 Legislative Amendments were reviewed by the
Committee. The first amendment requests authority to assess sup-
plemental tuition charges to students during 1991-92. This amend-
ment would enable the University to reduce the severity of the
reductions in other areas. On motion made and seconded, the Tui-
tion Revenue Supplement was approved.
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The second amendment seeks the inclusion of language in
the 1990-92 Appropriations Act permitting the University to replace
up to 50% of any additional general fund reductions during the
biennium with non-general funds collected through a tuition sur-
charge to students. On motion made and seconded, the Tuition
Revenue Supplement Language was approved.
The third amendment requests a $258,975 general fund
appropriation to replace a portion of the $540,000 non-general funds
amendment recommended by the Governor for construction of a
central sterilization facility for the School of Dentistry. On
motion made and seconded, the amendment for the Central Steriliza-
tion Facility was approved.
The final amendment calls for a supplemental non-general
funds appropriation to increase the size and scope of the previously
authorized Ambulatory Care Facility. On motion made and second-
ed, the amendment for the new construction of the Ambulatory Care
Facility was approved.
Additionally, the Committee reviewed the Annual Financial
Reports for FY 1990 and the Accounts Receivable Report for June
30, 1990.
Mr. Whitworth reported for the Hospital Committee. On
motion made and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting of the Hospital
Committee held November 1, 1990, were approved. The Committee
reviewed the Hospital's 1990-91 operating budget and approved revi-
sions to same. On motion made and seconded, the revised Hospital
Operating Budget was approved.
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The Committee also reviewed proposed changes to the Medi-
cal Staff Bylaws. The first change would require clinical reap-
pointments be made every other year rather than every year. The
second change requires determining a reason for termination of
privileges. On motion made and seconded, the proposed changes to
the Medical Staff Bylaws were approved.
It was reported that discussion with the Commonwealth
concerning the Virginia Treatment Center are continuing. It is
hoped that a Memorandum of Understanding can be worked out in
the best interest of both parties. The Committee also reviewed the
Hospital's plans to serve as a center for war casualties.
The Committee has reviewed a contract for the mainframe
computer upgrade and a Request for Proposal to establish a term
contract for both equipment and supplies which relate to pulse
oximetry.
Mr. Gregory reported for the Inaugural Committee which
met on December 3, 1990. The Inauguration is scheduled for April
6, 1991, at 10 a.m. Thanks to Nina Abady's diligence and creativity
VCU has secured the Mosque for the event.
Mr. Meador reported for the Property Committee. On mo-
tion made and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held November 1,
1991, were approved. The Committee recommended approval of a
lease for administrative office space at 401 East Main Street. On
motion made and seconded, the lease for 401 East Main Street at a
annual rate of $122,788 was approved.
The Project Plans for Sheltering Arms Renovations, Phase I
were recommended by the Committee. The total construction cost
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for Phase I is $675,000. On motion made and seconded, the Project
Plans for Sheltering Arms, Phase I were approved.
At the President's request and with the endorsement of the
Property Committee, the West Campus Master Site Plan was with-
drawn from consideration. On motion made and seconded, the
Board endorsed the withdrawal of the Plan.
The Committee reviewed the Housing Task Force Report and
the numerous recommendations contained within.
On motion made and seconded, the Minutes of the Special
Awards Committee, held November 1, 1990, were approved.
Mrs. Epps reported for the Student Affairs Committee. On
motion made and seconded, the Minutes of a Meeting held November
1, 1990, were approved. It was reported that the VCU Honor Sys-
tem had been reviewed. It was agreed during the review process
that both systems could not be successfully merged. However,
both policies do have areas that are common to both campuses.
Following a discussion, on motion made and seconded, the VCU
Honor System was approved.
Mrs. Epps reported that the "Master Plan for University
Housing, 1991-2000" was reviewed. This report contains numerous
recommendations for addressing the expected influx of additional
students beginning in 1995.
The Committee received a verbal report from Dr. Marty
McFadden, Coordinator of the Academic Counseling Office in Athlet-
ics. Dr. McFadden reviewed the numerous programs underway to
insure the academic success of VCU's student athletes.
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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 affect-
ed by such evaluation including Faculty Appointments and Changes
in Status, Full and Consultative Hospital Privileges, Health Care
Professional Salary Scale Changes, a Report on the Joint Commis-
sion Visit, a Report on a Psychiatry Incident and a Report on the
Nurse Anesthesia Program Accreditation, and Audit Reports of indi-
vidually identified departments and/or schools, and to discuss the
condition, acquisition or use of real property for public purpose or
of plans for the future of a state institution of higher education
which could affect the value of property owned or desirable for
ownership by such institution, including a discussion on the site
formerly occupied by Universal Ford, the Bellgrade Outpatient Facil-
ity and the Radiation Therapy Facility/Richmond Memorial Hospital,
and to discuss the investing of public funds, including the Quarter-
ly Investment Report and Summary Report of the Medical College of
Virginia Foundation and the Virginia Commonwealth University Foun-
dation, and to discuss legal matters, active and recently resolved
litigation, and probable litigation with its attorney, and to dis-
cuss matters relating to gifts, bequests, and fund-raising activi-
ties, including a Development Report, a Report on 1990-91 Total
Private Support, and the NEH Challenge Grant Status Report, ap-
proval of Naming Proposals, and to discuss matters relating to
honorary degrees and special awards, including the Board of Visi-
13
tors' Award, as authorized by Section 2.1-344 a(1), a(3), a(6),
a(7), a(8) and a(10) of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
Following executive session, on motion made and seconded,
the following Resolution was approved by roll call vote:
Virginia Commonwealth University hereby certifies that, to the best
of each member's knowledge, (i) only public business matters law-
fully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were
discussed in the executive meeting to which this certification
resolution applies, and (ii) only such public business matters as
were identified in the motion convening the executive session meet-
ing were heard, discussed or considered by the Board of Visitors
of Virginia Commonwealth University.
Roll Call Vote: Ayes Nays
Dr. French H. Moore, Jr. (Rector) X
Mrs. Nina F. Abady X
Dr. Thomas J. Berenguer Left before voting
Mrs. Rozanne G. Epps X
Mr. James B. Farinholt, Jr. X
Mr. Jack H. Ferguson Absent
Mr. Roger L. Gregory X
Dr. William E. Holland Left before voting
Dr. Harry I. Johnson X
Mr. Eric M. Lipman X
Mr. Richard L. Meador Left before voting
Dr. Clarence L. Peay X
Mr. Stuart C. Siegel X
Mr. Clarence L. Townes, Jr. X
Mr. F. Dixon Whitworth, Jr. X
Mr. Alan L. Wurtzel X
Vote:
Ayes: 12
Nays: 0
ABSENT DURING MEETING: 1
ABSENT DURING VOTING: 3
On motion made and seconded, the Board accepted the Re-
port of the General Counsel; approved Faculty Appointments and
Changes in Status and other personnel actions; approved Full and
Consultative Hospital Privileges; approved the recommended Naming
Proposals; accepted the executive session committee reports; ap-
14
proved Health Care Professional Salary Scale Changes; approved
the recommendation of the Student Affairs Committee to withdraw
the Board of Visitors' Award from its last recipient and provide no
further funding; accept the report of the President; and approved
the appointment of Dr. Nancy Langston as Dean of the School of
Nursing.The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m.
ames B . Farinholt, Jr., Secretary
Approved:
French H. Moore, Jr., Rector
