MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS
OF VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
February 19, 1993
A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Visitors
of Virginia Commonwealth University was held on Friday, February
19, 1993, at 10:00 a.m. in the University Meeting Center.
Present were Messrs. Gregory (Rector), Siegel and
Whitworth; and Mrs. Epps. Dr. Holland was absent. Also present
were Drs. Trani and Chait, and Dr. Tom Holland; and Mrs. Price.
The following items were discussed:
1. Orientation:
Involve faculty and students.
Board mentorship program (night before orientation,
Senior Board members would have dinner with new
Board members).
Have all Board members undergo orientation.
As part of continuing orientation, have non-business
meeting once a year -- "Presidential Overview."
Bus Tours.
Survey senior Board members - "What do you know now
that you wish you knew then?"
Objective of Orientation :
inform
inspire
invest
include
Meeting with President and Rector.
Committee Chairs should brief new Committee members.
To assist new Board members on meeting everyone,
seating assignments should be shuffled.
Once a year, have meeting at a different location,
casual dress, etc.
Bring campus to life - every Board meeting tell a story
about campus life (i.e., security guard saving woman
from car jacking).
2. Design Information System
Have senior staff relate topics of discussion to
Strategic Issues.
Staff should consult in advance with Rector or Committee
Chairs.
Develop inventory of what's legally required to have
•
Board Action.
Remove informational material from Board agenda.
•
Provide inventory of reports presented to Committees
^
from which any Board member can request any item
they wish.
• Board should focus on policy issues.
Policy items should have cover sheet that focuses on
•
3-4 issues.
Board should ask:
• Why is it on my agenda?
• What do you want me to do about it?
3. Increase Board's familiarity with National Issues
- From-a- list -of 10-15- issues,- select 2 issues that Board
would most like to know more about.
Following presentation on selected issues, break into
small groups to discuss relevance to VCU.
Dedicate three (3) of the six (6) evening programs to
this type of discussion.
• Program sho-uld have sizzle.
4. Design annual process to include Strategic Issues.
Have annual Retreat.
Schedule this at time meetings are set for the
year.
Schedule late August (prior to September annual
meeting).
Overview strategic planning at that time.
Answer question -- Where are we on our two
plans?
5. Determine the need and format for Board Retreats
See above
On motion made and seconded, the Committee approved Presi-
dent Trani's acceptance of a corporate Board directorship.
On motion made and seconded, the Committee 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 as authorized by Section 2.1-344 a(1) 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 lawfully
exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were dis-
cussed in the executive session meeting to which this certification
resolution applies, and (ii) only such public business matters as
were identified in the motion convening the executive session meeting
were heard, discussed or considered by the Executive Committee of
the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University.
ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES NAYS
Mr. Roger L. Gregory, Rector X
•Mr. F. Dixon Whitworth, Jr. X
Mrs. Rozanne G. Epps X
Dr. William E. Holland Absent
Mr. Stuart C. Siegel X
VOTE:
AYES: 4
NAYS: 0
ABSENT DURING MEETING: 1
ABSENT DURING VOTING: 1
The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 a.m.
