MINUTES OF A RETREAT OF THE
BOARD OF VISITORS OF
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
November 17, 2001
A Retreat of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University
was held on Saturday, November 17, 2001, at 9:30 a.m. at the Virginia Crossings
Conference Resort located at 1000 Virginia Center Parkway.
Present were Messrs. Flippen, Axselle, Long, Markel, Plymale, Pyon,
Slater and Rigsby; Drs. Perkinson, Smith and Wootton; and Mesdames
McMichael, Petera and Riddick. Messrs. Baldacci and Gresham were absent.
Also present were Drs. Alvey, Baskind, Kontos, Lane, McDavis, Mick, Torr and
Yanchick; Messrs. Ross, Timmreck and Wyeth; and Mesdames Balmer, King,
Messmer and Price.
Mr. Flippen called the meeting to order. An Update on the Tier 3 to Tier
2 Initiative was presented. Progress on Tier-2 Objectives are:
• Enhanced national recognition: continued prominence of graduate,
professional programs; Dr. Kendler and Dr. Woolf, Institute of
Medicine.
Out-of-state recruitment: 2,340 fall 2001; 9% over last year, 17% over
1996; focusing on key programs.
• Capital enhancements: Broad Street; Life Sciences; MCV Campus;
Research Park.
VCU Health System: Consumer Choice Award 2001; role in VCU Life
Sciences.
Research: $136 million, exceeding initial $135-million goal.
The 2001-07 Presidential Priorities for the:
University:
• Tier 3-2
Continued national visibility
Deferred maintenance
• Accelerated public/private funding
• $200M in research funding
Academic Campus
• 2000 additional out-of-state students; 500 additional international
students
• VCU Life Sciences, Engineering, Arts, Business, Social Work, Mass
Communications
Facilities development
Student quality, retention, diversity
MCV Campus
• Indigent care
• VCU Health System development and community relations
* VCU-INOVA
• Massey Cancer Center campaign
Virginia Biotechnology Research Park
• Continued development
A Report on the Ranked Graduate Programs and Reasons for National
Rankings was presented. VCU programs nationally ranked are Advertising,
Sculpture, Rehabilitation Counseling, Health Administration, Nursing
Administration, Nurse Anesthesia, Community Health, Social Work, Physical
Therapy, Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Fine Arts,
Clinical Psychology, Creative Writing, Public Affairs and Nursing. The reasons
for highly ranked programs are a very strong faculty or faculty "stars; productive
research and grant programs; national visibility for faculty and program; and
strong graduate students who conduct research and become known nationally.
Members of the faculty from the Adcenter, Sculpture, Social Work, Health
Administration, Occupational Therapy and Pharmacy were present to answer
questions.
A report on Communication and Public Relations was presented.
National Visibility and Recognition with VCU's Peers are accomplished through:
2
• key national meetings - with booths and materials
participation in national profession organizations
• faculty research/publications and accomplishments
• attractive, informative and interactive Websites
• school, department and program newsletters
• strategically placed paid advertisements
• conference presentations
• national and international competitions
• hosting prominent, nationally known speakers/artists
• exhibitions
• major events
• maximizing electronic communications
• "influencer" publications and communications
For Prospective Students
• first-call materials, direct mail
top-notch Websites
in-person communication with faculty and deans
open houses, college fairs and counselor events
• maximizing electronic communications
For Alumni
• key audience for regular communications and programmatic updates
For Media
• local regional and state-wide media coverage
• national media coverage
the Retreat, VCU and experiences as a Board member.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.
Following the presentations, each Board member was asked to comment on
Edward L. Flippen, Rector
Lindley T. Smith, Secretary
