MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF
THE BOARD OF VISITORS OF
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
May 18, 2007
A regular meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University
was held on Friday, May 18, 2007, at 9 a.m. in the Richmond Salons located in the
University Student Commons at 907 Floyd Avenue.
Present were Drs. Bersoff, Broaddus, Doswell, Romano and Shapiro; Messrs.
Axselle, Hurtado, Jackson, Robertson, Rosenthal, Sherman, Siegel and Snead; and
Mesdames Lambert and Rhodes. Mr. Baldacci was absent. Also present were Drs.
Trani, Gottfredson, Huff, Macrina, Moriarty, Retchin and Rhone; Messrs. Bennett,
Bunce, Gehring, Jez, Ohlinger, Ross and Wyeth; and Mesdames Atkinson, Balmer,
Chinnici, Lepley and Messmer. Philip Yeager, student representative to the Board,
Ashley Bacon-Ward, alternate student representative to the Board and Kathryn Murphy-
Judy, faculty representative to the Board, were also present.
The Rector called the meeting to order and a moment of silence was held in
memory of the victims and families of the Virginia Tech tragedy.
The President's report followed. Mr. Axselle was thanked for the eight years of
service on the Board of Visitors. Richard T. Robertson, Anne Rhodes and Carol Shapiro
are eligible for reappointment to the Board. Kathryn Murphy-Judy, faculty
representative to the Board, Phil Yeager, student representative to the Board, and Ashley
Bacon-Ward, alternate student representative to the Board were each recognized and
presented with a gift.
VCU's Commencement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2007, at 10
a.m. in the Richmond Coliseum. The Honorees are: James H. Webb will be speaker and
receive an Honorary Degree; Henry S. Becker, Sam Kornblau and Elaine and Baxter
Perkinson will receive the Edward A. Wayne Medal; and Carl R. Fisher and Hugo R.
Seibel will receive the Presidential Medallion.
Dr. Trani presented the Admissions Report for information.
Mr. Rosenthal reported for the Academic and Health Affairs Policy Committee.
The Proposal to Change the Women's Studies Program to the Department of Women's
Studies was presented. The College of Humanities and Sciences requests a change in the
organizational structure so that the Women's Studies Program becomes the Department
of Women's Studies. The VCU Women's Studies Program has functioned as a
department without the title since inception in 1989. The program offers an
undergraduate degree; has been conducting student assessment since 2001 as part of the
BIS major and has bylaws, a governance structure, director, core faculty and staff
comparable to existing departments in the College. The program has a budget and
endowment and is responsible for fiscal reporting in the same fashion as departments.
The department also has success in development activities as demonstrated by the recent
gift of $100,000 to support student International Experience Scholarships. Additionally,
Women's Studies' representatives sit on all of the College committees relevant to
undergraduate departments. Women's Studies programs at other peer institutions are
stand-alone departments. The Academic and Health Affairs Policy Committee
recommended to the full Board the approval of the Proposal to Change the Women's
Studies Program to the Department of Women's Studies.
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The Proposal to Establish a Ph.D. Degree in Health Psychology was presented.
The Department of Psychology requests approval to offer a new Ph.D. program in Health
Psychology. The program will be housed in the psychology department, within the
College of Humanities and Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University. The new
research-oriented Ph.D. program will complement the clinical, counseling and general
psychology Ph.D.s offered by the department. The counseling and clinical psychology
doctoral programs recently were ranked third and fifth in the country, respectively, by the
Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index. Rankings were not reported for other graduate
program areas in psychology. The strong programs provide natural linkages to the new
doctoral program in health psychology. The doctoral program in health psychology is
designed to train students to contribute to the knowledge of psychological contributions
to health and illness via training in basic and clinical research. The program will
contribute to VCU's strong focus on scholarship, teaching, and service in the health area.
Research in health psychology examines: the causes and development of illness,
methods to help individuals develop healthy lifestyles to promote good health and
prevent illness, the treatment individuals receive for medical problems, the effectiveness
with which individuals cope with and reduce stress and pain, biopsychosocial
connections with immune functioning, and factors in the recovery, rehabilitation, and
psychosocial adjustment of patients with serious health problems. The program does not
duplicate training and learning opportunities available elsewhere in the Commonwealth
and there are no other doctoral (Ph.D.) programs in Health Psychology in Virginia. The
closest Ph.D. programs in Health Psychology are housed at .the University of North
Carolina-Charlotte and the University of Pittsburgh. The Academic and Health Affairs
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Policy Committee recommended to the full Board the approval of the Proposal to
Establish a Ph.D. Degree in Health Psychology.
The Proposal to Change the Degree Program Names from: the Ph.D. in Anatomy
to the Ph.D. in Anatomy and Neurobiology; the Master of Science in Anatomy to the
Master of Science in Anatomy and Neurobiology; and the Certificate in Anatomy to the
Certificate in Anatomy and Neurobiology. All of the advanced degree students in the
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology are involved in neuroscience research and the
revisions in the name will reflect the didactic and research training the students receive in
anatomy and neurobiology. The Academic and Health Affairs Policy Committee
recommended to the full Board the approval of the Proposal to Change the Degree
Program Names from: the Ph.D. in Anatomy to the Ph.D. in Anatomy and Neurobiology;
the Master of Science in Anatomy to the Master of Science in Anatomy and
Neurobiology; and the Certificate in Anatomy to the Certificate in Anatomy and
Neurobiology.
The Proposal to Establish Master of Science and Ph.D. Degree Programs in
Clinical and Translational Sciences. The programs will lead to the development of
clinical and translational scientists familiar with interdisciplinary team structures,
comfortable with leadership roles, trained to integrate research from other disciplines and
various methods, and finally, prepared to direct the next generation of multi- and
interdisciplinary research. In order to create such investigators and an environment
conducive to success, VCU intends to offer training that will benefit all members of the
VCU community. Both training and career development activities focus on coordinating
and increasing VCU's translational and interdisciplinary education programs. The
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Academic and Health Affairs Policy Committee recommended to the full Board the
approval of the Proposal to Establish Master of Science and Ph.D. Degree Programs in
Clinical and Translational Sciences.
The Proposal to Establish a Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Autism Spectrum
Disorders was presented. The Department of Special Education and Disability Policy at
VCU proposes to provide a 12 hour Post-baccalaureate certificate program that will
prepare personnel to educate and support individuals with autism spectrum disorders
(ASD). The sequence of courses will enable educators, potential educators, and other
interested professionals to develop comprehensive knowledge and experience in
curriculum development, instruction practices and support services unique to the growing
population of children and adolescents with ASD. The wide range of learning needs
among students with autism and associated disorders being served in Virginia create
significant challenges for public and private service programs. The certificate program is
designed to respond to the increasing demand for effectively trained educators prepared
to teach the rising number of children with ASD. The Academic and Health Affairs
Policy Committee recommended to the full Board the approval of the Proposal to
Establish a Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
The Proposal to Establish a Post-master's Certificate in College Student
Development and Counseling was presented. The Department of Counselor Education
proposes to provide a 5-course, 18-hour Post-master's certificate in College Student
Development and Counseling. The certificate program is designed for students that have
earned a master's degree in Counseling from an accredited program. The certificate will
prepare counselors and other student affairs professionals to work in post-secondary
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education settings. The Academic and Health Affairs Policy Committee recommended to
the full Board the approval of the Proposal to Establish a Post-master's Certificate in
College Student Development and Counseling.
The Proposal to Establish a VCUQatar Tax Protection Policy was presented. The
purpose of the proposed Tax Protection Policy is to mitigate the adverse impact of the
U.S. tax law on VCUQatar employees. All other branch campuses in Qatar's Education
City have tax protection policies in place and not having a similar tax protection policy
for VCUQatar employees very likely will damage VCUQatar's ability to recruit and
retain faculty. Therefore, VCU's administration is recommending the implementation of
a similar tax protection policy for VCUQatar. The Academic and Health Affairs
Committee recommended to the full Board the approval of the Proposal to Establish a
VCUQatar Tax Protection Policy.
The following items were presented for information: the Report of the Provost
and the Vice President for Academic Affairs, a Report on the School of the Arts; and the
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Financial Statement Summary Fiscal
Year 2007 – Eight Months Ending February 28, 2007.
Dr. Doswell reported for the Audit Committee. The Proposed Revisions to the
2007 Audit Workplan were presented. The State-mandated Agency Risk Management
and Internal Control Standard (ARMICS) requires significant efforts by the University to
document, evaluate, test, and maintain the University's internal control structure. The
office of the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration and Department of
Assurance Services have considered various approaches to most effectively implement
the ARMICS requirements, and have determined that audit assistance would be
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appropriate in 8 critical areas. To accommodate that participation, a proposed revision to
the previously approved 2007 Audit Workplan was recommended. The Audit Committee
recommended to the full Board the approval of the Revised Audit Workplan.
The Audit Committee Charter was presented. Annually, the Committee reviews
the Audit Committee Charter to ensure that the document reflects the full scope of
responsibilities appropriate for the Committee. At the Committee's request, a provision
was added to require the Committee to meet with the external auditor annually in
executive session without members of the University's management team present. Two
other housekeeping edits were also recommended. The Audit Committee recommended
to the full Board the approval of the Audit Committee Charter.
Mr. Robertson reported for the External Relations Committee. The following
items were presented for information: the Government Relations and Health Policy
Report, the Marketing and Media Report, and the Advancement Division Reports.
Mrs. Rhodes reported for the Finance, Investment and Property Committee. The
Request for Proposals for Dental Store Management Services was presented. The intent
is to solicit proposals through competitive negotiations for management and operation of
the dental supply store located in the Lyons Building on the MCV Campus. A Request
for Proposals will be issued in compliance with all State procurement regulations. The
awarded contract will commence on January 1, 2008. The initial term of the contract will
not exceed a period greater than three years, with 2 one-year renewal options. The
Finance, Investment and Property Committee recommended to the full Board the
approval of the Request for Proposals for Dental Store Management Services.
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The Proposed Increase in Project Scope for Sanger Hall Laboratory Renovations
was presented. The University is completing renovations to Sanger Hall authorized as
part of the 2002 General Obligation Bond referendum. Total funding available is
$14,912,000. The following five subprojects are being undertaken with the funds: 2nd
Floor Laboratory Renovations; Building System Renovations; 3rd Floor Laboratory
Renovations; 8th Floor Air Handler Installation; and the Gross Anatomy Laboratory
Renovations. Of the five subprojects, two are complete and one is underway. As
planning progressed, the School of Medicine determined that a complete renovation of
the Gross Anatomy Laboratory would be the best solution to ongoing environmental
issues. Bids received for the Gross Anatomy Laboratory Renovations exceeded total
available funds by $1,636,990 due to the increased scope of renovations. The total funds
required to complete all of the Sanger Hall renovations are $16,548,990. The Finance,
Investment and Property Committee recommended to the full Board the approval of the
Proposed Increase in Project Scope for the Sanger Hall Laboratory Renovations.
The 2008-2014 Six-Year Capital Plan was presented. The overview of the
Capital Plan included continued emphasis on maintenance, renovation and renewal;
continued support for construction of new facilities in response to program growth;
continued support for construction and renovation of research and research support space;
expanded student support facilities (athletics, housing, and parking) and land acquisition.
The Finance, Investment and Property Committee recommended to the full Board the
approval of the 2008-2014 Six-Year Capital Plan.
The Selection of a Term Contract for the Animal Facilities Consultant was
presented. Facilities Management routinely retains the services of architectural and
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engineering firms on term contracts to provide professional services for construction and
renovation projects, feasibility studies, and planning initiatives. Services are provided to
the University's Academic Division, Health Sciences Division, the VCU Foundation, the
VCU Real Estate Foundation and affiliated entities. The purpose and intent of the term
contract is for planning and designing vivarium space and animal procedure rooms,
pursuant to project orders issued during the contract term. The firm recommended for the
project is Louviere, Stratton & Yokel, LLC, Washington, D.C. The Finance, Investment
and Property Committee recommended to the full Board the approval of the Selection of
a Term Contract for the Animal Facilities Consultant.
Policy for Art on Campus and Current Projects were presented. After discussion,
the Committee decided to table the approval of the Policy for Art on Campus until the
August 2007 meeting.
The following items were presented for information:
State Comptroller's Directive 1-07: Agency Risk Management and Internal
Control Standards (ARMICS)
University Quarterly Budget Performance Report: March 31, 2007
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Financial Statement Summary
Fiscal Year 2007 – Eight Months Ending February 28, 2007
Annual Report: VCU Cash Management Operating Pool
MCV Foundation Annual Report
ARIES Project Update
Inger and Walter Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences Education
a. Architect Selection
b. Project Plans
Notification of Contract Awards
a. James W. Black Music Center Renovations
b. Physical Plant Administration Building
c. MPCA Parking Deck and Residential College
d. VCU Recreational Sports Facilities
e. West Hospital Physical Therapy
f. Sanger Hall Life Safety
g. Sanger Hall Renovations: 8th Floor Air Handling Unit
Capital Projects Status Report
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Dr. Romano reported for the Student Affairs Committee. The following items
were presented for information: an Admissions Report, an INOVA Report, a Parenting
and Child Care Discussion, a Fall Fest Overview, a report on the Intercultural Festival,
the University College and Upcoming Summer Reading Plans, the New Student
Orientation - Plans for Summer and Welcome Week and a report on the VCU
AmeriCorps Program.
On motion made and seconded, the following Consent Agenda Action Items were
approved as amended:
Board of Visitors
Minutes of a Meeting held February 22, 2007
Minutes of a Retreat held April 12 and 13, 2007
Resolution Regarding Faculty Salaries
Proposed Dental Faculty Practice Earnings 2007-08
Academic and Health Affairs Policy Committee
Minutes of a Meeting held February 21, 2007
Proposal to Change the Women's Studies Program to the Department of
Women's Studies
Proposal to Establish a Ph.D. Degree in Health Psychology
Proposal to Change the Degree Program Names from:
^ the Ph.D. in Anatomy to the Ph.D. in Anatomy and Neurobiology
^ the Master of Science in Anatomy to the Master of Science in Anatomy
and Neurobiology
^ the Certificate in Anatomy to the Certificate in Anatomy and
Neurobiology
Proposal to Establish Master of Science and Ph.D. Degree Programs in Clinical
and Translational Sciences
Proposal to Establish a Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Autism Spectrum
Disorders
Proposal to Establish a Post-master's Certificate in College Student
Development and Counseling
Proposal to Establish a VCU Qatar Tax Protection Policy
Audit Committee
Minutes of a Meeting held February 22, 2007
Revised 2007 Audit Workplan
Audit Committee Charter and Meeting Planner
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External Relations
Minutes of a Meeting held February 21, 2007
Finance, Investment and Property Committee
Minutes of a Meeting held February 21, 2007
Request for Proposals: Dental Store Management Services
Proposed Increase in Project Scope: Sanger Hall Laboratory Renovations
2008-2014 Six-Year Capital Plan
Selection of Term Contract: Animal Facilities Consultant
Student Affairs Committee
Minutes of a Meeting held February 21, 2007
On motion made and seconded, the Consent Agenda Information Items were
accepted.
Dr. Bersoff reported for the Nominating Committee for Rector. Members of the
Committee are Dr. Bersoff, Chair; Messrs. Axselle and Snead; and Mesdames Lambert
Rhodes. The Committee recommended Mr. Thomas G. Rosenthal be elected as Rector of
the Board effective July 1, 2007. On motion made and seconded, the Board approved the
recommendation of the Nominating Committee for Rector.
Dr. Bersoff appointed the following members of the Board to serve on the
Nominating Committee for Officers and Executive Committee: Messrs. Rosenthal,
Axselle and Sherman; Drs. Bersoff and Romano; and Mesdames Lambert and Rhodes.
Dr. Trani recommended Dr. Kathryn Murphy-Judy be reappointed as the non-
voting Faculty Representative to the Board of Visitors with Mr. Dan Ream serving as the
alternate Faculty Representative. Dr. Trani also recommended Ms. Rajshri Mainthia be
appointed as the non-voting Student Representative to the Board with Ms. Fatima Syed
and Mr. Ali Khan serving as alternate Student Representatives to the Board. Ms. LaForest
Williams was recommended as the non-voting Staff Representative to the Board with Ms.
Dawn Mooney serving as alternate Staff Representative. All appointments are for a one-
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year term and are effective July .1, 2007. On motion made and seconded, the
recommendations were approved.
Dr. Bersoff reappointed Thomas Snead to serve a three-year term on the VCU
Health System Board of Directors.
On motion made and seconded, the Board convened into closed session to discuss
certain personnel matters and matters relating to the appointment, promotion,
performance and salaries of identifiable employees and faculty of VCU, including the
Faculty Appointments and Changes in Status and other Personnel Actions, Promotion and
Tenure Recommendations, the VCU Clinical Faculty Salaries for the School of Medicine
for 2007-2008; and to discuss the evaluation of the performance of departments or
schools of VCU where such evaluations necessarily involve discussion of the
performance of specific individuals and Audit Reports of individually identified
departments and/or schools; and to consult with legal counsel and receive briefings from
staff members regarding certain legal matters and actual or probable litigation relating to
the aforementioned Audit Reports, where such consultation or briefings in open session
would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating position of VCU; to discuss the
acquisition or use of real property for public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly
held real property, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the
bargaining position or negotiating strategy of VCU, including the acquisition or use of
property on or adjacent to the Monroe Park Campus and the acquisition of property on or
adjacent to the MCV Campus; to consult with legal counsel pertaining to actual and
probable litigation, and other specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice
or counsel, where such consultation or briefings in an open meeting would adversely
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affect the negotiating or litigating posture of VCU; to discuss matters relating to gifts,
bequests, and fund-raising activities, including consideration of the Named Funds Report
and Facility Naming Recommendations, and an update on the development activities; and
to discuss plans to protect public safety as authorized by Section 2.2-3711 A(1), A(3),
A(7), A(8) and A(20) of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
Following closed 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 discussed in the closed session meeting to which this
certification resolution applies, and (ii) only such public business matters as were
identified in the motion convening the closed session meeting were heard, discussed or
considered by the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University.
Roll Call Vote Ayes Nays
Dr. Edward H. Bersoff, Rector X
Mr. Ralph L. "Bill" Axselle, Jr. Left before voting
Mr. David G. Baldacci Absent
Dr. J. Alfred Broaddus, Jr. X
Dr. John C. Doswell II X
Mr. Arthur D. Hurtado X
Mr. Brian K. Jackson X
Ms. Lillian L. Lambert X
Mrs. Anne J. G. "Panny" Rhodes X
Mr. Richard T. Robertson X
Dr. Michele A. Romano X
Mr. Thomas G. Rosenthal X
Dr. Carol S. Shapiro X
Mr. John Sherman, Jr. X
Mr. Stuart C. Siegel X
Mr. Thomas G. Snead, Jr. X
Vote:
Ayes: 14
Nays: 0
ABSENT DURING MEETING: 1
ABSENT DURING VOTING: 2
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On motion made and seconded, the Board accepted the Report of the President;
approved the Faculty Appointments and Changes in Status and other personnel actions as
amended; approved the Named Funds Report and Facility Naming Recommendations;
approved the Promotion and Tenure Recommendations; approved the VCU Clinical
Faculty Salaries for the School of Medicine 2007-2008; approved the Acquisition of
Property Adjacent to the Monroe Park Campus; approved the Acquisition of Property on
or Adjacent to the MCV Campus; accepted the Closed Session Committee Reports; and
accepted the Report of the General Counsel.
The meeting was adjourned at 1 p.m.
Thomas G. Rosenthal, Rector
Anne J. G Rhodes, Secretary
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