December 4, 2008
A meeting of the University Council was held on Thursday, December 4, 2008, at 3 p.m. in Commonwealth Ballroom B of the Student Commons, located at 907 Floyd Avenue.
The following members and alternates were present:
Officers: Dr. Eugene P. Trani, Chair; Dr. Stephen D. Gottfredson, Vice Chair; Ms. Elaine S. Abernethy, Recording Secretary; and Mr. David L. Ross, Parliamentarian.
Administration: Dr. Ann Nichols-Casebolt, Dr. Beverly J. Warren, Mr. John M. Bennett, Mr. Donald C. J. Gehring, Dr. Francis L. Macrina, Ms. Sue A. Messmer, Dr. Sheldon M. Retchin, Dr. Henry G. Rhone, and Mr. Mark D. Willis.
Faculty: Dr. Amy J. Armstrong, Dr. Dianne F. Simons, Dr. Philip R. Olds, Dr. Gina N. Pannozzo, Dr. Gabriel Reich, Dr. Linda A. Corey, Mr. Daniel L. Ream, Dr. Louis J. Szari, Dr. Helen Ruth Aspaas, Dr. Glenda U. Palmer, Dr. Wesley J. Poynor, Dr. Melissa Abell, and Ms. Denise Branch.
Classified staff: Ms. Charleyne L. Kelley, Mr. Larry Powell, and Ms. Melissa Celik.
Students: Mr. Srinath Adusumalli
Guests: Dr. Robert L. Andrews, Dr. Elizabeth Cramer, Dr. Fred Hawkridge, Dr. Thomas Huff, Ms. Pamela D. Lepley, Dr. Joseph Marolla, Dr. Reuban Rodriguez, Mr. Mark J. Schaefermeyer, Ms. Delores Taylor, and Dr. Blue Wooldridge.
Dr. Trani welcomed Council members. The minutes of the Nov. 6, 2008, University Council meeting were approved.
The Final Draft of the Five-Year Diversity Plan was presented. Dr. Rhone discussed the background and introduced the power point presentation. Dr. Wooldridge discussed highlights of the final draft and Dr. Cramer discussed details. A general discussion followed with Drs. Rhone, Wooldridge and Cramer responding to questions.
The Transfer Center was presented. Dr. Marolla provided a power point presentation highlighting the Transfer Center. A general discussion followed with Drs. Gottfredson and Marolla responding to questions.
The Report of the President was presented. Dr. Trani informed Council members that Governor Kaine is scheduled to release a new budget on Dec. 17, 2008. He provided updates on the Rodney Monroe degree controversy, Philip Morris, and the slave burial ground. He also discussed the upcoming ethics forum, corporate funding and the 40th Anniversary finale featuring Bill Cosby scheduled for Dec. 5, 2008. Thanks to a generous kick off donation from Dominion Resources, this will be the first lecture of the Wilder Lectureship established in honor of Governor L. Douglas Wilder. A general discussion followed with Dr. Trani responding to questions.
A Capital Construction Update was presented. Dr. Trani discussed capital construction, to include: 1) Medical Sciences II; 2) School of Dentistry; 3) Monroe Park Campus and MCV Campus recreational facilities; and 4) Engineering building (scheduled to move in April 2009). A general discussion followed with Dr. Trani responding to questions.
A VCU Health System Update was presented. Dr. Retchin noted that the state budget outlook is very important to the VCU Health System, and the VCUHS is in better shape than most. A general discussion followed with Dr. Retchin responding to questions.
Mr. Ream discussed the Dec. 3, 2008, faculty senate meeting featuring Mr. Donald Gehring as the guest speaker. He also announced that VCU is hosting the Faculty Senate of Virginia for Legislative Day on Jan. 15, 2009.
The meeting adjourned at 4:18 p.m.
