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Draft Minutes
Board of Visitors Meeting, August 21, 2008
Summary of Actions/Discussions
A meeting of the Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University reconvened on Wednesday, August 21, 2008, at 9:45 a.m. in the Richmond Salons located in the University Student Commons at 907 Floyd Avenue. Following is a summary of actions taken by the Board of Visitors at the meeting.
The meeting was called to order. Board members present were Messrs. Rosenthal (Rector), Hurtado, Jackson, Jones, McCandlish, Robertson, Siegel and Snead; Drs. Bersoff, Broaddus, Doswell, Romano and Shapiro; and Mesdames Lambert and Rhodes. Mr. Baldacci was absent.
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 Faculty Appointments and Changes in Status and other Personnel Actions, and to discuss the evaluation of performance of departments or schools of VCU where such evaluations necessarily involve discussion of the performance of specific individuals, including 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 property, 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 the acquisition of property on or adjacent to the Monroe Park Campus; and 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 briefing in open session would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of VCU, including the Report of the General Counsel; 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, as authorized by Section 2.2-3711 A(1), A(3), A(7) and A(8) of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
Upon reconvening into open session and following a roll call vote on the Resolution of Certification, the following actions were taken:
- Accepted the Report of the President;
- Approved the Faculty Appointments and Changes in Status and other Personnel Actions;
- Approved the Named Fund Report and Facility Naming Recommendation;
- Approved the Acquisition of Property on or adjacent to the Monroe Park Campus;
- Accepted the Closed Session Committee Reports;
- Accepted the Report of the General Counsel.
The following statements were read by the Rector and, on motion made and seconded, were unanimously approved by the Board of Visitors:
Statement of the Board of Visitors of
Virginia Commonwealth University
August 21, 2008
The VCU Board of Visitors, in its first meeting since President Trani announced his revised timetable for retirement from the position of President of VCU, issues the following statement:
The Board of Visitors is both saddened and pleased to be informed by President Trani that, because of his recent serious health issues, he will be retiring as President of VCU at the end of June 2009.
We are sad that VCU will be losing his extraordinary leadership earlier than we had originally hoped. His departure as President will mark an unprecedented era of transformation for VCU and the City of Richmond. President Trani has provided visionary, inspired and tireless leadership. The Board of Visitors looks forward to another vigorous academic year working with the President.
We are pleased for Gene, Lois, his children and grandchildren that he will have more family time as he enters the next phase of his career as a full-time scholar and that VCU will continue to benefit from his intellectual energy.
The Board of Visitors has as its highest priority a successful Presidential Search, having already started planning for that process last spring. We intend to share those plans and timetable in the near future. One of President Trani's lasting legacies will be having made the VCU Presidency an attractive position for quality candidates.
Statement of the Board of Visitors of
Virginia Commonwealth University
August 21, 2008
The Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University reviewed the investigation into the anonymous allegations of the improper awarding of a degree. It also considered the administration's follow up action plans. The Board concluded that the investigation, conducted by Executive Director of the Department of Assurance Services, Richard O. Bunce, Jr., and his staff, with the approval and oversight of the Academic and Health Affairs Policy Committee of the Board, was fair, professional and thorough. The investigation involved hundreds of hours of quality work by Mr. Bunce and numerous in-depth meetings of the Committee. The Board also affirmed the investigation's conclusion that the improper awarding of a degree resulted from serious errors of judgment on the part of individuals in the degree-awarding process.
While there has been some debate concerning the intensity of the investigation, especially in the context of an academic environment, the Board had an overall responsibility to find the truth to the extent possible, and believes it appropriately fulfilled that obligation. We regret that there is a perception that the Board would take any action to disrupt the normal tenure process. It has not done so, and the Board fully supports the tenure policy and process at VCU. The policies and procedures related to investigations are routinely reviewed by the Audit and Compliance Committee and the Academic and Health Affairs Policy Committee.
The Board additionally was presented two plans for action by the administration.; The first is to assess and correct deficiencies in policies and procedures for the awarding and revoking of VCU degrees. The second is to conduct university-wide discussions on the VCU Code of Ethics. The Board is confident that these action plans and the personnel actions which have been completed by the Provost will both ensure and underscore the commitment of the entire university community to the integrity and value of every single VCU degree.
On motion made and seconded, the following Consent Agenda Action Items were approved:
Board of Visitors
- Minutes of a Joint Meeting of the Board of Visitors and the VCU Health System Board of Directors held May 15, 2008
- Minutes of a Regular Meeting held May 15 and 16, 2008
- Minutes of a Special Meeting held June 27, 2008
Academic and Health Affairs Policy Committee
- Minutes of a Meeting held May 15, 2008
- Minutes of a Special Meeting held June 4, 2008
- Minutes of a Special Meeting held June 19, 2008
- Minutes of a Special Meeting held June 26, 2008
Audit and Compliance Committee
- Minutes of a Meeting held May 15, 2008
- Annual Update – Audit and Management Services Charter
Executive Committee
- Minutes of a Special Meeting held May 22, 2008
External Relations
- Minutes of a Meeting held May 15, 2008
Finance, Investment and Property Committee
- Minutes of a Meeting held May 15, 2008
- Debt Resolution VCBA Debt Resolution Financing Agreement
- Project Approval for Wise County Dental Clinic
- Architect/Engineer Selection for General Classroom Building
- Easement for Inger and Walter Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences
- Request for Proposals for Access Control Services
- Resolution Revision: Authorizing Certain University Officers and Employees to Execute Contracts and Other Documents
Student Affairs Committee
- Minutes of a Meeting held May 15, 2008
Mr. Rosenthal reported for the Nominating Committee for Officers and Executive Committee. The members of the Committee are: Messrs. Rosenthal (Chair) and Messrs. Jackson and Snead, Dr. Broaddus and Mrs. Rhodes. On motion made and seconded, the following slate of Officers and Executive Committee members were approved:
Michele Romano, Vice Rector
John C. Doswell, Secretary
Edward H. Bersoff, Member-at-Large
Lillian L. Lambert, Member-at-Large
Anne J. G. Rhodes, Member-at-Large
Thomas G. Snead, Jr., Member-at-Large
Mr. Rosenthal appointed the following members of the Board to serve on the Presidential Evaluation Committee: Mr. Rosenthal (Chair); Drs. Doswell, Bersoff and Romano; Mr. Snead; and Mesdames Lambert and Rhodes.
Mr. Rosenthal appointed Dr. Bersoff to serve as Chair of the Presidential Search Committee.
The meeting was adjourned at 1 p.m.
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