University of Virginia Library

Board Requests Separation
Of Branch Institutions

The Board of Visitors recommended
to the Governor and General Assembly
yesterday that action be taken to separate
George Mason College in Fairfax by Mar.
1, and Mary Washington College in
Fredericksburg by July 1.

In addition, the Board directed that
plans be made for the independent status
of Clinch Valley College in Wise "as soon
as such action appears to be in the best
interests of the College."

It was reported to the Board that the
Clinch Valley advisory committee has
decided to retain its ties with the
University for the time being.

At its regular February meeting, the
Board recommended that legislative
action be taken to establish George
Mason as a separate institution effective
March 1 "or as soon thereafter as is
feasible, in order that the college, as a
separate institution," may select a
president at an early date.

The present Chancellor of George
Mason, Lorin Thompson, retires July 1.

In taking the action the Board noted
that the State Council of Higher
Education last month reaffirmed its
policy "that four-year institutions of
higher education be operated under
separate governing boards."

Remaining Branch Institutions

George Mason, Mary Washington and
Clinch Valley are the last remaining
branch institutions of the University. Last
year, the University converted to the
state community college system its
two-year branches at Martinsville and on
the Eastern Shore.

In a resolution on George Mason, the
Board noted that "under the aegis of the
University at Charlottesville the College
has become a flourishing institution
offering undergraduate degrees in 22
fields and an increasing number of
programs leading to the master's degree."

The Board said that it had established
George Mason in 1957 "responding to the
needs of the people of Northern Virginia
and the Commonwealth at large," and
with "a gift of tract of land from the City
of Fairfax."

The college has grown from two-year
status to a four-year institution of 3,100
students. It has been fully accredited by
the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools.

"Gifts of land from the counties of
Fairfax and Arlington and the cities of
Alexandria and Falls Church" the Board
stated, have made possible the
development of an approved Master Site
Plan for the accommodation of an
enrollment of 15,000 students by 1985."

Separations Recommended

The Board pointed out that the
George Mason advisory board had
recommended separation for the college
and that its name be changed to "George
Mason University." In addition, a bill was
introduced last month in the General
Assembly calling for separation of the
college.

In a separate resolution on Mary
Washington, the Board noted that in
December it had sought advice from the
State Council about the future status of
the Fredericksburg college.

The State Council has since
recommended that with a separate
governing board for Mary Washington
"the college can more effectively serve
the Commonwealth in the urban corridor
of Virginia, particularly considering the
elimination of a women-only admission
policy and the recent admission of men."

A recent Mary Washington self study
recommended that separation of the
2,500-student institution from the
University.

In a third resolution, dealing with
Clinch Valley College in Southwest
Virginia, the Board directed that "the
University and Clinch Valley College plan
for and seek separate status for the
College under a separate governing
board."

Grants Accepted

This step would be taken "as soon as
such action appears to be in the best
interests of the College and upon the
recommendation of the local advisory
Committee and the request of the
authorities of the College."

Clinch Valley College was founded in
1954 as a two-year branch of the
University and advanced to a four-year
degree granting institution in 1968,
awarding the bachelor's degrees in 12
fields.

The Board noted that it "is willing to
continue its constructive relationship
with the College, but recognizes that
certain advantages may result hereafter
from separate status for the College."

Enrollment at Clinch Valley is 780
students.

The Board of Visitors announced
acceptance of thousands of dollars in gifts
and grants to various schools within the
University. Alderman Library has
received gifts totaling $1700. The College
of Arts and Sciences has been pledged
$465,921 by a variety of foundations,
groups and individuals.

Gifts totaling $153,579 have been
donated to the School of Education and
the School of Engineering and Applied
Science will receive $249,031. The
School of Law and the McIntire School
of Commerce have been given $2,100 and
$2,150 respectively. The medical school
will receive by far the largest total grant,
having been pledged $652,417 by public
and private groups and individual donors.