 | Board of Visitors minutes June 30, 1860 |  |
STATED MEETING
June 30th 1860
The Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia met
this morning at 12 M. Present T. J. Randolph, J. B. Baldwin
Pryor and P. H. Aylett.
John R. Edmunds esqr. called the Board to order and on
his motion Col. Thomas J. Randolph was unanimously elected
Rector.
The Rector appointed the following Committees
Committee of Finance, Messrs Baldwin, Edmunds & Terrell.
Committee on Apparatus, Messrs Edmunds, Minor and Terrell
Committee on Buildings & Grounds, Messrs Minor, Aylett & Neeson
Committee on Library, Messrs Aylett, Neeson & Baldwin.
On motion of Mr Edmunds Messrs Minor, Baldwin and Ran-
dolph were appointed Executive Committee for the next year.
Resolved that so much of the report of the Superintendent
of Buildings & Grounds as relates to the Buildings and Grounds
be referred to the Committee on buildings and grounds.
The resolution in relation to Thomas P. Holcombe which
was laid upon the table at the special session of the Board
on the 8th day of February 1860 was on motion of Mr Minor
taken up and adopted.
Monday July 2nd 1860
Resolved that in addition to the reports now required of
the Professors, it shall hereafter be the duty of each Professor
& Instructor in the University to report to the Visitors
at each annual meeting in writing.
1. The condition of instruction in his school or class.
2. His opinion as to the best means of extending and
standards required for degrees.
Prof Coleman was unanimously elected Professor of Latin
in the University of Virginia.
Resolved that the Executive Committee make a settlement
with Prof Smith for the costs and expenses of the purchase
of apparatus in his school and that they provide for the pay-
ment of what may be due to him.
Resolved that Professors Davis & Cabell be authorized to
continue the employment of Mr Scharf, as artist upon the
terms heretofore allowed until the further order of the Board.
Resolved that the Board have seen with regret a failure
on the part of some of the Professors to make the weekly and
annual reports of their schools which have been required by
previous regulation.
Resolved that the salary of B. W. Allen the present
Demonstrator of Anatomy be increased three hundred dollars, to
take effect from the first day of July, so as to make his
salary one thousand dollars.
Resolved that the Salary of the Health Officers be continued
at $250 each per annum, until the further order of the
Board.
On motion of Mr Pryor
Resolved That for each session, the Proctor shall distribute
rooms among Students by lot; provided however, that
a Student returning another session, shall have the right to
retain the room which he occupied the previous Session.
On the above resolution the vote was
Ayes, Messrs Randolph, Terrell, Neeson, Edmunds, Aylett and
Pryor.
Noes, Messrs Baldwin & Minor.
Resolved that the Executive Committee be authorized to
have the dining room at the hotel kept by D. Ward supplied
with round tables.
The Rector laid before the Board a communication from
the Jefferson Society asking for a new Hall. Upon consideration
whereof it was resolved
1. That the Board of Visitors entertain a high opinion
of the importance of the Literary Societies as agencies of
education and of police in the University and are disposed
to furnish them with encouragement in the form of suitable
accommodations for their meetings.
2. That while this is the disposition of the Visitors
the financial condition of the University renders it impracticable
at present to grant the assistance asked by
the Jefferson Society.
Resolved that the instruction of the Intermediate Class
in Mathematics be devolved upon the Professor of Mathematics,
and that the employment of only one Assistant Instructor in
Mathematics be authorized by the Board.
Resolved that the School of History and Literature be
added to the course required for the Masters degree. Provided
that this requirement shall not be made of any student who
has heretofore attended the Schools of the University.
Resolved that the School of History and Literature shall
in future be one of the literary schools graduation in any
two of which shall be required for the Bachelors degree.
A memorial was received from a number of students asking
that the public day be changed from the 4th of July to the
29th of June. On consideration whereof it was resolved that
the Board having recently considered the whole subject deem
it inexpedient to make the change asked for.
Tuesday July 3rd, 1860
Resolved that the Assistant Instructor in the School of
Chemistry be authorised to give instruction in the School
upon subjects not now taught therein connected with practical
chemistry and to charge to such students as may choose to
attend upon his teachings such fees as may be agreed upon
between him and the Professor of Chemistry and be approved
by the Executive Committee.
Resolved that it be referred to the discretion of the
Executive Committee whether to continue the arrangement reported
by the Superintendent of B & G for working the steam
heating and pumping mechenery and whether they will allow
to Janitor Smith the increased compensation suggested by the
Superintendent- If any change shall be necessary they will
make it and report to the Board a plan for the permanent conduct
of the work.
Resolved that the Executive Committee be authorized to
borrow such sums of money as may be required for the necessary
session - the loan to be repaid out of the receipts of the
next session.
Resolved that the Executive Committee enquire into the
compensation of all the officers of the University, and that
they cut off at once all perquisites not expressly recognized
by the enactments.
Resolved that in future no wood of any description or
for any purpose shall be taken from the lands of the University
and the Executive Committee are requested, and the superintendent
of public grounds is directed to cause this prohibition
to be strictly enforced.
Resolved that the Executive Committee be instructed as
soon as practicable to abandon all cultivation of the University
farm on the part of the University and to employ any
surplus labor of servants necessarily hired for the University,
upon the improvement of the grounds according to the general
plan heretofore adopted.
The Rector laid before the Board a letter from Alex
Galt the sculptor who has been commissioned by the State of
Virginia to execute a statue of Jefferson for the University
and it appearing that the statue will in all probability be
delivered before the next meeting of the Visitors it was
resolved
1. That the Executive Committee be authorized on behalf
of the University to co-operate with the State authorities
in any arrangement proper for the inauguration of the statue
2. That while the Visitors would by no means anticipate or
forestal the action of the Governor of the Commonwealth in
carrying into full effect the instructions of the General
Assembly, the Executive Committee be instructed to suggest
the 13th day of April 1861 as a suitable day for the ceremonies
of the inauguration.
3. That the Executive Committee communicate to the Governor
a copy of these resolutions of the correspondence of the
Artist in reference to the proper location of the Statue and
of the action of the Executive Committee thereon.
Resolved that the Professors of Latin and Greek may hold,
near the commencement of each Session an examination of all
students who propose to Join the Senior Class of the Professor
and any student, whose previous instruction or acquirements
will not enable him to make Satisfactory progress in such
class, may be refused admittance.
Resolved that the Professor of the School of Latin be
authorized to appoint an assistant Instructor according to
the enactments.
Resolved that after the Session of 1860-61 the following
shall be the arrangement of the Boarding department.
1. No assignment of rooms to Hotels shall be made, but
a student renting a room belonging to the University shall be
authorized to board at any Licensed Boarding house or Hotel.
2. There shall be no regulation of the price of board, but
every student shall be left free to contract for his boarding
at any licensed Boarding house or Hotel.
3. The Hotels shall be vacant at the end of the session
of 1860-61 at which time the Board will receive proposals for
renting them thereafter. The Proctor shall advertise for
such proposals under the direction of the Executive Committee.
Every student matriculating shall deposite with the
Proctor a sum sufficient to pay three months board to his
hotel keeper or boarding house, and every student shall thereafter
at the end of every period of three months deposite
enough to pay his board for the next quarter or for the residue
of the session, at the rate fixed by his contract for board
The following resolution was offered by Franklin Minor.
Resolved that the operation of the resolution adopted
by the Board yesterday requiring the Chairman to assign the
dormitories to the Students by lot, be suspended until the
close of the next session. Lost.
Ayes Messrs Minor, Randolph & Baldwin
Noes Messrs Neeson, Edmunds, Terrell, Aylett and Pryor.
Resolved that the Professors be requested to arrange the
Studies of their respective classes with the view of avoiding
conflict between the different Schools in the University, and
report to the next meeting of the Board.
On the motion of Col Baldwin the preamble and resolutions
of Mr Tucker relating to the application of the United Synod
of the Presbyterian Church of the United States, which were
laid upon the table on the 29th day of June 1869, were taken
up. Whereupon
Mr Edmunds moved to postpone the whole subject indefinitely.
The ayes and noes being demanded were as follows
Ayes Messrs Randolph, Aylett, Edmunds, Neeson & Terrell
Noes Messrs Minor, Baldwin & Pryor.
So the whole subject was indefinitely postponed.
Mr Pryor then offered the following resolution
Resolved that Students of the Theological Seminary of
the United Synod of the Presbyterian Church be authorized to
attend lectures in the University, without matriculation
or payment of fees, but not otherwise to participate in the
advantages of the University, except that Professors and
Students in said Seminary be authorized to avail themselves
of the Library of the University in accordance with established
regulations.
The ayes & noes being called were as follows.
Ayes Messrs Pryor Minor & Baldwin
Noes Messrs Randolph, Edmunds, Aylett, Terrell & Neeson.
So Mr Pryors resolution was lost.
Wednesday July 4th, 1860
Resolved that permission be granted to the Faculty and
such others as may unite with them to build by private subscription
upon the precincts of the University a house to be used
as a place of religious worship. The location and plan of
the building shall be subject to the approval of the Executive
Committee and the house shall be the property of the
University and at all times subject to the control of the
Visitors.
Resolved that leave be given to the two literary societies
to build Halls upon the same terms and subject to the same conditions.
Resolved that R. T. W. Duke Esqr. be requested to examine
into the boundaries of the University lands and especially
into any conflict of boundary with surrounding holders.
That he be authorized upon consultation with the Executive
Committee to adjust and settle all questions of conflicting
boundary. The Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds is required
to do any surveying that Mr Duke shall find expedient.
Resolved that hereafter the regular meeting of the Board
shall be on the 2nd day of July of each year.
Resolved that when the Board adjourns it adjourns to
meet at this place on the 6th of March 1861.
Prof Maupin was elected Chairman of the Faculty for the
next session.
Resolved that after the first day of Septr. next all
payments to the University shall be by deposite in the Farmers
Bank of Virginia at Charlottesville to the credit of the University
upon a certificate of the Bank and that the Proctor
shall receive nothing in payment but such certificates.
2. That all payments out of the Treasury of the University
shall be made by check of the Proctor upon the Farmers Bank
at Charlottesville payable to the order of the person, to
whom such payment is due and specifying the consideration on
which the payment is made.
3. The expenditures in the Superintendents department
shall be limited to such sums as shall be transfered to the
credit of that department on the Proctors books by order of
the Executive Committee.
4. Expenditures in this department shall be certified
by the superintendent to the Proctor and be paid by the Proc-
tor as other payments out of the University Treasury.
5. Checks for change may be drawn by the Proctor in his
own favor for sums not exceeding twenty dollars.
6. The Proctors salary may be drawn upon his own checks
specifying the consideration.
7. The Proctor is directed to prepare and have printed
suitable blanks for the Certificates and checks hereby required
- subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.
8. The annuity from the State shall be drawn upon the
order of the Proctor countersigned by the Proctor drawn in
favor of the Farmers Bank at Charlottesville and deposited in
said Bank for collection
9. The office of Bursar is abolished.
Resolved that the penalty of the Bond required of the
Superintendent of Buildings and grounds be reduced to $5000
and that he be required to execute the same before the Executive
Committee within ninety days. If he shall fail to give
the bond within the time limited it shall be the duty of the
Executive Committee to declare his office vacant.
Resolved that the professor of Modern Languages be relieved
from the duty of delivering lectures on History and
Literature in connection with his School, and that he be allowed
in future but one assistant instructor to be employed at the
discretion of the Professor in the instruction of his class.
The superintendent of Public Buildings shall perform such
duties, in addition to those now existing as the Executive
of the University.
Resolved that Chap II Section 3 No 8 of the enactments as
shown in the abstract of 1859 be amended and re-enacted so
as to read as follows.
8. The candidate for the degree of Master of Arts shall
furthermore be required to undergo a general examination before
the Faculty at the close of his course of study on all
the subjects embraced in the curriculum which must prove
satisfactory to the Faculty to entitle him to the degree
or at the option of any graduate upon a subject embraced in
the course for the Masters degree, he may in any session
after such graduation be examined in review upon the subject
on which he has graduated and if such examination be found
satisfactory he shall not be required to be again examined
on that subject.
An application being received from Dr. Howard for an
appropriation of $50 for the purchase of obstetrical instruments
to aid his illustrations in that branch.
Resolved that $50 be appropriated for the purchase of
obstetrical instruments to be paid on the order of Dr Howard.
Resolved that the dormitory next Prof Colemans office
be assigned to the Instructor in Latin, and instead of it
the dormitory next Prof Colemans Pavilion on the South be
assigned to him for the use of his family and that the student
thus displaced be allowed the room vacated by the
Instructor in Mathematics.
Resolved that the Executive Committee be authorized to
have an addition built to the Pavilion occupied by Prof Coleman,
at an expense not exceeding twenty five hundred dollars.
Provided that Prof Coleman will lend the money to the University
to be repaid with interest at such time as may be
agreed upon by the Executive Committee and Prof Coleman.
Thursday July 5th 1860
Resolved that it be referred to the discretion of the
Executive Committee to extend the water works of the University
to the Infirmary and to grant to Mr D'Alfonce the use
of the cistern connected with the Gymnasium instead of the
use of the water from the pipes as heretofore authorized.
It being represented that the fees now charged upon
Diplomas do not pay expenses it is resolved that hereafter the
fee for the diploma in Law & Medicine and for the Bachelor
and Masters degree be 2.00 each.
Resolved that the Medical officers of the Infirmary be
authorized to invest the surplus Infirmary fund in Virginia
State Bonds and that the Proctor pay over the fund upon their
order.
The Board then adjourned to meet on the 6th day of March
1861.
| Board of Visitors minutes June 30, 1860 | |