University of Virginia Library

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Visitors of The Rector and Visitors of the
University of Virginia was held on this date in the office of the President of the University of
Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, with the following present: The Rector Barron F. Black,
President Colgate W. Darden, Jr., of the University of Virginia, Visitors Coxe, Gay, Gravatt,
Howard, Mears, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Smith, Talbott and Wheeler. Absent: Dr. M. L. Combs, President
of Mary Washington College, Visitors Barksdale, Carrington, Emmett and Wailes.

The minutes of the meetings of February 8, 1952, and February 27, 1952, which had been
copied and mailed to the members, were approved

NEW MEMBERS APPOINTED TO BOARD OF VISITORS

Three new members were appointed to the Board of Visitors of the University by Governor
Battle on March 1, 1952. They are: Representative Howard W. Smith, of Alexandria, succeeding
Christopher B. Garnett, appointed for a four year term ending February 29, 1956, Whitwell Wentworth
Coxe, of Roanoke, succeeding Edward C. Anderson, appointed for a term ending February 28, 1954;
and Miss Lucille Wheeler, of Newport News, succeeding Mrs. J. M. H. Willis, appointed for a four-year
term ending February 29, 1956

The following members of the Board whose terms expired February 29, 1952, were reappointed
by the Governor for four-year terms ending February 29, 1956: Frank Talbott, Jr., Alfred
Dickinson Barksdale, Barron Foster Black, and Benjamin William Mears

All three new members were present, and Mr. Coxe presented a certified copy of the oath
of office which he had taken. Mr. Smith and Miss Wheeler have not yet qualified

RESIGNATION

The following resignation from the faculty was accepted.

RESOLVED by the Board of Visitors of The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
that the resignation of Mr. Clyde R. Carter, Instructor in Art, be and it is hereby accepted
as of the end of the session of 1951-52. We wish for him the highest success in his new undertaking.

APPOINTMENT

The following appointment was confirmed by the Board.

Lieutenant James E. Weirich appointed Associate Professor of Naval Science, effective
in the summer of 1952, to replace Lieutenant Commander Wharton.

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

The Rector announced appointment of the following committees

                                       

Finance Committee	Mr. Gay, Chairman
	Mr. Mears
	Mr. Talbott
Buildings and Grounds Committee	Mrs. Smith, Chairman
	Mr. Carrington
	Mrs. Wailes
Mary Washington College Committee	Mrs. Wailes, Chairman
	Mrs. Smith
	Miss Wheeler
	Mr. Howard
Athletics Committee	Mr. Talbott, Chairman
	Mr. Gay
	Mr. Coxe
	Mr. Mears
Medical Committee	Dr. Emmett, Chairman
	Mr. Howard Smith
	Mr. Coxe
	Mrs. Smith
Student Activities Committee	Mr. Gravatt, Chairman
	Mr. Carrington

UNCOLLECTIBLE HOSPITAL ACCOUNTS

The following resolution was adopted.

RESOLVED by the Board of Visitors of The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
that the Hospital Accounts Committee be and it is hereby authorized to charge off as uncollectible
accounts schedules 263 and 266, aggregating $9,866.40, recommended by them for cancellation.

REGIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The President presented a report of the Committee on Scholarships, Loans and Employment,
which recommended the enlargement of the scholarship program to include a regional scholarship
program to be financed from the duPont bequest. The question was raised whether the adoption of
the regional plan would make it necessary to cut down on other scholarships now being paid from
the duPont Fund. The Secretary of the Board, who is a member of the Scholarship Committee, stated
that the funds to finance the regional scholarship program had been released by the transfer of
laboratory instructors to the State budget. These instructors previously were paid out of the
duPont Fund, which the President and the Secretary both felt was in improper use of the duPont
Scholarship Fund. Hence the regional scholarship program could be instituted without in any way
affecting the present awards of duPont scholarships within the University.

Mr. Gay inquired if action on the plan could be deferred until the April meeting to give
the Board an opportunity to study the proposal. The Secretary advised that such a postponement
would mean that the plan could not be inaugurated for another year, as the deadline for scholarship
applications for entering students was April 15, and that to conform with an agreement established
under the auspices of the College Board Association, awards would be made so that entering
students might give notice of acceptance of such scholarships by May 20 of each year

A resolution was adopted approving the regional scholarship plan for one year; the Secretary
was requested to send a copy of the report of the Committee to each member of the Board.

BAYLY-TIFFANY SCHOLARSHIPS

Mr. Mears stated that many problems had arisen during the past five years concerning
the award of these scholarships, and it was the feeling of many people on the Eastern Shore that
the Committee had not followed the wishes of Mrs. Tiffany as expressed in her will. Mr. Mears
stated that when he had called particular cases to the attention of the President, the President
had taken the matter up with the Scholarship Committee and had been successful in securing scholarships
for the applicants in question.

The President stated that he had appointed a new Committee on Scholarships, Loans and
Employment to administer all the resources of the University available for such aid, and he
believed the new Committee would be able to handle the Bayly-Tiffany awards more effectively.

Mr. Mears asked that the will of Mrs. Tiffany be examined to determine: (1) whether the
need of a student should be a prime factor in making the awards, and (2) whether any awards could
be made to persons other than residents of Eastern Shore, Virginia, when applicants of that area
were denied scholarships.

The Rector was asked to take the matter up with the attorney for the University for an
interpretation of the will.

REPLICA OF DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

The President presented to the Board the offer of Mr. Michael Francis Doyle, of Philadelphia,
to present the University with a bronze replica of the Declaration of Independence. The
Board was pleased to accept this gift, subject, of course, to the approval of the State Art Commission.

MARKER TO COMMEMORATE RESTORED GARDENS

Mrs. Smith stated that a change was desired in the original inscription to commemorate
the restoration of gardens at the University, because the Garden Club committee felt the wording
implied that the gardens had been designed by Thomas Jefferson, when actually he designed only
the walls which enclose the gardens. Mrs. Smith presented a revised inscription, which was approved
as follows:

A resolution was adopted requesting a special committee composed of Mrs. Smith, the
President and the chairman of the School of Art of the University to select a site for the location
of the tablet on the garden walls.

Mrs. Smith reported that the formal dedication of the restored gardens would occur on
Thursday, April 24, and that a luncheon was being given in the Rotunda by Mrs. William R. Massie,
to which the Board was invited, following which the formal dedication would take place.

PAVILION V GARDEN

The President reported that the design of the restored garden in the rear of Pavilion V
made it almost impossible for two families to use the garden, and he recommended that the garden
be assigned to Professor Thomas P. Abernethy, whose porch overlooks the garden

After considerable discussion, a resolution was adopted assigning the garden of Pavilion
V exclusively to Professor Abernethy.

RILEY PROPERTY AT FALLS CHURCH

The Rector reported that he and Mr. Garnett had examined the property in Falls Church,
Virginia, which constitutes part of the estate of the late Joseph Harvey Riley and it was their
opinion that the University should not sell its interest at this time. Whereupon a resolution
was adopted rejecting the offer of the Stanley R. Rowland Company, Inc.

UNIVERSITY INSURANCE

A question was raised concerning the manner of handling the insurance at the University,
and the President asked the Secretary to describe to the Board the system now in effect. The Secretary
stated that several years ago the local insurance agents organized into the Charlottesville
Insurance Exchange, and that all insurance for the University is turned over to a committee representing
the Exchange, which distributes the insurance among all the local agents in accordance
with the volume of business done by each in this community

The Secretary stated that an engineering survey of University buildings had been completed
recently and was now being reviewed by the University. The President was asked to examine
the survey and to report on the matter at the next meeting of the Board.

ENDOWMENT FUND LEGISLATION

The President reported that after the special meeting of the Board on February 27, he
had met with the Governor and a committee from the Senate, and that a compromise had been worked
out providing that all gifts received after January 1, 1952, by institutions of higher learning
should not be included in the preparation of State budgetary requests.

UNIVERSITY BUDGET AND THE LEGISLATURE

Mrs. Smith reported that through conversation with a member of the Legislature she had
gathered the impression that the University should attempt to organize greater support in the
Legislature for its budget requests, that there was a basic group of University graduates who
would strongly support the budget but they needed assistance to get our requests approved. It
was the feeling that V.P.I. had successfully organized support for its program and that the
University Board should attempt to follow suit.

Mr. Howard stated that it was his impression that the support of V.P.I.'s budget had
not been organized by their Board of Visitors, but that many groups in the State who were interested
in farm problems had rallied behind the program at V.P.I. and strongly supported it in the
Legislature.

The President stated that political power in the state of Virginia is still controlled
by the rural vote. In high school after high school not a single graduate enters the University,
whereas V.P.I. is drawing from all over the State. It was his feeling that unless we can tie the
University more closely to the high schools we cannot move forward. With such a tie we could
broaden the support in the Legislature for the University.

Mr. Talbott stated that he thought a large number of high school graduates did not come
here because they were not properly prepared. Mr. Gravatt stated that he thought there should be
a stronger tie between the various alumni groups in the State and the University, that these
groups were interested in the progress of local students at the University

Mr. Howard said he believed the really controlling factor in the selection of a college
by a boy was the recommendation of the principal or some particular teacher. It was his feeling
that the work Dean Stiles was carrying on would in the long run tie the teachers of the State
more closely to the University and that they would thus be encouraged to recommend to more boys
that they come to the University.

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

The President reported that hospital costs continued to increase, as an offset to this,
in April, 1951 a substantial increase in rates was made with the hope that sufficient revenues
would be received to offset the increase in costs. Actually, collections are not holding up and
the Hospital is running at a deficit. The President stated that the cost of caring for indigents
at the Hospital, which now requires a State appropriation of approximately $800,000 a year, must
somehow be shifted from the University if adequate support for the University is to be obtained
from the Legislature

SCHOOL OF ART

Mr. Gay reported that Mr. Leslie Johnson, Assistant Professor of Art, had called on
him concerning the Art School at the University. Mr. Johnson stated that he had resigned and
hence was speaking only for the welfare of the School. He told Mr. Gay that the graphic arts
were being stifled at the University.

Mr. Gay said that he believed the question to be determined was whether the University
should have a professional art school or simply courses in art leading to a liberal arts degree.
The President stated that it is not possible within the present budget both to offer general art
courses and at the same time develop a first class professional art school. He said that both
the Dean of the College and the Chairman of the School of Art had recommended the replacement of
Mr. Leslie Johnson and Mr. Clyde Carter because their competence was confined to applied arts.

Mr. Gay moved that the President be asked to investigate this matter and report to
the Board, which resolution was adopted.

BLUE CROSS CONTRACT

Mrs. Smith reported that she had visited three hospitals in three different states
and inquired about the Blue Cross plan in operation in each state. So far as she could determine,
the Virginia Blue Cross plan seemed to differ from the plan now used in other states. In
Florida none of the fees collected from private patients over and above the amount paid by Blue
Cross are recaptured by Blue Cross. It was Mrs. Smith's impression that the whole matter should
be investigated.

Whereupon a resolution was adopted requesting the Medical Committee to examine the
present Blue Cross contract and report to the Board.

WALTER M. SEWARD ESTATE

The President reported that the University had received an offer for several lots in
Petersburg which had been bequeathed the University in the Seward estate. The University has
held these lots for more than fifteen years, and it is the recommendation of the attorney for the
University that they be sold. The President and the attorney for the University were authorized
to negotiate with the Fort Abbott Corporation of Petersburg and if a satisfactory offer can be
obtained, to sell the lots

GREENHOUSE FOR SCHOOL OF BIOLOGY

President Darden stated that the University's School of Biology had never had a greenhouse
and that it was not possible to teach courses in botany satisfactorily without such a
facility. This need had been called to the attention of the University for many years, but funds
had not been available.

The President stated that he had appointed a committee to select a successor to Dr.
Ivey F. Lewis as Miller Professor of Biology when he retires at the end of the session 1952-53.
The committee reports that it has been unsuccessful in interesting any first class man in coming
to the University because of the absence of a greenhouse.

The President stated that it would cost between $40,000 and $50,000 to build a greenhouse,
but that he believed it was essential for the School. When asked where he thought the
funds could be obtained, the President said he thought there might be some money available at the
end of this biennium which could be used for this purpose.

A resolution was adopted authorizing the President to proceed with plans for a greenhouse.

ATHLETICS

Control of Athletics

The President presented to the Board a report released by the National Collegiate Athletic
Association comparing the proposal of the American Council on Education with existing policies
and regulations of the NCAA concerning the control of intercollegiate athletics. The Secretary
was instructed to mail copies to absent members.

Football Coaches

The Board authorized the President to enter into a five-year contract with football
coach Arthur Guepe, with an annual increase of $100.00 per year in his salary.

A resolution was adopted authorizing the President also to negotiate contracts with the
other football coaches, providing for small increases in pay, the amount of such increases to be
left to the discretion of the President.

MARY WASHINGTON COLLEGE MATTERS

ARCHITECTURAL CONTRACT FOR NEW DORMITORY

In the absence of Dr. Combs, President Darden presented for the Board's inspection and
approval a contract with Walford and Wright, architects, for preparation of plans and specifications
for a new dormitory, the location of which was approved by the Board on February 8. The
contract provides fees to the architects of 5.5% of cost of construction.

A resolution was adopted approving this contract, provided the fee of 5.5% set forth in
the contract covers not only design, but supervision of construction of the building, as well.

GIFT FROM ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION FOR ENDOWMENT FUND

Mr. Black reported a gift of $200.00 from the Mary Washington College Alumnae Association,
to establish an endowment for Mary Washington College.

A resolution was adopted to accept the gift and adding it to the Consolidated Endowment
Fund of the University

- - - - - -

On motion the meeting was then adjourned.