University of Virginia Library

MARY WASHINGTON COLLEGE MATTERS

DEATH OF EMIL R. SCHNELLOCK

Chancellor Simpson announced to the Board the death of Mr. Emil R. Schnellock, Associate
Professor of Art, on 18 November. Mr. Schnellock had served on the faculty since 1938. Mr.
Schnellock was devoted to the College and his murals in George Washington, Trinkle, and Monroe
Halls are but a part of his lasting contribution to the College.

There were expressions of the affection and esteem in which Mr. Schnellock was held, and
the Secretary was directed to record in the permanent minutes the deep sense of loss felt by
the Board, and the gratitude of the Visitors for his devoted and valuable services to Mary
Washington College.

DONATION OF PAINTING BY SOL WILSON

The Chancellor announced that the National Academy of Design of New York City had offered
to the College a painting, "Shopping District," by Sol Wilson

After discussion, the Board adopted the following resolution

RESOLVED by the Board of Visitors of The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
that Mary Washington College be and it is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement to accept
from the National Academy of Design a painting, "Shopping District," by Sol Wilson, purchased
from the Henry W. Ranger Fund, and the College agrees to hold same subject to, and to abide by
the terms stated in, the will of the late Henry W. Ranger, which reads as follows

"All pictures so purchased are to be given by the Council to art institutions in America,
or to any library or other institutions in America maintaining a gallery open to the public, all
such gifts to be upon the express condition that the National Collection of Fine Arts at Washington,
administered by the Smithsonian Institute (Institution) shall have the option and right, without
cost, to take, reclaim and own any picture for their collection, provided they exercise such option
and right at any time during the five year period beginning ten years after the artist's death and
ending fifteen years after his death, and if such option is not exercised during such period, the
picture shall remain and be the property of the institution to which it was first given.[1] The
words `America' and `American' shall be construed as equivalent to `North America' and `North
American' respectively.

TEMPORARY LOAN FROM THE STATE TREASURY

At the meeting of the Board of Visitors held on 14 December 1957, the College was authorized
to award contracts, subject to the approval of the Governor, for the construction of a dormitory, the
cost of which, including equipment, would not exceed $504,000.

The proposed method of financing the building and equipment is shown as follows

       

State Appropriation - 1956-58	$192,500
State Appropriation - 1958-60	84,700	$277,200
To be derived from bond issue - (temporary loan from the State Treasurer until bonds are issued)		226,800
Total		$504,000

The Chancellor stated that it was deemed unwise to issue bonds until it could be determined
accurately the exact funds needed. The State Treasurer has permitted the College to operate on
a cash basis, thus avoiding obtaining a temporary loan until the cash on hand was not adequate to
meet current requirements. The College is now holding a voucher due the contractor in the amount
of approximately $54,000, which, if entered for payment, would exceed the College's cash balance.

The Chancellor recommended that the College be authorized to obtain a temporary loan from
the State Treasurer in the amount of $226,800 which would provide sufficient funds to complete
the construction of the building and the purchase of equipment.

The Board adopted the following resolution

RESOLVED by the Board of Visitors of The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
that Mary Washington College be and it is hereby authorized to borrow from the State Treasurer,
at his prevailing rate of interest, the sum of $226,800, for the purpose of providing sufficient
funds to complete the construction and purchase of equipment for the new dormitory, the overall
construction and equipment cost not to exceed $504,000.

CHANGE IN FEES

The Chancellor noted that in many courses of study offered by the College a laboratory
fee is charged. This practice has been followed in many courses whether or not there is a
required laboratory period as the term is commonly understood. Most colleges today have
eliminated this type of laboratory fee and have retained only a laboratory fee for courses of
instruction in applied music. This change was made by the University of Virginia several
years ago.

The Chancellor requested that the College be granted permission to eliminate all laboratory
fees with the exception of the fees charged for instruction in applied music. He further
recommended that the diploma fee of $12 also be eliminated. In lieu of these charges, the
Chancellor proposed an increase in the General College Fee to all students of $10 per semester
in order to compensate for the loss of revenue resulting from the elimination of the laboratory
fees and diploma fees.

The Chancellor also noted that there is a different room rent charge for students housed
in Betty Lewis, Cornell, and Trench Hill dormitories. The charge for students in these dormitories
is $63 per semester in contrast with the charge to students in all other dormitores of $76.50 per
semester. The Chancellor proposed that the room rent for all students be $76.50 per semester.
This change would facilitate materially the advance billing prior to students' enrollment at the
beginning of the school year, and would also eliminate multiple adjustments to students' accounts
due to students being transferred from one location to another.

The following resolution was adopted by the Board

RESOLVED by the Board of Visitors of The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
that Mary Washington College be and it is hereby authorized to set student fees and expenses for
the school year beginning September 1959 as follows

                     

	Virginians	Non-Virginians
Tuition fee	None	$182.50
General college fees	$170.00	170.00
Library fee	10.00	10.00
Laundry charge	10.00	10.00
Infirmary fee	3.00	3.00
Student activity and miscellaneous fee	10.50	10.50
Board	157.50	157.50
Furnished room	76.50	76.50
Total per semester	$437.50	$620.00
Total per session	$875.00	$1240.00

NATURAL GAS CONTRACT

The Chancellor recounted the troubles the College had been experiencing with respect to
its heating plant. The College heating plant, since it is located on the West side of College
Avenue across from the College grounds, is in a residential section known as "College Heights."
Ever since the heating plant has been in operation, the College has been besieged with complaints
from the residents of this area because of the soot and fly ash from the heating plant. Two
years ago the College invested approximately $45,000 in the purchase of a fly ash collector and
ash handling equipment. The installation of this equipment has reduced the nuisance factor to
some extent, but it has not corrected the condition and the College is still receiving complaints
resulting from fly ash and soot damage caused by the heating plant. As a member of the community,
the College strongly feels an obligation to the residents of the community to eliminate this
nuisance factor if it is possible and practical to do so.

The College has been approached by the Natural Gas Service Company, which has a franchise
with the City of Fredericksburg. The company wishes to know if the College would be interested
in using natural gas if natural gas is brought to the Fredericksburg area. The rate proposed by
this company on an interrupted basis would cost the College for fuel approximately the same as
coal. The College has had two studies made comparing the cost of coal and the cost of gas at
the rate proposed by the company. These studies show that natural gas on an interrupted basis
would come within $200 of the cost of coal.

The College has also been having difficulty in the dining hall in obtaining sufficient gas
pressure from the City's manufactured gas for the preparation of food. The use of natural gas,
which is much cleaner, would provide many other advantages in the operation of the dining hall.
The Chancellor also pointed out that, in his opinion, the use of natural gas would permit the
College to eliminate one employee in the heating plant and reduce the expense further in connection
with the maintenance of a heating plant.

Some expense would be involved in converting the boilers in the central heating plant to
receive natural gas. It is estimated that this expense would be approximately $10,000, with the
initial cost to be borne by the gas company. The College would repay the gas company on a
monthly basis until the entire cost is amortized.

After discussion, the Board adopted the following resolution:

RESOLVED by the Board of Visitors of The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
that Mary Washington College be and it is hereby authorized to enter into a contract or agreement
with the Natural Gas Service Company to supply the Central Heating Plant of the College
with natural gas on an interrupted basis for providing heat to various buildings.

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On motion the meeting was then adjourned.