CHAPTER 62

An Act to amend and reenact § 28-50, as amended, of the Code of Virginia,
relating to the Medical College of Virginia, so as to change the eligi-
bility requirements for certain members of the board of visitors and
to provide for the election of certain officers by the board of visitors.

[S 39]
Approved February 27, 1954

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 23-50, as amended, of the Code of Virginia be amended and
reenacted as follows:

§ 23-50. (1) Board of visitors—(a) The Medical College of Virginia
shall be continued, and the visitors thereof and their successors shall be and
remain a corporation under the name and style of the “Medical College of
Virginia’. The board of visitors shall consist of not less than twelve nor
more than eighteen members, appointed by the Governor, from the State
at large, and in addition the Superintendent of Public Instruction, ex
officio.

(b) As soon after April ninth, nineteen hundred and forty-five, as is
practicable the Governor shall appoint nine members of the board for a
term of two years, and nine members for a term of four years, each term
beginning July first, nineteen hundred and forty-five. He shall, in addition,
also appoint the Superintendent of Public Instruction as an ex officio
member for a term of two years, provided that, if his tenure as such
Superintendent expires within that time, his term as ex officio member
shall also terminate and the Governor shall appoint his successor to fill
the unexpired term. Such Superintendent shall remain eligible for ap-
pointment as an ex officio member so long as he remain Superintendent.
Regular members hereafter appointed from the State at large shall be
eligible for service for two consecutive terms only, and after such service
may not be reappointed until at least one year has elapsed. Such appoint-
ment after the lapse of one year shall be confined to one term of four years.
Upon the expiration of the two year terms of members herein provided
for, their successors shall be appointed for terms of four years.

(c) So long as the regular membership of the board consists of more
than twelve members no appointment shall be made to fill any vacancies
therein; provided, however, that vacancies due to the expiration of the
terms of members who are eligible for reappointment may be filled by
their reappointment.

(d) After the regular membership of the board has been reduced to
twelve in number, all vacancies therein shall be filled by appointment by
the Governor for a new term or the unexpired term as the case may be,
subject to confirmation by the Senate.

(di) As to vacancies occurring in nineteen hundred fifty-three by
expiration of term, two of the members whose terms so expire shall be
continued by designation of the Governor in office for one year; in addi-
tion, the Governor shall appoint three members to the board for terms of
four years expiring in the month in which other terms expire. In nineteen
hundred fifty-four the Governor shall appoint three members to the board
for terms of four years expiring in the month in which other terms expire.
In nineteen hundred fifty-five the Governor shall appoint three members to
the board for terms of four years expiring in the month in which other
terms expire. In nineteen hundred fifty-six the Governor shall appoint
three members to the board for terms of four years expiring in the month
in which other terms expire. Thereafter appointments shall be for four
year terms except in the case of vacancies prior to expiration of terms
when appointments shall be for the unexpired term. All appointments,
except continuations in office under this paragraph for one year, shall be
subject to paragraph (b) as to length of terms and eligibility for re-
appointment.

(e) The alumni association may submit to the Governor ninety days
before the expiration of any regular term of a member, or within ten
days after being notified by the Governor of a mid-term vacancy, a list of
not less than three persons whom they consider qualified and recommend
for appointment as successor for the new term or the unexpired term, as
the case may be. The Governor shall give careful consideration to any
such recommendation, but shall not be limited in his appointments to the
persons so recommended.

(2) Purpose of corporation.— The corporation is formed for the
purpose of establishing and maintaining a medical college and such other
institutions connected therewith, to teach medicine, dentistry, pharmacy
and all the arts and sciences and branches of learning relating to or con-
nected with any of these subjects, and in connection therewith it is em-
powered to maintain and conduct hospitals, infirmaries and dispensaries
and such other necessary kindred institutions as, in the opinion of the
board, are proper for its successful operation.

(3) Corporate powers.—The corporation is vested with all the rights,
powers and privileges conferred upon and subject to all the provisions
relating to similar corporations under the existing laws of this State so far
as they are applicable.

(4) Property.—There shall be vested in such corporation all the
property, real, personal and mixed, now belonging to the Medical College of
Virginia, including the property acquired by the Medical College of Vir-
ginia and conveyed to it by the late corporation known as the University
College of Medicine and that known as the Memorial Hospital, subject,
however, to such liens as exist on any of the property so held and con-
veyed to the Medical College of Virginia; and the amalgamation between
the late University College of Medicine and the Medical College of Vir-
ginia, which took place on the first day of July, nineteen hundred and
thirteen, is validated, ratified and approved.

~The Medical College of Virginia may take, hold and enjoy all the real
estate and personal property now held or used by it and such as may be
necessary or convenient for the purposes for which it was incorporated.

(5) Donations.—Every gift, grant, devise or bequest heretofore or
hereafter made to the Medical College of Virginia, or to the University
College of Medicine, or to the Memorial Hospital, or for its hospitals, in-
firmaries and dispensaries for charitable, educational or humanitarian
purposes, by whatsoever name or description the college or its hospitals,
infirmaries or dispensaries may be designated by the donor, the corpora-
tion is empowered to receive, take, hold and enjoy the same for the uses
and purposes designated by the donor if he or she shall so designate, or for
the general purposes of the corporation when the gift, grant, devise or
bequest is not so designated, whether the same be given directly to the
corporation or to trustees for its benefit.

(6) Principal office; meetings; compensation; quorum.—The princi-
pal office of the corporation shall be located, and all meetings of the board
of visitors held, as far as practicable, in the city of Richmond, Virginia.
The board shall fix the date for the annual meetings, and may hold such
special meetings as in the opinion of the chairman of the executive com-
mittee are deemed necessary. Due notice of all meetings shall be given to
every visitor. Members of the board shall receive no compensation for
their services, but those not residing in Richmond shall be paid their
necessary expenses for attending the meetings of the board. A majority
of the members shall constitute a quorum.

(7) Election of officers; executive committee.—The board shall elect
a chairman, vice-chairman, a secretary and a treasurer, both of which of-
fices may be held by the same person; and a president emeritus, president,
assistant president, and comptroller of the corporation, if they deem any
one or all necessary, prescribe their duties, and fix their compensation, and
they shall hold office during the pleasure of the Board. They shall also
appoint an executive committee, determine the number thereof and the
number which shall constitute a quorum, which executive committee shall
perform all such duties as are required of them by the board and as could
be performed by the board during the interim between its meetings. The
executive committee shall report annually or oftener to the board, for its
approval or disapproval, the acts performed by it from time to time.

(8) Faculty.—The board shall appoint a faculty composed of as many
professors, associate or adjunct professors and teachers as are necessary
for the college, all of whom shall hold their offices during the pleasure of
the board, and they shall fix the compensation, if any, of each and all of
these as they see fit.

(9) Management of corporation.—The board of visitors shall manage
the affairs of the corporation, care for its property, conduct its business,
control its finances and shape its policy.

(10) Conferring of degrees.—The corporation shall have power,
either on its own initiative or upon the recommendation of a majority of
the faculty, to confer degrees of doctor of medicine, doctor of dental
surgery and graduate in pharmacy and such other degrees, or honorary
degrees, as it may deem proper.

(11) Annual report.—The corporation shall make an annual report
to the Comptroller, as is required by law.

(12) Service of process.—Process against or notice to the corpora-
tion may be served only in the city of Richmond upon the chairman of the
board of visitors, on the vice-chairman, the president of the corporaton
(if there be one), the secretary or the treasurer.