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PROPOSED SCOPE OF STUDY BY COMMITTEE FOR EVALUATION OF THE VIRGINIA INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

1 COMMITTEE FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE VIRGINIA INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC' RESEARCH C HAIRMAN Dr. Prince B. Woodard, Director, State Council of Higher Education J. Frank Alspaugh, Director, State Division of Industrial Development M. L. Boinest, Jr., Vice President, Albemarle Paper Company Andrew C. Britton, Senior Vice President, Corporate Tobacco Manf., Philip Morris, Inc. Dr. John H. Dedrick, Director of Basic Research, Metallurgical Research Division, Reynolds Metals Company Dr. Carl D. Lunsford, Assistant Vice President for Research, A. H. Robins Company G. Edward R. Stiles, Assistant Treasurer, A. H. Robins Company Dr. Helmut R. R. Wakeham, Vice President, Research and Development, 'Philip Morris, Inc. Dr. Harry D. Wilder, Director of Research and' Development, Albemarle Paper Company MEMBERS / ~ C C W N ~ C

PROPOSED SCOPE OF STUDY BY COMMITTEE FOR EVALUATION OF THE VIRGINIA INSTITUTE FOR SCI'ENTIFIC' RESEARCH I ~. The minutes of a meeting of December 12, also attached' (Appendix B), cover a discussion on the status report, together with a proposal for evaluation of the Institute, and exploration into making it more useful and self-sufficient. 1967 (Appendix A). The present status of VISR is described in the attached report of November 29; with higher education and' industrial development, as well as leaders of major industries, feel that there is enough value in the concept of VISR to merit a concentrated study of whether there really is a potential and how it might be realized. It is hoped that these documents provide useful understanding of the situation at hand. It is clear that the Governor and members of his staff concerned Accordingly, it is the request of the group attending the December 12 meeting that the Ethyl Corporation, Reynolds Metals Company, A. H. Robins Company, and Philip Morris, Inc. each appoint two persons to a VISR Evaluation Com- mittee. Mr. J. Frank Alspaugh, Director of the State Division of Industrial Development, will serve with the committee, and Dr. Prince B. Woodard, Director of the State Council of Higher Education, will act as chairman. The purpose of the committee is to make an objective evaluation of VISR's capability, if any, of rendering, specific services to industry and of serving as a center for advanced scientific education. This will involve consideration of the relationship between the Comrnonweaalth's higher education programs, the proposed metropolitan area university, and industrial development pro- grams. It is important to determine whether VISR as now constituted, or in altered form, represents an asset of value to the community and is worthy of continuation. If VISR should be altered, the committee is requested to offer specific proposals for that alteration. The committee's effort might include: (1) A preliminary meeting with the President of the Institute at which the nature of the study could be developed in more detail. (2) Collection of information describing the human and physical re- sources of the Institute, administration, areas of competence, etc. VISR will cooperate in providing any information requested during the course of this study.

- 2- Consideration of higher education plans and programs to which VISR might be related. (4) Consideration of this factual data by the committee. (5) Solicitation by committee members of opinions of key figures in education, industry, and government, and with others familiar with research institutes. (6) A brief final report of the committee's conclusions and recom- mend'ations. A total of not more than five meetings should be sufficient to complete a_ meaningfuli study. With the initial session scheduled for January 25, 1968, it is hoped that the job can be finished by March 1, 1968. The committee should not concern itself with the Institute's immediate finan- ciali problem. It is hoped though that whatever recommendations might be made for the Institute's continuation will be related to financial feasibility. F. B. J. W. M. II 11

VIRGINIA INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH A STATUS REPORT November 29, 1967 The Virginia Institute for Scientific Research was founded in 1948 by the late Dr. Allan T. Gwathmey, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Virginia.. Although VISR started operations under the aegis of the Virginia Academy of Science, it was Dr. Gwathmey's ent'husiasm~ deter- mination, and effort which brought it into being. It was Dr. Gwathmey's concept that a non-profit organization devoted to basic research in the physical sciences would be of value to the Commonwealth of Virginia. He believed that information developed by such an institute would be helpful to the industrial development of our state and woul& lead to more effective utilization of her natural! resources, both human and physical. Most of us concerned with the Institute today share these views. On the financial side, VISR was started on the proverbiali "shoest'ring. " The Institute's primary source of' income comes from contract research carried out for various private industries and governmentali agencies. Yet it could' not have been started, nor could it have continued without the generosity of', a handful of loyal friends. Outstanding among these was Mr. Robert M~ J'eff'ress, who contributed approximately $220, 000 over the period of VISR's existence. The State of Virginia has also assisted in the support of' the Institute. Initially quite small, the current State appropriation to the Institute is $40, 000 annually. A request has been initiated to have this increased to $100, 000' annually. Though always hampered by lack of sufficient funds, the Institute has grown from rather humble beginnings to the excellent research facility now located just off River Road on property leased from the University of Richmond. Modern laboratories equipped with~ advanced! instrumenta- tion are available. There is the beginning of a first-rate science library which is linked statewide via TWX with certain state-supported colleges and universities. The staff has performed creditably as witnessed by the numerous publications attributed to VISR members and by the several, honors which certain among them have received. Total operating budget has risen to the order of one-half million dollars. Total staff is Z6. Despite this apparent progress, the Institute is today beset by serious problems. The fundamental one is financial in nature. A contract research operation is at best a"hand'-to-mouth"'business. Yet the salaries of the staff members are almost entirely dependent upon this

I II I I I I I I I I I I -2~_ rat'her precarious source of income. Some other form of funding is re- quired to maintain the stability needed to recruit and retain first-class scientists. Stability, and again adequate independent means, are also prerequisite to the development of areas of special competence and dis tinction on the part of the Institute. Possession of such recognized abilities is a"'must"' if VISR is to provide the type of assistance that is useful to industry and education, and in turn attract their support. The trustees and special committees formed from their number have con- sidered many alternatives. All of the plans devised to-date have had certain shortcomings. Perhaps in time we coul'd'~ have solved our own difficulties. Now we have received a series of setbacks which bring us to the point where our time has just about run out. First, Dr. Allan T. Gwathmey died on May 12, 1963. This left the Institute an orphan in a very literal' sense. Second, the Assistant Direc- tor, Dr. Russell J. Rowlett, Jr. , resigned in March, 1967, to accept the high-paying and prestigious position of editor of Chemical Abstracts. Chemical Abstracts is one of the most important scientific services in the entire world, employing a staff of over 1, 000 to carry out its functions. It is a credit to the Institute that it had a role in the development of the new editor. On the other hand, Dr. Rowlett"s abilities are sorely missed. Third, Mr. Robert M. Jeffress died on September 21, 1967. On many occasions Mr. Jeffress provided from his own pocket the monetary sup- port needed to pull the Institute out of some immediate difficulty. Over and above his direct aid, his calm, businesslike thinking provided a much needed balance wheel!. Finally, within the last month the trustees have received a letter of resignation from the Institute's current Director, Dr. Henry Leidheiser, Jr. Dr. Leidheiser was one of the original pro- teges of Dr. Gwathmey and has ably conducted the affairs of VISR during his term of office. We have serious doubt that we can repl~ace him under the existing budget conditions. With the number two man already gone, there is no one at the Institute who can step directly into hi~s shoes. In summary, VISR has reached a crossroads. Unless some solution can be found in the imrnediate future, we fear that we may have to choose the path which leads to the closing down of this organization. It seems a great shame that we have reached this point when: the State of Virginia is making tremendous strides in its industrial development program and in its establishment of a modern educational system. We continue to feel that if VISR could be placed! on a proper base, it could make important contributions to both of these major areas, industrial development and scientific education, especially in establishing much needed programs at the graduate level. James W'. Mullen, II t

<. , A 0 MEMORANDUM MEETING DECEMBER 12, 1967, REGARDING VIRGINIA INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH Attendee s State of Virginia Governor Mills E. Godwin Carter O. Lowance Finance and Ihdustry 4 Robert L. Gordon Richard' S. Reynolds, Jr. J. Harvie Wilkinson, Jr. Trustees of VISR Senator FitzGerald Bemiss Edwin Cox H. Merrill Pasco E. Claiborne Robins Langbourne M. Williams James W. Mullen, II .,, U E ~ U 0 Dr. Mullen briefly reviewed the history of VISR and' outlined the events which led to its present difficult situation. He indicated that time was of the essence and requested the assistance of those assembled in trying to come up with a solution to the Institute"s problems. Although it might continue to do research for industry and government where capable, he thought that VISR might better find its ultimate role in connection with the State's higher education commit- ment. More specifically, it might provide the proposed Virginia Common- wealth University with a nucleus around which to build a school of graduate study in the physical sciences. In this way it could serve industry by pro- viding new trained manpower, by upgrading, present employees, and finally through the use of older employees as part-time instructors, it could keep them current with rapid technological progress. It has been shown repeatedly that the availability of a facility for advanced research and graduate study attracts new industry to its location6 Senator Bemiss pointed' out that somewhere in the State's very successful industrial development program or in its great expansion of educational activities there should be some spot in which the Institute could play a use- ful and constructive role. Governor Godwin reviewed the anticipat~ed' developments in education in the Richmond' area. He indicated that with the recognized need for graduate- level science courses the Institute could very conceivably offer a headstart in satisfying these requirements. He did emphasize t'hat' it was not realistic to think of the State's assuming the responsibility and management of the

-2- Institute in the immediate future, but that it should be thought of as a center of advanced scientific research and graduate study in relation to the pro- posed metropolitan area university. He stated that it would be a great shame for the Institute to have to shut down at a time when the State was making such rapid progress in industrial development and education. Mr. Robins said' that he had' mixed views on the Institute; that he had been concerned about its past single-minded devotion to pure research. He also felt that VISR had suffer ed'because of poor leadership. Mr. Bemiss responded that the Institute would be more openminded in any future approach to its work. Mr. Reynolds recalled that he had asked his research people to consider the usefulness of VISR to Reynolds Metals' research activities. He men- tioned that Reynolds Metals is now doing a large volume of research in the Richmond area and that he would be glad to join in an effort to review the Institute's usefulness, both from the point of view of its capacity to perform specific research and ini the role of a graduate school for the new university. Mr. Williams emphasized that the Trustees of the Institute were not looking for monetary contributions or for research programs of a "make-work" nature, but that advice was being sought. Especially desired was an exami- nation on the part of the State and of industry of the potential usefulness of the Institute to their respective fields of endeavor. Mr. Wilkinson offered the suggestion that an evaluation of the Institute be made by a task force comprising one administrator and one scientist from each of several locali major industries. If possible, a report should be forthcoming from thils task force within thirty days. He indicated that he was authorized to provide two such persons from Philip Morris. Mr. Robins stated that he knew in advance the answer his people would give withi.respect to research activities; ii. e. , they could really be better per- formed in his own company laboratories; however, in view of the educational aspects of the problem he would be willing to supply the necessary persons. He mentioned that, though he could not speak for the University of Richmond, it was not unlikely that some of the graduate functions of the University might in time become part of the proposed metropolitan university. At that time VISR, in cooperation with the University of Richmond, could itself be a part of the new university and perform a valuable service. Mir. Reynolds indicated that he also would be willing to provide appropriate personnel. Governor Godwin also agreed to furnish qualified people from his staff.

-3- In the general discussion which followed, it was agreed that it would be most unfortunate if at this moment when the Commonwealth is making such strides in industrial development and a massive new commitment to advanced educa- tion that VISR should go out of business. The approach suggested by Mr. Wilkinson was approved. The matter was left that the suggestion be put in a memorandum form and circulated for comment and correction among those present, and then undertaken in a manner to be determined by Dr. Mullen. Post Meeting Developments In a private discussion immediately following the meeting, Messrs. Williams, Bemilss and Mullen (the committee of the VISR Board appointed November 13 to seek a solution to the Institute's present problems) felt that the best pos- sible chairman for the task force would be Dr. Prince B. Woodard, Director of the State Council of Higher Education. They also hoped that the Ethyl Corporation could be persuaded to contribute two men to the task force. Later the same afternoon at a meeting of the Board of Trustees of VISR, the task force approach was presented to those present and approved. The Director of the Institute was instructed to cooperate in every manner with the task force. At the same meeting, the Board reviewed the financial posi- tion of the Institute and determined that this would become critical early in 1968, perhaps as soon as January or February. F. B. J. W. M. II .. f ~ 5~,:_ ,.