The Executive Council held its monthly meeting at 1:30 p.m. in the President’s Conference Room in Lee Hall. Present were Dr. Mark Keenum, presiding, Dr. Tracey Baham, Ms. Sophia Barnett, Mr. Trey Breckenridge, Dr. Keith Coble, Ms. Leslie Corey, Mr. Cameron Cummings, Ms. Lesia Ervin, Dr. Stacy Haynes, Dr. Regina Hyatt, Ms. Christine Jackson, Ms. Joan Lucas, Major General (Ret.) Jim Martin, Mr. Les Potts, Mr. John Rush, Dr. David Shaw and Mr. Jim Laird.

Dr. Keenum started the meeting by welcoming Dr. Haynes, the new Robert Holland Faculty Senate president, and Ms. Barnett, the new chair of the MSU Staff Council, to their first Executive Council meeting.

Dr. Shaw presented:

-- HRM 60.225: Tuition Remission-Employees and HRM 60.226: Tuition Remission-Dependent Children of Employees. The update for these policies adds the Master of Science in Nursing program to the list of exempt programs and addresses newly enacted fees. Council members voted to approve.

On behalf of Dr. Julie Jordan, General Martin presented:

-- OP 70.08: Time and Effort Reporting. This update strengthens the process, procedures and documentation in place to ensure compliance with federal regulations related to time and effort reporting for sponsored project activities covered by 2 CFR 200.430. 

The update includes clarification that “unless the circumstances of a particular faculty member demonstrably warrant otherwise, the total effort and total salary (i.e. 100 percent) of a faculty member should not be assigned to sponsored projects in a given effort period.” 

The policy was also revised to include all individuals funded on restricted awards, including student workers, intermittent employees, and rehired retirees. Council members voted to approve the revised policy.

-- OP 79.11: Uncrewed Aircraft Systems/Model Aircraft. This modification clarifies that approval authority for uncrewed aircraft operations at MSU rests with the Vice President for Research and Economic Development or the Vice President for Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, depending on location. Council members voted to approve.

Mr. Potts presented:

-- OP 95:501: Traffic and Parking Rules and Regulations. This update addresses changes implemented to address scooter and bicycle use on campus and the introduction of zone-specific parking for students, faculty, staff and visitors for the 2025-26 academic year. Council members voted to approve.

Dr. Hyatt presented:

-- OP 91.208: Hazing. This update includes changes to ensure compliance with the recently implemented federal Stop Campus Hazing Act. Council members voted to approve. As part of the requirements, a new anti-hazing training module has been added to the Maroon U. online program new students are required to complete.

-- OP 91.131: Military-Connected Student Benefits and Resources. This new policy unifies existing benefits and resources for military-connected students into one policy to ensure compliance with all state and federal regulations. Council members voted to approve.

Dr. Coble presented:

-- OP 56.03: Sharing and Handling of Major Expenses of Jointly Occupied Buildings. This policy was presented for recission because it is outdated and no longer needed. Council members voted to approve.