The Executive Council met at 9 a.m. in 611 Allen Hall. Present were Dr. Donald Zacharias, presiding, Dr. Melvin Ray, Dr. Billy Ward, Dr. Derek Hodgson, Dr. Rodney Foil, Dr. Roy Ruby, Leah Norman, Larry Templeton, Dr. Mike Couvillion, Dr. Debbie Baker, Greg Threatt, Dr. R.D. Ikenberry, Charles Guest, Joe Farris, Dr. Mike White, Becky Smith, and Sam Hogue.

Dr. White presented a Campus Planning and Development Committee recommendation that the proposed Band Hall be located on the east end of the current band practice field and north of the Reactor Building. The Council recommended that the band practice field be approved as the site, with the exact location within that area to be determined later with consideration given to utility access and future road development.

Dr. White and Rebecca Smith presented the Campus Planning and Development Committee recommendation for graphics on the planned new water storage tank as well as the existing tank on campus. The Mississippi State wordmark would appear on three sides of the planned new tank and on two sides of the existing tank; both tanks would be white with maroon lettering and gray accent lines. The Council recommended approval of the design. The CPDC prefers the spheroid shape to the cylindrical shape for the new tank, but a decision on the shape will be deferred until bids are received.

Dr. White and Sam Hogue presented design plans for Phase II of Roadrunner Park at the west end of Lee Hall. The plan calls for a circular arrangement of Victorian style teak benches around a five-globe lamp with flower bed. The project is to be funded by contributions from former members of the Roadrunners organization. The Council recommended approval of the design.

Rebecca Smith and Joe Farris presented a proposed design for the university welcome sign to be located in the terminal of Golden Triangle Regional Airport. Council members commented on the design and photo selection. University Relations is to complete and implement the design.

Dr. Ward presented recommendations of the Naming of Facilities Committee that:

1. A room in the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision be named for George B. Storer;

2. The baseball stadium be named Polk-DeMent Stadium (with Dudy Noble Field to retain its current name); and

3. The dairy processing plant operation be named the Edward Custer Dairy Processing Plant. The plant is currently located in a wing of the Herzer Building.

The Council recommended approval of all three naming recommendations.

Dr. Foil and Dr. Ray recommended acceptance of a proposal from the Lignite Project Committee to establish a permanent structure to address and support economic and community development efforts at the local, regional and state level, and to provide a coordination/liaison contact for continued support of the Lignite Project/Choctaw County development effort. The proposed structure would be known as the Economic and Community Development Council. The Council endorsed the proposal in concept and suggested that Dr. Foil and Dr. Ray work with the Lignite Project Committee to further develop the proposal and present it for approval as a standing council of the university at a meeting of the Committee on Committees prior to the start of the next fiscal year.

Dr. Foil recommended that Community Resource Development program assistant Kim Steil in the Choctaw County Extension Service office be designated the coordination/liaison contact point for continued support of the Lignite Project/Choctaw County Development Effort. The Council recommended approval.

Mr. Templeton discussed crowd behavior at basketball games and noted steps being taken to encourage proper deportment.

Dr. Zacharias discussed preparations for his testimony on January 29 before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee considering IHL budget requests for 1997-98.

Ms. Norman discussed plans for the February 3 campus visit by State Auditor Phil Bryant.

Dr. Hodgson presented recommendations related to issues raised by implementation of the Banner student information system:

1. He recommended that the course overload charge currently imposed to help control "course shopping" be dropped. The Council recommended approval.

2. Dr. Hodgson recommended that fees of students enrolled at more than one campus be assessed on the basis of the student's home campus, rather than by course location. The Council recommended approval.

3. Dr. Hodgson recommended that the per-credit-hour tuition charge be based on the level of the course. The recommendation was deferred for further study.

Dr. Ruby distributed the results of the Withdrawing Student Survey for Fall 1996.

Dr. Ruby distributed a letter from University Police Chief John Moore sent to students last fall reminding that students may be arrested on campus for alcohol-related offenses and prosecuted in Oktibbeha County Justice Court in addition to facing university disciplinary actions.

Dr. Ruby distributed information on Career Day, planned for February 5, and Career Week, planned for January 28-February 5.

Dr. Ruby distributed a newspaper article citing Mississippi State's low student loan default rate, which is the lowest among the state's public colleges and universities.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:15 a.m.