Executive Council met at 9 a.m. at 611 Allen Hall. Present were Dr. Donald Zacharias, presiding, Dr. Mike Couvillion, Dr. Debbie Baker, Larry Templeton, Dr. Melvin Ray, Dr. Roy Ruby, Dr. Rodney Foil, Dr. Derek Hodgson, Dr. Billy Ward, Ashlie Riemann, Charles Guest, Joe Farris, Don Mott, and Bob Johnston.

The Council discussed the previous weekend's successful Super Bulldog Weekend.

Mr. Mott presented the priority listing of capital improvement projects for FY 1999 to be submitted to the Bureau of Buildings, Grounds and Real Property Management, and suggested dividing the top priority $4 million loop access road system into multiple smaller projects. Improvements to Blackjack Road and Hardy Street for $1.95 million would become the new top priority project. It was also suggested that the $5 million street and parking project be divided into smaller site-specific projects. Dr. Zacharias is to consult with Mr. Mott and Mrs. Norman and others and determine the final prioritization of the remaining components of the loop access system and street and parking projects before forwarding the list to Buildings and Grounds by the end of the week. Other high priority projects include renovation of Lee Hall Auditorium, general classroom repair and renovation, and YMCA Building renovation.

The Council noted the need to meet with city and county representatives to discuss campus road construction needs. Dr. Ward is to schedule a meeting with city and county officials and candidates for city office following the city primary election in May.

Dr. Hodgson recommended approval of Academic Operating Policy 12.01 (Academic Add/Drop Policy) with an amendment to the originally proposed version providing that "faculty are expected to provide students with specific assessment of their class performance within the first six weeks" of the semester, and that lack of sufficient assessment within six weeks could be grounds for a student's request to drop a course after that period. Dr. Hodgson presented documentation that a six-week (30 class day) drop period is equal to or greater than the time allowed at most SEC universities. The Council recommended approval of the policy.

Dr. Hodgson recommended approval of AOP 12.02 (Withdrawal from the University) to make it consistent with the revised version of AOP 12.01 by amending the reference to the period during which a student may drop a class during the semester. The Council recommended approval.

Dr. Hodgson recommended approval of a revision of AOP 12.19 (Academic Amnesty) to allow students who have not been enrolled for at least five years to apply for academic amnesty at any time subsequent to their re-enrollment and prior to graduation, rather than only during the first semester after re-enrollment. The Council recommended approval.

Dr. Ward recommended approval of a resolution supporting the creation of a Mississippi State University Memorial Gardens and Arboretum, specifying the use of funds derived from the project and stipulating that it be self-supporting, and appointing three to-be-named university representatives to the governing board of the entity. A similar resolution has been endorsed by the directors of the Alumni Association and the Mississippi State Foundation. The Council recommended approval.

The Council suggested that the Memorial Gardens and Arboretum planning committee review the proposed site and give further consideration to alternative sites.

Dr. Ward presented the monthly university fund-raising report. For the nine-month period ended March 31, total funds raised were slightly over $19 million.

Mr. Farris reported on the growth and recent changes in the "Web Sites in Mississippi" site on the university's World Wide Web pages; the site receives about 1,000 hits weekly.

Dr. Couvillion announced that the Faculty Senate would meet on Friday to elect officers for next year.

Dr. Zacharias reported on a weekend meeting with U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering, which touched on a variety of economic development issues involving the university.

Dr. Ray reported that a proposal from a private developer concerning use of property on the North Farm had been rejected. Dr. Zacharias said that no further consideration should be given to commercial development on the site.