Executive Council met at 9 a.m. in 611 Allen Hall. Present were Dr. Donald Zacharias, presiding, Dr. Melvin Ray, Dr. Rodney Foil, Dr. Leslie Bauman, Dr. BillyWard, Ms. Leah Norman, Mike Richardson, Ms. Patsy Douglas, Dr. R. D. Ikenberry, Joe Farris, Ch arles Guest, Dr. Harvey Lewis, Dr. Garry Smith, Dr. Charles Campbell and Dr. Daniel Cochran.

Dean of Business Harvey Lewis and colleagues recommended that the university join with Hinds Community College in responding to a request for proposals from the U.S. Marine Corps to offer degrees in business by distance learning to Marines at installat ions at Quantico, Va., San Diego, and Okinawa, Japan. The Council endorsed the recommendation to respond to the proposal to offer two associate's degrees (from Hinds) and bachelor's and MBA degrees (from MSU), and to provide up to $225,000 in "venture cap ital" support for the first-year of operation of the program, which is intended to be self-supporting. If the MSU/Hinds proposal were accepted, the first courses could be offered in January 1998.

Dr. Ward presented a summary report on newspaper coverage of Mississippi State and other universities for the period of April-June 1997. Mississippi State led in coverage for the quarter.

Ms. Norman asked that staff be reminded that the McCarthy Gym parking lot remains open for use, even though the adjacent street is closed to through traffic because of utility construction, and that the McCool Hall parking lot can be accessed by a temp orary entrance from Union Drive. Lee Boulevard between Perry Street and George Hall is expected to reopen in approximately one week.

Ms. Norman announced that architecture students are assisting with a campus space inventory and will be making measurements in all buildings.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:10 a.m.