Executive Council met at 7:30 a.m. at Bryan Athletic Administration Building. Present were Dr. Malcolm Portera, presiding, Dr. Melvin Ray, Brad Sweet, Dr. Roy Ruby, Dr. Rodney Foil, Ms. Patsy Douglas, Ms. Leah Norman, Larry Templeton, Dr. Leslie Bauman, Dr. Billy Ward, Dr. R. D. Ikenberry, Charles Guest, Joe Farris and Gaddis Hunt.

Mr. Hunt reviewed projected costs for the north entrance road. Phase I costs to open two lanes of the projected four-lane boulevard would be $1.9 million; Phase II would cost $1.1 million. The total project, including parking, lighting, and landscaping, would cost about $4.4 million. Mr. Hunt is to examine the effect on costs of rerouting the southbound traffic lanes to take a more direct route that does not loop around planned water features adjacent to Highway 82. Dr. Portera expressed reservations about the projected costs and asked for further study.

Dr. Ruby recommended approval in concept for the addition of a message board to display Recreational Sports information and local advertising at Sawyer Tennis Courts.

Dr. Ruby recommended approval of a modification of the Student Affairs Operating Policy on Release of Student Directory Information. The change would make explicit that e-mail addresses are included in the definition of directory information, which may be released without a student's written consent. The council recommended approval.

Dr. Ward is to present a review at the next meeting of policies governing political activities on campus and release of alumni mailing lists.

Consideration of AOP 12.02 on Withdrawal from the University was postponed.

Dr. Foil recommended approval of the Policy on Sponsored Programs. The council recommended approval.

Dr. Ruby commented on the university's official "cost of education" figure, which was approved earlier by a telephone poll of council members.

Dr. Ward presented the quarterly investment report on funds managed by the Mississippi State Foundation. Total return for the first quarter of 1998 was 8.8 percent; total return for the previous 12 months was 29 percent. About $119.5 million is under management by the Foundation; the total endowment is about $140 million.

Dr. Ray reported that awards to the university totaled $3.48 million in March, bringing the fiscal year-to-date total to about $47.2 million, a 57 percent increase over the same period last year.

Dr. Ruby reported that a student was critically injured in a weekend automobile accident.

The Annual Salary Report prepared by Human Resources Management was distributed.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:05 a.m.