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

Mr. Hunt reported that an estimated $150,000 would be saved by "straightening" the planned north entrance road from Highway 82 so that it does not loop around water features adjacent to the highway. He estimated savings as a result of the Mississippi National Guard performing the initial stages of the construction at $200,000 to $300,000. The council recommended approval of the road design as initially presented, including the loop around the water features to slow incoming traffic and present a better initial view of the campus.

Dr. Portera urged vice presidents to carefully review requests for affirmative action waivers to be certain they are necessary and to file travel requests that must be approved by the Board of Trustees on time.

Dr. Portera reported on a request from the College of Engineering to name an area within a building for a major donor. The recommendation will be forwarded to Naming of Facilities Committee.

Dr. Portera reported that an alumnus has asked about the preservation status of the historic "bull ring" site on Lee Boulevard. Dr. Foil will follow up with Campus Landscape on plans for the area.

Dr. Ward presented several documents related to guidelines concerning political activity on campus and a consolidated and updated draft of the guidelines prepared by Mr. Guest. Council members were asked to review the updated document for discussion at a future meeting. The policy on access to the Alumni Affairs database also was distributed for review.

Dr. Ward reported that the Campus Planning and Development Committee had recommended approval of plans for a fence at the Phi Gamma Delta house and for a metal storage building on Buckner Lane. The council recommended design approval of both projects.

Academic Operating policy 12.02 on Withdrawal from the University was recommended for approval.

Dr. Portera called on Academic Affairs to plan a presentation for the summer to demonstrate what is being done to improve retention at the university.

Student Affairs Operating Policy 91.106 on Release of Student Directory Information was recommended for approval.

The Revised Code of Student Conduct was recommended for approval.

Dr. Ruby introduced for preliminary review three Student Affairs operating policies on: (1) Administrative Programming Fee for Foreign Students; (2) Extended Orientation for Foreign Students; and (3) Health Insurance and Repatriation Insurance for Foreign Students. All three proposed policies will be considered at a future meeting.

Dr. Foil presented a request from the Delta Branch Experiment Station to name a conference room at the Cochran Warmwater Aquaculture Center for Tom L. Reed III and requested immediate approval. The council recommended approval of the naming request.

Ms. Douglas noted that Staff Appreciation Day is planned for Friday at 11 a.m. and urged that all employees be allowed ample time to participate.

Dr. Portera reported that the University of Southern Mississippi has made an inquiry concerning a cooperative effort in offering engineering courses on the Gulf Coast.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:25 a.m.