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

Dr. Portera reviewed the agenda for a visit by Mississippi Department of Transportation officials to inspect needs related to roadways on the periphery of the campus.

Dr. Ruby recommended approval of three Student Affairs Operating policies on Administrative Programming Fees for Foreign Students; Extended Orientation for Foreign Students; and Health Insurance and Repatriation Insurance for Foreign Students. The council recommended approval of all three policies.

Dr. Portera reported that Dr. Robert Altenkirch will become vice president for research in July and that Dr. Melvin Ray will become special assistant to the president at the same time.

Dr. Portera reviewed the status of the searches for a vice president for academic affairs, vice president for external affairs, and deans of the Meridian Campus, Continuing Education, and the College of Business and Industry.

Dr. Portera reviewed some of the topics to be discussed at the May meeting of the Board of Trustees, including travel agency contracts and scholarship policies.

Ms. Norman and Dr. Hodgson commented on the preparation of the 1998-99 budget as it relates to salary administration. The process on the whole proceeded smoothly and substantial progress has been made in increasing average faculty salaries.

Mr. Farris presented the results of research by history graduate student Chris Piper to identify previous and current employees of the university who have served for at least 10 years, as the first step in an employee recognition project. Ms. Norman agreed to have the data converted to electronic format for publishing on the World Wide Web. Human Resources Management will maintain the list in the future. The council briefly discussed the criteria for recognition. It was suggested that an eventual permanent display of names include those who died in service or retired after at least 10 years of university employment, but not those who left the university for other positions. It was further suggested that the list be organized by decade rather than by presidential administration.

Plans for August commencement ceremonies were discussed briefly.

Dr. Ruby reported on a complaint by a resident of Aiken Village concerning the quality of playground equipment and similar items and noted that plans for improvements are being developed.

Dr. Ruby reported that early registrations and applications indicate that fall enrollment will be up by perhaps 200 students.

Ms. Norman reported that an increase in the minimum wage is expected in January, which will have the effect of compressing the pay scales at the lower classification levels.

Dr. Portera commented on the need for a revamping of the personnel classification and compensation system.

Dr. Ray reported that awards to the university in April totaled $4.8 million, bringing the year-to-date total to $52 million. According to the latest National Science Foundation data on research and development expenditures, Mississippi State ranks 89th in among all U.S. colleges and universities.

Dr. Portera commented on the success of Staff Appreciation Day.

It was noted that former university comptroller Dorman Walls died during the previous week.

Mr. Sweet announced that Mississippi State is one of six institutions in the country to receive the 1998 Truman Foundation Honor Institution Award in recognition of the university's participation and success in the Truman Scholarship Program.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:20 a.m.