The Executive Council met at 7:30 a.m. at the Joe Frank Sanderson Center. Present were Dr. Malcolm Portera, presiding, Dr. George Rent, Dr. Melvin Ray, Dr. Roy Ruby, Dr. Leslie Bauman, Ms. Leah Norman, Dr. Rodney Foil, Brad Sweet, Joe Farris, Dr. R. D. Ikenberry, Mike White, and Nelson Douglass, architect.

Mr. White and Mr. Douglass presented a recommendation of the Campus Planning and Development Committee to approve a gray, simulated slate roof design for McCain Engineering Building. The Council recommended and the president approved acceptance of the recommendation.

Ms. Norman presented for information a summary of the professional non-faculty position classification systems in use at other SEC universities. Proposals for consulting assistance with a classification study at Mississippi State are being sought.

Dr. Ray presented a preliminary summary of the status of several research and development proposals pending before federal agencies. Dr. Portera commented on the need for strategic planning regarding academic programming related to remote sensing.

Dr. Portera reported on the status of searches for vice presidents and deans. Searches for a vice president for research, dean of the Meridian Campus, and a dean of business and industry have successfully concluded. Searches for a dean of continuing education and for a provost and vice president for academic affairs are being extended. The search for a vice president for external affairs is continuing.

Ms. Norman reported that chief business officers of the state universities are continuing to discuss an appropriate limit on expenditures of Educational and General funds for scholarships. A limit of 3 percent of state appropriations has been proposed.

Dr. Portera reported that the Hearin Foundation has requested full proposals by June 30 on requests for funding of the planning of a Biotechnology Institute and for a 1999 lecture series. The two projects were among six for which preliminary proposals were submitted earlier.

Dr. Portera commented on issues facing the Meridian Campus, including funding levels per student and accreditation of business and education programs.

Dr. Ray reported that contracts and grants for May totaled $8 million, bringing the year-to-date total for 1997-98 to about $61 million.

Dr. Rent reported that 33 students are enrolled in the Summer Developmental Program at Mississippi State.

Dr. Ruby reported that a record of 1,752 students and parents attended the previous week's Freshman Orientation program. Two other sessions are planned.

Mr. Guest prevented for preliminary review an updated and consolidated document outlining university policies on political activities on campus. Dr. Portera asked council members to study the document and to make suggestions prior to wider distribution for comment. Mr. Guest recommended that a committee be formed to develop a policy on the release of names from university databases. Mr. Farris is to convene a group to consider such a proposed policy.

Mr. Farris will assume administrative responsibilities for the Division of Advancement/External Affairs pending the selection of a vice president.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:15 a.m.