Executive Council met at 7:30 a.m. at the Joe Frank Sanderson Center. Present were Dr. Malcolm Portera, presiding, Dr. Robert Altenkirch, Bill Broyles, Brad Sweet, Dr. David Cole, Dr. Roy Ruby, Dr. Euel Coats, Joe Farris, Ms. Leah Norman, Larry Templeton, Dr. Rodney Foil, Dr. Melvin Ray, Charles Guest, Dr. R.D. Ikenberry, Mike White, Mike Rackley, Danny Kemp, Ms. Rene Hunt and Bob Luke.

Mr. White and architect Bob Luke of Luke and Kaye presented schematic documents for the addition of a free-standing, three-story annex to McArthur Hall. The $3 million project will provide 32,000 square feet of space to house information operations. The council recommended approval of the plans.

Mr. Kemp presented a status report on progress in converting to the Banner software system.

Dr. Ruby and Dr. Ikenberry presented fall semester enrollment projections. Final enrollment was projected to be about the same as fall 1997.

Dr. Portera discussed planning for the fall semester general faculty meeting. He will present an overview of proposed university priorities and seek faculty comment.

Dr. Portera suggested that the university consider having commencement speakers only at the spring semester ceremony. The topic will be discussed further at the next council meeting.

The council agreed to change the regular meeting time and place to 11 a.m. Monday at 611 Allen Hall.

Ms. Norman reported that the recently completed state property audit of the university found that all items were verified with no exceptions.

Dr. Cole reported on the allocation of new faculty positions using the $2 million provided in the current year's budget for that purpose. Allocation criteria were student demand, accreditation requirements, and research. About $300,000 was used to fund non-tenured lecturer positions in a move to help resolve the overload problem on an "installment plan." The demand on lapsed salary for overload teaching positions is expected to be about $300,000 this year, down from $1.3 million in the previous year. Dr. Cole estimated that the overload problem will be eliminated in three years, barring a dramatic enrollment increase. More than 40 new positions have been allocated for 1999-2000.

Dr. Ikenberry reported that a survey of Southern University Group institutions conducted by the University of Alabama-Birmingham indicates that Mississippi State's faculty salary increases for 1998-99 are the highest in the region, at 9.7 percent.

The Council reviewed alternative drawings of the planned north entrance road to campus. The council recommended a plan to include a water feature, perhaps a small lake with a waterfall, between Highway 82 and Chadwick Lake, with both lanes of the road to be located east of the water feature, rather than having campus inbound traffic loop around it.

Ms. Norman reported that the estimated cost of a change order on the construction of a water storage tank in the Buckner Lane area to incorporate the university wordmark would be $44,000. The council recommended reverting to the previous design proposal if it can be completed at the bid price, or foregoing a design on the tank if it cannot be provided at a significantly lower cost.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 a.m.