Executive Council met at 11 a.m. at 611 Allen Hall. Present were Dr. Malcolm Portera, presiding, Dr. David Cole, , Bill Broyles, Ms. Leah Norman, Dr. Roy Ruby, Dr. Rodney Foil, Larry Templeton, Joe Farris, Brad Sweet, Dr. Euel Coats, Dr. Jonathan Pote, Charles Guest, Dr. Melvin Ray, and Dr. R. D. Ikenberry.

Ms. Norman asked that consideration of the proposed telephone rate change be deferred for a week.

Ms. Norman reported that the maximum allowable mileage reimbursement for approved travel will increase to 32.5 cents per mile on October 1. The university has the option to keep the university reimbursement rate at its current level. An analysis of the impact of such a mileage rate increase on department budgets will be conducted before a change is considered.

Dr. Portera reported on the previous week's Legislative Budget Committee hearings. The legislative leadership is supportive of the universities' funding request for salaries, built-ins, and the comprehensive institutional base budget adjustment.

A scheduled meeting of university presidents and Commissioner Layzell to discuss football scheduling was postponed because of hurricane conditions on the Coast.

Dr. Portera reported on the status of searches for a vice president for external affairs and for provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The president announced that John Grisham has agreed to serve as honorary chair of the forthcoming endowed scholarship campaign.

Dr. Portera asked Mr. Broyles to arrange for him to meet with the Staff Council to discuss the coming year's budget request.

The Council discussed an operating procedure under which items requiring approval would be submitted for information only at an initial meeting and ordinarily would be acted upon two weeks later. A different schedule could be adopted for items that require longer study. Dr. Coats and Mr. Broyles are to consult with the Faculty Senate and the Staff Council on how those bodies would work with such a procedure, given their schedules of frequent meetings.

Mr. Farris invited Council members to attend a reception in Tupelo on the evening of Oct. 2 in conjunction with a new faculty orientation tour to Northeast Mississippi.

Dr. Foil announced that Dr. John Gunter is stepping down as dean of Forest Resources and that former dean Warren Thompson is to serve as interim dean.

Dr. Ruby distributed a summary report on an assessment of the Division of Student Affairs by the Student Affairs Assessment and Research Council.

It was noted that some universities in the state are considering adopting student honor codes. Dr. Ruby noted that Mississippi State's Code of Student Conduct as published in the student handbook addresses academic honesty issues, and also noted that a proposed university values statement did not meet with Faculty Senate approval.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:30 a.m.