Executive Council met at 11 a.m. at 611 Allen Hall. Present were Dr. Malcolm Portera, presiding, Dr. Euel Coats, Dr. Robert Altenkirch, Larry Templeton, Dr. Gene Tice, Brad Sweet, Ms. Leah Norman, Dr. George Rent, Dr. Rodney Foil, Joe Farris, Bill Broyles, Charles Guest, Dr. Melvin Ray, Gaddis Hunt, Dr. R.D. Ikenberry.

Ms. Norman presented a listing of general purpose classrooms identified by Physical Plant as appropriate candidates for renovation. Dr. Portera referred the process of identifying classrooms for renovation to the provost and the deans.

Mr. Guest presented a request from staff members in the Department of Human Resources Management that a first floor conference room in McArthur Hall be named for the late Milburn "Skip" Gardner. The request was referred to the Naming of Facilities Committee.

Ms. Norman reported that further research has determined that Mississippi State is obligated to pay the same mileage reimbursement rate as other state agencies. Effective Oct. 1, 1998, the rate is 32.5 cents per mile, an increase of 1.5 cents. The projected impact on university budgets for the remaining nine months of 1998-99 is $72,000.

Dr. Foil presented for a review a revised Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine policy on outside employment. The only change from the existing policy would provide that charges for outside services offered by university employees should reflect market rates. The proposed policy will be considered at a future meeting.

The following information items were presented:

* The president's proposed university priorities and goals are posted on the university website for comment.

* Forty-one construction projects totaling $103 million are currently under way or in the planning stages.

* Dr. Portera reported on university participation in a meeting of the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee. Dr. Portera and committee member Joe Thompson attended for MSU.

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