Executive Council met at 11 a.m. at 611 Allen Hall, with President Malcolm Portera presiding. Also present were Dr. David Cole, Matt Allen, Dennis Prescott, Dr. Joe Thompson, Larry Templeton, Ms. Leah Norman, Dr. Charles Lee, Dr. Gene Tice, Dr. Jonathan Pote, Ms. Susan Everett, Dr. Robert Cooper, Charles Guest, Dr. Mel Ray, Joe Farris, and Dr. Roy Ikenberry.

Dr. Lee recommended approval in concept for an addition of a modular building to the Comparative Biomedical Research Facility and renovation of the interior of the existing CBRF. The project would be financed through $500,000 in Educational Building Corporation bonds. The council recommended approval of the project.

Mr. Templeton reported that the student seating section has been expanded to Section V of the stadium for the Nov. 4 football game vs. Kentucky.

Dr. Portera noted that reaccreditation site visit teams were on campus reviewing programs in human sciences and computer science.

Ms. Norman reported that the university's returned check fee increased Nov. 1 from $20 to $30, as provided for in the state law.

Dr. Cole reported on the work of the Task Force on Admissions, Retention and Graduation. Membership of the task force is to be expanded to include additional faculty representatives and representatives of the deans and department heads. The University of Mississippi has indicated interest in conducting a similar study and the two universities have agreed to exchange information and to work cooperatively on the issues. Dr. Portera emphasized that no changes in university policies will stem from the work of the task force without the participation and consensus of the university community.

Dr. Portera noted that MSU will host a regular meeting of the IHL Board of Trustees in February 2000. Vice presidents and representatives of the Professional and Support Staff Advisory Council, the Student Association, and the Faculty Senate will participate in developing a presentation on the university's current status and goals.

Dr. Portera noted that the Carnegie Foundation is considering a change in its classification system that would remove federal funding as a criterion for classification as a research university. The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and the Southern Universities Research Association, two organizations of which Mississippi State is a member, plan to ask the Carnegie Foundation to reconsider the proposal, which could diminish the ability of state funding agencies to differentiate among institutions on the basis of their missions.

Dr. Portera announced that a committee will be formed to study issues related to staffing levels and pay in non-faculty positions as part of the university's movement toward fewer but better paid employees. Dr. Portera will meet with the Professional and Support Staff Advisory Committee to discuss the topic.

The meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m.