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UCA board to discuss Hardin's future Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 By John Lyon Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - The board of trustees of the University of Central Arkansas is scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. today to discuss the future of embattled UCA President Lu Hardin. Board member Rush Harding III of Little Rock said Wednesday he did not know whether Hardin planned to announce his resignation following weeks of controversy over a $300,000 bonus Hardin received in May. "The president is very desirous of putting this situation behind us and behind the university and his family," Harding said. "But with regards to whatever decisions the president might make, I don't think he's going to make any decisions until he meets with this board in the morning." Hardin did not immediately return calls for comment Wednesday. The UCA president has been embroiled in controversy over a $300,000 bonus that UCA's board of trustees awarded him with no public discussion and no mention of the bonus in its minutes. The board awarded the bonus at a time when teachers were being told they might not get raises this year and students were facing a tuition hike. The furor intensified after Hardin admitted he advised the board in a memo it could award him the bonus in secret. The memo indicated it was from three vice presidents of the university, though in fact Hardin wrote the memo himself. Hardin returned the bonus, less taxes, and made a public apology last month, but controversy continued over the memo, which some faculty members said was an act of deception that would have meant termination for them. Last week, the UCA Faculty Senate appointed a six-member committee to consider taking action on Hardin, including a possible vote of no confidence. Harding said Hardin's contract includes a buyout provision, but that as of Wednesday the president had not been offered a financial package to leave the university. He declined to say what the buyout provision was. Asked what he expects to happen today, Harding said, "After discussing the issues with this board, I am confident the president will do whatever he thinks is in the best interest of UCA." Harding would not say whether he believes Hardin should resign, but he said he does have concerns about the apparent lack of support for Hardin among faculty members. "It's hard to be an efficient and effective leader of an institution of higher education if you don't have the support of the faculty," he said. But Harding also said Hardin would have the support of enough board members to remain in his post if he chooses. Harding said his desire is "to put this crisis behind us and get back to our mission of educating young people." Hardin has been UCA president since 2002 and has overseen a surge in enrollment that has grown the Conway school to the state's second largest university. He recently received treatment for a recurrence of cancer in his right eye, a problem he was first treated for in May 2004. "The president's health is an important issue and we want what's best for UCA, but the president, for the sake of his family and his loved ones, he needs to give his health a very high priority," Harding said. |
