The UCA Board of Trustees voted unanimously Friday to appoint Tom Courtway as president of the University of Central Arkansas for up to three years.
Courtway has been serving as interim president of the university since Sept. 2. Courtway’s salary will remain at $162,577 through June 30, 2012. His new salary will be set May 12, 2012. Courtway requested not to receive a contract, severance package or car allowance, said Bobby Reynolds, chairman-elect of the UCA Board of Trustees. Courtway has the option of moving into the president’s home.
Courtway’s appointment will bring more stability to the campus and allow the board ample time to conduct a thorough search for a new president, Reynolds said.
Courtway, 58, thanked the board for its vote of confidence and for the support of the Faculty Senate, Staff Senate and Student Government Association.
“I am honored and very humbled,” Courtway during his remarks. “Let’s get to work.”
Courtway had served as general counsel of UCA since August 2006. He received a B.A. in economics and business from Hendrix College in 1974, a J.D. with honors from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1978, and a M.L.T. from Georgetown University in 1983. Courtway served six years in the Arkansas House of Representatives. He had also served as interim director of the Arkansas Department of Education from October 2003 to May 2004.
UCA hired Courtway as its general counsel in 2002, where he served until 2005. In December 2005, Courtway became vice president of Hendrix College, where he remained until August 2006. He returned to UCA as vice president and general counsel.
Courtway is a native of Conway. He and his wife, Melissa, have four sons and two granddaughters.
