University of Central Arkansas President Lu Hardin announced several accomplishments of the university and made new commitments to faculty and staff during two fall addresses on Tuesday.
Hardin announced that enrollment at UCA has reached another all-time high with more than 11,000 students. Nearly 4,000 of those students are residing in university housing; and UCA has 2,500 freshmen ? the largest freshman class in Arkansas.Despite the new record in enrollment, traditional first-of-the-year complaints about a lack of housing and parking have been minimal. Over the summer, UCA purchased an apartment complex south of Dave Ward Drive to house additional residential students, and a shuttle service has been expanded to persuade students to park in perimeter parking lots. ?I drove through campus yesterday and saw at least a hundred empty parking spaces,? Hardin said.
?It?s because of our staff that we?ve had such a smooth transition with this growth,? he continued.
When Hardin became president three years ago, he announced five goals for his presidency: removal of UCA from the AAUP censure list, increased enrollment, increased recognition through marketing and branding, an increase in private fundraising and equity in funding from the state.
Hardin partnered with faculty and staff to accomplish these goals, and in three short years all have been met. ?I?ve met my five goals ? what?s next?? Hardin asked.
Next on Hardin?s agenda is a complete analysis of where immediate support is needed among staff and a commitment to equity and adequacy in staff salaries. ?I want to make sure you?re paid adequately for what you do,? he said.
Hardin also pledged to direct more funding to salary equity and merit pay for faculty, and promised to make shared governance a priority by following faculty suggestions for disbursing the funds. ?The good news is that because of our increased enrollment, we have an extra $1.25 million, and I am committing almost all of that to faculty increases,? he said.
A second commitment Hardin announced to faculty was a plan for $100 million in new and renovated infrastructure support over the next 10 years based on enrollment projections. Seven academic programs were listed among the plans for new buildings and three existing buildings were named for renovation projects.
Hardin also announced to both faculty and staff an expedited timetable for making a decision about a switch in athletics from Division II to Division I-AA. In doing so, he said he would be meeting with both faculty senate and staff senate in the near future to provide more information and answer questions about the proposed move.
