The University of Central Arkansas? Board of Trustees unanimously approved a motion to raise President Lu Hardin?s salary by $12,000, making him the highest paid university president in Arkansas with an annual salary of $227,670.
The next highest paid university president in Arkansas is University of Arkansas President Alan Sugg, whose salary is $226,100.
Trustee Randy Sims said Hardin deserved the raise ?for his hard work? during the two years he has been president of the university. The salary increase will not come from public funds, but rather, will be raised from private donations.
Numbers reported at the trustees meeting on Friday, showed improvements in several areas. Hardin said for the first time in UCA history, the university has over $8 million in reserves. ?Financially, we?re in the best situation we?ve been in in a long time,? he said.
Enrollment has reached an all-time high at the university with 10,073 students ? a 5.9 percent increase over last year?s total of 9,516 students.
The number of students residing on campus is also up. A total of 3,379 students living on campus gives UCA the highest number of student residents at any university in the state.
A ground-breaking ceremony for a new 250-bed resident hall was canceled Friday due to inclement weather, but construction on the building is scheduled to begin soon.
In other business:
? The board approved changes to the membership of the Admissions Committee as recommended by the Faculty Senate. The changes included establishing a minimum number of times the committee must meet each semester.
? The board approved a proposed minor in presidential studies. The minor will emphasize American national politics and policy concentrating on how the executive chief influences, and in turn is influenced by, other institutions in the making of American national policy at home and abroad.
? The board approved a proposed partnership initiative with Mid-South Community College (MSCC) in West Memphis in which existing UCA teacher education programs would be offered at MSCC. The initiative will help address the need for teachers in the Delta region.
? The board approved a request for three provisional positions. Hardin noted that the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, which is comparable in size to UCA, has 400 more positions.
? The board approved deletion of a board policy outlining use of the Driftwood property. The property was sold in 2001, and the policy was no longer needed.
-Jennifer Boyett
