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Weekly UpdatesFORMER UNIVERSITY OF Central Arkansas President Lu Hardin last week was named president of Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Fla.
A statement on the school's Web site said, "... trustees [Tuesday] voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the presidential search committee to appoint Lu Hardin, J.D. as PBA's seventh president. President Hardin begins his term of service July 1, 2009."
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Hardin left UCA last year amid a storm of controversy. A state audit earlier this year found potential legal problems with $400,000 in bonuses and the nearly $1 million buyout paid to Hardin and cited a line of credit that hadn't been properly approved by the state.
In addition, the examination by the Arkansas Legislative Audit Division noted a memo that supported more pay for Hardin. Hardin, who resigned from UCA in August, acknowledged writing it, though it listed the names of three vice presidents and clearly implied that they had written it.
It was also disclosed that Hardin had approved scholarships with apparently no criteria.
A number of the audit findings were forwarded to the Faulkner County prosecuting attorney for review.
Rush Harding, chairman of the UCA board of trustees, said he had given Hardin "a very positive recommendation" for the Palm Beach Atlantic University job. PBA, on its Web site, linked to statements praising Hardin from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Little Rock businessman Sheffield Nelson and Mark Dance, senior pastor of Second Baptist Church in Conway.
"I'm just excited for Lu and Mary," said Harding, referring to Hardin's wife.
"I think they deserve a chance. I know Lu's excited about having a chance to show everyone that he can lead a university and he can impact an entire university community and that he's a man of character and integrity. And I'm excited that he's having a chance to redeem himself and show that he is all those things."
R. Marshall Jones, a university trustee and chairman of the search committee, wholeheartedly endorsed Hardin. Asked whether the committee was aware of the circumstances of Hardin's resignation, Jones said, "We were aware of what Lu had accomplished at the University of Central Arkansas.
"So when he rose to the top of a heap of more than 75 candidates on the merits, we did the in-depth and comprehensive research to follow up and make certain that this was the person that we thought he was. And it just confirmed that this was a man of character and integrity."
The university used a national search firm to help the committee find candidates. Jones said that when the university search committee did its follow-up, such as checking references, "We were able to just confirm that he's the right man for Palm Beach Atlantic.
"He has proven leadership abilities, he has a commitment to academic [excellence] and a tremendous fundraising record, and we're just delighted that we have this strong man of faith here at Palm Beach Atlantic."
Palm Beach Atlantic University describes itself as a comprehensive, interdenominational Christian university. It was founded in 1968 and has about 3,200 students.
Jones said that the search committee went beyond contacting Hardin's references, talking to people independently. "Any concerns were not really concerns."
Asked about some of the issues that have troubled UCA, and damaged Hardin's reputation in Arkansas, Jones said that the committee did its research.
"But our focus was that this was a man that did a great job at the University of Central Arkansas in terms of raising the academic standards, raising the enrollment, raising the graduation rates, increasing the funding of the university, and [we were] just delighted with the way he gracefully stepped aside to allow UCA to continue to be a successful school. And it's my understanding that they're having another excellent year of increased enrollment."
Less than two weeks ago, UCA introduced its new president to the campus and the media, Allen C. Meadors, former chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Jan Cottingham
jcottingham@abpg.com
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