Meadors' arrival marks 'new era' at UCA

The boardroom in Wingo Hall was standing-room only as members of the University of Central Arkansas community welcomed the school's ninth president.

Allen Meadors, who signed a $238,000 contract Tuesday, attended a press conference Friday and offered his word of thanks to those who brought him there.

The University of Central Arkansas announced its new president, Allen Meadors, during a press conference held Friday afternoon. Meadors is expected to be in office July 7. CARRIE STRODE PHOTO

Meadors, 62, said being chosen to lead the campus that provided his bachelor's degree in 1969 is "a little emotional" for him.

"UCA gave me an opportunity to see the opportunities in my life," Meadors said. "This university opened my eyes. The faculty and the people here took the time to be with the students and told us to dream big."

Meadors said he wants to encourage the same outlook for the students at UCA.

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However, Meadors said one of his first priorities as president is to restore the public's confidence in the school after a year of controversies that began with a private bonus paid to former president Lu Hardin.

During his time at UCA, Meadors said he hopes to "bring the university to a point where everybody, and I mean everybody, is proud to be here."

In order to restore that faith, Meadors said he will push for total transparency in the school's decisions, stating he "doesn't know of anything we should be hiding."

Although Meadors admitted not every decision he makes will be agreed upon by the entire community, he said all opinions will be incorporated.

"Every decision we make we'll make on honesty and what we think is in the best interest of the university and our students," Meadors said.

Before Meadors took the podium Friday, Rush Harding, chairman of the UCA Board of Trustees, said the press conference marked the beginning of the next era at UCA one he said will feature "strong, transparent leadership."

However, Harding said he wished to close one chapter so the next could begin.

"I would personally like to apologize for the pain and the embarrassment you've had to suffer through over these past 10 months," Harding said. "But today's a new day."

Harding said Meadors' hire is a loss for the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where he served as chancellor for the past 10 years, but added it is a gain for UCA.

"I personally called over 20 people and inquired about Dr. Meadors and his leadership skills," Harding said. "I talked to so many people who knew him from his Arkansas past and knew him from his 40-year career in higher education and not one person in the 20-plus people I talked to had something negative to say."

Harding said one of the reasons Meadors was chosen to the lead the school was because he fit many criteria put forth by the faculty. This included presidential experience, a teaching history and a doctorate.

As UCA has worked to cut major costs over the past year to correct a deficit of about $8 million, one of the faculty's major concerns is the lack of raises.

Meadors said during the press conference though he does not have a firm grasp on the school's financial picture, he hopes to be able to provide those salary boosts.

"I want to move forward in getting faculty salaries to the 80th percentile of their peers and they may be there already, but my guess is they're not," Meadors said.

Although Meadors said he does not foresee "immediate changes" when he begins making presidential decisions July 7, he knows there are a few executive positions that need to be filled a key role being vice president for financial services.

"There is nobody in mind for those positions, but I do have in mind traits and qualifications I'd like to see," Meadors said.

Some of the positions eliminated over the past year to bring spending down at UCA include the position of executive vice president, held by Barbara Anderson, and the position of vice president for enrollment services, held by Joe Darling.

Meadors said before he can fully comment on any of the school's past financial troubles, he has to sit down with his staff and look at the school's resources.

Meadors, a Van Buren native, graduated from UCA in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He eventually received a Ph.D. in administration and education from Southern Illinois University. Prior to assuming the chancellorship at UNCP, he served as the CEO of Penn State Altoona.

(Staff writer Jessica Bauer can be reached by e-mail at jessica.bauer@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236. To comment on this and other stories in the Log Cabin, log on to www.thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)