Friday, December 16, 2011
Higher education Tom Courtway named UCA president
Posted by Max Brantley on Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 4:24 PM
Courtway's choice, announced after an executive session at the quarterly meeting of the Board of Trustees, enjoyed wide support. Goins, who'll have a fuller report on Fox 16's newscast, Twitters that Courtway agreed to serve up to three years without a contract (no buyout!), no severance package and no car allowance. I think Conway might throw him a parade at this point.
UPDATE from a University spokesman: Courtway, 58, asked for one thing and was given it — permission to move into the president's home next year. It's apparently fine quarters for Courtway, though the previous occupant's wife had some issues and had never moved in. He's going to continue to be paid in his slot as executive assistant to the president. He'll get no raise now from his current $162,577, but a pay increase could be discussed in May, the Board said.
Bobby Reynolds, the new board chairman, said Courtway's choice was unanimous in the private board session on the move. Courtway got a standing ovation from those present after it was confirmed. Staff, faculty and student Senates had already passed resolutions urging his selection.
In a release, Reynolds said Courtway’s appointment will bring more stability to campus and allow the board ample time to conduct a thorough search for a new president.
The release continued:
“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.
UCA hired Courtway as its general counsel in 2002, but he left in late 2003 to serve as interim director of the Arkansas Department of Education until May 2004, when he returned to his position at UCA. 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.
Speaking of Tom Courtway, University Of Central Arkansas
-
Scott Roussel resigns as UCA trustee
May 6, 2012The Log Cabin Democrat in Conway has the scoop on an action that had been anticipated at Friday's University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees meeting. /more/
-
UPDATE: UCA Board raises tuition, president's pay
May 4, 2012The University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees meets at 2 p.m. today. Items of interest on the agenda include a proposed 2.08 percent tuition/fee increase that would, according to the UCA chart, put the school at $7,332 for a 15-hour semester, about $11 less than UALR and $221 less than UAF. /more/
-
Resolved: Scott Roussel should resign from UCA Board
April 27, 2012The faculty Senate of the University of Central Arkansas yesterday adopted a resolution urging Scott Roussel to resign from the UCA Board of Trustees. /more/
-
UCA student show opens today
March 7, 2012Greg Thompson was juror. /more/
- More »
Comments (20)
Showing 1-20 of 20
Don't know Mr. Courtway, did not attend UCA, but in order to be above suspicion, an outsider would be the logical next step after TWO past presidents being either convicted or investigated.
Not Mr. Courtway's fault but Lu Hardin and his little Napoleon complex of giving all kinds of tuition and housing favors to "connected" non deserving students taints any local applicant.
like
dislike
The last President WAS an outsider.
Courtway has stepped in twice now and cleaned up the messes left by his two predecessors. My impression is that he is a humble man, not demanding the kind of salary and perks of others in similar position. He appears to be highly competent and apparently enjoys the enthusiastic support of the faculty, students and administration.
Of course, we could initiate the kind of "nationwide search" that generated Allen Meadors. Personally, I think I'll stick with Courtway.
Mr. Courtway is a good person and very knowledge of State politics. He takes over a university in a very healthy financial condition and with a updated physical plant. If UCA continues to increase its freshman classes (last two have each been larger than the previous), it should continue the advances that have occurred over the last two years.
Courtway is impeccable- much as it pains a Hendrix person seeing one of our now go to UCA.
"taints any local applicant"
the former president may not have had Lu's cheerleading abilities but he got UCA into strong financial shape and got the faculty and staff their first raise in four years. The campus looks great and they increased the number of fulltime faculty to its all-time high. UCA is in position to become a top regional university.
Third times a charm. He'll fly under the RADAR and keep things on the up and up.
I think this is a good appointment. Everything I have read and heard about him is good. The best indication that he will be good for the school is his lack of demands for taking the job. The Board should have been suspicious of anyone who came in with the demands that Allen Meadors had. Both of my kids went to school there and so I have a real interest in seeing the school get over the past two presidents--Hardin and Meadors.
Amazing how stupid this whole thing has played out over the years. Went to UCA in the early '90s to get teacher certification. Winnie the Thompson evidently set the tone for the following leadership with his own style.
Gotta give a survivor award to the whole damn board of trustees. The fact that they still have the appointment to serve after this fiasco is condoning failure to exercise instutional control.
Meadors did not make any demands, in fact, he took a cut in pay to come back to his alma mater. The board made several offers that were put in his contract but the offers originated from the board.
Maybe Meadors didn't make demands, Bear, but his wife sure did. She never was satisfied with the house. I'm sorry, but I think you are wrong.
i think bear is right, meadors didn't demand anything for his contract, it was much less than what Lu was getting in his and his wife didn't even come to conway until after he was hired.
max, meadors' wife lived in the house until the university had them move out to correct the hazardous mold issue. People have written about her not liking the house, she was an interior designer and had opinions on how it could be better utilized but the president's wife does not work for the university. dr.meadors wasn't really interested in the house. he told the board they should give the president an allowance and thus not let the house be a public target.
This is, IMHO, the feel-good story of the day. This is probably the first time in over 20 years that the faculty, the administration, the trustees, and the students of UCA all agreed on something. Good for all of them!
I love the fact that this man is willing to take a job at his current salary with no special perks and no buy-out clause. Maybe UCA is on the road to recovery! I still their whole board should be replaced. Beebe doesn't have the balls to do it, though.
"I love the fact that this man is willing to take a job at his current salary with no special perks and no buy-out clause."
What a great idea for paying a coach rather than a contrract that takes a team of lawyers to find all the money for the celebrity. It used to be that the opurpose of a college was education but apparently when you follow the money, the opurpose is "bread and circuses".
I think that wasn't in the original "land grant" college legislation.
Finally UCA has what they deserve for a president. He looks like a winner. One question. Can the board, after their standing ovation for Mr. Courtway, please explain and justify the exorbitant amounts and allowances paid his predecessors, which they approved? Or will the problems of the past be finally solved when the current Board is also gone? Hiring a good manager for a bad team does not suddenly make them a good team.
Let me see if I understand this correctly. Courtway was legal counsel during the last two presidential implosions and either (a) looked the other way while shenanigans were occurring, or (b) didn't know enough to get in that information loop and put a stop to it, and now he's the most qualified person to lead a troubled institution?
Past performance is the best predictor of future performance, and the good old boy board of trustees got them another good old boy who will go along to get along. What a sad joke. The inbreeding continues.
UCA couldn't have asked for a better President than Tom Courtway. We taught one of my Master's of Accounting courses. He has a strong knowledge of financial background, and he knows how and when to research if he is not 100% certain on his answers. He is a great person with outstanding character. Cheers to Courtway for this accomplishment.
This is from someone at Meadors former school, Pembroke. He got one hellofa raise to go to UCA as well as a huge upgrade to the quarters. When the Missus (known here as hell'on'wheels) was here nothing was ever enough (poor Meadors) and she made life miserable for the maintenance staff here. They went and played the same game there as they did here. Public salaries are publicly available in NC. Write and see what he made last if you like. It was abt 180k, wiht no house for parents, etc. You all are rid of one big pair of leeches for sure. Best of luck. He is back in NC, trolling for jobs here at junior colleges. Perhaps the two of them will go to jail - in the same cell
More by Author
-
Little Rock's government at work — sigh
Two things about last night's City Board meeting: * BID PREFERENCES: It does questionable benefit to the city to pay 3 percent more on city contracts to a company headquartered in the city if most or all of that company's employees go home to Bryant, Cabot, Sheridan and Lonoke every night.
- Feb 29, 2012
-
America's 'golden door' slams shut on another immigrant
The news report on Channel 4 last night perhaps was a cause for celebration for those agitating for mass deportation of all the "illegal aliens" sucking the blood out of these United States.
- Apr 28, 2012
- More »
Event Calendar
-
Re: Riverfest eve open line UPDATE
dbi--True, but sad. When I paid $190. for a year of the D-G, it hurt…
- on May 25, 2012
-
Re: Judge orders new trial in $1 million dollar lottery ticket dispute
Proves the adage that nothing is free, nothing is simple.
- on May 25, 2012
-
Re: Surgeon general strikes deal on disturbance charges
This whole mess stinks.
- on May 25, 2012
Top Commenters
Blogroll
Slideshows
-
Police close the Occupy Little Rock camp, perhaps the last Occupy encampment on public land.
Site Index
News
Cover Story / Arkansas Reporter / The Week That Was / Smart Talk / The Insider / The Observer / Editorial / Max Brantley / Ernest Dumas / Gene Lyons / Bob Lancaster / Words / Guest Writer / Letters
Entertainment
A&E Feature / To-Do List / In Brief / Movie Reviews / Music Reviews / Theater Reviews / A&E News / Art Notes / Graham Gordy / Books / Media / Dining Reviews / Dining Guide / What's Cookin' / Calendar / The Televisionist / Movie Listings / Gallery Listings
This Week's Cover
Quick Links
Special Publications
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
