Arkansas Blog

A lot of UCA's success must go to Ben Combs' ad campaign showcasing Lu Hardin's vision and accomplishments in invigorating the school.

Not living in Arkansas for quite a few years can really make you loose contact with what is going on!

Lu at UCA!! Come on Lu, what about loyality to Tech!!! Oh the shame of it, Lu at UCA :-(

Lu is doing a better job at UCA than any other state school president or chancellor. I was somewhat surprised that he is throwing business to Ben Combs and Bill Vickery for the bond boondoogle. State funds?

When Faulkner county eventually goes wet, UCA will probably have a higher enrollment than UA Fayetteville soon after.

What is UCA's retention rate? They may be bringing 'em in, but are they keeping them in school?

I'm with Tom. There is a bit of irony about Lu Hardin, a graduate of Arkansas Tech running UCA, who were heated rivals for a significant number of years. Maybe Tech was crazy in 1994 when they hired that sorry president they have now over Lu Hardin (Ph.D or no Ph.D, Hardin is a much better university president.)

The population of Conway has just about doubled in the past ten years. That may be the major factor rather than Hardin at the helm.

Conway's not dry, just damp.
You can drink at about a half dozen or so places.
And Lu's just taking advantage of the structure that Thompson put in place.
At least some of what happening now is the result of Thompson's vision. Also at play is the remarkable growth in Conway and the surrounding area. A vastly underreported story in Arkansas. Same goes for the boom in Jonesboro. Not that you would know it from reading the D*G or Arkansas Business.

People choose a college for a variety of reasons; but because so and so is the president is not one of them. UCA has been growing for some time (as are many other state schools)...despite Thompson and Hardin.

All is true about Lu. A great guy. But UCA is not the only school with exponential growth. UA Fort Smith is over 7,000 now. It was 600 when I attended c.1965. Pulaski Tech is also growing at break-neck speed as is NWCC in Bentonville. They are 2 year schools. This is encouraging and I hope the legislature continues and increases its support of higher ed. That is one thing we can do to promote economic development.

2-year schools are a different animal.

UCA is growing at a considerably faster rate than UA, UALR, and ASU and that deserves mention. Nobody may attend there because Hardin's the president but they are going there because of things he has been able to do as president, including a building spree and increasing the school's academic reputation.

Nobody mentioned that UCA has been able to increase its average ACT score for freshmen while expanding but it should've been mentioned.

All is true about Lu. A great guy. But UCA is not the only school with exponential growth. UA Fort Smith is over 7,000 now. It was 600 when I attended c.1965. Pulaski Tech is also growing at break-neck speed as is NWCC in Bentonville. They are 2 year schools. This is encouraging and I hope the legislature continues and increases its support of higher ed. That is one thing we can do to promote economic development.

...Nobody may attend there because Hardin's the president but they are going there because of things he has been able to do as president, including a building spree and increasing the school's academic reputation.

While academic 'reputation' may be hard to quantify, building is not. And, UCA has been in the middle of a building spree since the EARLY 90s. Next you'll be giving Hardin credit for UCA's infamous flower beds.

I don't intend my comments as a criticism of UCA per se; I am however, disagreeing with those who are giving Hardin too much credit for UCA's growth.

In fact Hardin and Thompson are similar in their 'appreciation' of the perks that come with being a university president...and that's not a positive comparison.

It's good to see UCA growing and doing well...

But couldn't someone have told Lu that his tie was sticking out of the bottom of his jacket in that new commercial?!

UCA is no longer the fastest growing college in the state. When all the numbers are in, that honor will go to Fitz Hill's Arkansas Baptist College. And this won't just be a one-year blip. Get used to being #2, UCA.

If they have so many students why do they need bond money to build new buildings?

If they raised a BILLION dollars, why do they need bond money to build new buildings? Because $24 million a year goes to the bond holders as interest.

How much has enrollment been up since Bradley RRRR. Gitz started at Lyon?

The growth of UCA can be attributed to several things: great location, beautiful campus and great programs. Though Lu has done a great job of getting that "word" via his commercials (along with getting that face of his out too, might I add) I don't think he has had much to do with bringing students in. He claims to have raised academic standards, but I think the REAL numbers would show something different. And, why with such growth are they in such financial trouble?

I think UCA's graduation rate has remained highere than everyone's except UAF at over 50% and retention rate is also second only to UAF so the growth at UCA has not hurt its high academic standards, including ave. ACT score being over 23, again second only to UAF and two points above state ave.

Inside, how do explain the kids that are getting scholarships with 12 and 13's on their ACT? I would like to see your numbers, because the numbers I am getting "INSIDE" do not validate your argument. Other departments on the UCA campus keep up with grades and incoming ACT scores and for some reason when you do not add a political spin to them, they do not show such academic integrity. Now, I am not arguing with graduation rates, but avg ACT and under-grad grades...