Beebe: Hardin Wrong To Conceal Bonus

From Sunshine Review

July 15, 2008

[edit] Beebe: Hardin Wrong To Conceal Bonus

"Gov. Mike Beebe rebuked good friend Lu Hardin, the president of the University of Central Arkansas, on Tuesday for initially concealing a $300,000 bonus from the school.

In May, the university Board of Trustees apparently decided in executive session to award the bonus two years earlier than the five-year time frame it set three years ago. Later, in open session, the board voted to approve unspecified personnel decisions and made no specific mention of a bonus for Hardin." Read the full article here.

[edit] Update: Hardin to refund $300,000 bonus

July 17, 2008: "University of Central Arkansas President Lu Hardin said Wednesday that he will return a $300,000 bonus awarded to him in secret by the UCA Board of Trustees in May.

The money had already been earmarked for Hardin's salary, but as per the terms of the deferred-compensation agreement, would be accrued through five yearly $60,000 installments of private money and only be given to the president if he stayed at UCA until 2010." Read the full article here.