Update: UCA President Lu Hardin To Resign

Calling his career at the University of Central Arkansas "the love of my life," Lu Hardin submitted his resignation today as the university's president.

Hardin cited health reasons for his decision to step down. Hardin said his decision will give him time to heal physically and allow UCA's faculty and student body to heal emotionally from the recent controversy over a $300,000 bonus.

Hardin has served as president at UCA for the past six years. He recently had surgery for cancer in his right eye and doctors placed a radioactive plate behind the eye in the hopes of shrinking a malignant tumor.

Hardin has also been criticized for receiving a $300,000 bonus that the board approved in a secret vote.

Hardin is in line to receive $670,000, the remainder due him under his contract.

The board appointed Tom Courtway, who works in the UCA president's office, to serve as interim president.

Governor Mike Beebe released this statement Thursday:

"Lu Hardin has been a hard working public servant for 25 years, but I agree that his decision to resign is the right one for him and for the University of Central Arkansas. UCA is an exceptional institution, and I'm confident that its leaders will move quickly to refocus their energies on the mission of education."