President Lu Hardin again stressed the need to pass the Arkansas Higher Education Technology and Facility Improvement Act of 2005 during the UCA Board of Trustees meeting on Friday.

“This is absolutely critical for the future of the university,” Hardin said. “We desperately need classroom space.”

The bond issue allows for the issuance of $250 million worth of bonds to be shared among Arkansas’ public universities if passed in the Nov. 7 election.

UCA’s share of the $250 million would be $13 million. According to Hardin, that money would go toward the construction of an educational building.

“If we don’t have legislatures that can support us, UCA will not be in trouble – higher education will,” Hardin said.

UCA Board Member Scott Roussel said without the bond issue money, UCA students might see tuition increase in May.

The bond issue was defeated in a special election last year by 596 votes, according to an article posted by the Associated Press. Hardin worked with Governor Mike Huckabee to get the issue put back on the ballot for the November elections.

The bond issue was paired last year with one aimed at highway improvements. Huckabee blamed the defeat on low voter turnout and general voter confusion.

Hardin is currently chairing an advertising campaign directed at informing Arkansans about the bond issue.

“The [early]polling is looking very good,” Hardin said.

Hardin also said enrollment for the fall semester was at 12,300 and he expects the same for the fall 2007 semester while the university “plays catch up.”

“Enrollment is critical,” Hardin said. “Just from new students in the last year, we’re going to get an additional $10.3 million in tuition and fees. We need to be prepared, we need to be ready.”

Hardin also said UCA will start looking at their admissions standards, but stressed the university will never “try to become an elite university.”

“We will be strengthening admission standards for the fall of 2007,” Hardin said. “UCA is in demand.”

During the financial report by Vice President for Financial Services Paul McLendon, board member Randy Sims questioned if UCA’s current cash flow fluctuation was normal.

UCA had $17 million in cash flow at the end of 2005, compared with $5 million for 2006.

The fiscal year ends June 30.

“We’re in satisfactory shape,” McLendon said. “Anytime there is growth, you’ve gotta go out and spend to make sure you accommodate for that growth. These investments will serve us into the future.”

“Because of capital purchases, like Bear Village, our reserves have decreased,” Hardin said. “I’d feel comfortable if we’d never dip below five million [in reserves.]”

In other business, the board:

• approved addiction studies with an emphasis on treatment as a new minor in the department of health sciences in the college of health and behavioral sciences.

• approved a bachelor of music in composition in the department of music in the college of fine arts and communication.

• changed employee dental insurance from Blue Cross Blue Shield to Delta Dental.

• heard reports from Staff Senate President Patricia Smith, Faculty Senate President Francie Bolter and SGA President Max Carranza.

Board member Rush Harding was absent.