CONWAY, Ark. (KTHV)--Several opinions and reactions abound after the immediate resignation of UCA president Allan Meadors Friday stemming from a gift controversy.
The resignation came Friday afternoon from Meadors and was unanimously approved by the UCA Board of Trustees.
Interim President Tom Courtway has done this before and he says the main thing to remember is the students' welfare.
"Students are going to come to class Tuesday. Teachers are going to teach, staff's going to work and everything's going to go and be good," says Tom Courtway.
The resignation came Friday afternoon just before a long holiday weekend and many staff members, students and Conway residents are still in shock.
One student says, "He resigned and didn't put up a fight about it so obviously he's embarrassed. And I'm trying to decide if his resigning means he didn't want people to look farther into it or it's just not worth putting a fuss over."
Another student says, "I think the mood will definitely be different on campus. I'm sure I will probably be able to see it from my teachers. I'm sure they're not happy about it. If I were an employee I wouldn't be happy about it!"
A $700,000 dollar gift from Aramark-the campus's food services--was offered to Meadors for home renovations. He took it and his acceptance got him in trouble.
Now, that offer from Aramark is off the table, but there is still a lot of clean up to do.
The buyout package allows Meadors to receive salary until June 2012 and he will be allowed sick and personal days which have been accrued.
The university-owned home and vehicle will be taken over October first.
Courtway says, "We've got an extremely dedicated faculty and staff. And the fundamental mission of this institution of any others is to educate. And that's what we do and we do it well."
UCA's freshman enrollment was up this year for the second year in a row. Meadors was president since July 2009. Class resumes Tuesday after Labor Day.