CONWAY, Ark.—University of Central Arkansas President Lu Hardin said Wednesday he would work to mend fences with faculty, students, staff, and the larger community, acknowledging that missteps were made when he was awarded a $300,000 bonus in secret last spring.

Hardin, who has repaid the money, met briefly with the UCA board in private after various members of the college community spoke favorably of him before the board.

Each agreed Hardin was a strong, capable leader and a person of character, although Faculty Senate President Kurt Boniecki said some faculty were “outraged” by his actions and wanted to take a vote of confidence.

Hardin said afterward he realized he needed to do more to win back everyone’s trust. He said he would meet with the various constituencies as soon as he returns to work from eye surgery next Tuesday.

Hardin has a five-year contract that annually rolls over and adds another year, unless the board in September decides otherwise. He is paid $253,000 a year.

By law, the college cannot use public funds to supplement Hardin’s pay beyond 25 percent of state-mandated salary caps. However, board members learned from Attorney General Dustin McDaniel in July that the funding source they planned to use for Hardin’s bonus — housing fees and food and book sales — was public money.

Wednesday, board Chairman Randy Sims said he called the meeting so board members could hear from various members of the college community. He said the closed session with Hardin was “friendly” and the board would meet again in September regarding Hardin’s performance.

Members of the UCA Alumni Association, the UCA Foundation, Staff Senate, and the Student Government Association spoke well of the college president, as did the mayor and the chamber of commerce in letter or by speaker phone.

Boniecki said Hardin had done “a wonderful job for the university” since he became president in September 2002. Faculty have gotten decent raises and the university has grown, he said.