JONESBORO, Ark.-Arkansas State University announced Wednesday that Chancellor Tim Hudson had submitted his resignation, less than three weeks before school is set to begin for the fall semester.
The university said Hudson's resignation was effective immediately. The school gave no reason for Hudson's sudden departure, and Hudson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
But an internal audit, obtained by The Jonesboro Sun under an open records request, criticized the school's study abroad program, which was run by Hudson's wife.
ASU System President Charles Welch named Lynita Cooksey, who now serves as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs and research at Arkansas State, as acting chancellor.
"I want to thank Dr. Tim Hudson for his service
to Arkansas State University," Welch said in a statement.
"A-State experienced many significant milestones during his tenure, including the most academically talented freshman classes in university history, record numbers of graduating students, record annual fundraising
totals, creation of a public-private partnership with New York Institute of Technology to bring an osteopathic medical school to the A-State campus, completion of multiple major capital projects including the Humanities Building, and unprecedented institutional
successes in intercollegiate athletics."
Hudson was appointed chancellor in 2012. He also resigned as a professor in the College of Business at Arkansas State.
The audit found that the university halted a search for a full-time study abroad director in February when Hudson learned his wife could not be hired full time because of the school's policy on spousal employment.
Deidra Hudson held the position part time before her resignation last
month.