ASU Board approves merger with Henderson State University

The Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees has approved a merger agreement and transition plan with Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, which would become the ASU System’s seventh member institution.

Previously approved by the Henderson Board of Trustees on Nov. 21, the agreement is subject to the approval of the Higher Learning Commission and action by the Arkansas General Assembly. ASU System President Chuck Welch said the target for completing the transition is Jan. 1, 2021.

The Henderson board previously approved a resolution to join the ASU System and proceed with the development of a merger agreement. The board also voted in favor of Henderson retaining its name and mascot (Reddies) as a member of the ASU System.

Under terms of the merger agreement, the Henderson interim president will now report through Welch to the Henderson board as part of an interim management process. Welch will chair the search committee for a new Henderson president, who would become chancellor of the institution following the merger. The search process will begin in January, he added.

“Henderson has a long history of serving students in higher education and will be an outstanding addition to our system,” said Welch, who served as president of Henderson from July 2008 to April 2011 immediately prior to becoming president of the ASU System. “It’s an institution that is very special to me, and I’m confident Henderson will be a mutually beneficial addition. We appreciate the Henderson board’s trust in us and will continue to work with the trustees toward a smooth transition.”

Henderson would become the second four-year institution in the ASU System and the third higher education institution to join the system in four years. Mid-South Community College in West Memphis became Arkansas State University Mid-South in July 2015, and College of the Ouachitas in Malvern will become Arkansas State University Three Rivers effective Jan. 1 pending approval of the Higher Learning Commission.

“This is an historic day for the ASU System,” said Niel Crowson of Jonesboro, chair of the ASU Board. “The pending affiliations of College of the Ouachitas and Henderson State are important as we focus on how to better serve students with quality educational opportunities as efficiently as possible. This will give us a significant presence in southwest Arkansas and give us more ability to control expenses for all our institutions through shared services and contracts.”

Trustee Price Gardner of Little Rock said he was excited about the opportunity with Henderson on the heels of the COTO merger.

“We’ve had a vision of expanding the footprint of the system and the brand and identity of the system,” Gardner said. “It’s a triple win for students, faculty and administration at those institutions because of what the system does in shared resources and collaboration.”

Additional provisions of the agreement include:

• Requesting an expansion of ASU board membership from five trustees to seven, with the initial two new appointees by Gov. Asa Hutchinson having “specific familiarity with Henderson State.”
• Creation of a Henderson Board of Visitors to be appointed by the governor of Arkansas pursuant to legislative enactment. The Board of Visitors would have an advisory function and serve as a liaison to the ASU president and board.
• Giving the ASU System the right to retain a third party to review Henderson’s operations and financial standing. The ASU System has issued a request for proposals for third-party audit services.
• Providing ASU System with ongoing management compensation that is consistent with the current Henderson MOU and the formula used by other ASU System institutions.

Moody’s Investor Services issued a report that determined Henderson State University’s decision to join the system is “credit positive” for Henderson due to increased oversight expected from joining the ASU System.

“ASU’s system of oversight, which has led to strong fiscal stewardship at its other campuses, is likely to help restore balanced operations at HSU,” the report said. “Governance and oversight by the State of Arkansas will continue to be credit positive for HSU and enhance its strategic position. The state demonstrated solid oversight both through supplying short-term cash flow relief for HSU and encouraging it to join the ASU system.”