Robbins to depart Arizona amid deep financial woes

Robert Robbins is stepping down as?president of?바카라사이트 University of Arizona, his seven-year tenure battered in?recent months by a?large surprise budgetary deficit and a?persistent lack of?faculty confidence.

¡°Although this is a?difficult decision, it?is 바카라사이트 right decision for 바카라사이트 university that I?love so dearly and for me,¡± Dr Robbins, a?cardiothoracic surgeon, said in?.

Dr Robbins said he would leave 바카라사이트 presidency by 바카라사이트 end of his current contract in June 2026 but would be ready to go as soon as 바카라사이트 university identifies a?replacement.

The current crisis dates back to November, when university officials publicly revealed an unexpected budgetary shortfall that is?now estimated at about $177?million (?141?million).

The university administration blamed 바카라사이트 problem largely on faster-than-expected increases in spending in areas of sports and student financial aid, and described plans for an unspecified number of layoffs and a 10?per cent cut in 바카라사이트 president¡¯s annual base salary of about $816,000.

Dr Robbins announced his planned exit just ahead of a meeting this week of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s faculty senate, which was taking steps towards holding ano바카라사이트r vote of no?confidence in 바카라사이트 president.

The faculty senate approved a no-confidence vote against Dr Robbins and his management team a year ago, in protest against 바카라사이트 fatal shooting on campus of a professor by a former student, which 바카라사이트 professor¡¯s colleagues saw as a reflection of inadequate on-site security. At that time, 바카라사이트 state board of regents ¨C 바카라사이트 governing authority over Arizona¡¯s public colleges and universities ¨C stood behind Dr?Robbins.

This time, 바카라사이트 board accepted Dr Robbins¡¯ departure, issuing a statement that focused on his achievements in areas that included increasing research funding and philanthropy, and deepening connections between 바카라사이트 university and 바카라사이트 state¡¯s Indigenous and rural communities.

¡°President Robbins implemented a strategic plan focused on 바카라사이트 opportunities and challenges presented by 바카라사이트 Fourth Industrial Revolution,¡± said 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 regents, Cecilia Mata, 바카라사이트 founder and president of a military services company.

The board last year extended his contract to 2026, and granted him and o바카라사이트r system leaders 3?per cent pay rises.

Both 바카라사이트 regents and Dr Robbins have faced criticism from Arizona¡¯s governor, Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, whose complaints included both 바카라사이트 surprise budget deficit and performance woes at 바카라사이트 University of Arizona Global Campus ¨C 바카라사이트 former for-profit Ashford University that 바카라사이트 university agreed to buy in 2020.

The university¡¯s faculty senate welcomed 바카라사이트 president¡¯s decision to step down now, with its chair calling it ¡°바카라사이트 first step in 바카라사이트 University of Arizona¡¯s turnaround process¡±.

¡°Over 바카라사이트 last six weeks, it has become clear that 바카라사이트 team that created our predicament was not going to get us out of it,¡± 바카라사이트 faculty senate chair, Leila Hudson, an associate professor of Middle Eastern and North African studies, told 온라인 바카라. ¡°There are big challenges ahead, but our university is resilient and our community is strong and mobilised for change.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com