University Of Arizona President Robert Robbins Announces He Will Resign
U. of Arizona President Robert Robbins has announced he will resign at the end of his term, or earlier, if the school finds a new leader before his current contract ends. University of Arizona President Robert Robbins has announced he will resign at the end of his current term, or earlier, if the university can find a new leader before June 2026. This announcement comes after months of controversy over the school's $177 million budget deficit, which will require a variety of cost controls including hiring freezes, layoffs, and budget cuts that could go as deep as 15%. Arizona Governor Katy Hobbs has been critical of the university's handling of the crisis, calling for action against the Arizona Board of Regents. Robbins has been praised for his role in elevating the institution and contributing to significant milestones in science, astronomy, and medicine.
Published : a month ago by Michael T. Nietzel in Business
University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins announced Tuesday that he will resign at the end of his term, or even earlier, if the university can find a new leader before June 2026, when his current contract ends.
The news comes following months of controversy, prompted by the school’s disclosure last November that it was facing a $177 million budget deficit . Fixing that shortfall will require the institution to implement a variety of cost controls, including hiring freezes, layoffs and budget cuts that could go as deep as 15%. It’s estimated it could take up to three years for the university to cover the deficit fully.
Last month, in the wake of criticism over the budget deficit, Robbins took a 10% pay cut, but he and other members of the university’s administrative team have continued to face criticism both on and off campus. Notable among those critics has been Arizona Governor Katy Hobbs.
Since the discovery of the budget problems, the university’s former chief financial officer has resigned, and Hobbs sent a letter on January 25 to the Arizona Board of Regents demanding that actions be taken to address the crisis.
More recently, Hobbs issued another statement claiming the “handling of the University of Arizona crisis is heading in the wrong direction” and charging that “the Arizona Board of Regents failed in their oversight role and highlight a university leadership that was clueless as to their own finances.”
In an email to the campus community, Robbins said that after “significant consideration and personal contemplation” he had “informed the regents this morning that I will step down as president of the University of Arizona after fulfilling the terms of my current contract. When a new president has been appointed by ABOR and she or he is prepared to start sooner than the end date of my contract, I will ensure a smooth transition to my successor and step aside earlier.”
“Although this is a difficult decision, it is the right decision for the university that I love so dearly and for me,” added Robbins in the email. “It has been a true honor to lead the University of Arizona for so many years, particularly during a time of transformational change in higher education and with challenges in the world around us.”
He said he was “proud of the many advancements we made together in elevating the institution, by enhancing the student experience; by attracting and retaining world-class faculty and staff; by increasing our research funding and philanthropy; by achieving significant milestones in science, astronomy and medicine, among many other disciplines; by engaging our indigenous tribes and rural communities; and by improving the lives of Arizona residents and the global community.”
But, Robbins said, “it is time to begin to think about what is next for the university and I will continue to serve the institution with pride and work with ABOR to ensure a smooth transition at the appropriate time. I am grateful to the regents for their ongoing support of our work, and I am confident that with their continued strong leadership, the University of Arizona will be in great hands.”
In an ABOR release, ABOR Board Chair Cecilia Mata said, “the board is deeply appreciative of President Robbins’ exceptional dedication to the mission and values of the University of Arizona,” adding that Robbins had built “a legacy of commitment to student access and success, as well as advancement of the university’s land-grant mission.”
Mata said the board plans to begin a national search for the 23rd president of the university, and that the search will move forward expediently.
Topics: Academia, University of Arizona