In the wake of a staggering $177 million deficit, University of Arizona President Robert Robbins is firmly set to take a 10% slash to his hefty pay package which includes perks and bonuses atop his already substantial base salary. As reported by 12 News, Robbins, whose base salary last year climbed to $816,000, is poised to lose not only a chunk of his salary but also his individual at-risk and multi-year performance incentives.
This move, enthusiastically supported by Robbins himself, emphasizes the collective effort to quickly confront and navigate the financial turmoil the university finds itself in. “President Robbins supports these reductions and the message they send as UArizona comes together to resolve its financial challenges and emerge from this process a stronger and more resilient institution," said ABOR Chair-elect Cecilia Mata in a statement obtained by 12 News. Governor Katie Hobbs, also an ex-officio board member, recently tore into the Regents and UArizona for what she termed "appalling" behavior in the handling of the university's budget woes.
Robbins, in an email to his staff, had earlier declared, "I recommended to the Arizona Board of Regents, and it has accepted, that my total compensation be significantly reduced." This paints the picture of an administration ready to take accountability for financial mismanagement. Robbins had previously told Tucson.com that he "absolutely" would accept a pay reduction and had proposed it willingly.
The University of Arizona's financial quandary comes after a disclosure of a gross miscalculation of cash reserves, leading to a desperation to quickly bring the budget into the black. ABOR's strategy to staunch the fiscal bleeding involves consultancy hires to trim what interim CFO John Arnold termed as administrative "bloat" and to strategize profitable avenues, particularly within the loss-making Athletics Department. ABOR is also considering cuts up to 15%, causing UA Faculty Senate Chair Leila Hudson to express disappointment and frustration with the leadership's response to suggestions from the academic community.
Robbins, a former cardiac surgeon with roots in academia, is no stranger to high stakes and hefty remunerations — having held a lucrative role at Texas Medical Center. His commitment to the academic institution, however, comes across as steadfast as he asserts responsibility for both the financial misstep and the task of rectifying it. "This happened on my watch. I’m totally responsible for it," Robbins told Tucson.com in a February interview. "And I’m also responsible for getting the plan implemented and solving this problem, and I fully intend to do that." Robbins' approach, inclusive of foregoing bonuses tied to significant projects and encouraging top-level accountability, attempts to set a tone of shared sacrifice during a period of uncomfortable transition at UArizona.
