Outgoing University of Arizona president Robert Robbins is officially leaving his role next month but will continue to collect a paycheck through July 2026, The Arizona Daily Star reported.
While the Arizona Board of Regents is reportedly still in legal discussions over his pay and responsibilities, ABOR told the newspaper it would “honor the terms of President Robbins’ contract.” Robbins currently earns a base salary of $734,407 a year. His pay was cut by 10 percent in March, amid a $177 million deficit that upended the university’s finances.
It is unclear whether Robbins will see any salary reduction through the duration of his contract or if he will have a faculty position at Arizona.
Robbins announced in April that he planned to step down when a new president was hired. ABOR recently hired University of Vermont president Suresh Garimella as U of A’s next leader.
University leaders have introduced various cost-cutting measures to shrink the budget deficit, which was estimated at $52 million in April. They include freezes on hiring, travel, compensation and construction projects, as well as the centralization of some departments. Officials have variously blamed the financial issues on a flawed budget model, an accounting error, overspending on strategic initiatives, excessive tuition discounting, inflation and the coronavirus pandemic.
