University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins is resigning after his term ends in 2026.

But the embattled UA leader noted that if the Arizona Board of Regents were to select a new president sooner than the end of his term in June 2026, he will “ensure a smooth transition to my successor and step aside earlier.”

“After significant consideration and personal contemplation, I informed the Arizona Board of Regents that I will step down as President of the University of Arizona after fulfilling the terms of my current contract,” he wrote in an email to students and employees on Tuesday morning.

ABOR Chair Cecilia Mata, in a statement released just after Robbins’ announcement, said the board plans to commence a national search for the next UA president, which will “move forward with expediency.”

“The board is deeply appreciative of President Robbins’ exceptional dedication to the mission and values of the University of Arizona,” Mata said in her statement.

Robbins, who has served as president of the university since 2017, has been under fire over the last six months because of the university’s $177 million deficit. He was scheduled to appear at a monthly Faculty Senate meeting on Monday but instead sent Senior Vice President and Secretary of the University Jon Dudas in his place.

“The past 18 months certainly have been difficult for our university, but I am confident that our passion and commitment for doing what is right, as well as our thorough and thoughtful analysis to address our ongoing challenges, will bring our institution greater stability in short order,” Robbins wrote in his Tuesday email.

In a statement to the Arizona Daily Star, Gov. Katie Hobbs, who has criticized Robbins multiple times in the past few months, including late last week, said she looked forward to “continued work to address the University of Arizona’s finances and restore the public’s trust in one of our state’s most important public institutions.”

She added that “from day one I have been laser-focused on addressing fiscal mismanagement and ensuring there is proper oversight and accountability from ABOR to protect our public universities.”

Associated Students of the University of Arizona President Alyssa Sanchez told the Star she found it “unacceptable” that ABOR is “allowing (Robbins) to fulfill his contract.”

“A lot of staff and students have and will continue to be impacted because of the financial disaster that occurred during his presidency,” Sanchez said.

Jeremy Bernick, graduate and professional student council president, echoed Sanchez’s sentiments in a statement to the Star.

“I urge ABOR to open the opaque and shadowy process of a presidential search to representative students, staff and faculty on the UA campus,” Bernick said.

Jim Click, a businessman and philanthropist who has expressed support for Robbins, told the Star he would give the outgoing president an “A or A+” for his service.

“I helped recruit him to the job,” Click said. “I’m glad he came to the UA, and I really truly believe he left it better than when he found it. I mean, a lot better.”

Click said Robbins called him on Monday, the day before his formal announcement, to share the news about his impending resignation. Click added he doesn’t think he’ll be involved in recruiting the next UA president to campus and stated he doesn’t think Robbins is going to fully retire.

“He’s not done trying to contribute in some way, whether it’s medical or at another school,” Click said of next steps for Robbins, who was previously president and CEO of Texas Medical Center in Houston and cardiothoracic surgery chair at Stanford University.

“I hope he lands a great job at a great university if that’s what he wants to do. I would highly recommend him to anybody,” Click said.

At Monday’s Faculty Senate meeting, Chair Leila Hudson stated that her “primary concern” was to be “part of an orderly unwinding of President Robbins’ presidency.”

Faculty Senate Chair Leila Hudson

She told the Faculty Senate that despite repeated requests she received for a formal vote of no confidence in Robbins, she wanted to make sure he had “a chance to defend himself.”

Robbins’ predecessor, Ann Weaver Hart, said in June 2016 she would resign by the end of her contract in June 2018. Robbins was named president in March 2017, which suggests that, if history repeats itself, the new presidential search could be completed prior to the end of Robbins’ term.

“It is time to begin to think about what is next for the university, and I will continue to serve the institution and work with ABOR to ensure a smooth transition at the appropriate time,” Robbins wrote Tuesday.

Earlier this month the regents approved a 10% cut in Robbins’ base salary, from $816,008 to $734,407, which he requested to aid with the university’s financial action plan amid the deficit.

Get your morning recap of today's local news and read the full stories here: tucne.ws/morning

Become a #ThisIsTucson member! Your contribution helps our team bring you stories that keep you connected to the community. Become a member today.

Reporter Ellie Wolfe covers higher education for the Arizona Daily Star and Tucson.com. Contact: ewolfe@tucson.com.