Shakeup at University of Arizona Global Campus, the controversial online unit

The senior vice president in charge of the University of Arizona Global Campus has stepped down from his role in a major shakeup of the senior leadership team at the UA’s controversial online school.

Paul Pastorek began at UAGC as the chief executive officer and president in February 2021. He was promoted to serve as a UA senior vice president just six months ago, in July of this year, according to his LinkedIn.

Pastorek’s departure was announced by Interim Provost Ron Marx in an email sent to faculty leadership and UAGC employees on Dec. 1.

“I wish to thank Paul for his years of service and dedication to the University,” Marx wrote. “His leadership and expertise played a vital role during the transition of UAGC.”

UA President Robert C. Robbins also confirmed the news after Monday’s Faculty Senate meeting.

“I think it’s long-term transition to helping incorporate UAGC more closely with our departments,” he told the Arizona Daily Star in an interview after the meeting. “So, it was a more long-term issue around incorporation and collaboration between UAGC and our colleges and programs.”

Before coming to UAGC, Pastorek served as the chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Loyola University New Orleans and as Louisiana’s superintendent of education from 2007-2011.

Dr. Gary Packard, Jr. will serve as the interim senior vice provost of online initiatives as university leadership works to launch a search to replace Pastorek, Marx wrote in his message to faculty.

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“In that role, Dr. Packard will oversee Arizona Online and UAGC,” the interim provost wrote. “This alignment will ensure consistent strategic oversight and coordination of the university’s online initiatives.”

Packard began his new role on Monday.

Packard is the founding dean of the College of Applied Science and Technology. In this role, according to his faculty page, he “leads the university’s fastest-growing college in the development and implementation of a broad strategic vision for growing the college’s programs at all levels.”

UAGC has been historically unpopular, especially among faculty members.

According to a report released by the Arizona Board of Regents, the online university was one of the reasons why the UA’s predicted cash on hand is too low to meet the threshold required by the regents, forcing Robbins to present university-wide budget-cutting decisions to the board by Dec. 15.

The university agreed to buy the former Ashford University online school three years ago, rebranded it as UAGC, and this summer integrated it into the overall UA, adding $265.5 million to the UA’s operating costs.

In August, the Biden administration cancelled $72 million in student loans for borrowers who say they were cheated by Ashford University. The U.S. Department of Education is seeking to recoup the money from the UA, which is claiming it should not be held responsible because the actions occurred well before it acquired the school.