Regents approve pay cut for U of A president, elect new board chair

The Arizona Board of Regents has formally approved University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins’ 10% pay cut and elected its new chair.

The regents met behind closed doors in a special meeting Thursday morning to receive “legal advice” about the pay cut, according to the board’s agenda. The meeting, which was scheduled to last just 60 minutes, extended to over two hours.

After opening the meeting up to the public, the regents were swift to approve the pay cut and other business.

Robbins’ new base salary has been reduced from $816,008 to $734,407. His individual annual and multiple-year at-risk compensation goals have also been eliminated. Those had potential values of an additional $150,000 and $120,000, respectively.

Robbins himself requested the compensation cuts to aid with the university’s financial action plan amid its $177 million deficit.

When in executive session, the board also reviewed assignments with Robbins, received legal advice regarding the University of Arizona Global Campus and discussed the appointment of interim Executive Director Chad Sampson.

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Once the regents reconvened for their public meeting, they elected Cecila Mata to serve as board chair through June 30. Mata, who was set to begin her term after June 30, is stepping into the role early after then-Chair Fred DuVal stepped down late last month.

The board also appointed John Arnold to interim senior vice president for business affairs and chief financial officer at the UA. He has been serving in that role since Dec. 13, but will now be paid by the university after taking a leave of absence from his role of executive director of ABOR.

After criticism from the Faculty Senate and Governor Katie Hobbs about a potential conflict of interest, Arnold announced late last month that he was taking a leave from his ABOR responsibilities to focus solely on the UA.

Until now, he was being paid by the regents. A spokeswoman for the UA has not yet responded to inquiries about Arnold’s salary.

Chad Sampson was appointed to serve as interim executive director of ABOR, presumably set to serve until Arnold returns to the role.