University of Arizona president Robert Robbins to step down amid budget crisis

• State leaders, including Gov. Katie Hobbs, have been publicly critical of Robbins and ABOR for a lack of accountability and transparency.

Driving the news: ABOR said Robbins will leave when his contract expires in June 2026, or before if the university finds a successor sooner.

• ABOR chair Cecilia Mata said the board will launch a national search for Robbins' replacement "with expediency."

What they're saying: "It has been a true honor to lead the University of Arizona for so many years, particularly during a time of transformational change in higher education and with challenges in the world around us," Robbins, who has held the job since 2017, said in a statement.

During his tenure, Robbins, a surgeon, pushed for the creation of the Center for Advanced Molecular and Immunological Therapies in downtown Phoenix. It's expected to break ground later this year.

Flashback: UofA's financial crisis came to light late last year when the university revealed it had miscalculated its cash on hand by millions of dollars.

• It is now preparing for budget cuts and layoffs.

Zoom in: Robbins has also come under fire for the university's controversial acquisition of for-profit online school Ashford University.

• That online university had previously been sued for engaging in deceptive marketing practices, and the U.S. Department of Education announced last summer it would clear $72 million in debt for former students.
• The department is now trying to force UofA to pay back that forgiven loan debt, as Axios reported last month.