Financial Update

January 16, 2024, 11:05 a.m.

Dear Colleagues,

As the semester is in full swing and the financial action plan implementation continues, I want to provide you a quick update and take a moment to correct the record.

I first want to thank Interim Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Business Affairs John Arnold for his tireless efforts and tremendous work since beginning in December. John has made great strides in understanding our University’s financial situation and working with senior leadership to map out effective, strategic solutions. He will continue meeting with college, department and unit leaders in the days to come, and we expect to have updated campus guidance by the end of the month.

Second, there has been a lot of conversation in the media over the last week regarding former CFO Lisa Rulney’s position at the University. As announced in December, Lisa resigned from her position as senior vice president and chief financial officer. To help ensure a minimally disruptive and well-informed transition, I made the decision to have Lisa serve in a temporary role through June 30, 2024, in line with her existing employment contract. 

For clarity, Lisa’s position is advisory, and her role is solely to provide support to our Interim CFO as he focuses on implementing the University’s financial action plan and managing the division’s broad operations. Business Affairs is a large and complex division made up of several units that include Facilities Management, the Bookstores, and Parking and Transportation in addition to Financial Services and other areas. This transitional position is valuable to the University and ensures that the exchange of information and transfer of all leadership duties will support our success in the months and years to come. 

Finally, let me provide my sincere thanks to all across our institution who are working diligently to address our financial issues, to contribute to solutions and to keep our University strong and moving forward. I am confident that together, as one Wildcat community, we can emerge from this period more focused and effective, and better positioned to fulfill our mission than ever before.

Sincerely,

Robert C. Robbins, M.D.

President
The University of Arizona

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