Robbins gets raise, UA looks to buy home
The Arizona Board of Regents voted to approve a 12 percent pay increase to University of Arizona President Dr. Robert Robbins. All three of Arizona’s public university presidents received a raise.
Hired last June, Robbins will now earn a base salary of $675,000, an increase of $75,000, and be eligible for an automatic 3.5 percent increases to his base salary every year, unless the regents vote otherwise.
Additionally, UA has asked the regents to approve the purchase of Robbins’ current home, located west of campus in the Sam Hughes Neighborhood on E. Third Street.
The 3,800 square foot modern Spanish-Mission style home is valued at $1,275,000 according to the Arizona Republic.
Originally purchased by the University of Arizona Foundation, the UA plans to use the home for special events and fundraisers hosted by Robbins.
If the purchase is allowed, the UA will be off the hook for Robbins’ $70,000 housing allowance currently written into his contract.
— By Eddie Celaya
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Five football times announced
Arizona will officially ignite its new era of football on Saturday, Sept. 1, on ESPN versus Brigham Young University.
The Wildcats will face off against the Cougars for the first time since falling 18-16 in the season opener at University of Phoenix Stadium two years ago – kickoff time is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. MST.
The following week, Arizona will travel to the state of Texas to battle it out versus Houston. The Wildcats will attempt to avenge their 2017 three-point home-loss to Houston on ABC or ESPN2 at 9:00 a.m. MST.
Pac-12 Networks will make its first trip to the desert on Saturday, Sept. 15. Arizona will be tasked with handling the Southern Utah Thunderbirds at 8:00 p.m. MST.
Two conferences games received start times as well, both taking place on a Friday night. Arizona will travel to Salt Lake City to face Utah on Oct. 12. It will begin at 7:00 p.m. MST and air on ESPN.
A few weeks later, Arizona will host Colorado on Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. MST on FS1.
That game will be a rematch of when UA quarterback Khalil Tate burst onto the national scene with a record-breaking 327 rushing yards versus the Buffs last year.
A heralded Heisman contender at quarterback, a youthful defense, and the addition of a new head coach on the sidelines make Arizona an intriguing team to follow this season.
— By David Skinner
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Title IX update
In a May 31 email to the UA community, President Dr. Robert Robbins announced that the university would be updating its Title IX policies.
“While we are in compliance with federal rules and regulations, we must do more if we strive to be a national model for our approach,” Robbins said.
The changes come after the UA retained the services of Natasha Baker, an attorney specializing in Title IX training, from the California-based law firm of Hirschfeld Kraemer.
According to Robbins, Baker went through thousands of papers and documents and over 50 interviews to reach her conclusions.
“[Baker] advised us of a number of areas where we can improve on our path to excellence in awareness, communication and response to campus sexual violence,” Robbins said.
Some of the changes Robbins said he would implement include consolidating university Title IX and sexual harassment policies, having UA medical professionals and staff train in recognizing signs of campus sexual violence and appointing a full-time Title IX coordinator.
— By Eddie Celaya
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