Regents Recognize UA President Hart
The work of the University's first woman president was recognized Thursday when the Arizona Board of Regents presented Ann Weaver Hart with the Regents' Medal. Hart also will receive the designation of president emerita effective June 1, when she is succeeded by Dr. Robert C. Robbins.

University Communications
April 5, 2017

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President Ann Weaver Hart: "I am very proud of everything we have achieved and of the foundations we have set for the future."
President Ann Weaver Hart: "I am very proud of everything we have achieved and of the foundations we have set for the future."


The tenure of Ann Weaver Hart as president of the University of Arizona will come to a close when Dr. Robert C. Robbins officially becomes the UA's 22nd president in less than two months.

Hart, the first woman president in UA history, was recognized Thursday on campus. The Arizona Board of Regents presented her with the Regents' Medal, and she will receive the designation of president emerita effective June 1. The Regents' Medal was established in 1965 by ABOR as a means of recognizing outstanding service to education in Arizona.

"The leadership team has worked diligently with me over the past five years to implement a strategic plan, strengthen the budget, build greater facilities, increase the number of research grants and commercialization, enhance diversity and provide incentives for faculty, all in an effort to elevate student success and University impact," Hart said. "Our focus has always been committed to student engagement and ensuring that the University of Arizona provides an outstanding educational experience. I am very proud of everything we have achieved and of the foundations we have set for the future."

These are some of Hart's most significant accomplishments since she took office in November 2012:

  • Never Settle: The UA's first strategic academic and business plan was introduced.
  • 30-year, $1 billion Banner Health acquisition: The UA received a preeminent clinical partner and tens of millions of dollars for medical education and research. Tucson received a new hospital and outpatient clinic.
  • Launch of research centers: Centers include the Defense and Security Research Institute, Center for Regional Food Studies, Transportation Research Institute, Center for University Education Scholarship and eight new centers in health sciences.
  • Research activity: The number of awards and total research expenditures increased. The UA now brings in more than $606 million in research investment annually.
  • Large-scale, multidisciplinary research activity: The UA won 77 percent more new awards over the course of Never Settle.
  • Building and renovation projects:              
    • All capital projects: $1.04 billion
    • Major capital projects: $711 million
      • Health Sciences Education Building in Phoenix: $135 million
      • McKale Center renovation: $80 million
      • Biomedical Sciences Partnership Building in Phoenix: $136 million
      • Old Main renovation: $13 million
      • Bio Sciences Research Laboratory in Tucson (anticipated completion in spring/summer 2018): $107 million
      • Health Sciences Innovation Building in Tucson (anticipated completion in spring/summer 2019): $165 million
    • Other projects:
      • Environment and Natural Resources 2 building: Home for the environmental sciences at the UA, has received Platinum LEED certification
      • Lowell-Stevens Football Facility
  • Guaranteed tuition: Working with administration, student leaders and faculty, the UA moved to create a Guaranteed Tuition Plan that locks in tuition and fees for eight semesters, allowing families to plan financially and encouraging students to graduate in four years.
  • Employee raises: The first raises since 2007 were given in 2013 and again in 2016, with a commitment for 2017 and 2018. This was done in consultation with student leaders who agreed that the University needed to invest in its people and was achieved through internal reallocations.
  • Arizona NOW: The most successful university capital campaign in the state was completed at $1.59 billion, two years ahead of schedule. The entire development enterprise was reorganized to double fundraising.
  • 100% Engagement: The student experiential learning program is now reflected on transcripts, with the University formalizing the concept and employers taking notice. Nearly 450 credit and non-credit experiences are now certified. Career impact is high, with 92 percent of employers rating UA graduates as having the skills needed for success, versus 23 percent from graduates of all schools, in a national survey of employers.
  • Tech Launch Arizona: David Allen was hired, setting a process for turning discoveries into inventions through patenting and licensing and then creating industry partnerships. UA professors were provided with commercialization criteria as incentives to the tenure and promotion process. In fiscal 2016, TLA received 250 invention disclosures from UA researchers; filed 278 U.S. patents; granted 95 exclusive licenses and options for UA technologies; collected $2.016 million in revenue from royalties and patent reimbursements for UA intellectual property; and nurtured the launch of 14 startup companies.
  • UA Online: The UA's first suite of online undergraduate degree programs was developed, earning recognition from U.S. News & World Report the first year it was eligible. About 350 courses are now available online, and corporate partnerships in degree programs involve GEICO, Cox Media, Salt River Project and Caterpillar.
  • Student enrollment, retention and recruitment:
    • The number of students from underserved and minority populations has increased to 42 percent from 39.5 percent in 2012.
    • On-campus enrollment increased by 8.5 percent (to 43,625 in fall 2016 from 40,223 in 2012).
    • Transfer class enrollment grew by 11 percent (7 percent for in-state transfers) since 2012, despite a statewide decline of 20 percent.
    • Transfer pathways for community college students grew by 1,004 percent since 2012 (to nearly 500 in 2016-2017 from 45 in 2012-2013).
  • Athletics personnel:           
    • Retention of head coaches Sean Miller (men's basketball) and Rich Rodriguez (football) was secured through an anonymous philanthropic supporter.
    • Dave Heeke was hired as director of athletics upon Greg Byrne's departure for the University of Alabama.
    • Adia Barnes was hired as head coach for women's basketball.
    • Jay Johnson was hired as head coach for baseball.
  • Budget restructuring: A fundamental budget redesign, Responsibility Centered Management, was implemented to create a performance and innovation-oriented culture.

Extra info

Click here for the PDF version of Ann Weaver Hart's presentation to the Arizona Board of Regents on her tenure as UA president.

A campuswide event honoring Hart will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17, at Old Main.

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