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ABOR releasing "transitional plan" as UA President steps down

Posted at 5:02 AM, Sep 23, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-23 08:55:51-04
President Hart will be paid full salary one year after stepping down
 
UA President Ann Weaver Hart is stepping down a year before her contract is up in 2018, but she will still be paid her full presidential salary until the end of that contract. This means taxpayers will be responsible for paying both Hart and her replacement's salaries, which start at $475,000.
 
The Arizona Board of Regents said Hart is being terminated "without cause," but Hart is stepping down after months of controversy following her joining the board of for-profit DeVry University. DeVry is now under investigation for allegedly deceiving students.
 
As a board member of DeVry, Hart makes $170,000 per year with stock options. That's about one third of her presidential salary at UA. 
 
Here are the terms of her transition the board just released:
 
1. Hart will transition to a faculty member with full tenure in the College of Education. This was agreed upon when she was hired in 2012.
2. Hart will earn a salary equal to the highest paid faculty member in the College of Education.
3. Dr. Hart will take a one year sabbatical leave for the first academic year of her faculty appointment.
 
The immediate sabbatical has also raised questions of fairness because usually professors must be in their position for six years and get approval of their sabbatical plans before being granted the trip. Hart has not had to submit plans, and she will have only held her position for five years by the time she is expected to take the sabbatical.
 
The new UA President is expected to take over in mid 2017.