Governor Katie Hobbs weighed in on the University of Arizona’s financial crisis , Thursday Evening.
In a letter to the Arizona Board of Regents, Hobbs said she had a responsibility as governor to hold UArizona accountable to restore faith and trust in the university.
She said the acquisition of Ashford University showed no coherent vision. “…That demonstrated a secretive process which downplayed, and some might even say attempted to hide altogether, the incredibly risky nature of the purchase to the University of Arizona’s finances and reputation,” Hobbs wrote.
In the letter Hobbs detailed a conversation between university leadership, saying more consideration could have helped avoid damaging the university’s reputation. “One email from a university Vice President asked the question “Are we boarding a sinking ship?” in regards to the acquisition.”
“To say the situation demonstrates that there is significant work ahead to restore the university’s financial health would be an understatement,” Hobbs said in the letter. “This is no longer just about finances, this is about a lack of accountability, transparency, and at the end of the day, leadership.”