Former UA President Ann Weaver Hart retired in May, leaving the school two years after stepping down from the top job and earning more than $800,000 in a transition role on the school鈥檚 faculty despite never teaching a class.
Her compensation included salary and incentives from when she transitioned from president to a tenured faculty member in the school鈥檚 College of Education in June 2017 through her official retirement, according to documents provided to the 蜜柚直播. The two years since she stepped down as president included a one-year sabbatical from the school.
The 蜜柚直播 Board of Regents approved the pay after Hart announced in 2016 she was stepping down amid controversy over a decision to sit on the board in a paid position of for-profit DeVry University.
People are also reading…
That compensation included a $500,000 salary after she moved to her faculty role, the amount owed to Hart in her presidential contract, which ran through June 2018, records show. During that year she was tasked with helping her successor, Robert C. Robbins, transition into his role at the university.
It also includes a roughly $170,000 salary she earned while on sabbatical during the 2018-2019 school year, records show. Hart, who moved to Salt Lake City, officially notified the school in February she would retire effective mid-May.
Professor Gary Rhoades, who is the head of the department of education policy studies and practice, where Hart鈥檚 faculty appointment was, cautioned that opting to resign instead of returning from a sabbatical is 鈥渃ommon practice in higher education.鈥
鈥淚 would just say maybe to the outside world it seems a little odd but it鈥檚 common practice in higher education, especially in these universities where presidents have time in academic departments,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not about her, it鈥檚 about a general practice in higher education. Do I think that practice is always ideal? We could have a long conversation about that.鈥
In an email response to the Star on Saturday, Hart said, 鈥淚 retired, as many people do at my age.鈥 She did not immediately respond to a list of follow-up questions.
The 蜜柚直播 attempted to piece together Hart鈥檚 compensation through a number of public documents, including her transition terms from president, expenditure figures provided by ABOR, and interviews with university and ABOR staff.
While she was paid $823,220 under her role as a 鈥渦niversity professor,鈥 according to the expenditures, an 蜜柚直播 analysis estimates her total compensation package during the two years was closer to $900,000.
ABOR approved the official terms of Hart鈥檚 transition during an in 蜜柚直播 鈥 the same meeting where the regents approved a three-year contract for Robbins, which paid him a base salary of $600,000 plus $208,000 in incentives during his first year. Hart agreed to stay in the role of president until Robbins took over June 1, 2017, the same day she received her faculty appointment.
With Hart鈥檚 presidential contract originally set to run through June 30, 2018, the regents agreed to pay Hart $500,000 as 鈥渓iquidated damages鈥 for stepping down as president a year early. She also received a contribution to her retirement plan of $90,000, a housing allowance of $70,000 and an automobile allowance of $10,000. The total compensation for that year was $670,000.
Asked why Hart was paid the remainder of her contract after voluntarily stepping aside, an ABOR spokeswoman said 鈥渟he was entitled to payment through her contract.鈥
During the April 2017 meeting, regents thanked Hart and commented that she left the UA in a better place, according to . She was also presented with a Regents Medal.
In her role on the faculty, her transition agreement stipulated that her academic year salary and benefits would be equal to those of the highest paid faculty member in the College of Education, and that she would receive staff support, graduate research assistant support, tech support and office space equivalent to what is provided to senior members of the department.
That salary was at least $169,408, according to documents.
Hart鈥檚 faculty role was uncompensated during the 2017-2018 school year as she received the remainder of the payout from her presidential contract. She also was designated as a half-time employee during the period, and was 鈥渁vailable, with appropriate notice, for reasonable consultation and assistance with transition issues,鈥 according to the documents.
Robbins told the Star that Hart helped him out with his transition, as did other former presidents, including Peter Likins and Robert Shelton. He said Hart helped him through the entire 2017-2018 school year and was 鈥渟upportive and welcoming.鈥
鈥淪he helped me understand key things about the university,鈥 Robbins said, adding that she was also responsive by phone after she moved to Salt Lake City.
Seven months after her tenure as president ended, Hart also garnered $55,000 in incentives from ABOR for achieving her goals during her final year as president, according to minutes from the . She received $40,000 for her individual goals, and $15,000 for her role on the enterprise executive committee.
She took her sabbatical during the 2018-2019 school year. Public real estate records show she and her husband sold their home in 蜜柚直播 in March 2017. They also own a home in Salt Lake City.
At some point last fall, Rhoades, Hart鈥檚 department head, said she called and notified him that she planned to retire.
鈥淪he had been president at three places. Given the stage of her career, and she was doing some interesting other things, she鈥檚 up in Salt Lake, rather than coming back, she said, 鈥業 think I鈥檓 going to retire.鈥 That鈥檚 how it unfolded,鈥 he said.
Asked whether they discussed teaching online courses, Rhoades said the department prefers professors to be physically in 蜜柚直播, even if they鈥檙e teaching online, so that they can go to faculty meetings and interact with students face to face.
鈥淚 think her decision was best for her and when she made the decision, she expressed concern about the interests of the unit. Would this harm the unit, would the unit be OK with this, which was grateful of her,鈥 Rhoades said, referring to her concerns about if her retirement would harm the academic department.
A letter was sent to Hart on Feb. 1 that details her retirement, which was effective May 19.
Per the terms of the agreement, Hart鈥檚 title was updated to 鈥減resident and professor emerita.鈥 She was also allowed to keep her work laptop computer. She signed and returned the letter Feb. 4.
It remains unclear whether Hart still sits on the board of DeVry Education Group, which has since updated its name to Adtalem Global Education and sold Devry University to a company in California.
Hart is not listed on Adtalem鈥檚 , and a spokesman for the company did not respond to requests for comment.
Photos: Former UA President Ann Weaver Hart
Photos: Former UA President Ann Weaver Hart
Ann Weaver Hart, University of 蜜柚直播

Ann Weaver Hart, the new UA president, walks with Johnny Cruz, assistant vice president for communications, on July 9, 2012.
Ann Weaver Hart, University of 蜜柚直播

Randy Hart, left, husband of Ann Weaver Hart, the new UA president, as they are being welcomed by university students and staff in front of the Administration building on July 9, 2012. #.
Ann Weaver Hart, University of 蜜柚直播

Ann Weaver Hart, left, as a candidate for the presidency at the University of 蜜柚直播 talks with Donna Swaim, a teacher and senior lecturer in Humanities on February 13, 2012, in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. Hart met with the UA community including faculty in a public forum in the Gallagher Theater inside the Student Union Memorial Center.
Ann Weaver Hart, University of 蜜柚直播

University of 蜜柚直播 president Ann Weaver Hart looks on during the first half of the No. 4 蜜柚直播 Wildcats vs. No. 5 UCLA Bruins men's college basketball game on Feb. 25, 2017, in McKale Center in 蜜柚直播, Ariz.
Ann Weaver Hart, University of 蜜柚直播

University of 蜜柚直播 president Ann Weaver Hart, left, chats with Dave Heeke before he is introduced as the new athletic director for the UA in 蜜柚直播 on March 2, 2017. Heeke was recently at Central Michigan University.
Ann Weaver Hart, University of 蜜柚直播

University of 蜜柚直播 President Ann Weaver Hart, rejoices while she watches beam lift up during the topping-off ceremony of the $136 million University of 蜜柚直播 Biosciences Partnership Building in downtown Phoenix, on Thursday March 3, 2016.
Ann Weaver Hart, University of 蜜柚直播

During a Board of Regents meeting, new UA President Robert C. Robbins, right, remarks on his block "A" tie given to him by University of 蜜柚直播 president Ann Weaver Hart, center, before an 蜜柚直播 Board of Regents meeting at the Student Union Memorial Center on the University of 蜜柚直播 campus April 7, 2017, in 蜜柚直播.
Ann Weaver Hart, University of 蜜柚直播

Ann Weaver Hart was paid $823,220 for her role as a 鈥渦niversity professor鈥 in the two years since stepping down as University of 蜜柚直播 president. She did not teach a class.
. according to the expenditures, begins the ceremonies during the 152nd University of 蜜柚直播 Commencement on Friday, May 13, 2016, at 蜜柚直播 Stadium in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. University President Ann Weaver Hart conferred about 6,000 degrees to more than 4,000 graduates at the outdoor ceremony.
Ann Weaver Hart, University of 蜜柚直播

The 蜜柚直播 Board of Regents listen to President Ann Weaver Hart as they meet at the University of 蜜柚直播 Student Memorial Union in June, 2015.
Ann Weaver Hart, University of 蜜柚直播

蜜柚直播 State University president, Michael Crow, left, and University of 蜜柚直播 president Ann Weaver Hart were featured speakers during the TREO annual luncheon about what's being done to develop workforce talent in 蜜柚直播 on September 25, 2013 at Westin La Paloma resort.
Ann Weaver Hart, University of 蜜柚直播

Six University of 蜜柚直播 presidents in November 2017: (back row, from left) John Paul Schaefer (1971-1982), Manuel Trinidad Pacheco (1991-1997) and Ann Weaver Hart (2012-2017); (front row, from left) Henry Koffler (1982-1991), Robert C. Robbins (2017-present) and Peter Likins (1997-2006)
Ann Weaver Hart, University of 蜜柚直播

President Ann Weaver Hart addresses the crowd during the 153rd University of 蜜柚直播 Commencement ceremony on May 12, 2017, at 蜜柚直播 Stadium in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. UA president Ann Weaver Hart conferred about 6,800 degrees on the Class of 2017.
Contact reporter Justin Sayers at jsayers1@tucson.com or 573-4192. Twitter: @_JustinSayers. Facebook: JustinSSayers.