Message from President Robbins
Dear Wildcats,
As we move into the fall semester, we have much to celebrate at the University of Arizona. The newly restored painting “Woman-Ochre,” which was stolen from campus more than 30 years ago, will return to its home at the University of Arizona Museum of Art in October. The Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-Infrared Instrument that are on board the James Webb Space Telescope, both developed by university-led teams, have returned stunning imagery and incredible data from deep space. And we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the enactment of Title IX, which changed the landscape of higher education by prohibiting discrimination based on sex in educational programs.
One thing these otherwise very different stories have in common is that they are partnerships — efforts that took many hands and many minds united to achieve a shared purpose rooted in Wonder about the world (and universe) around us. The determination and collective energy of our community fills me with pride, and I see those qualities in alumni I meet all over the country. Wildcats do amazing things every day, from getting new businesses off the ground to finding ways to innovate on campus, in private enterprise or through public service.
I also am proud of the way our ’Cats live our core values of compassion and inclusion. You will find a tribute to the University of Arizona Hispanic Alumni Club, a group that exemplifies these ideals. For 40 years, this group has raised money to support scholarships and student success, setting important foundations for our eventual designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution. I am grateful for and honored by the work they have done for our community and our students.
Another example is our recently announced Arizona Native Scholars Grant Program, which is the first of its kind for a public university in our state. This game-changing program will cover tuition and mandatory fees for full-time undergraduate students from the state’s 22 federally recognized tribes, and it is part of our larger commitment to access and to serving our Indigenous students.
Finally, this year we continue to root for our student-athletes in Arizona Athletics as we navigate conference changes. We wait with great anticipation as our talented teams bring home conference and national championships. Expect to see the ’Cats on the gridiron during a fantastic Homecoming weekend Oct. 27-29. I hope you will come home and see us.
Bear Down and Go, Cats!
Robert C. Robbins
President
The University of Arizona