Kentucky State University President Takes Pay Cut For Employees

Kentucky State University President Takes Pay Cut For Employees

NIGHTLY NEWS

Interim University President Raymond Burse slashes his salary by $90,000 to raise the salary of the 24 lowest paid employees by as much as 40 percent.

Published October 14th 2014, 4:21 pm
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Kentucky State University President Takes Pay Cut For Employees

>>> WE HAVE AN UNUSUAL MAKING A DIFFERENCE REPORT TO TAKE US OFF THE AIR TONIGHT. IT'S ABOUT AN UNUSUAL BOSS, A COLLEGE PRESIDENT, IN FACT, WHOSE DONE SOMETHING GENEROUS IN HOPES THAT IT WOULD BE PAID FORWARD AND THAT OTHERS WILL LEARN A LESSON FROM IT. WE GET HIS STORY TONIGHT FROM NBC'S KEVIN TIBBLES.

* >> Reporter: THE KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY THOROUGHBREDS HAVE A NEWFOUND REASON TO BE LOUD AND PROUD. AND THEY POINT TO THIS MAN AS THE REASON.

INTERIM UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT RAYMOND BURSE. >> I WANT EVERY ONE OF THE KIDS ON THIS CAMPUS TO BELIEVE THAT THE SKY IS THE LIMIT OF WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE.
>> Reporter: FOLLOWING A SQUEFL BUSINESS CAREER, BURSE, A RHODES SCHOLAR WAS CAJOLED OUT OF RETIREMENT. HIS VERY FIRST MOVE, A JAW DROPPER. RAISE THE SALARIES OF THE UNIVERSITY'S 24 LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES AND PAY FOR IT BY SLASHING HIS OWN. TO THE TUNE OF $90,000.
>> IN DOING THAT, WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS EMULATE TO THE STUDENTS ON THIS CAMPUS WHAT I THINK IT TAKES TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS SOCIETY.
>> Reporter: STAFFERS ON THE LOWER END OF THE SCALE WERE GIVEN PAY HIKES FROM $7.25 AN HOUR TO 10.25 AN HOUR. A 40% INCREASE. EMPLOYEES CALL IT A BLESSING.
>> HE GAVE UP $90,000. YOU KNOW, THAT'S SO BEYOND GENEROUS.
>> Reporter: AND ON CAMPUS, STUDENTS NOW STUDY HIS EVERY MOVE.
>> FOR HIM TO COME IN AND JUST TAKE THAT MAJOR PAY CUT REALLY SAYS A LOT ABOUT HIM.
> Reporter: BURSE HASN'T EVEN SOUGHT OUT THOSE WORKERS HE'S HELPED. THAT'S JUST THE WAY HE IS.
>> I LOOK AT MYSELF AS A POOR COUNTRY KID FROM HOPKINSVILLE, KENTUCKY, TRYING TO DO WELL IN THIS WORLD BY TREATING PEOPLE RIGHT. >> Reporter:

http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nightly...s-342556739606