University Diaries » Something You Don’t See Every Day

The University of Louisville board of trustees Thursday approved the school president’s request to forgo the triple-digit pay raise or bonus he could have received.

James Ramsey will instead receive a lump sum payment of $700, the same amount other full-time faculty and staff members are expected to receive this fiscal year, according to U of L spokesman John Drees. The lump sum payment will bring Ramsey’s base university salary to $331,918.

Under Ramsey’s contract, he would have been eligible for a bonus of more than $113,000 for the 2007-08 academic year. But Ramsey asked the trustees not to give him any additional money because of the tight economic times.

The board earlier approved a university budget that includes $6.1 million in cuts.

Ramsey’s decision not to have a bonus will effectively drop his status as the highest-paid public university president in Kentucky, a designation that now goes to University of Kentucky President Lee Todd.

Todd was awarded a $95,500 bonus by UK’s board of trustees, increasing his total compensation to $549,510.

Lexington Herald-Leader

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Bonzo Says:
July 11th, 2008 at 10:04AM

Leadership does matter. When Ramsey calls for belt-tightening, sacrifice, and cooperation, he should get it because he walks the talk. I’ve cited this post with an illustration of a pig flying, because it is so rare.

Joe Fruscione Says:
July 11th, 2008 at 10:09AM

This is definitely a rare thing, and I think we should applaud Ramsey for showing such class in turning down such a raise. As an adjunct at two schools, I know all too well how there can be such disparity between raises of 3 and 6 figures. I wish Bonzo were wrong and that this won’t be as rare as a flying pig. But, I think Bonzo is right.

I hope that Ramsey becomes a trendsetter.

I’m also wondering how the former president of GW (where UD is and where I went and adjunct) would have responded to the $700 vs. $113,000 choice. Forgive my cynicism, but something tells me that he’d opt for 6 figures. As for GW’s new president, I really don’t know.

Dance Says:
July 11th, 2008 at 10:36AM

Nice. Probably too much to hope it starts a competition to *not* be the highest-paid univ president in a state, but that’s kinda the idea the article sets up.

Admittedly, at $300K (and I’m sure noticeable expenses get covered by the univ), he’s still pretty comfortable, but lots of respect for the principle of the thing.

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