University president slashes his own pay to help others

“I’m not extraordinary,” said Burse. “I’ve assumed that people do those kinds of things all the time.”

In summer 2014, Burse, who is president of Kentucky State University, gave up $90,000 of his almost $350,000 salary so that 24 of the university’s lowest paid workers could earn $10.25 an hour. The move gave them a 40% pay increase.

“I don’t mind giving up some of what I have been able to obtain through life in order to be a small help to them in their own lives,” Burse said.

Burse’s help didn’t end there.

Burse discussed it with his wife for a few weeks, and then decided he could come back for at least a year to help the university stabilize.

Burse came in expecting to be at KSU for a year, but he’s now signed on to be there another three-plus years.

“I think we are all placed on this Earth to do something, to do something good,” Burse said.

“I consider Raymond Burse to be an ordinary individual, who works hard, who believes in people and in the power of people. If you give and work with people, good things will happen,” he said.

CNN