NU President Jeffrey Gold declines $159,000 bonus
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — University of Nebraska President Jeffrey Gold said Friday that he will not accept his merit-based raise.
Under his contract, Gold could have received $159,385.95 bonus — 15% of his base salary — for his performance over the last year.
The Board of Regents approved the merit pay Thursday in a 10-2 vote.
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But Gold said he would decline the money and asked that it instead be used to support programs across the university’s campuses.
NU is trying to trim $20 million from its budget, and the individual campuses are facing their own cuts.
“It is an honor to be able to make this decision to support our University and the communities we serve during this critical time for higher education,” Gold said in a press release.
Paul Kenney, the chairman of the Board of Regents, said Gold’s decision shows his commitment to NU.
“Dr. Gold has consistently put students at the center of his leadership, and this is another example of that commitment,” he said. “We are grateful for his generosity and for the example he continues to set for our university community.”
