Standup Leadership – President Bailey of SOU

Due to a $6 million campus budget reduction effort, President Rick Bailey has requested a pay cut of $53,000 as his contribution to the solution, reported Ashland.news on July 30, 2025. Beginning Friday, August 1, this cut will go into effect, continuing until the new fiscal year, July 1, 2026.

According to Ashland.news:

Trustees approved SOU’s budget on June 20 that called for the university to make $5 million in cuts in order to “deal with a structural deficit,” according to Sheila Clough, chair of the board. Declining enrollment as well as reduced state and federal support are contributors to needed reductions to the campus, according to SOU, and have since increased to $6 million or nearly 10% of the $66 million budget. Details of the cutbacks will be announced by Bailey at a “campus conversation” with employees Friday morning at the university.

“This certainly has been the most difficult week I’ve had since I’ve been here, and that’s even knowing what we went through with SOU Forward and how heart-wrenching that was,” Bailey told trustees. 

Bailey made the request on Wednesday in order to include his reduction in pay in the current draft plan of action, which he will make available to the board of trustees on Thursday, July 31.

The Board of Trustees not only accepted his request but offered multiple comments commending his character. To read these comments and the entire article, click here.