USM president refuses 72K raise

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Rodney Bennett, University of Southern Mississippi president, has donated a recent raise he received to a scholarship fund at the university.

The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning gave Bennett a $72,630 raise, increasing his salary to $464,500 a year. But in a July 6 email to the campus community, Bennett said he wouldn't keep that hike.

"I am sensitive this increase comes at a time when so many employees have not received pay increases, have had positions eliminated or have had positions in their units unfilled," he wrote. "As such, I have decided to use this salary increase to endow a second scholarship through the USM Foundation."

Southern Miss cut personnel in May after receiving $7.96 million less in funding since fiscal year 2017. Three employees lost their jobs. Another 33 vacant positions were eliminated.

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