Letter about Brueder contract misleading

On July 22, a letter from College of DuPage Faculty Senate Vice-President Bob Hazard appeared in the Daily Herald regarding the COD board of trustees’ recent decision to exercise a clause in its contract with COD President Robert L. Breuder by adding an additional year to his service.

Mr. Hazard’s letter was factually inaccurate and needs to be clarified. He writes that the board was “sidestepping” President Breuder’s existing contract to add a “third non-negotiated year.” This is false.

The contract, which was provided to all media who requested it, clearly provides for a rolling one-year extension subject to the willingness of both the board and President Breuder. In other words, under the contract, the president can request an additional year annually and the Board can decide whether to grant it.

Further, if President Breuder informs the board of his interest to stay an additional year and the Board fails to respond within a specified period of time, the one year extension can become automatic. According to the College of DuPage’s legal counsel these rolling one year extensions are common within higher education and for a number of years have been included in presidential contracts at College of DuPage.

Without correction, Mr. Hazard’s letter would mislead District 502 taxpayers and Daily Herald readers. During President Breuder’s first two years at COD, he has added more than 20 new academic programs, completely overhauled the operation of the state’s largest community college and is currently overseeing $350 million in construction of cutting-edge teaching and learning facilities.

David Carlin

COD board chairman

Erin Birt

vice chairman