Q&A with College of DuPage chairwoman: Trustees must move forward

College of DuPage board Chairwoman Deanne Mazzochi says she knew before her election in April 2015 that the school was facing a challenging situation.

But no one could have predicted all the controversies, investigations and political divisions that have plagued the Glen Ellyn-based school for more than a year.

The board ended up firing former President Robert Breuder amid state and federal probes into COD's spending and administrative practices. And the Higher Learning Commission, which decides whether COD is accredited, placed the school on two years' probation, in part because of dysfunction on the board.

Now, Mazzochi, named chairwoman last month, says she wants trustees to move the college forward, beginning with hiring a new president, which is expected to happen Monday night.

She talked with the Daily Herald about the college's future. Here's an edited transcript of that conversation:

<b>Q.</b> What do you hope to accomplish as chairwoman?

<b>A.</b> We need to keep the thoughts of residents in mind. Issues that are important to them include not increasing tuition and keeping the tax levy at least stable.

Obviously, we have to select the next college president. Then we as a board are going to have to make sure we're identifying the right priorities for that person to focus on while also giving them the freedom to start shaping the institution in a way that makes sure we're staying focused on the community college mission and our mission statement.

<b>Q.</b> What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the college?

<b>A.</b> The biggest challenge facing the college is the inherent lack of trust between the public and those responsible for the college who had an obligation to steer it in the right direction. There's been a lack of trust between faculty and administrators.

I'm hoping when we have new leadership in place we're going to see more of a coming together. Instead of people retreating into their corners and pointing fingers at each other, we will have someone around whom we can coalesce and start looking in the same direction.

<b>Q.</b> The COD board is divided with trustees Erin Birt, Dianne McGuire and Joseph Wozniak often at odds with you, Charles Bernstein, Frank Napolitano and David Olsen. How will you get both sides to work together?

<b>A.</b> I've been trying to ensure that people feel they're informed and trying to encourage them to participate in the process. I've been trying to keep our board meetings fairly calm and focused on the task at hand while still recognizing people have different perspectives and different opinions - and ensuring they believe they have an outlet for voicing those differences of opinion.

I would hope people realize that even though we have disagreements, there's a productive way in which we can air those disagreements.

It may take a little bit more time, but hopefully people will recognize one of the reasons this is a nonpartisan position is we're not supposed to try to be political with one another.

<b>Q.</b> You've said you tried reaching out to Birt, McGuire and Wozniak and it hasn't gone well. What can you do now since becoming chairman?

<b>A.</b> I am going to continue to try to have open lines of communication. I will ensure trustees are given information in a timely fashion. One of the things I've spoken with the administration about is making sure all trustees are getting information more in advance of the meetings so they can provide their input.

By the fall, we can have more informal meetings, like committee of the whole meetings, where trustees can engage openly and not feel the need to show up with a speech in hand.

<b>Q.</b> What is your response to claims minority trustees are not given the same access to information?

<b>A.</b> It's simply not true. To my knowledge, the only suggestion that's been made as to documents they've alleged they don't have access to are legal bills. And they do have access to the legal bills. They've simply been sent electronically and password-protected so we can ensure we're maintaining the security of the documents. They (Birt, McGuire and Wozniak) just don't like that they're password-protected.

<b>Q.</b> Where is the college at with addressing the Higher Learning Commission's concerns about accreditation?

<b>A.</b> The Higher Learning Commission's accreditation rests on five criteria based on 21 core components. At our last meeting, each of the seven voting trustees were assigned responsibility for three to gain greater knowledge of each area. One of the most important things we're going to be able to do for our students is just get back to that baseline accreditation. It should be a given that students come to the College of DuPage and that their credits transfer.

There's no doubt this is going to require an institution-wide effort to be compliant. But the Higher Learning Commission was doing its job to tell us where it thought our processes had broken down. Now we have to do an institution-wide critique and self-assessment. We're only going to get better as a consequence of that process.

<b>Q.</b> COD could name its new president to replace the fired Robert Breuder as early as Monday. What are your thoughts on how the search has gone?

<b>A.</b> Based on the candidates we have before us, it was very gratifying to hear people say, “I think any one of them could do the job.” Now it becomes incumbent on us to further identify who is going to be the best long-term fit with all of our stakeholders - the public, administration, faculty, students, classified staff.

That's why I keep asking for and seeking feedback. The more data I have the more comfortable I feel that whatever decision the board ultimately makes is going to be based on the best set of information we had at the time.

<b>Q.</b> If you hire a new president without the board's unanimous approval, what kind of message will that send?

<b>A.</b> All we as a board can do is exercise our best judgment. Whoever is selected, it will be in compliance with legal requirements and that's it. The decision is a decision. Naturally, it would be best for everyone that trustees choose to act in a productive manner after that decision is made.

<b>Q.</b> What will happen to acting interim President Joe Collins after the new president is hired?

<b>A.</b> Once we have a new college president, he will revert to his prior position, which was executive vice president.

<b>Q.</b> Is the next president going to pick his or her own management team?

<b>A.</b> At this point in time, I wouldn't want to prejudge anything the incoming president is going to do, either in one direction or the other.

All three of the candidates seem to be very thoughtful. They all have considerable administrative experience. Certainly, we as a board will listen to their recommendations.

<b>Q.</b> Has the College of DuPage turned the corner?

<b>A.</b> One of the great things about this past year is that we said we were going to be instituting a very aggressive reform agenda. We've pursued it - both at board level and internally.

Are we yet perfect? No. Do I think we have done an incredible amount of work to get everything on the right path? Yes. And with each passing month you're going to see more milestones achieved.

<b>Q.</b> Where do you want College of DuPage to be a year from now?

<b>A.</b> We will be on our pathway to full accreditation. We will get our HLC (accreditation) visit in April 2017. Once we get through this process, we'll be stronger for it, we'll be better for it. And we will go back to being the gold standard that everyone wants to emulate.