COD scrutinizing Costa Rica trips
College of DuPage President Sunil Chand said Thursday he's taking a close look at trips to Costa Rica by a dean proposing a new program there.
And in a prepared statement, board Chairman Micheal McKinnon said while the board supports innovation, he will not allow "undue personal benefit" for an employee.
The concerns surround a proposal the board saw last month for a program Continuing Education Dean Michael Perez wants to start in Costa Rica. He spent about $6,000 on two trips there exploring the idea, and staying at a complex where he's buying some property.
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He even offered an online testimonial on the company's Web site -- providing his college phone number and e-mail address.
Perez suggests harnessing the burgeoning American retiree markets in the Central American country through noncredit classes. In just two years, the program would generate nearly $300,000 in revenue for the college, Perez said.
His idea includes relocating him down there to establish the branch. With 30 years of similar experience for the Department of Defense, Perez says he's the logical choice to complete the mission.
In interviews, Perez said it would cost $25,000 to relocate his household to Costa Rica, including his personal car.
Trustees were scheduled to take a second look at the plan on Thursday, but it was pulled by Chand to "take a stronger look at it (within the context of the) strategic plan."
Chand said Thursday that the board members were presented with the concept so they were familiar with what the college was considering, and Perez's proposal details were never guaranteed. He said he'd never heard the $25,000 figure.
The proposal included a $15,000 estimate, but in subsequent interviews Perez said he expected it would be markedly higher.
McKinnon said there was "significant" reaction to the Daily Herald story last week explaining the details and Perez's trips to Costa Rica.
Some people expressed excitement about the "innovative concept," but others felt it "takes us too far astray from our responsibility to provide educational opportunities in DuPage, Cook and Will counties," he said.
Many proposals that come to the board "hold the keys to our future success," McKinnon said, and they "will continue to encourage the development of new proposals to enhance the value we create for students, parents and taxpayers."
At the same time, however, he said that as board chairman, he "will not allow any program that comes before us to include any undue personal benefit for anyone involved. Period. And in this case, I will not support this proposal if it comes before us with any provisions that appear self-serving on the part of program staff."