COD officially announces new president

Robert Breuder's ability to boost community college enrollment and fatten the coffers made him the perfect choice to lead College of DuPage.

That's the perspective from College of DuPage Board Chairman Micheal McKinnon, who confirmed Tuesday that the former Harper Community College president will join COD on Jan. 1.

"We feel Dr. Breuder is the person to lead us for the next five to six years," McKinnon said.

Breuder met with Harper staff Monday to let them know it would be his last day at the Palatine school after more than 10 years as its leader.

McKinnon said COD trustees plan to approve the agreement with Breuder at one of two meetings later this month.

Though there was criticism from some quarters during the search process that trustees had rushed the selection, McKinnon said he's confident the Glen Ellyn school has an excellent new chief.

"What he did for Harper College was short of a miracle. I remember what Harper was like," he said. "(Breuder) turned that college around to where it is probably one of the best run community colleges in Illinois."

Specifically, McKinnon cited the increase in enrollment at Harper under Breuder's tenure and the fact that the school's fund reserves increased significantly.

Harper has about 50 percent of its total budget set aside in reserves, a number that dwarfs what's in reserves at COD at the moment, he continued. McKinnon said trustees want to have a minimum of 18 percent of the budget set aside for emergencies, and they are hovering precariously close to that amount now.

COD trustees ousted former President Sunil Chand in May, giving him the title of president emeritus before bringing back former longtime President Harold McAninch to serve on an interim basis.

It was Breuder's similarity to the well-liked McAninch in many ways that was appealing to the board, McKinnon said.

"We saw a lot of Dr. McAninch in Dr. Breuder," he said. "He can make a decision. He is strong. That's something this board is looking for."

Though McKinnon said the board wants Breuder to stay at the school for five to six years, the length of his contract and its terms won't be released until his agreement is approved during a public meeting. While Chand made $200,000 in base pay his last year on the job, Breuder was set to receive $247,804 from Harper this school year.