Interim president answers questions on Harper's future
In the weeks leading up to his sudden departure for College of DuPage, former Harper College President Robert Breuder was mobilizing some of the most ambitious initiatives in the school's 40-year history.
In October, state legislators joined area police and fire chiefs to publicly pressure Northern Illinois University President John Peters to stop thwarting Harper's efforts to offer a public safety administration and homeland security bachelor's degree.
Around the same time, the college finalized a 10-year, $330 million plan to upgrade and build new campus facilities. Voters last month approved funding $153.6 million of the project.
But Breuder's early exit Nov. 10 put the brakes on it all. The consultant leading Harper's presidential search, John Pickelman, 63, also was hired as interim president. The longtime chancellor of a large Houston-area community college district discussed his role replacing Breuder and what the community can expect in upcoming months.
Q: What do you look to accomplish as interim president?
A: "It's not my role to make any decisions that have long-term consequences. We'll get a budget passed and have some bonds we want to sell. I'll work to transition a new president, which the board should hire in March or April. I'm not a change agent."
Q: Where does Harper's $330 million master campus plan stand?
A: "You won't see any building projects during next six months, but that doesn't mean we can't do all we can to get ready. The board will establish priorities so that the college will be well positioned to move ahead."
Q: You're leading Harper's search for Breuder's replacement. Are you also a candidate?
A: "I want to say that absolutely, unequivocally, I am not a candidate. Everybody whispers and people speculate, but that's not going to happen. It'd be a conflict of interest."
Q: What's the profile of a new president and will he or she be expected to continue pushing for a baccalaureate program in public safety?
A: "We want someone very experienced, most likely a current college president, someone who will see this as career advancement. I find it hard in this day and age as community colleges become more and more comprehensive that a person coming here would be totally against a baccalaureate program that targets a special need. It's happening in 11 states."
Q: What's the biggest challenge Harper faces?
A: "The economy. Even though the college's fiscal status is excellent, it still relies on property taxes and tuition. We have to be concerned about those revenues. We also expect a tremendous influx of students in the fall because in this economic climate, people tend to go back to school to retool and make themselves more marketable. We need to make sure we're an institution of access and opportunity."