Ousted COD president lands at Benedictine

Former College of DuPage President Sunil Chand has been hired by Benedictine University in Lisle to serve as the school's higher education doctoral program director.

Chand was ousted by the COD board amid a cloud of mystery in May 2008 and given nearly $275,000 in severance to remain as the community college's president emeritus. Both sides signed a non-disparagement agreement and have not spoken publicly about the reasons for Chand's removal.

Chand's contract with COD expires at the end of this year, but he goes on unpaid sabbatical July 1. He has been working with Benedictine's college of education and health services revising the curriculum for the higher education and organizational change program since February, Benedictine officials said Friday.

COD's board approved an agreement with Benedictine on Thursday that allows Chand to continue his work there and accept the new position in exchange for reimbursement from Benedictine for part of Chand's severance package. Benedictine will pay COD $29,498 for Chand's services before he takes the new post, said Tom Ryan, COD's Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Chand will continue his work with Benedictine through the end of June before assuming the program director duties on July 1, according to a news release from Benedictine.

Chand came to COD in 2003, leaving his job as executive vice president for academic and student affairs at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio. He also is the former dean of Triton College in River Grove.

"COD is a great partner and a valued friend," said Benedictine President William Carroll. "We thank them for the arrangement regarding Dr. Chand's involvement in our doctoral education program. We appreciate COD 'outsourcing' Dr. Chand to us in an area that fits with his experience and meets our needs."

Benedictine spokesman Phil Brozynski said Chand also is helping develop a doctoral program for K-12 administration at the university.