Harper president to move over to College of DuPage

Robert Breuder's retirement ended before it even began.

The 10-year president of Harper College is sliding on over to a new job as the leader of the Glen Ellyn-based College of DuPage, sources confirmed.

Breuder bid farewell to his longtime employer Monday afternoon after trustees preliminarily granted his request he be released from his contract more than seven months early.

College of DuPage officials expect to announce Tuesday that Breuder, 64, is their choice to replace Sunil Chand as the college's president and that they're in the final stages of negotiations on terms. A source involved in the negotiations said the college was waiting for confirmation from Harper that Breuder's officially available before issuing its own statement.

By the end of the day Monday, though, the Harper leader had already packed up his office in Palatine.

"I'm out," he said just before his departure. "All my stuff is in my car and I'm ready to go home today."

In fact, he made his own announcement Monday afternoon before nearly 200 college employees who were called to an all-school meeting.

"It's been a great honor for me to work here and I value Harper's support and friendship and commitment to excellence," Breuder said.

Breuder did not say Monday that he was to become the president of COD, but he has said in the past that he was offered the job, and last month COD said it was negotiating a contract with him.

The COD board expects to vote on the new president's contract at its Nov. 20 meeting. Chand was ousted by the board last May. Since then, former COD President Harold McAninch has served on an interim basis.

Harper board President Laurie Stone said the college is saving money on Breuder's salary because he will not receive more than $140,000 of his $247,804 base salary for this fiscal year.

The $508,000 compensation package Breuder is due over five years, however, remains intact. That sum covers insurance, salary with projected increases, long-term disability and income tax reimbursement.

"There's no reason to diminish his retirement package, which was negotiated in recognition of his outstanding long-term service," said Stone. "The fact he's leaving seven months premature doesn't cause us to look back on what he's accomplished in a negative way."

Breuder is in a self-managed plan similar to a 401(k), meaning there's no pension obligation from the state.

Terms of Breuder's agreement with COD aren't expected to be released until after that board's official vote later this month.

Harper trustees called a special meeting for 7 p.m. Wednesday, when they expected to adopt the separation agreement and name an interim president. Stone said the board is "committed to choosing someone with prior presidential experience."

Because Breuder was already slated to retire at the end of this school year, Harper's search for a replacement already is well under way. His departure midstream won't speed up that process, and the target date to hire a new president is still July 1, 2009.

Breuder will be available to the board through Dec. 31 for consultation and to assist with pending litigation.

His remarks to the Harper staff Monday were followed by a lengthy standing ovation. Breuder's credited with helping increase enrollment 34 percent since he arrived in 1998. He grew the college's reserves from $17.1 million to $52.1 million and oversaw two successful referendum requests, the most recent coming last week when taxpayers approved a $153.6 million bond issue for facilities improvements.

"I'm more proud of the culture here than anything else," said Breuder. "We have an environment of collaboration and cooperation, the likes of which hadn't been seen in 25 years."

Stone said Harper will still move forward with renovation projects despite an interim president at the helm. She said the college's staff is preparing a priority list and that the bond sale will most likely come in January.

Exit: Breuder lauded for success at Harper