COD president celebrates third year
Dr. Robert L. Breuder celebrates his third anniversary as president of College of DuPage with an impressive array of fiduciary, programmatic and campus improvements.
The fifth president of College of DuPage, Dr. Breuder has helped save District 502 taxpayers nearly $3 million through the refinancing of existing construction debt. In addition, under his direction, the college has continued to streamline its operations, cutting annual budgetary spending by millions of dollars. President Breuder has also been instrumental in increasing the College's unallocated fund balance to nearly 60 percent (or $101 million) of the previous year's operating budget. The fiscal health of the institution was recognized earlier this year, as COD received a reaffirmation of its Aaa bond rating (the highest possible) from both Moody's and Standards & Poor's.
During his tenure, the College staff and faculty have developed 30 new credit certificate programs and 10 new degree programs, and the College has been the recipient of 20 new program accreditations following 12 separate on-site visits since January 2009. Dr. Breuder was instrumental in the development of the College's first-ever 3+1 partnerships with area universities that offer students the opportunity to earn bachelor's degrees on the College's Glen Ellyn campus.
“The abundance of new programs, successful accreditations and 3+1 partnerships with area colleges and universities such as Lewis, Benedictine, Governors State and Roosevelt, are concrete examples of the quality and rigor that have defined College of DuPage under Dr. Breuder's leadership,” COD Board Chairman David Carlin said. “Dr. Breuder's stamp of excellence is reflected in the shining exterior and exceptional interior operations of this College. Thanks to his guidance, we have continued to make substantial decisions that have resulted in the highest-level of education for our students.”
The significant strengthening of the College's fund balance was achieved amid the implementation of a nearly $500 million revitalization plan, the largest construction and renovation project in the College's 44-year history. In 2011 alone, the College opened three new 63,000-plus square-foot centers, renovated the majority of two cornerstone facilities, and completed an extensive signage and exterior beautification project. More than one million square feet of educational space has been reworked or constructed under Dr. Breuder's leadership since 2009.
Prior to his arrival at College of DuPage, Dr. Breuder was President of William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, Ill., where he had served since 1998. Raised in Queens, New York, Dr. Breuder earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Florida State University in 1972 and began his career as an instructor of Botany at Paul Smith's College in New York. At the age of 36, Dr. Breuder became the youngest community college president in the nation at Pennsylvania College of Technology (formerly Williamsport Area Community College), in Williamsport, Penn. In March 2012, Dr. Breuder will celebrate 31 years as a community college president.
College of DuPage is the second-largest provider of higher education in Illinois and the largest single-campus community college in the nation outside of California. For more information, visit www.cod.edu.