Tonight’s meeting is scheduled to begin at 7pm. Our blogging coverage may be limited.
Links to the agenda and board packet are available here:
http://cod.edu/about/board_of_trustees/index.aspx
You can access live stream of the meeting at this link:
http://cod.edu/multimedia_services/botmedia.aspx
Thanks to our readers for your interest and patience. This is a volunteer effort. Forward, ho!!
Chair Hamilton opens up the public comments section.
Laura Reigle — Expresses her unhappiness with Trustee McGuire for voting no and wonders what her motivation could be. Has a question for BoT — regarding what has happened in the last week. What ramifications will there be for the College for the bond issue, because theywhich were used for enrollment numbers that are now clearly inaccurate.
Kirk Allen — talks about his early writing that claimed that administrators need to be held accountable. Directs his comments at Interim President Collins. He tells Dr. Collins that he has always been cordial to him and appreciates that. However he believes that the SLEA credit issue falls under Collins responsibility as the Executive President for Academic Affairs. Notes that Collins allowed the Equitable Initiative to go ahead despite warnings from Maloney and from faculty that it should not happen.
Takes issue with Chair Hamilton for her comments that these things did not happen under Dr. Collins watch.
Trustee Birt, you did publicly state that these things did happen under Collin’s watch, so would you indicate what you think should be happened.
Calls for Dr, Kartje to be removed from her post immediately because of the SLEA issue. She supplied false information.
Notes the BoT doesn’t have the authority to terminate those administrators. He wonders which administrator has the integrity to resign from the College. Or what actions the BoT can take to encourage these administrators to self-cleanse” from the college. Notes it is not about apolitical agenda, but rather about good government. Notes that the BoT could be accused of micromanaging, but states that in moment of crises, micromanaging can be necessary.
Judy Worley — relieved that action has been taken. Looks forward to more information that will cone to light. And looks forward to a clean sweep.
Roger Kempa. Calls for an apology from Trustee McGuire for her comments regarding Nazis in a previous meeting.
Bob Buckley –asks McGuire if she voted no because she is afraid of a lawsuit. Notes that Birt has missed so many of the recent meetings.
Chair Hamilton — time for BoT comments. Notes that a chapter at COD is coming to an end. The grounds in today’s resolution show a systematic betrayal of students, faculty and taxpayers for insider benefit. We now have the FBI, the HLC, ICCB coming to investigate us. The evidence is overwhelming. Tomorrow we will release the documents we have that led to this, except for those that cannot be released. We will fight for COD. We will effectively deliver world-class education that will allow COD students to effectively compete in this globalized economy. It is our new day. It is our promise to you. This school has great teachers who are teaching determined students. Each one of us on the BoT invites everyone in District 502 to take your place and to help build the very bright and promising future for COD.
Next meeting is Thursday Nov 22. There is another meeting on Nov 5th that is not reflected on the announcements.
Chair Hamilton asks for a motion to adjourn.
Meeting adjourned.
Chair Hamilton asks for a motion to come out of closed session.
McGuire — States she will vote against the motion to terminate Brueder. She says there is not a real legal basis for firing him. She calls this move a politically charged vendetta. States that Erin Birt has told her that if she could be present tonight, she would also vote no.
Trustee Mazzochi– talks about the resolution that asked Brueder to surrender all devices provided to him by the college. Within hours Breuder’s IPAd was wiped clean and he was responsible for it. To date he hasn’t responded to BOt requests to explain this. Mazzochi quotes Breuder’s attorney noted that evidence must be preserved, and that is the standard Brueder must be held to.
Brueder has not responded in writing to these allegations though he was invited to.
Brueder was aware of improper election activities because his approval is all over the documents. This involved cash and time away from COD– real taxpayer dollars were taken from students and taxpayers
Brueder has not responded in writing to these allegations though he was invited to.
Mazzochi says that if this list is not enough cause for termination she wonders how far an employee would have to go to give cause for termination.
Trustee Bernstein — refers to the HLC Report. The issues identified in there are the reason we are having this vote tonight. E-mail regarding 20 million dollars from the State of Illinois, radio station improprieties, Faculty vote of no confidence, administrative expenses at the Waterleaf, the President’s contract and buyout, Foundation Board member contracts.The SLEA credit issue. Investment of funds. All of this was brought up by the HLC, all things to the detriment to the College, and all happened under Brueder’s watch. Disagrees that this is a political move. Instead, it is based on the evidence, the things mentioned in the HLC report.
Trustee Napolitano — want to add that we are coming to the end of a terrible chapter in COD’s long history. We have the chance to turn the final page on this bad chapter and going back to what this college was.
Chair Hamilton calls for a vote:
Turstee McGuire votes no. All other Trustees present vote yes. The motion to terminate the employment of Robert Brueder passes.
Chair Hamilton asks to add the full version of the faculty VNC to Item 6.
She asks for objections. She hears none.
Trustee Mazzochi talks about her experiences at the faculty in-service today and about her conversations with faculty.
Public comments continue
John Kraft — Still has not obtained Breuder’s W2.
Trustees Birt, Wozniak and McGuire — need to write a check back to COD for all the food and wine you consumed. Item #1 is sufficient by itself to terminate Breuder. (Failure to store electronic records) There is a criminal investigation ongoing. This is a felony.
Susan DuBoef — Wants to tender an apology to all the BoT and all gathered. Notes she was a student at Harper when Breuder was there. Notes that she and Harper taxpayers paid Harper College 500,000 to leave. She apologizes for sending Breuder from Harper to COD. She hopes that COD will not have to pay Breuder $700,000 to go away.
End of Public Comments.
Chair Hamilton announces the closed session. College Attorney states the reason for going into closed session.
Trustees present all vote yes to move to closed session.
The BoT moves into closed session.
Blogging will resume after the closed session.
Meeting called to order.
Pledge of Allegiance.
Trustees Wozniak and Birt are not present. Student Trustee Roark is not present. All other Trustees present.
Agenda approved.
Public Comments. Chair Hamilton goes over the rules of public comments.
Glenn Hansen, President CODFA
Good evening,I’m Glenn Hansen, President of the Faculty Association and Senate. I’ve said many things for many years. I’ve written many things. I was prepared to add to the record tonight, but why? Tonight, to the Board of Trustees of the College of DuPage, on behalf of the full-time faculty, I say — Thank you.
Richard Jarman, VP CODFA
Some sweet irony that the HLC report dropped into the COD mailbox Friday night, on the eve of this momentous board meeting. For let it not be mistaken that the multitude of reasons that prompted the HLC’s visit in July all originated with the subject of item 6 in tonight’s agenda: “RESOLUTION TO TERMINATE THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE COLLEGE PRESIDENT.” The end of an error, as someone wittily observed in a Facebook comment.
Let me further make clear, as I have done previously, and as we look forward to the urgent process of identifying a worthy occupant of the presidential office, that there was an error, a severe error in the hiring process, flawed and corrupted by the cabal of McKinnon, Carlin et. al. A process in which the opinions of an outside expert consultant were flagrantly ignored. I wonder if they ponder the weight of responsibility they share for inflicting upon this institution six years under the tyrant’s heel, and the consequences of mismanagement and corruption that we inherited. One of them is still present. I suggest that person has no moral authority to question or criticize any aspect of the selection process that this board chooses.
I think I can confidently speak for most faculty in anticipating this vote tonight with great anticipation and some relief. We have been impatient but you have had to prepare the ground. Wrongs will have been righted at least in part: the deflation of the Golden Parachute, the preservation of the HEC’s name for Robert Miller, the demolition of a legacy. I suspect some may vote no. Among other things, NO is an endorsement of the misuse of public funds for political activities; it is an endorsement of the failure to establish internal controls; it is an endorsement of the improper investment of college funds; it is an endorsement of the improper attempt to extract $20 MM from the State of Illinois.
The HLC report demands a response and visible actions to exact the necessary changes. No time to waste. Despite the criticisms leveled at the new majority, although none were associated with the problems, I believe that this board has the ability to implement the required change. I want to affirm our Association’s commitment to working with you. We have been doing so since April. I am confident that together we can get there.
Now to the vote.
Keith Yearman —
Laura Reigle — reads statements about enrollment that were made by Joe Collins. Says that these statements were not correct. Argues that Dr. Joe Collins was hand-picked by Breuder and cannot lead the College.
Mark Misiorowski Tells the BoT members that they need to define who they are and what they stand for, to make or break their reputation in front of the COD community. Reminds the BoT that they need vision, reform, reconciliation. Recommends against being willfully blind or missing in action. Reminds them that they are labeling themselves this evening. They are defining their individual reputation, not Breuder’s. Reminds them that they are defining their own personal legacy. This is no longer about Dr. Breuder.
Roger Kempa. Prepared a 23 page investment report that he shared with all BoT members. He invited comments. Only received on comment from a BOT member, with a simple thank you. That came from Dianne McGuire. Notes the trail of “immense things” he did that sank his own ship. Wants to know why the Illinois Public Funds Act was clearly violated with the mutual funds purchases. This law says that a community college may invest in short-term bonds but that investment is subject to BoT approval, which was not done. This means this was illegal and wants that noted. Notes items C, D and F — needs to know why Breuder was responsible for those because those were the responsibilities of the Treasurer to report to the Board.
Paul LeForte – Hopes this is the last night we have to talk about the past. Notes that Trustee Birt is missing for the fifth time out of 11 meetings. Trustee Wozniak is also not here. Notes that Trustee Hamilton has noted that the current situation does require some micromanagement until we get a new president. Notes two year expensive fight by Breuder with Village of Glen Ellyn. Notes that was free, and now we are paying Lisle for those services. Notes personal contact with Daily Herald about a BoT candidate’s private personell record at COD, probably illegal and shredding that candidate’s public reputation.
Adam Andrezseski. Freeze property taxes, tuition and use construction funds into the classroom instead. Notes these have been achieved. It has taken a collective effort of groups including COD faculty to get to this moment. Unquestionable integrity, appreciation for COD’s history as a top tier community college. Sterling academic credentials. History of academic management. Have previously shepherded a community college turn around. Demonstrate strong support for academic and career oriented education. And all COD senior executives must also demonstrate those traits. How can any administrator. appointed by Breuder show that? Names Collins, Kartje and Moore and all other senior management team have implemented Breuder practices.
Kirk Allen — laments that Trustees are not present. Discusses Erin Birt’s DUI mug shot. Calls for Erin Birt’s immediate resignation. Notes that Birt banned his PowerPoint presentation. Notes that Birt failed to protect taxpayers from Breuder’s abuses. Calls for Dianne McGuire to resign. Notes her inability to recognize her own mistakes. Tells Wozniak that he is being used. This BoT legacy will be left by their vote tonight.
The BOT has called a special meeting for Tuesday, Oct 20, starting at 6pm. The agenda is brief and contains one key item, the termination of President Breuder. There will be a period for public comment, followed by closed session, followed by the vote to terminate.
Links to the agenda and board packet are available here:
http://cod.edu/about/board_of_trustees/index.aspx
You can access live stream of the meeting at this link:
http://cod.edu/multimedia_services/botmedia.aspx
Our readers also may be interested in the conclusions of COD’s recent investigation by the Higher Learning Commission, our accrediting body, which were published on Friday, Oct 16. Press release and links to supporting documents can be found here:
http://www.cod.edu/news-events/news/15_october/15_hlc.aspx
The next meeting of COD’s Board of Trustees is scheduled for Oct 22. We expect to provide blog coverage of this meeting.
The agenda and board packet are posted two days in advance. Links to these materials will be available here:
http://cod.edu/about/board_of_trustees/index.aspx
You can access video of previous meetings at this link:
http://cod.edu/multimedia_services/botmedia.aspx
Keith Yearman, Associate Professor of Geography. I’d like to address issues relating to program review. Let me preface this by stating faculty fully believe in improving the quality of our programs. However, this ICCB-mandated activity is being misused as an administrative whip.
You’ll have administrators tell you we must do program review for both the ICCB and Higher Learning Commission. Program review comes from the ICCB’s Administrative Rules, Section 1501.303d. To throw HLC in this conversation is a red herring.
Program review has led to countless frustrating meetings between Academic Affairs and faculty. To quote a colleague about program review meetings under then-Associate Vice President Galisaith, “My supervisor told me to be ready to get yelled at…she had gone through several program review meetings already and EVERYBODY had gotten yelled at.” My understanding is some of last year’s meetings were only slightly better.
The ICCB lays out the minimum program review criteria as need, cost and quality. What should be a one-or-two hour process for most disciplines has been turned into a lengthy, painful process at College of DuPage. ICCB mandates the college use a short form for each discipline. We do not get the ICCB-mandated form from Academic Affairs, instead getting a lengthy form of their own design. Lengthy reports are also written, now by the already overburdened associate deans..
I filed a Freedom of Information Act request with ICCB to see what the college actually sent downstate, and what ICCB actually did with our work. The lengthy reports and long forms don’t even go downstate. Academic Affairs writes a few bullet points on the ICCB-required form and sends that to ICCB. Why not let us work off the required ICCB form from the get-go?
It really seems like the ICCB isn’t even reviewing this work. I asked ICCB for any review notes from COD’s submissions. “No single staff person has been responsible for reviewing a single college’s program review report….College specific information is not typically included in the statewide summary. Therefore, there are no ‘reviewer notes’ on individual college program review submissions.”
Reviews have been rejected by Academic Affairs in the past, claiming they were likely to be kicked back by the ICCB. I also asked ICCB for any program reviews, from any college, they had rejected. They replied, “Neither the Board nor staff “reject” submissions. Program Review submissions do not require approval or official action by the Board…the quality of a college’s program review submission is typically addressed during the Recognition Review by staff from ICCB and the college.”
I received a copy of the ICCB 2012 recognition review of College of DuPage. As far as I can tell, nothing from Academic Program Review was addressed.
How many hours have we spent working on reports the ICCB requires, but apparently does not read, and will not reject? How much time was spent reworking reports just based on an administrator’s power trip, not what the ICCB needs or wants? It’s time to refine this process.
Richard Jarman, COD Faculty Association Vice President. Around 10 AM Thursday, October 1st, a heavily armed person barged into a classroom at Umpqua Community College, Roseburg Oregon and slaughtered an innocent group of students and instructors.
Friday October 2nd, College of DuPage threw open the doors of the Homeland Security Training Center (Homeland II) and showed off its piece de resistance: the shooting range where people learn how to shoot other people. Dwell on that irony for one moment. By the way, that shooting range is just across Lake Reda from the Early Childhood Center.
I spoke in June about the clandestine, almost nonexistent, process that brought us to Homeland II; I spoke about the absence of any connection between this venture and the college’s academic programs. I realize that my words will be of little consequence for this project; and, at this point the ship has sailed; and I will offend those that hold it dear. Re the latter, I would be remiss if I had not offended at least a few people all these months at this podium.
Fortunately, in the case of that misguided adventure in fine dining known as Waterleaf, criticized for both its running costs and lack of educational connection, it can be seamlessly transitioned into a space for students to work because there is a culinary program, and the students can use those same kitchens, pots and pans, crockery, cutlery, and so forth.
By contrast, what can be done with a highly-specialized space that has zero educational program to support it?
We heard last week an administrator minimizing the significance of the theatre program based on its “small” number of FTEs. Note, those “few” – 722 – are 722 more than will ever enter the shooting range for credit. We heard about the budget proposed to bring back BTE. The outlay on weaponry and bullets to date would underwrite a chunk of that.
I will be told that the community will benefit from the Concealed Carry classes that will be taught there, weapons purchased for the purpose. I struggle with the ethics of attempting to monetize Homeland II in this way. I am not thrilled by the prospect of community members being trained in the art of hiding lethal weapons.
We all know it is not a matter of if, but when or where, the next Umpqua will strike. God forbid that the perpetrator was found to have attended that class? What then?
Good evening,
Thank you. I’m Glenn Hansen, president of the Faculty Association and Senate.
Today Senate discussed recent events. We are all affected by the most recent shootings at Umpqua Community College last week. During my first term as president our community mourned the death of the individuals killed at Northern Illinois University. Last Monday our community was shaken by the bomb threat on our campus. Too often we wonder and worry about where the next act of violence will happen, Monday we were reminded it could be here.
While these terrible acts continue to happen, the debate rages on as to how to solve the problem. We act as if there is one solution and one right answer. Just as violence has become part of our culture, so has the competitive mindset that our side needs to win and who has the better team. Cubs or the Sox; Republican or Democrat. We see the need to prevail everywhere and forget collaboration and that no one person has all the right answers; except the instructor in the class.
If we are going solve even the little problems, let alone the biggest ones, we need to remember that the solution will be the result of many ideas and small steps. Maybe it’s guns, mental health, video games, popular culture, or many other possibilities. What is certain is that if we don’t collaborate, give a little, and stop looking for THE ONE ANSWER, there will no solutions.