Former COD chief steps back in for the interim: McAninch returns to president's office

By Catherine Edman Daily Herald Staff
Published: 5/29/2008 12:04 AM Updated: 5/29/2008 12:14 AM

It didn't take long for Harold McAninch to slide back into the saddle. The former longtime College of DuPage president was back in his old office Wednesday -- just 24 hours after the board of trustees approved an abrupt "mutually agreed upon" separation with President Sunil Chand. rustees today are set to hire McAninch as interim president. Chand stepped into the role of president emeritus with Tuesday morning's 6-1 board vote. Trustee Kathy Wessel said she opposed Chand's removal as president because COD needs "his vision and leadership."

His contract expires in 2009, and COD is obligated to honor all terms and financial commitments to him. They'll also be paying McAninch.

In a written statement issued one day after the board's action, board Chairman Micheal McKinnon said "trustees are grateful for Dr. Chand's service to COD."

"This decision was not an easy one, but we are pleased that Dr. Chand will remain part of the team at COD as we move into the future," McKinnon said in his statement.

The president of the COD Faculty Association, however, in his own written statement, called Chand's departure, and the way it came about, "disturbing."

"We are left asking why and for what purpose such action is taken in such a way," Glenn A. Hansen said of the trustees' vote.

Neither McKinnon, Chand or McAninch returned phone calls Wednesday seeking comment.
Hansen said the board's actions continue a pattern of behavior first highlighted with the departure of Trustee Jane Herron.

"Herron raised concerns about Board operations in her letter of resignation and in newspaper interviews after leaving the Board that were not responded to. The replacement process was not open to public scrutiny and the replacement Trustee was selected in closed session and then presented to the public when he was administered the oath of office," Hansen said in his statement.

"Later in the same year, the Facility Director, Gavin Tun, resigned making many statements again about decision making and the freedom to express differing opinions.

"In January 2008 Trustee, Mary Mack, resigned with a long letter of accusations against the Board leadership. After much debate a process to replace her was established that allowed for questions of the finalists to be submitted by the public and asked by the Board. Without feedback from the public the new Trustee was selected in closed session," Hansen continued.
Chand supported the faculty's interests, Hansen said, and fought for the renovation of the largest building where they teach, the Berg Instructional Center.

There was little indication that Chand's five-year tenure at the helm of the Glen Ellyn school was coming to an end. However, trustees recently started publicly criticizing him at meetings.
McKinnon and Trustee Dave Carlin went behind Chand's back and negotiated a $90,000, six-month public relations contract with the Chicago firm Res Publica. The pair also failed to discuss the move with other administrators, including the school's existing news bureau, before presenting it to the board for a vote.

McKinnon and Carlin said they'd asked Chand to hire a firm and he'd failed to do so. Chand politely explained he kept trustees informed of reasons for the delay, which was tied to pending infrastructure improvements.

On Thursday night, Chand's annual job review was conducted behind closed doors. Saturday afternoon trustees sent notice of an early Tuesday morning meeting in regarding "administrator contracts" that gave no indication of the magnitude of the topic.