Naperville Sun May 29, 2008
By Paige Winfield pwinfield@scn1.com
College of DuPage trustees have abruptly terminated Sunil Chand's tenure as president, although his contract doesn't expire for another year. Harold D. McAninch, a Naperville resident and president of the college from 1979 to 1994, will take over as interim president, said Bill Troller, the school's public information director. Chand, 62, was named president emeritus and will be paid the full contract amount, Troller said.
Chand's departure came about as a "mutual agreement" he made with the college, board Chairman Mike McKinnon said in a written statement. David Carlin, another trustee on the eight-member board, also said the removal was a joint decision between Chand and the board.
"Over the last couple months we've had discussions on different things," Carlin said. "It kind of played out as we were discussing things."
The announcement came five days after a May 22 meeting during which the board conducted Chand's annual performance review.
Carlin and McKinnon reportedly had a rocky relationship with Chand in recent months as they negotiated a $90,000 contract with Res Publica Group - a Chicago-based public relations firm.
While Carlin declined to give specifics about any factors contributing to the decision, former board member Jan Herron said the announcement doesn't surprise her, based on the way the board leadership operated during her own tenure.
"I think (McKinnon) knew he wanted a different president," she said. "I think this has been on his mind for a long time. I think at this point he's lined up his ducks, and they've quacked."
Herron resigned from the board in January 2007, saying she was disgusted with the manipulation used by McKinnon and other trustees who tried to "micromanage" the college. She said that during her time on the board she saw Chand trying diligently to work with trustees, but was constantly kept "out of the loop" on all sorts of decisions.
"We'd go into meetings and there would be little discussion and no need to have any discourse and boom, the vote was done," she said.
Kathy Wessel was the only trustee to vote against Chand's departure at a meeting Tuesday, saying she thinks the decision is the "wrong thing" for the college. "I think Dr. Chand is a
fantastic leader and president and should still be president of COD," Wessel said.
Chand left his job as an executive vice president at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland to take over from previous COD president Michael Murphy in 2003. He also is the former dean of Triton College in River Grove.
Troller said McAninch will serve as a competent and skilled president until the board hires a new president - for which trustees have not set a deadline.
"(McAninch's) extremely familiar with COD," Troller said. "He's incredibly well-versed on community colleges and I think he's probably going to be integral on the board's discussion of future presidents down the road. I think the goal here is to keep the college moving forward."
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
College of DuPage President Chand ousted: No reason given for sudden ouster
By Catherine Edman Daily Herald Staff
Published: 5/27/2008 5:42 PM Updated: 5/27/2008 11:13 PM
In an abrupt move, College of DuPage trustees Tuesday removed President Sunil Chand from his job. No reasons were given for the immediate separation, though the college is obligated to pay for the remainder of his contract, with a base pay of about $200,000, which expires next year. Later in the day, a former COD president, Harold McAninch, accepted the board's offer to fill the role in an interim position.
Chand's departure is reminiscent of the scenario present before his arrival. Trustees in April 2002 accepted the resignation of former president Michael Murphy in 2003 -- though his contract expired in 2004. That final year, after he stepped down, his salary and benefits totaled $297,098. He worked as a consultant and Chand was installed as president. Now Chand will serve in the reverse role to the incoming leader.
The relationship between the board and Chand was rocky in recent months, with two trustees going behind the backs of the president and administration to hire an outside public relations firm for $15,000 a month.
Trustee Kathy Wessel was the lone dissenter in the Tuesday vote to have Chand "transition to president emeritus immediately." She said Chand brought a rational approach during recent contract negotiations and that they were without "anger and rancor present in years past." He also formed a partnership with Benedictine University to share nursing and art programs. "Sunil Chand being the president of the college is the best scenario," she said. "I think his vision and leadership are what the college needs. I hate to see him leave."
The board met Thursday in closed session to conduct Chand's annual performance review. Late Saturday, the board e-mailed notice of another closed session meeting early Tuesday that dealt with the vague topic of administrative contracts. Members are scheduled to meet again for a special meeting Thursday to officially appoint McAninch, after whom the college's art center is named, as interim president.
Glenn A. Hansen, the COD Faculty Association president, said the staff didn't learn of Chand's departure until Tuesday -- the first day of the summer semester. "We're quite surprised and shocked by the timing of the announcement and lack of information that was shared," he said. "We don't know any of the details or the reason behind it." He added: "Dr. Chand has been supportive of the faculty and renovation of the Berg Institutional Center."
Board Chairman Micheal McKinnon did not return a phone call Tuesday seeking comment.
Chand, 62, took over for Murphy July 1, 2003. Chand left his job as an 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.
The board spent five months in late 2002 and early 2003 searching for a replacement for Murphy. Former Trustee Jane Herron, who chaired the search committee, said at the time that Chand stood out because of his intelligence, personality, experience and his global view of community colleges.
But Chand's tenure was not without controversy -- at least recently. Public concerns arose earlier this year after the Daily Herald reported on a continuing education program its dean, Michael Perez, wanted to start in Costa Rica, where he was buying a retirement home. He spent about $6,000 on two trips there exploring the idea, and staying at his future residence. Chand as well as McKinnon both initially said they were in favor of exploring the out-of-country plan. The officials later said they would re-examine the plan, which has not been put back on the agenda.
And, earlier this month, McKinnon and Trustee Dave Carlin negotiated a $90,000, six-month public relations contract for the school, then presented it for a vote without asking the school's existing news bureau. Chand was not involved in the deal with Res Publica Group in Chicago because the trustees said they'd asked him -- unsuccessfully -- for action earlier.
Chand, though, said he told board members the process was delayed because a new infrastructure system was not in place to support the related changes, such as a Web site redesign.
A message left at Chand's home in Wheaton was not immediately returned. Bill Troller, the college's director of public information, said a news release will be issued today.
Published: 5/27/2008 5:42 PM Updated: 5/27/2008 11:13 PM
In an abrupt move, College of DuPage trustees Tuesday removed President Sunil Chand from his job. No reasons were given for the immediate separation, though the college is obligated to pay for the remainder of his contract, with a base pay of about $200,000, which expires next year. Later in the day, a former COD president, Harold McAninch, accepted the board's offer to fill the role in an interim position.
Chand's departure is reminiscent of the scenario present before his arrival. Trustees in April 2002 accepted the resignation of former president Michael Murphy in 2003 -- though his contract expired in 2004. That final year, after he stepped down, his salary and benefits totaled $297,098. He worked as a consultant and Chand was installed as president. Now Chand will serve in the reverse role to the incoming leader.
The relationship between the board and Chand was rocky in recent months, with two trustees going behind the backs of the president and administration to hire an outside public relations firm for $15,000 a month.
Trustee Kathy Wessel was the lone dissenter in the Tuesday vote to have Chand "transition to president emeritus immediately." She said Chand brought a rational approach during recent contract negotiations and that they were without "anger and rancor present in years past." He also formed a partnership with Benedictine University to share nursing and art programs. "Sunil Chand being the president of the college is the best scenario," she said. "I think his vision and leadership are what the college needs. I hate to see him leave."
The board met Thursday in closed session to conduct Chand's annual performance review. Late Saturday, the board e-mailed notice of another closed session meeting early Tuesday that dealt with the vague topic of administrative contracts. Members are scheduled to meet again for a special meeting Thursday to officially appoint McAninch, after whom the college's art center is named, as interim president.
Glenn A. Hansen, the COD Faculty Association president, said the staff didn't learn of Chand's departure until Tuesday -- the first day of the summer semester. "We're quite surprised and shocked by the timing of the announcement and lack of information that was shared," he said. "We don't know any of the details or the reason behind it." He added: "Dr. Chand has been supportive of the faculty and renovation of the Berg Institutional Center."
Board Chairman Micheal McKinnon did not return a phone call Tuesday seeking comment.
Chand, 62, took over for Murphy July 1, 2003. Chand left his job as an 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.
The board spent five months in late 2002 and early 2003 searching for a replacement for Murphy. Former Trustee Jane Herron, who chaired the search committee, said at the time that Chand stood out because of his intelligence, personality, experience and his global view of community colleges.
But Chand's tenure was not without controversy -- at least recently. Public concerns arose earlier this year after the Daily Herald reported on a continuing education program its dean, Michael Perez, wanted to start in Costa Rica, where he was buying a retirement home. He spent about $6,000 on two trips there exploring the idea, and staying at his future residence. Chand as well as McKinnon both initially said they were in favor of exploring the out-of-country plan. The officials later said they would re-examine the plan, which has not been put back on the agenda.
And, earlier this month, McKinnon and Trustee Dave Carlin negotiated a $90,000, six-month public relations contract for the school, then presented it for a vote without asking the school's existing news bureau. Chand was not involved in the deal with Res Publica Group in Chicago because the trustees said they'd asked him -- unsuccessfully -- for action earlier.
Chand, though, said he told board members the process was delayed because a new infrastructure system was not in place to support the related changes, such as a Web site redesign.
A message left at Chand's home in Wheaton was not immediately returned. Bill Troller, the college's director of public information, said a news release will be issued today.
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