College of DuPage recently completed one of the most extraordinary years in its 43-year history. Just a few achievements for the fiscal year ending in June include 19 new degree and certificate programs to enhance workforce development; the opening of the new Technology Education and Health and Science Centers; breaking ground on the Homeland Security Education Center and the Culinary & Hospitality Center; creation of a comprehensive shared governance structure; and maintaining the College’s Aaa bond rating, the highest rating possible.
“This has been an extraordinary year for College of DuPage,” President Breuder said. “As we move forward with a No-Tax-Rate-Increase bond referendum this fall, it is crucial that we communicate our value to the community. COD provides low cost opportunities for jobs and careers, protects our property values, and trains our emergency personnel, including our firemen, police and nurses. College of DuPage truly is the value of a lifetime.”
The College of DuPage Board of Trustees recently received an Institutional Outcomes Report for FY 2010 comprised of 56 objectives developed when President Robert L. Breuder first began his tenure at the College in January 2009.
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These goals were implemented over the past year while the COD administration developed a Strategic Long Range Plan to guide the College for the next three to five years. The Strategic Plan was unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees during its July 22 regular meeting. Jim Benté, vice president for Planning and Institutional Effectiveness, presented a summary of major accomplishments outlined from the Institutional Outcomes Report:
· Academic Programs. During the past year, COD has developed 19 new degree and certificate programs that were approved by the Illinois Community College Board.
· Facilities. The College began last fall with the opening of the Technical Education Center (TEC) and the Health and Science Center (HSC) and ended our spring with groundbreakings for the Homeland Security Education Center (HEC) and the Culinary Arts & Hospitality Center (CHC).
· Enrollment. COD had its fourth highest fall end-of-term FTE enrollment and its highest spring end-of-term FTE enrollment in the College’s history.
· Finances. COD ended the fiscal year on excellent financial footing, demonstrated by a sterling audit report and maintaining a Aaa bond rating, the highest achievable.
· Shared Governance. COD conceived and implemented a new, highly inclusive Shared Governance System, which includes a Shared Governance Council and five Steering Committees.
· Strategic Plan. The College formed a multidisciplinary Strategic Long Range Plan Advisory Committee, which conducted an extensive environmental scan and solicited input from internal and external stakeholders. In June, we presented to the Board this plan and in July the Board of Trustees unanimously approved this plan that will lead the College for the next three to five years.
The Strategic Long Range Plan approved by the Board on July 22 is available online at http://www.cod.edu/DEPT/PLAN/Planning/Draft_SLRP_2011_2013.pdf (is this available – this version still states “draft”). The Institutional Outcomes Report for FY 2010 is available for viewing at http://www.cod.edu/DEPT/PLAN/Outcomesreport.pdf.
For more information, call External Relations Associate Vice President Joe Moore at (630) 942-2371 or e-mail moorej7718@cod.edu.
