Overview

The mission of College of DuPage is to educate, enrich, and empower our communities for success.

Vision

College of DuPage will be the primary college district residents choose for high quality education.

Values

Integrity

We expect the highest standard of moral character and ethical behavior.

Honesty

We expect truthfulness and trustworthiness.

Respect

We expect courtesy and dignity in all interpersonal interactions.

Responsibility

We expect fulfillment of obligations and accountability.

Equity

We strive to remove barriers to empower all to achieve their goals.

College DuPage History

On Sept. 25, 1967, College of DuPage opened under the leadership of President Rodney K. Berg and Board of Trustees Chairman George L. Seaton. Classes were held in office trailers and at leased suburban sites throughout the newly formed Community College District 502. Driving from class to class, the students, faculty and staff of this “campus-less” community college became affectionately known as road runners, hence the school’s nickname, “Chaparrals.”

College of DuPage’s origins can be traced to two signature events. First was the Illinois General Assembly adoption of the Public Community College Act of 1965. Second was the approval by DuPage high school district voters of a 1965 referendum. The residents’ foresight created a new community college to serve the dynamically growing and prospering DuPage area.

In 1968, a 273-acre Glen Ellyn campus site was acquired, and a year later, three interim buildings were constructed west of Lambert Road. The first permanent building, today’s Berg Instructional Center, opened in 1973. Four years later, the top floor of the BIC was completed. The year 1979 marked the appointment of Harold D. McAninch as College of DuPage’s second president, and in 1983 the Student Resource Center (SRC) and Physical Education and Community Recreation Center opened.

Over the next decade, the McAninch Arts Center (1986) and Seaton Computing Center (1990) opened on campus, while new Naperville and Westmont centers (1991) offered an even greater regional presence.

Michael T. Murphy became College of DuPage’s third president in 1994. Under President Murphy, College of DuPage became America’s largest single-campus community college, a distinction held through 2003. Today, College of DuPage is the second largest provider of higher education in Illinois after the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Capping the 2002 academic year, voters approved a $183-million bond issue that provided funds for the renovation and rebuilding of the Glen Ellyn campus and several off-campus locations.

The arrival of the College’s fourth president, Dr. Sunil Chand, and the opening of the College’s expanded Bloomingdale Center highlighted 2003. Throughout 2004 and 2005, President Chand launched major initiatives for the College’s academic accreditation through the AQIP quality improvement process, including the curriculum conversion from quarters to semesters that officially began with the fall 2005 semester.

College of DuPage opened its Carol Stream Community Education Center in 2004. In 2007, the Early Childhood Center, now the Institutional Resource Center (IRC) was completed, along with the construction of efficient new campus roadways and revamped parking lots. The following year, College of DuPage received a maximum seven-year reaccreditation through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.

Dr. Robert L. Breuder took over for Interim President Harold D. McAninch in January 2009, and that summer both the Health and Science Center and Technical Education Center opened on the Glen Ellyn campus. Construction and other physical improvements, including landscaping and signage, continued, and further improvements were supported in November 2010 when District 502 voters approved a $168-million capital referendum initiative.

Funds from the 2002 referendum were used for construction of the Homeland Security Education Center, the Student Services Center and the Culinary & Hospitality Center, as well as a complete renovation of the Berg Instructional Center. The 2010 referendum also supported construction of the Campus Maintenance Center and the Homeland Security Training Center as well as renovations of the Student Resource Center, the Seaton Computing Center, the McAninch Arts Center, and the Physical Education Center.

In July 2016, the Board of Trustees appointed as president of College of DuPage Dr. Ann Rondeau, a three-star admiral (retired) in the U.S. Navy—the second woman to achieve such a rank— and past president of the National Defense University. Under Dr. Rondeau’s leadership, Standard & Poor’s upgraded the College’s AA bond rating to AA+ and affirmed its rating outlook of “stable” on the College’s outstanding general bonds. In addition, the College entered into a new intergovernmental agreement. This renewed collaboration helped foster the inaugural Innovation DuPage, a cooperative venture and nonprofit corporation that promotes regional business growth and job creation.

Dr. Brian W. Caputo became the College of DuPage’s seventh president in 2019. Seeing the need to re-evaluate space and expand classrooms within the BIC, Dr. Caputo spearheaded the retrofit of the Early Childhood Center that had closed in 2018 to become the Institutional Resource Center (IRC). The IRC now is the home to two departments and two divisions.

The community college district served by College of DuPage has grown significantly over the years. Originally formed from 10 high school districts, District 502 has become the most populous region in Illinois, outside of Chicago. More than one million residents from 51 communities comprise today’s District 502, with boundaries encompassing parts of Cook and Will counties, as well as the majority of DuPage County.

College of DuPage’s operating revenue is derived primarily from local taxes, tuition and fees, and state allocations. Special grants from state and federal sources may be acquired, and gifts and grants from foundations and private sources are accepted through the College of DuPage Foundation. College of DuPage is recognized by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and governed by a locally elected seven-member Board of Trustees and one elected, non-voting student representative.

Facilities

• Located 25 miles west of downtown Chicago at 425 Fawell Blvd., COD’s Glen Ellyn campus included 13 buildings at the end of 2016: the Student Resource Center, Student Services Center, Seaton Computing Center, Berg Instructional Center, Culinary & Hospitality Center, McAninch Arts Center, Physical Education Center, Health and Science Center, Homeland Security Education Center, Homeland Security Training Center, Technical Education Center, Early Childhood Center, and the Campus Maintenance Center.
• During 2013, the College completed the remodeling of the Seaton Computing Center (SCC), the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), the Physical Education Center (PEC) and the Student Resource Center (SRC), thus enhancing the functionality of four significant College buildings. The new Campus Maintenance Center was also completed.
• The McAninch Arts Center (MAC) reopened for use in January 2014. This newly remodeled facility replaced outdated performance, educational and studio spaces. Safety and comfort improvements were made to increase the performance and viewing enjoyment of community members and students. Improvements to studio spaces were also completed to foster collaborative instruction that encourages learning beyond traditional lecture- based instruction.
• The Physical Education Center (PEC) also reopened in January 2014. This upgrade, which included the repurposing of under- utilized spaces, enables the College to provide greater educational opportunities, support for the College’s athletic teams and also improved the building’s internal circulation. The fully remodeled facility creates a fitness club atmosphere that enhances the building’s academic goals and provides a premium workout space for students, employees and community members.
• The Student Services Center opened in 2014. The SSC centralizes several student services and also serves as a gathering space. It includes a three-story atrium “living room” that features Campus Central as a way to provide a one-stop location for students.
• The Student Resource Center Library and Academic Computing Center were reopened to the community in January 2014, after being fully remodeled to improve functionality and create environments more conducive to study, research and academic needs.
• The Homeland Security Training Center (HTC) opened in fall of 2015, enabling the College to more effectively fulfill the mission of its Homeland Security Training Institute, by bringing state-of- the-art facilities and equipment to support advanced, integrated training to our regional and national emergency first responders.
• The Institutional Resource Center (IRC), formerly the Early Childhood Center, was repurposed and remodeled in 2019 to house administrative offices for Communications and Marketing Department, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Department, Support Services Division and Procurement Division.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is charged with establishing policy for the financing, governance, operation and administration of College of DuPage. Seven voting members are elected from the district at large and a nonvoting student trustee is elected by students during spring semester to serve a one-year term.

Regular Board of Trustees meetings are normally scheduled for the third Thursday of each month. The public is invited to attend these meetings. Meeting information, as well as archived minutes and videos, are available on the College website at cod.edu/board.

Christine M. Fenne
Board Chair, Wheaton

Heidi Holan
Board Vice Chair, Glen Ellyn

Andrew Manno
Board Secretary, Aurora

Florence Appel
Lombard

Annette K. Corrigan
Wheaton

Maureen Dunne
Naperville

Nick Howard
Glen Ellyn

Student Trustee Rai
Student Trustee
District 502 Resident

Glen Ellyn Telephone Guide

(All area codes are 630)