COD President Dr. Robert L. Breuder weighs in on higher education funding and state handouts

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Jan 07, 2015, 02:00 ET

GLEN ELLYN, Ill., Jan. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dr. Robert L. Breuder, President of College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Ill., has been a community college president for nearly 35 years. Recently, Dr. Breuder weighed in on the issue of higher education funding, noting colleges and universities must stop relying on state handouts and other outside resources to operate efficiently.

Fiscal Fitness: Higher Education Must Be Run Like a Business

College of DuPage President Dr. Robert L. Breuder

While many colleges and other businesses take a hard look at fiscal fitness during budget season, keeping the numbers in shape must be a year-long effort. Every year. A budget based on controlled costs and strategic spending and preserving a solid nest egg opens opportunities in key areas such as research, development and business growth.

As a president of three different community colleges for the past 34 years, I have received my share of criticism from traditional educators for referring to educational institutions as "businesses." The facts support this observation. With more competition than ever, including for-profit and online universities, it is essential that colleges operate with a budget-based perspective. Money in the bank means the ability to weather storms and create opportunities. Over the past four years, College of DuPage has added 60-plus certificates and degrees that keep up with workplace trends so our students leave with a diploma and credential in hand that will allow them to earn an enhanced income.

In addition, we recently completed a $550 million overhaul of our campus, thanks to the backing of our "shareholders" or District 502 residents who footed approximately 80 percent of the bill for this transformation. The end result? More "customers" or students. In fact, College of DuPage has continued to be a shining example by attracting new customers over the past five years during a time of downward enrollment among many two- and four-year schools. Since fall 2010, this institution's total Full-Time Equivalent student enrollment has increased 6 percent and our credit headcount has increased 10.3 percent. This is in stark contrast to enrollment at Illinois' 48 community colleges whose FTE is down 13.1 percent and headcount down 11.1 percent. No other Illinois community college other than College of DuPage has grown FTE enrollment over the past five years.

To read more, visit Community College Daily or the Huffington Post.

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SOURCE College of DuPage