Dive Brief:
- Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed two new bills restricting the autonomy of community college leaders following a costly buyout for College of DuPage President Robert Breuder earlier this year.
- University Business reports the laws limit presidential terms to three years, cut off severance pay at one year’s salary and benefits, forbid confidentiality agreements for severance deals, ban automatic rollover or contract renewal for presidents, and require institutions to disclose details of proposed contracts before approving them.
- Critics say the laws will hamper the ability of Illinois community colleges to recruit qualified presidential candidates and legislate things that college trustees should be able to decide on a case-by-case basis.
Dive Insight:
Like the North Carolina legislature’s mandate that the UNC board of governors consider at least three finalists for the next president of the university system, Illinois legislators are putting themselves right in the middle of institutional decision-making. Beyond simply setting a budget and letting university leaders figure it out from there, activist state senators and representatives have inserted their own, often ideologically driven, opinions in shaping institutional policy.
The Illinois laws have been widely supported by those appalled by Breuder’s severance package, but as critics point out, they don’t acknowledge the competitive environment the package was negotiated under.