Oct. 21, 2009 – College of DuPage announced a new “Center of Excellence” initiative to identify and assist academic programs at the College that are recognized as outstanding at both the College and national levels.
“The purpose of this program is to spotlight exceptional academic outcomes, outstanding faculty performance and a sustained level of the quality of service to our community,” said College of DuPage President Robert L. Breuder. “This designation will be recognition of our ‘best of the best’ and will be considered an honor.”
A Center of Excellence will carry the designation for a three-year period and will undergo an annual validation process. In addition, selected programs or disciplines will receive a $50,000 monetary award for each of the three years to be used at the program’s discretion for the purchase of equipment, facility improvements, grant matches, consultant fees, student scholarships, professional development or another use as defined by the program and approved by the President.
Programs will be measured based on direct criteria, such as enrollment growth, retention, grant generation and/or measurable community outreach contributions, national accreditation, articulation and transfer agreements, awards from outside agencies or industry groups, student success, and student satisfaction. Indirect measures will include national or regional recognition for workforce education or transfer discipline education, program viability, faculty credentials, curricula, physical facilities, faculty recognition, and demonstrated improvement of learning outcomes.
Recipients of the Center of Excellence designation will also receive public recognition at annual College-wide events, a plaque for display in the Board Room, and program-specific advertising, marketing and signage.
For more information, call Associate Vice President of External Relations Joe Moore at (630) 942-2701 or e-mail
moorej7718@cod.edu.