College Chiefs in Illinois Enjoy ‘Fantasy World of Lavish Perks,’ Report Says

A report by members of the Illinois State Senate asserts that the state’s public-college presidents enjoy a “fantasy world of lavish perks,” many of which have been awarded without taxpayer input, the Chicago Tribune says.

The report stemmed from an investigation into presidential compensation that followed a controversy over a lucrative severance deal for Robert L. Breuder, president of the College of DuPage.

Many colleges have asserted that the kinds of perks criticized in the report are necessary to attract and retain talented leaders. But some lawmakers are expected to pursue reforms such as imposing limits on the length of contracts and requiring state institutions to make such contracts public before they can be approved.