By Blace Carpenter
Grand Rapids Community College’s 11th president Charles Lepper is set to begin work under a three-year “rolling term” contract.
Lepper will serve as the chief executive officer of GRCC and will be responsible for the administration. He is under the direction of the board of trustees, who will help finalize his decisions and guide him as president of GRCC.
According to the contract that is set to automatically renew for an additional year on July 1, 2023 and every year after to remain a three-year contract, Lepper will earn an annual salary of $225,000 and annual benefits and compensation, including a $20,000 housing stipend, a $7,200 car allowance, and an annual contribution of $17,500 for a retirement plan.
Also, according to the contract, the college will cover the cost of Lepper’s use of the Executive Concierge Medicine Program and Executive Physical Services provided by Corewell Health, as well as reasonable expenses for memberships in area associations and clubs that would be beneficial to the advancement of the college.
Lepper will also receive payment of $30,000 for non-reimbursable expenses, which will be beneficial to the advancement of the college.
Ahead of his official start date, Lepper is scheduled to attend GRCC’s opening day for full-time faculty Jan. 4 and will address the college community for the first time as president.
In an email to The Collegiate, Lepper stated that he planned to focus his speech on “the importance of building trust as professionals within a community of professionals” and reiterate his belief in “trust, sharing information, and transparency.”
Lepper stated that he is also planning to share a little more about himself and his path to GRCC.
“GRCC is in a time of transition,” Lepper stated. “I will highlight some of our successes over the past 100 years. My point will be that ’time of transition’ is a constant, and GRCC has been and will continue to do great things.”
