Cleveland State University President Laura Bloomberg, Ph.D. and members of the CSU community came together for a special event that officially signaled the beginning of its new strategic plan while celebrating six decades of the University.  

“Cleveland State United was built with so many of you involved, and it sets a framework for us between now and 2030,” said Bloomberg.  

“I understand that strategic plans are only that until you put them into action, [but] one of the things that differentiates Cleveland State United from our most recent strategic plan is the extent to which we can collectively as a community breathe life into it as it was designed to be adaptable and flexible.” 

Members of the CSU community began to develop and refine a new vision for Cleveland’s public research university starting in the fall of 2024. Ideas were fielded from current students, faculty and staff members, along with alumni, trustees and community partners. When it was all said and done, CSU used that feedback to develop a set of mission, vision and value statements that not only reflect CSU’s strengths but their future aspirations. 

The end result?  

Cleveland’s University. Infinite Opportunity. 

We are in and of the city of Cleveland. We leverage our unique location and strategic partnerships to equip learners with knowledge and future-ready skills. Through innovative research, dedicated service and exceptional talent, we address the evolving needs of our community. 

“At the heart of Cleveland State United are some key elements, which includes the mission statement for sure,” said Bloomberg. “The sound and intention behind it was so carefully crafted by hundreds of people across campus.” 

VISION 2030 

Another element of the plan is known as Vision 2030, where the University will focus on three primary priorities. 

They include: 

Advance Academic Offerings, Delivery and Scholarship to Foster Success

- Expand experiential and work-based learning 
- Integrate undergraduate, graduate, exploratory and continuing education for lifelong learning 
- Improve the student experience and enhance our culture of student success 

Reimagine Community Partnership to Increase Opportunities 

- Enhance relationships with community partners to expand opportunities for prospective and current students/learners 
- Build a corporate/community partnership structure that leverages and coordinates all that CSU offers 
- Serve as a convenor and thought-partner to help address Cleveland’s most pressing social and economic challenges 

Restructure Operational and Financial Model to Enable our Mission-focused Work 

- Initiate a comprehensive multi-year stakeholder informed technology digital transformation 
- Develop and implement a sustainable financial model and process 
- Cultivate a campus wide-culture of transformation and continuous improvement 

“We are animated in this work by three core values, we will collaborate with our community, we will serve our students and we will unleash creativity,” said Bloomberg. 

Happy Birthday, CSU! 

Another big theme of the celebration was the acknowledgment of CSU’s 60th birthday, a major milestone for the campus formally known as Fenn College prior to 1964. 

On Dec. 18, 1964, Ohio Gov. James Rhodes signed Amended House Bill No. 2 into law, which officially established Cleveland State University as Ohio’s newest public university. Since then, more than 145,000 students have earned a degree, while thousands of faculty and staff members have continued to make major impacts when it comes to the success of the students. 

Bloomberg announced that CSU is putting together a time capsule so that in 2065 – CSU’s 100th birthday –leaders, faculty and staff who are part of the campus community then can learn something about the present day.  

It will be buried on Sept. 28 to commemorate the first classes taking place at CSU in 1965. 

“By burying this time capsule, we can talk about what’s now and how it is that we are also thinking to the future,” said Bloomberg.

If you are interested in suggesting what should go into the time capsule, you can do so here.