Cleveland State University Finalizes President’s Contract Extension through 2026

Agreement ensures leadership continuity to implement CSU 2.0, the university’s aggressive growth and innovation plan

CLEVELAND (April 30, 2021) – The Executive Committee of the Cleveland State University Board of Trustees has finalized a contract extension for President Harlan Sands through June 2026.

In March, the full board voted unanimously to extend the contract citing his accomplishments to date and to “continue expanding CSU’s transformational reach.” The Executive Committee was charged with negotiating and finalizing an agreement. Sands’ original five-year contract was set to expire in 2023. 

“Harlan has done an outstanding job leading the university over the last three years,” said David Gunning, chair of the CSU Board of Trustees. “He has guided us through one of the most challenging times in our history, while leading the development of CSU 2.0 – our visionary plan for the future. The extension ensures that the president is here to oversee the implementation of that bold plan.”

“I am incredibly grateful to our Board of Trustees for this opportunity and their continued confidence,” Sands said. “There is nowhere that I’d rather be. I look forward to continue working with our incredible faculty and staff to transform the lives of our students and serve the greater Cleveland community.”

Under the contract extension, the president’s annual base salary and discretionary bonus structure remains unchanged through 2026, and he will continue to receive annual retention bonuses. The contract also lays out terms and conditions for Sands to transition to the university’s faculty as a full, tenured professor in the CSU Cleveland-Marshall College of Law after his time as president.

Sands and his wife, Lynn, have announced that they will be making a $100,000 donation to CSU’s Forward Together Fund. The fund was established by President Sands upon his arrival at CSU to supplement strategic initiatives that directly support student success. The Forward Together Fund has already raised $744,000, and a new $1 million pledge over the next 10 years.  

“Lynn and I are deeply committed to our university, our community and most importantly, our students,” Sands said. “We want to help as many students as possible reap the benefits of a CSU education.”