June 4, 2014 – CLEVELAND – The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation and the Mandel Supporting Foundations have awarded a $3.6 million gift to Cleveland State University to create The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Honors College.

The gift will fund merit scholarships and create the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Chair in Humanities, an endowed position to be held by the dean of the newly designated Honors College. It will also provide significant funding to renovate the exterior of the building in which the Mandel College will be housed.

“The establishment of the Mandel Honors College marks a transformative moment in the history of Cleveland State University,” said CSU President Ronald M. Berkman. “A permanent endowment will provide scholarship support to the best and brightest of a talented group of students who are the region’s future civic, business, and nonprofit leaders as well as provide greater opportunity for our faculty to work together in interdisciplinary collaborations.  The planned external renovations will provide a tangible example of the Foundations’ generosity.”

Started as the University Honors Program 10 years ago, the Mandel Honors College will become the ninth college at CSU and it will enroll more than 500 students from the University Honors and University Scholars programs. Each year, the highly selective program admits qualified freshman candidates as well as internal and transfer students through a rigorous application process. Freshman applicants to the most selective University Honors program must graduate in the top 10 percent of their high school class and score in the 90^th percentile or above on the ACT exam, among other criteria.

“I admire the vision that has been established by President Berkman and the CSU leadership team that is driving exceptional student achievement, while producing outstanding graduates for our community,” said Morton Mandel, chairman of the Mandel Foundation. “This gift is appropriate given our commitment to growing future leaders and the advancement of higher education.”

About the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation and the Mandel Supporting Foundations

The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation and the Mandel Supporting Foundations primary mission is to provide outstanding leadership for the nonprofit world. The Foundations supports leadership education programs in its own institutions and at selected universities and organizations. The Foundations believe that exceptional leaders are the critical factor that enables organizations to contribute most significantly to society. The priority areas of activity include leadership, higher education, Jewish education, strengthening the State of Israel and urban neighborhood renewal.

About Cleveland State University

Founded in 1964, Cleveland State University is a public research institution that provides a dynamic setting for Engaged Learning. With an enrollment of more than 17,000 students, nine colleges and more than 200 academic programs, CSU was again chosen for 2014 as one of America’s best colleges by U.S. News & World Report.