Cleveland State University President Laura Bloomberg, Ph.D., outlined ongoing financial pressure facing CSU, highlighted the positive impact CSU has on alumni, unveiled a new marketing campaign and updated the community on the “Vision 2030” plan in her annual State of the University address Tuesday.

Dr. Bloomberg opened by recognizing faculty, board and cabinet members, trustees, senior leaders and deans. After acknowledging the many different teams and members of CSU offices, she recognized staff members and students who have lost their lives in the past year, dedicating to them her hopes for the future.

“We have lost colleagues, students, friends and mentors, far too many,” Bloomberg said. “And I would like to dedicate my remarks today, especially the interesting ones, the ones that are of hope in the future, and leveraging our past experiences so that we are prepared for the future.”

Enrollment and financial strain

Bloomberg addressed the challenges that the college is facing, in large part due to plummeting enrollment at Cleveland State in recent years.

“Fewer students have plans to attend college, either full time or part time,” Bloomberg said. “At the same time, the number of upcoming high school graduates planning to head directly into full term jobs has more than doubled now, accounting for 11% of the Gen Z population.”

She thanked her recruitment team, as CSU is now within its projected enrollment numbers, adding that, “It's actually slightly higher than last year when everybody else was projecting that it would have a decline.”

With college enrollment down across the U.S., CSU's predicament has been years in the making, fuelling a $40 million budget gap, which the university has begun to address by shuttering or cancelling dozens of programs and letting go dozens of faculty and staff.

Bloomberg said that the administration had acted with the backing of the board of trustees following analysis of the CSU budget. Based on that analysis, CSU came up with a voluntary separation incentive plan for faculty and staff to choose to leave the institution.

“We will see more voluntary separations or departures in this calendar year and it is clear that we need to reduce our employees,” Bloomberg said. “It is equally clear, actually, that saying farewell to (staff and faculty) has been difficult and painful. We wish them well.”

The president did not mention in her address numbers for faculty and staff who did not qualify for the incentive plan but whose employment was terminated.

If Not For CSU: Celebrating CSU’s impact

Bloomberg announced a new marketing campaign the university is running, “If Not for CSU.” She showcased a video where alumni spoke about what the university has done for them regarding opportunities and partnerships that Cleveland State offers.

The college has partnered with Sherwin Williams, Cleveland Clinic, Playhouse Square, etc., providing work experiences to students at these major companies.

“As part of the business for CSU, students will (have access to) connections in Cleveland's long standing industries, which, for example, would be part of the Sherwin-Williams Career Accelerator in the Monte Ahuja College of Business,” Bloomberg said. “Students will receive personalized advisory support and have access to career readiness workshops and they will soon be expanding”.

Looking toward the future: “Vision 2030”

Bloomberg also showcased where the university is headed and spoke about plans for the future. CSU is developing a new strategic plan, "Vision 2030," to guide the university through to the end of the decade.

She said the Strategic Planning Task Force would next update the community on its work, at the Oct. 9 faculty senate meeting.

*** GenAi was used in the editing of this story.