Cleveland State University faculty reviewed proposed changes to emeritus and retirement policies, received updates on the university’s Workday transition and heard extensive reports on campus facilities during the Feb. 18 Faculty Senate meeting.

Senate President Carol Olszewski, Ph.D., opened the session acknowledging Valentine’s Day, Lunar New Year and the return of grass beneath the snow, before thanking faculty for their continued work across the university.

She also congratulated supervisors of the Three‑Minute Thesis competition, noting that CSU’s winner will advance to the national finals in Kansas City next month.

“Their success and excitement about their work can only have come from you,” Olszewski said.

Emeritus and retirement policy

The Senate read the proposed revisions to CSU’s retirement, resignation and emeritus sections of the policy manual. The updates are intended to create consistent language.

A portion of the discussion centered on whether retirees would be allowed to keep their university email addresses. 

One faculty member said the draft language sounded like “‘When we retire, we don’t want you to have anything to do with the university.’” She called the tone of the statement “a little harsh.”

Committee representatives emphasized that the intent was not to cut ties with retirees, but to clarify the differences between retirees and emeritus faculty.

“Emeritus faculty absolutely do keep their email,” said presenter Thijs Heus, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Physics Department. “If there are other things an emeritus faculty member needs and can be reasonably provided, there’s nothing in this document that prohibits that.”

Concerns were also raised about each department's control over recommending emeritus status. Presenters said that the language allows for flexibility, permitting recommendations to come from an appropriate faculty body rather than solely a department.

The policy will return for a second reading at a future meeting.

Admissions and standards 

The Senate approved simplified language for admission to the MBA and MHRM programs. The updated requirements now state applicants must hold a four‑year undergraduate degree from an accredited institution and have a minimum GPA of 2.75.

Campus facilities and deferred maintenance

Associate Vice President for Hospitality and Facility Services Nick Vande Velde presented an overview of organizational changes, staffing expansions and ongoing infrastructure challenges.

He said CSU currently faces nearly $300 million in deferred maintenance. His team completed 18,334 of 21,486 work orders last year and has shifted the ratio of reactive to planned maintenance from 80/20 to 60/40, with a goal of reaching 20/80 by 2027.

“You are the eyes and ears,” he said to the faculty. “Please open the ticket. I genuinely care.”

Vande Velde went over several recent and upcoming projects including the newly opened Anatomy Lab, McCombs Plaza which was redesigned to create a student space he described as “Instagrammable,” new vending machines for coffee and grab‑and‑go foods like jarred salads, the Fenn Tower $18 million renovations including façade repairs, room updates and a secure student‑only entrance, which is expected to be finished mid-July, and the planned 13th Street Art Gallery.

Faculty raised concerns about Rhodes Tower, which experienced water and temperature problems during January’s extreme cold. Vande Velde confirmed that CSU has secured $13.5 million for abatement work.

Provost Nigamanth Sridhar, Ph.D., assured faculty that any relocation plan will prioritize safety, minimize the number of moves and keep departments together.

Housing Questions

The faculty asked whether CSU is moving toward more or fewer students living on campus. Vande Velde explained that Euclid Commons and Fenn Tower will transition to university‑run housing this summer, while The Edge and The Langston will continue to operate under a third‑party partnership to provide students “more independent” living arrangements.

CSU Compass / Workday Implementation

Associate Vice President Wesam Helou provided an update on CSU Compass, the university’s transition to Workday, which he described as CSU’s largest institutional investment since 1999.

Workday is a cloud-based software platform specializing in human capital management, payroll, and financial management for organizations.

“Workday is the future,” Helou said, noting its AI capabilities. 

The implementation will occur in phases including an 18‑month platform rollout and a two‑year student-system implementation.

Helou emphasized that the planning phase, which ends in March, is the window for feedback.

“Now is our best opportunity to react to the information you give us,” he said.

Faculty raised concerns about timing, communication and potential mid‑semester disruptions. Presenters said they would prioritize advance notice and align changes with the beginning of the semester. 

The program’s cost will be addressed after the planning phase is complete. 

Provost's Report

Provost Nigimanth Sridhar, Ph.D., praised facilities staff for their work during January’s cold, including overnight campus walkthroughs. He also said that promotion and tenure letters are being finalized, with board approval scheduled for March, and that CSU’s new learning initiative called the Talent Hub will launch soon under Vice Provost Debbie Jackson.

Sridhar also thanked faculty for their efforts toward Title II/ADA compliance. He said April 24 is the target date but full compliance efforts will continue into summer and fall 2026.

College Credit Plus

New state rules allow high school teachers with nine completed graduate credits to teach CCP courses, as long as they have a plan to complete nine more. CSU’s English and History departments have created courses to support teachers beginning this summer.

Dr. Sridhar emphasized that the program will not generate much revenue, but has value through providing opportunities for recruitment and community engagement.

CSU President Laura Bloomberg, Ph.D., did not attend the meeting because of a medical appointment.

The next CSU faculty senate meeting will be held March 18 at 3:00 p.m. in the SC Ballroom.